Tuesday, june 23, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Vol. 2 No. 489

/newtelegraph

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PDP NWC must go, insist governors, Anenih

politics

Governors Forum: Walking a tight rope }13

N150

Conflicting figures threaten oil sector reform Adeola Yusuf

resident Muhammadu Buhari's efforts to reform the oil sector, which has become a cesspool of corruption under previous administrations, may be hampered by

the lack of accurate oil production figure of the nation's major source of revenue, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. Investigation revealed that the dearth of adequate harmonised crude production metering, which has been the norm for

many years ago, has worsened, with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) depending solely on production figures given to it by oil companies. An industry said these oil companies, on the other hand, were still defying the Federal

Government's metering measures. "The country has, for a long time, heavily depended on estimated oil production figures dished out to it by oil companies. In most cases, there are no meaCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Buhari: I inherited empty treasury

lDismantles military checkpoints nationwide

}3&6

QuickRead

Court frees Atuche, wife, others of N25.7bn }5 theft

Osun: Coping without wages }45

L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; President Muhammadu Buhari and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, during Buhari’s interactive session with State House correspondents in Abuja…yesterday . PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

National Assembly leaders emerge today lNdume, Yerima, Akume, Lawan, Manager, Dariye set to become principal officers }6

Police parade Adoke’s uncle for alleged }49 robbery, kidnap

Former FUTA VC kidnapped

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Congratulations!

His Excellency, Mohammed Abubakar, Executive Governor, Bauchi State

My family and I wish to congratulate Your Excellency Mohammed Abubakar on your election as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State. Your ability to take Bauchi State to the next level has never been in doubt. We wish you a successful tenure in office. Signed

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, MON Chairman,

Slok Shipping

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Buhari: I inherited empty treasury Anule Emmanuel Abuja

igeria is broke and that is official. President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday confirmed speculations that the nation's finances are not healthy, saying he inherited an empty treasury. According to him, as a result of this, he will be unable to perform maximally as expected from Nigerians in the first 100 days. He spoke during his maiden meeting with State House Correspondents in Abuja, on the first day of his reporting for work at his office inside the Presidential Villa. Until Sunday when he moved into the State House, the president has been working from the Defence House. The president lamented that the nation was currently owing debts running into millions of dollars while state and federal workers are not being paid salaries as and when due. Although he did not give a specific figure on how much Nigeria is owing, the Chairman of the Buhari Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, had in an interview with a national daily (not New Telegraph) published on Sunday, put the debt at N7 trillion. However, officials of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration had put the country’s debt profile at N1.3 trillion. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had said shortly before the handover of power that the new government would be inheriting a debt of $63 billion. However, former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, refuted the figure, saying of the $63 billion debt, the administration only incurred $21.8 billion. On the implication of the state of the nation's finances on his ability to fulfill his campaign promises, the president urged Nigeria to align their expectations with the reality on the ground. He said the culture of assessing the performance of a new government at the national level was putting serious pressure on his administration. "This culture of 100 days (in office) is bringing so much pressure with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries," he stated. According to him, it is such a disgrace to Nigeria

that the country will be in a financial difficulty when the citizens expect speedy development. While urging the media to be objective in its reportage, Buhari said: "I think Nigeria should be in a position to even pay its workers, in spite of this bad management that we find ourselves in. We really need your help to protect us from people before they march on us." The president also gave insight into why he appointed former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and immediate past Managing Director and Editor in Chief of Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina, as presidential spokesman. He said it was not by accident that he did so as he needed someone to defend him against the public. "I got one of the best of you to be the special adviser; one of the 15 aides I had to get clearance from the Senate. "He is one of the best presidents of the guild that I can have as special adviser. I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you. "Whether my job is a difficult one or easy is up to him; but I'm here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me. "I have to quickly come and see you and welcome you to this place. I hope what happened of recent between the former president and one of you will not happen between us," the president added. He also promised to be consistent with such meetings, saying: "I'm going to be brief because it will be consistent until I leave this

place." However, commenting on the state of the nation's finances, a frontline economist, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said since some gaps (deficits) needed to be filled, the president's approach in dealing with the main issue was important. “There is indebtedness, which he has to deal with. He also has to deal with fiscal issues and pay salaries, which I believe he should be able to handle. “But how he responds and goes about it, is the main issue,” said Rewane, who is also the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Limited. Another economist, Dr. Ayo Teriba, however, said in spite of the precarious situation, Buhari should

be able to perform by stopping oil theft. “It is understood that the past administration did not provide enough information to the new government before they handed over, but now that the transition committee has provided more information, so it is logical the former still need some time for more positive communication on what they can do. “I, however, believe that much can still happen if Buhari can at least stop oil theft,” Teriba, who is also the Managing Director of Economic Associates told New Telegraph last night. On his part, Chairman of Seplat Petroleum, A.B.C Orjiako, speaking on the implication of the empty

treasury on governance, urged the president to sell Nigeria’s stakes in joint ventures in the energy industry to raise more funds to run the economy. He told Reuters yesterday that his company would be interested in buying, especially in the gas sector. Through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) the government owns shareholdings in some joint exploration and upstream ventures with international oil companies. Selling the stakes would help the government focus on areas like tax collection, while strong private sector involvement in industry would help spur economic growth, Orjiako, said.

Earlier yesterday, Buhari and Osinbajo had reported for official duties at the Presidential Villa. Osinbajo arrived in his office at 9a.m. and shortly before 11a.m., he was accompanied by some of his aides to meet with Buhari in the Oval Office. The vice-president was still there when the service chiefs led by Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, arrived for a meeting with Buhari, which happens to be his first official assignment for the day. Most Villa staff reported at their duty posts quite early, after three weeks of relative inactivity owing to the absence of the president and the vicepresident.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right) with the Head of Programmes, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Mr. Christian Widman, after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the organisation in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Conflicting figures threaten oil sector reform CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

surement metres on the production wellheads to verify these figures while the metering equipment at some exports terminals are outdated. "Everyone in this industry is aware of this anomaly, which is not allowed in other oil producing nations. In fact, all agencies of government; starting from DPR to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), depend on these unharmonised and unverified figures and I do not see why the new government should not focus on this metering inadequacy if it wants to succeed in its reforms of the oil sector," the source said. Just last week, a report by FBN Capital said there was a statistical anomaly

in Nigeria’s April oil production figures given by the CBN, which has also worsened issues of accountability in the sector. "There is also the issue of accountability since there is no harmonised metering of production. Our understanding is that there is metering at the export terminals by several agencies using different methods. "The CBN’s Economic Report for April discloses that Nigeria’s oil output (including condensates and NGLs) increased by 5% to 1.91 million barrels per day (mbpd) from 1.82mbpd in March. We note, however, a possible statistical anomaly: the data through to December 2014 is drawn by the CBN from the NNPC and

Reuters, while that for the four following months are published in its monthly report without a source given. "The report maintains the party line that 450,000bpd are processed domestically by the NNPC. It is common knowledge that the refineries produce at a fraction of installed capacity and that domestic demand is largely met by imports, which have fallen since the end of April and created the prevailing fuel scarcity," the FBN report said. However, this development is also aggravated by the oil producers, which are still defying the Federal Government’s regulation on standard weights and measures. A document by Nigerco,

an approved consultant to the government’s Department of Weights and Measures in the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry, showed that this has continued to constitute huge sources of revenue losses to the country. Like oil companies, other firms whose activities fall within the purview of the standard measurement provisions have also continued to defy extant compliance mandates from the government, the document showed. "The government’s mandate to the Department of Weights and Measures to immediately commence the implementation of the Weight and Measures (Legal Meteorology) Act 2004 in operations within Nigeria’s crude oil

production and trading amongst other sectors, have not been adhered to by affected companies," the document stated. The initiative, expected to amongst other things, ensure that sound online legal meteorology infrastructure is administered at strategic positions such as production points, wellheads, gathering facilities and export terminals, is aimed at checkmating crude oil theft. It is also meant to initiate proactive weights and measurements standards across all sectors of the economy. The Nigerco document, however, noted that affected companies have often refused to allow access to their measurement facilities.

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court discharges Atuche, wife, others over N25.7bn theft Akeem Nafiu

ustice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court has dismissed a N25.7billion theft charge brought against a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, were charged to the court by the anti-graft agency for allegedly stealing N25.7billion from the bank. The judge freed the trio yesterday after finding that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the prosecution's case lacked merit. Justice Akapo described the case as unmeritorious and dismissed it accordingly.

Akapo said: "I find no merit in the prosecution's application, it is hereby dismissed. The defendants’ application dated November 27, 2013 succeeds". Consequently, the judge made the following orders: "The criminal charge in this suit is hereby struck out and the accused persons namely; Francis Atuche, Elizabeth Atuche and Ugo Anyawu are discharged. "The complainant's notice of preliminary objection, dated December 3, 2013, is hereby dismissed. Lawyers to the defendants, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Mr. Sylvia Ogwemoh (SAN), had earlier asked the court to quash the charge citing the November 21, 2013 Court of Appeal judgement. Idigbe said the appellate court in the judgement struck out the theft charges preferred against a former Managing Direc-

tor of Finbank Plc., Mr. Okey Nwosu and others for lack of jurisdiction. Idigbe argued that Atuche's application was challenging the jurisdiction of the court, insisting that the court lacked the requisite jurisdictional powers to entertain the matter. However, the EFCC, in another application filed by its lawyer, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), asked the court to adjourn ruling on the application indefinitely pending the outcome of the EFCC's appeal against the judgement at the Supreme Court. But Idigbe disagreed,

saying that Atuche's application was on the jurisdiction of the court and that granting EFCC's application will amount to the court already assuming jurisdiction on the matter. He said the fate of his clients could not and should not be tied to the Nwosu judgement appeal at the Supreme Court and urged the court to dismiss the application. Justice Lawal-Akapo, in his ruling, upheld the submissions of the defence that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. "The allegation of purchase of shares and stocks is contained in

15 out of the 27 count charge brought against the accused. The case falls squarely within the precinct of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Okey Nwosu as well as Erastus Akingbola's case. "The decision of the Court of Appeal becomes the extant law on the subject to the effect that any allegation of purchase of shares and stocks in any manner or coloration falls within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. "The Federal High Court as opposed to the State High Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Section 211(d)(h) of the

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The court also held that it is bound by the decisions of a higher court. "However learned a lower court may consider itself to be, the lower court is bound by the decision of the higher court and this is based on the doctrine of stare decisis in the Nigerian legal system. "Consequently, this court is bound by the decision of the Court of Appeal in the Federal Republic of Nigeria v Okey Nwosu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria v Erastus Akingbola."

Jega laments lack of internal democracy in parties Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday lamented the lack of internal democracy in the nation’s political parties and last-minute substitution of candidates before elections. Jega also noted that the party structures in many West African countries are firmer than what is obtainable in Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja during a stakeholders’ conference on 2015 elections, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jega, who was represented by Prof. Mohammed Kuna, an INEC Commissioner, told participants to proffer solutions to absence of internal democracy in political parties. He said: "In the commission, we are worried about internal democracy in political parties. We have seen cases of substitution of candidates after the primaries. It is a serious problem for INEC. We had several cases in 2011 and the same thing happened in 2015. "I think it is important that we look into it. If you look at political parties across West Africa, the party structures in many countries is better than what we have in Nigeria. We will share our experiences with other participants here in order to

deepen democracy." Reacting to INEC's position about the lack of internal democracy in political parties, chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mallam Yinusa Tanko, called for a total overhauling of the existing Electoral Act. According to him, stakeholders must sit and agree on certain areas of the Electoral Act where improvements and changes are required. Tanko said: "We have allowed political parties to be hijacked by individuals. When these individuals take over the structure of the party, they always decide who becomes what. We need to find a mechanism through which political parties will be publicowned institutions. With all due respect, we have improved over time and I believe we can get better. "The only place where you can find true internal democracy are in the smaller political parties. These small parties are not owned by big men. The issue of substitution of candidates comes with Electoral Act. The Act gives a lot of rooms for a number of things. "A case in study is Benue State, where people just jump into political parties and grab the tickets. INEC does not have the powers to effectively manage these things. We are calling for a total overhauling of the Electoral Act. Now, we can all sit down and look at areas of improvements."

L-R: Nassarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Al-Makura; Chairman, LOC International Conference on Disabilities, Lagos, Mr. Ani Charles Bassey-Eyo; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Nony Ugboma; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, at an event in Lagos…yesterday

PDP NWC must go, insist govs, Anenih

lWe won't, says Metuh Iyobosa Uwugiaren Abuja

eoples Democratic Party (PDP), former chairman, Board of Trustee of PDP governors, former Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih and some elders of the party have stepped up plans to reposition the party for what one of them described as ‘’credible opposition role’’ in the current political dispensation. However, they believe the first step in repositioning the party is for all members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to step down from their offices. A source who is privy to the plans, yesterday told New Telegraph in Abuja that "PDP governors and some elders of the party have agreed that there is the urgent need to reposition our party for a credible opposition role in the

present dispensation and for future political challenges. And we agreed that the first step is to ask all members of NWC to step down." It was gathered that the decision to ask all members of NWC to step aside was taken in Abuja last week during a meeting between PDP governors and some selected elders of the party. The source said: "Before former President Goodluck Jonathan left office, after we lost the presidential election, we requested him to summon the NEC meeting of the party to enable us to discuss the outcome of the presidential election and the way forward. But he refused. "And when Adamu Mu’azu and Chief Tony Anenih resigned as the national chairman and the chairman of BoT of our party respectively, some of us again prevailed on

President Jonathan to call NWC meeting to enable us to restructure the party before he leaves office but he was not disposed to it because the acting chairman of PDP advised him against it on the ground that the entire NWC members would be removed. "Now that he (Jonathan) is no longer in office, many of us have agreed to summon NEC meeting to enable us to chart a new agenda for our party." According to the source, the resignation of Mu’azu, as the national chairman of PDP, is not enough to redress the party’s woeful loss in the last general elections. Many leaders of the party, including Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, had also canvassed for Mu’azu’s resignation. The source added, "Our popular view is that the entire NWC should go and that cannot be ques-

tioned; members of NWC who were accused of dirty deals during and after the elections; those of them who supervised and conducted questionable primaries that led to a huge crack in the party before the general elections are still there. This is unacceptable to us.’’ However, the National Publicity secretary of PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, described such an insinuation as idiotic, saying it is not possible. "It is not possible; such a move will be illegal. We just met and many of our members are happy with the new chairman’s direction, especially about what we just witnessed at the National Assembly. "How do you want me to react to this? If I say it is not true now, you will say the national publicity denied the story. I do not want to talk about it. The story does not make any sense to me," he stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA

FGN BOND ISSUANCE CALENDAR FOR THIRD QUARTER, 2015* Original Tenor Wednesday, July 15, 15

Wednesday, August 12, 15

Bond Name

5-Year 15.54% FGN FEB 2020 (Re- Opening)

20-year 12.1493% FGN JUL 2034 (Re-opening)

Term-To-Maturity

4 Years, 7 Months

19 Years

Range of Amount on Offer (N' bil)

35-45

25-35

Original Tenor

5-Year

20-year

Bond Name

15.54% FGN FEB 2020 (Re- Opening)

12.1493% FGN JUL 2034 (Re-opening)

Term-To-Maturity

4 Years, 6 Months

18 Years, 11 Months

Range of Amount on Offer (N' bil)

35-45

25-35

Original Tenor

5-Year

20-year

15.54% FGN FEB 2020 (Re- Opening)

12.1493% FGN JUL 2034 (Re-opening)

Term-To-Maturity

4 Years, 5 Months

18 Years, 10 Month

Range of Amount on Offer (N' bil)

35-45

25-35

Wednesday, September 16, 15 Bond Name

Note: * Important Notice: This Calendar is provisional.

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari orders removal of military checkpoints nationwide Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the dismantling of all military checkpoints on roads across the country. The president gave the directive as a result of the hardship being faced by commuters on the Abuja/Keffi expressway and other parts of the country. Buhari met with the nation's security chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubril and the Chief of Air staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu at the presidential villa where he was briefed on developments regarding strategies to tackle security problems in the country. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were absent at the meeting which lasted for about four hours. Briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the meeting,

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

ENUGU

IBADAN

CALABAR

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

29oC 23oC Storm

29o C 23oC Very Cloudy

18 C 11 C Partially Cloudy

38oC 25oC Mostly Sunny

18oC 11oC Partially Cloudy

29oC 22oC Storm

26oC 16oC Sunny

40oC 28oC Partially Cloudy

27oC 18oC Rain Shower

the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismail, confirmed that a clear instruction has already been given in this regard. He said: "The President had instructed the Chief of Defence Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector General of Police to remove all the military men along the road across the country. "As an alternative arrangement, the police are coming in to take over the internal security."

The Permanent Secretary explained that the Nigerian Armed Forces were very ready to execute the war against insurgency. Ismail said they were in the Presidential Villa to brief the President on further actions and strategies needed to execute the war on Boko haram. "One most interesting thing about it is that we are going out much happier because he (Buhari) has shown to us that he is still a soldier. He has updated and enriched our

strategic plans. "Second item that was discussed is the movement of the command centre to the North-East. We have briefed him on how far we have reached on that and he has given us additional assignment, but very soon the centre will be on. "I also want to assure Nigerians that with what we have come out with from this meeting we are very enthusiastic that the issue of Boko Haram will soon be over. He has given

us hope that we will see peace and security in the very near future. "Now, we have come as a united front, we have Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. We have all strategised and we are coming out with one type of strategy that we are going to address the Boko Haram with unlike before.” He, however, said that there were no discussion on the possible removal of the service chiefs. Following the increas-

ing rate of bomb explosions in Abuja and some parts of the country, the military high command had a few years back ordered the mounting of Army checkpoints on strategic areas to ensure the safety of citizens. However, Buhari during the meeting said that military checkpoints could be retained in areas outside the North-Eastern states where the military considered them absolutely essential for the maintenance of national security.

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam; Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Muhtar Usman; Global Coordinator, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Mr. Michael Vreedenburgh and Acting Head, Aeromedical Standards Department (NCAA), Dr. Wilfred Haggai, during ICAO team’s visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

National Assembly leaders emerge today Chukwu David and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

s the Senate resumes plenary today, there are indications that principal officers of the Upper Chamber would emerge from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucuses. The Senate had gone on a two-week recess a day after its inauguration on June 9, to enable the National Assembly management to prepare and allocate offices and seats in the chamber. The APC caucus is expected to produce the Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senate Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip while the PDP caucus would produce the Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip. New Telegraph learnt that the APC caucuses met at the residence of the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja for hours to finalise

the list of senators that would emerge to fill the vacant leadership offices in the Eighth Senate. It was also gathered that the PDP Caucus met at a venue in Abuja, to also put final touches on the list of those who would emerge to occupy the minority leadership positions in the Senate. Senators Bukola Saraki (APC, Kwara Central) and Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) were elected on June 9 as the President of the Senate and the Deputy President of the Senate respectively. Investigations carried out by our correspondent yesterday indicated that the PDP caucus would present Senators James Manager (Delta South), Phillip Aduda (FCT), Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central), and Joshua Lidani (Gombe South) to lead the opposition. It was gathered that the refusal of former Senate President David Mark to become the Minority Leader, being the most ranking senator, made the mantle to fall on Manager, who is now the most ranking senator from the South-South geopolitical zone.

Some senators who attended the meeting said the emergence of Ekweremadu as Deputy President of the Senate affected the chances of Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South). Abaribe was initially tipped to emerge as Deputy Minority Leader, in case Ekweremadu had declined the offer of Minority Leader being a fourth-term senator. But with the emergence of Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, and going by the zoning principle, which has not been jettisoned in sharing of principal offices in the Senate by the PDP, the Deputy President of the Senate has taken the slot for the South-East, thereby blocking the chances of Abaribe from becoming a principal officer in the Senate. The controversy over whether the party leaders in APC should produce the four principal officers in the majority or whether the party's caucus should take up the responsibility, might have been resolved as the issue was reportedly settled at yesterday's meeting in Abuja. The senators loyal to Senator Ahmad Lawan,

under the aegis of Senate Unity Forum, had insisted that the party leaders would present the four principal officers but loyalists of Saraki on the platform of Like Minds Senators kicked against the arrangement. They insisted that the zonal caucuses would decide their leaders. Our correspondent further learnt that Oyegun met for many hours behind closed doors with both the Saraki and Lawan camps to resolve the crisis. A source at the meeting said Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) might become the Senate Leader while Senator Ahmed Yerima would become his deputy. The source also added that the caucus agreed to present Lawan and Senator George Akume as the Majority Whip and Deputy Majority Whip respectively. The Senate President would read the list containing names of the principal officers from both caucuses at the resumed sitting today. The new leadership of the Senate would, according to sources, be saddled

with the task of constituting the Committees of the Senate that would produce the list of senators that would make up the 54 standing committees. The committee would in collaboration with the principal officers, compile the list of the chairmen, deputy chairmen and membership of the committees to drive the legislative agenda of the Senate. There are also indications that President Muhammadu Buhari might forward the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for necessary consideration this week. It was learnt that Oyegun met with the leaders of both chambers of the National Assembly at his residence in Asokoro. A source said Saraki has resolved his differences with the leadership of the party. "I'm not privy to the details of the meeting, but the Senate President has resolved his differences with the party," the source said. New Telegraph reporter saw the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuf leaving Oyegun’s residence.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 23, 2015

'Why development financing confab is strategic'

he UN SecretaryGeneral, Ban KiMoon, yesterday said the success of the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD) in July was key to meeting the financing challenges of international developmental projects. This was contained in a document made available to UN correspondents by UN Spokesman, Stephane DuJarric in New York. It quoted Ban as saying this during a meeting with Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel. It was important for stakeholders to continue to meet with a view to finding solutions to the challenges facing the financing of global development efforts He expressed his appreciation for Luxembourg’s important commitment to global development aid and the European Union's leadership in reaching a meaningful agreement on climate change in Paris. The conference, convened by the UN, in Addis Ababa, is to discuss financing for the post2015 agenda on sustainable development.

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

s the debate for the need to reduce the number of ministries to cut cost of governance rages, some legal luminaries are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have to appoint a minister from every state to satisfy the provision of section 147 of the constitution. The lawyers who gave their opinions on the issue over the weekend, expressed disappointment over the misconception

that the president is under obligation to have at least, 36 ministers, who will represent every state of the federation, arguing that this was not the intendment of the framers of the constitution. Emeka Jideani, an anti-corruption crusader and a lawyer, in his submission, observed that the decision of President Buhari to reduce the size

Akure

arely 24 hours after the executive Secretary of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) was kidnapped, former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Albert Ilemobade was yesterday kidnapped. Ilemode was abducted alongside his gate keeper at his Ijapo, Akure, the Ondo State capital residence.

mand, Mr Wole Ogogo, said the Command had commenced investigation on the matter Ogogo, who spoke on the telephone said : "We learnt about the incident and the command has begun full investigation on the matter and very soon we shall secure the release of the Prof " A source within the family said the abductors had not contacted the family on whereabouts of the Ilemode, who was the Vice Chancellor of FUTA between 1987 and 1995 and his aide.

Police quiz EEDC area manager, accountant, others Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

he Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Anambra State, yesterday arrested the Manager of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, South East Zone, Mr. Kingsley Ajah and his Accountant over allegation of fraud and financial mismanagement.

of the federal cabinet is being frustrated by misinterpretation of the constitution. "My frustration was given fillip to by the fact that senior learned SANs (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) and other knowledgeable Nigerians have allowed this misconception to persist," Jideani noted. He said by the provision of Section 5 of the

constitution, the executive powers of the federation is vested, not on the office of the president or presidency, but in the person of the president. This, he said, is quite unlike the legislative powers which is vested in the National Assembly (not senate president or speaker of the House of Representatives) and judicial powers which is vested in the courts creat-

L-R: Director-General, National Centre for Women Development, Onyeka Onwenu; founder, Society for Civic Responsibility in Nigeria, Kate Nwankwo and UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Grace Ongile, at the Commemoration of World Refugees Day in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

It was gathered the house help of the septuagenarian don raised the alarm when she woke up in the morning and could not find her boss in the room. After the abduction, the hoodlums were reported to have abandoned the vehicle of the professor on Ijare road in Ifedore Local Government area of the state, leaving the four doors open. In his reaction to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Com-

A New Telegraph reporter, who visited the EEDC Area office in Onitsha, reports that the manager was arrested and taken away in company with his accountant in a police utility vehicle NPP 5777 D and PF 3078 SPY at about 11:30am. The office of the Corporate Affairs/Administration Officer, was under lock and key as most of the senior officers of the

Buhari doesn’t need 36 ministers, says legal experts

Former FUTA VC kidnapped Babatope Okeowo

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company were said to have gone into hiding. However, a dependable source and a contractor to the company, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that one of the contractors, had before the takeover of the PHCN by the EEDC contracted and duped some occupants of Anam Street in Omagba Phase II in Onitsha North Local Government Area.

ed under the constitution (not the Chief Justice of Nigeria). "This power may be exercised by the president directly or indirectly. If the president wants to exercise this power indirectly, he must do so through one or a combination of more than one of three categories of persons as mandated by the constitution. These are: the Vice President, Ministers of Government and Officers of the public service of the federation," he further stated. According to him, the constitution did not make it compulsory that the president must create office of the minister but rather in section 147, the constitution provided that the president "may establish any number of office of Ministers as he in his absolute discretion desires. It states in Section 147(1), 'there shall be such offices of ministers of the government of the federation as may be established by the President.'" He argued that if the president, in line with the section of the constitution, decides to establish seven ministries, "will it not be absurd for him to thereafter appoint 36 ministers for the seven ministries (as contemplated by the proviso to section 147(3)?"

Kashamu: AGF, NDLEA know fate today Akeem Nafiu

ustice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos will today rule on an application initiated by the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, seeking to commit former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Bello Adoke (SAN), and chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, to prison. The judge fixed today for judgement after listening to the arguments by parties in the matter. Kashamu had dragged the duo to court in the aftermath of the plan by them to extradite him to the United States to answer to drug-related charges. In the application, it was argued that the former AGF and the NDLEA Chairman had through their actions violated the existing court order which barred them from

taking steps at arresting him for an extradition to the United States. He is seeking a court declaration that the invasion, destruction of properties, harassment, humiliation, arrest and his detention by the NDLEA at the instance of the AGF from Saturday, May 23, 2015, and any extradition proceeding commenced thereupon undermined the integrity of the judicial process invoked in suit number: FHC/L/ CS/49/2010 and FHC/L/ CS/508/2015, and the judicial power exercised by the court's judgement of January 6, 2014, and order of the court of April 4, 2015. During yesterday's proceedings, Justice Buba dismissed an oral application for stay of proceedings made by AGF's lawyer, Emeka Ngige(SAN). The silk had earlier informed the court that an appeal has been lodged against an order issued on June 8 by Justice Buba, wherein the Federal Government and the NDLEA

were restrained from taking further steps on Kashamu's extradition to the United States pending the hearing and determination of his contempt application against the AGF and Giade. While dismissing the oral application, the judge said it is capable of dragging the court to the merit of the contempt proceedings. Oral applications for adjournment by both the AGF and NDLEA lawyers were also dismissed by the court. Afterwards, the judge equally dismissed a motion by the NDLEA seeking to set aside the earlier orders of the court which directed the agency to vacate Kashamu's residence. NDLEA is equally seeking for the vacation of the order restraining it from doing anything to effect the arrest of Kashamu for onward extradition to the United States to face trial over alleged drug-related offences.

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Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

resident Muhammadu Buhari cannot achieve effective service delivery without a reconciled National Assembly, where everybody will work together as a unit, Senator Shehu Sani warned yesterday. Sani, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, described the Senate leadership election that produced Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sen Ike Ekwer-

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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N’Assembly crisis may hamper Buhari’s performance, says senator emadu of the PDP as the Deputy Senate President as unfortunate. The senator, who made this known during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Kaduna State Council, noted that Nigerians elected APC in order to have members of the party driving both the Execu-

tive and legislative arms of government. “It is true that APC is facing serious postelection crisis due to challenges in uniting all APC members. Mistakes were made, and we are facing revolution crisis but we will overcome it. Those from the PDP who think they can use the opportunity to bring themselves back

to power are mistaken,’’ he pointed out. While admitting that there were flaws in the election and APC had to share positions with the PDP, Sani said that this is ‘’the reality and we have to move forward. We would confront the challenge and walk through the landmines for the realisation of the goals of our party.”

Sani further said senators have no plan to impeach Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu as the collective resolve is for them to accept the reality and see how they can work together to avoid overheating the polity and distracting President Buhari in the process. On the jumbo allowances of the lawmakers,

Sani said that ‘’there are many ways of cutting cost and increasing revenue; by ending waivers on our imports, diversifying revenue generation, ending oil theft and bunkering, ending waste and ending duplication of public services.” According to the senator, he supports sacrifice from members of the National Assembly as part of efforts in reviving the Nigerian economy, but added that that does not mean they should be impoverished in the name of cutting cost.

Nigeria, Mexico trade volume hits $575m

he trade volume between Nigeria and Mexico grew by 245 per cent from $166.5 million in 2012 to $575 million in 2014. The Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Amb. Marco Blanco, told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that Nigeria was Mexico’s largest trade partner in Africa. Blanco said Nigeria and Mexico signed four trade agreements in December 2014 to strengthen the trade bilateral relationship between the two countries. “Our bilateral trade, if L-R: Head, Retail Directorate, Diamond Bank Plc, Aisha Ahmad; Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Ayona Trimnell and well still incipient, went Founder/Artistic Director, Tiffany Amber, Folake Coker, during the bank’s Women of Vision Forum in Lagos…yesterday. from $166.5 million in 2012 PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI to $575 million in 2014, which is equivalent to a growth of 245.43 per cent. This amount is the largEzeani stated that luck est record historically. By police officer to unlawfully The state Commands Cephas Iorhemen detain the pastor and his PPRO, Austin Ezeani, however ran out of the its total trade, in 2014, NiMakurdi wife for six days without gave the names of other kidnappers as they were bail because they were two accused as Oscar arrested at police checkMakurdi High Court owing him three hundred Ezeala, and a patent point near the Air force Judge, Justice Samthousand naira (N 300, medicine dealer, Sunday Base. son Itodo, yesterday or000) without investigation Emeka. He said, a revolver dered the Nigeria Police, whether the matter was The PPRO explained pistol and eight rounds Benue State Command to Tony Okuyeme civil or criminal in nature. that the accused who of ammunition and a pay N 1000, 000 to Pastor SiThe court also noted kidnapped the house- bus were recovered from mon Eze and his wife Anhe Chairman Copythat Mr. Elezuwa also wife, confronted her close them, adding that one tonia for unlawful arrest right Society of Nigegave the money to the to her residence as she of them, Joseph Emeka, and detention for six days. pastor and his wife on closed from the church confessed that he was a ria (COSON), Chief Tony Delivering judgement loan which they were yet and took over her Siena deserted military officer, Okoroji, has expressed in the suit filed by John bus and forced her into who ran from fighting profound sadness at the to pay back. Igbabo, on behalf of the In another develop- the back seat at gunpoint. Boko Haram in Borno passing away of the iconic plaintiffs claiming N10, composer, instrumentalist ment, the state police He further explained State. 000, 000 for violation of and performer, Dr. Adamu command has arrested that people raised an The PPRO said two of their fundamental human three persons including alarm and contacted that the kidnappers escaped Dan Maraya Jos. rights under section 35 of Okoroji, who is away in a deserted military of- police which swung into including a serving milithe 1999 constitution, Jusficer, Lance Corporal Jo- action and pursued the tary officer attached to 82 Europe said that he was tice Itodo noted that their seph Emeka for armed kidnappers, who dropped Division Enugu, adding shattered at the news of the detention from 18th to robbery, kidnapping of a the housewife at Wuru- that the military authori- death of the great musician 24th of April last year by housewife, Mrs. Suswam kum roundabout and ties have been contacted celebrated across the couna police officer, Mr. Barn Audu of behind Modern headed towards Gboko to help the police investi- try and beyond. Elezuwa was unlawful Noting that for many Market Makurdi. road. gate the incident. and a breach of their funyears, he has had a special damental human rights. Justice Itodo said there was no justification for Elezuwa to report the matter to the police as it over an alleged refusal to suit are a former finance message for Dr. Goodluck was a ploy to recover his Foluso Ogunmodede offset a N70 million debt minister and ex-president Jonathan before the last debts from the plaintiffs, ll is now set for a case incurred in the 2015 elec- Goodluck Jonathan’s Di- presidential election. rector of Finance, Senator Although no date has explaining that it was a initiated by Silon tions. been fixed for hearing, civil matter and the peti- Concepts Limited (SCL) An Abuja High Court Nenadi Usman. They are to explain Justice Ishaq Bello has tion was baseless and not against a former Peoples has fixed the matter for justified. Democratic Party (PDP) July 6, following its as- before the court why they assigned the matter. allegedly refused to pay SCL had headed for chairman and Director- signment by the Chief The trial judge con- General of the defunct Judge of the Federal for services rendered by court following the aldemned the situation presidential campaign Capital Territory, Justice a company duly engaged leged refusal of Ali and and commissioned to Usman to pay for the serwhereby the first respon- organization, Dr. Ahma- Ishaq Bello. dents used his position as a du Ali and his party, PDP Also included in the broadcast a campaign vice allegedly rendered

Court orders Benue police to pay N1m for unlawful arrest

geria was the main trade partner of Mexico in Africa, surpassing South Africa,” he said. Blanco said as at 2011, Nigeria and Mexico had no bilateral agreements. He said things had changed as the two countries now have nine bilateral agreements and identified 11 more instruments, which he said were at their final stages of negotiation. “Once we finish this process, Nigeria and Mexico will have a legal framework to regulate and promote their bilateral relationship,” her said. To further strengthen the bilateral trade relations, the envoy said the Nigerian-Mexican Chamber of Commerce was launched in December 2014.

Okoroji calls for immortalisation of Dan Maraya Jos

relationship with the great Dan Maraya Jos, he said: “I remain a fan of his, mystified by his stupendous talent. He was my friend in all seasons. Throughout my tenure as president of PMAN up to my present period as Chairman of COSON, Dan Maraya was an unflinching supporter, always urging me on. The news of his death has left me numb. Dan Maraya was not just a great talent but an incredibly polished gentleman, humble beyond belief. His yes was his yes and every word of his was a bond.

N70m debt: Court to hear case against PDP, Ali, others

during the presidential election. In a release by its lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the suit became inevitable as the PDP, Ali and Usman “have refused to pay an outstanding N70million balance for a campaign contract awarded it by the PDP Presidential campaign organization.”

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 23, 2015

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Ozekhome tasks CCB access to declared assets Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

onstitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome has charged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to grant unhindered access to any person who seeks for information concerning any declared assets of public servants without erecting unnecessary legal bottlenecks. This was as he said that professional valuers such as the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) should be contracted to carry out professional and periodic valuation of declared assets of public servants with a view of exposing any discrepancy. According to him, verification of the declarations is a necessary element for ensuring the integrity of the data saying, “if the content of the declarations are not verified, it is impossible to use the assets declaration system as a strategy for detecting and combating corruption”. It would be recalled that NIESV had written the Bureau on the need to engage the services of qualified estate surveyors and valuers to confirm the actual value of assets declared by public office holders.

Ozekhome, who stated this yesterday in Abuja at the first 2015 National Mandatory Continuing Seminar organised by NIESV, also charged the National Assembly to enact laws that would make it mandatory for public servants to publicly declare their assets. "The importance of verifying data submitted at the CCB is even of utmost importance in a country like Nigeria where corruption is high and the accountability

ultiChoice Nigeria, promoters of DStv, have promised to cooperate with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), which recently announced its intention to probe alleged consumer rights violations by the pay-TV company. MultiChoice was responding to media reports on Monday that a notice of commencement of investigation

Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) to the Federal High Court in Lagos over nonappointment of ministers one month after his inauguration. Buhari was sworn on May 29, 45 days after he emerged winner of the March 28 presidential

and to ensure that the actions and behaviour of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability”, then, it must in principle, regard any person demanding to access the asset declared by any public officer as a fellow labourer in the vineyard of the war against corruption and unjust enrichment. “The Bureau must therefore, work tirelessly to make sure that the unfettered access granted to

the citizenry by the Freedom of Information Act to access any information regarding assets declaration from the Code of Conduct Bureau is not jeopardised by any restrictive interpretation of the law. Further, if the Bureau must achieve its aim of curtailing corruption through under declaration or over acquisition of assets by public officers, then it must necessarily partner with professional bodies like Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers so as to be a step ahead of dubious declarations by unscrupulous public servants".

Mojeed Alabi

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola and representative of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Inuwa Abass, at the 7th Kafaru Olawale Tinubu Memorial Ramadan Lecture, in Lagos

into a range of alleged customer rights violations had been served on it by the CPC. In a statement issued on Monday, the pay-TV provider said it recognises the role of the CPC as the body established to ensure the respect of consumer rights, welcomes its intervention and is willing to cooperate fully with the CPC when it begins its investigation.

Adegboruwa sues Buhari, AGF over cabinet Akeem Nafiu

cannot afford to lag behind in its anti-corruption war. If the country must make genuine strides in the fight against corruption, assets declaration can be a veritable tool in such a fight. If the Code of Conduct Bureau is to effectively carry out one of its aims as encased in the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act, which, as stated by Section 2 of the Act, is “to establish and maintain a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business

Bill Gates donates $3m to agric research in Nigeria, others

Improved service: MultiChoice to work with CPC

of public officers is low. Verification of data for the purpose of identifying false reporting and corruption is therefore crucial,” Ozekhome stressed. In a paper delivered on his behalf by Godwin Iyinbor titled, “Asset Declaration as a veritable anti-corruption option”, he noted that the Courts should not tarry in granting any application made to it by any citizen demanding to know the declared assets of public servants. His words: “Nigeria

election. The suit was brought under Sections 140, 147, 148 and 150 of the 1999 constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. In the suit, Adegboruwa is claiming to be aggrieved and concerned over the way and manner President Muhammadu Buhari runs and administers the affairs of this country as “lone ranger and in a dictatorial manner contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Insurgency: 47,000 persons displaced daily — Perm Sec Ladi Patrick ABUJA

he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Jamila Shu’ara has disclosed that over 47,000 people are forced to flew their ancestral homes on a daily basis as a result of the current security challenge in the North East and other natural disasters to migrate to other places. Shu’ara who made the disclosure at the just concluded 2015 World Refugee Day commemoration in Abuja, noted that in 2014 more than 16million people were displaced and a lot of these victims are children. Her words: “Each year many people migrate from their ancestral homes as a result of sometimes natural disaster and even poverty, according to the United Nations 10 years ago 37.5m people were displaced due to war. “Presently over 47,000

people are displaced every day, which have not been witnessed before in our history. Each year many people migrate from their ancestral homes as a result of sometimes natural disaster and even poverty.” The issues of refugees and displaced persons have become a major concern globally because of the negative effects on humanity. The Federal Government in collaboration with United Nations High Commission Refugee (UNHCR) and other stakeholders to provide succour for refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). She however said the theme of the occasion which is “Ordinary people living through extraordinary times” is apt. “For us as Nigerians must do our paths to encourage the younger generations to respect other people’s opinion as well as cultivate the culture of peace and dialogue”. In her remarks, the Federal Commissioner

for Refugees in National Commission for Refugees Migrants and internally Displaced Persons, Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa noted that hundreds of Nigerian citizens are now seeking asylum in neighbouring countries. According to her, “We all have a moral obligation and the responsibility to lend a helping hand to people who must flee as a result of conflict”. Gangiwa noted that the commission is committed to seeking lasting and durable solutions. “Domestically, we are committed to offering protection to genuine refugees and ensuring that we strengthen our International commitments and humanitarian traditions. “The Federal Government of Nigeria appreciates the support and assistance of all UN Agencies, NGOs, CSOs and other development partners towards their prompts intervention, protection and assistance of persons of concern in Nigeria”.

owards achieving food security and increased agricultural productions in Nigeria and other West African countries, the American business magnate and computer programmer, Bill Gates has given about 3million dollars in grant to a research group on root and tuber virus epidemiology. The grant, which was released to the sub-regional research organization - West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), will be used to put adequate measures in place against virile diseases affecting roots and tubers, including the dangerous Cassava Brown Streak Virus, which is reportedly ravaging the East African sub-region, particularly Congo Republic. This was revealed yesterday during the launching of one of Nigeria’s research hubs at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, where stakeholders across the sub-region and representatives of different states across the southwest and north central parts of Nigeria were in attendance. The Team Leader for the university’s hub, Dr. Angela Eni, who disclosed this, said the research was to prepare the sub-region and particularly Nigeria against the outbreak of dangerous diseases, saying virile diseases are the most difficult threats to human life. While announcing the launching of the hub, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo noted that the larger percentage of universities concentrate their vision on engineering and agriculture.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Killed for asking for dance

FATAL DANCE A man loses his life for asking a girl to join him on the dance floor at a birthday party Taiwo Jimoh

uspected members of a cult group have snapped a man’s neck and dumped his body inside a swimming pool. The offence of the victim, Adeleke Awosiga, was that he asked the girlfriend of one of the cult members for a dance. Awosiga was murdered at Isheri area of Lagos State on June 13, around 4pm, at a birthday party. A witness said trouble started after Awosiga approached the celebrant’s girlfriend, Rashida Oponmiga, and requested to have a dance with her. “The lady, however, declined. This apparently annoyed the cult members who had been urging him to join them and had tagged him an enemy after he refused. “One of the cult members, Iyanu Liasu, slapped Awosiga for asking Rashida for a dance. This led to a fight be-

tween Liasu and Awosiga,” the witness said. The lady in question is the girlfriend of the celebrant, Anu Olokodana, popularly known as ‘T-Fire’. When the uproar was getting too noisy, the hotel management ordered everyone out of its vicinity. When Awosiga was sent out of the hotel along with his friends, they moved towards the swimming pool area. This was where Awosiga was killed and his body dumped inside the pool. The father of the deceased, Mr Adeyemi Awosiga, said: “I was told that the celebrants and the cult members pounced on my son and held him while one Liasu twisted his neck. They later pushed him into the hotel swimming pool. They fled thereafter.” The matter was later reported at the Isheri Police Division. The police recovered his body and deposited it at Military Hospital Mortuary, Yaba. Since Awosiga’s murder, Liasu and Rashida have been on the run. Two of the gang members were, however, arrested. The mother of the deceased, Mrs Ololade Awosiga, said: “I want the killers of my son to

Passenger dies inside taxi Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

The late Awosiga

be brought to book. I never knew his friends were cult members.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed

the incident. He added that the two suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

here was confusion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday when a passenger died mysteriously inside a taxi. The passenger, identified as Michael Hogan, boarded the taxi to Abeokuta from Odeda in Odeda Local Government Area of the state before suddenly giving up the ghost. It was learnt that the taxi driver, whose name could not be ascertained, got to know about the death when the passenger did not alight at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta. The driver immediately raised the alarm which attracted passers-by. He initially abandoned his taxi and attempted to flee the scene but was encouraged by sympathisers to carry the remains of the deceased to the nearest police station. It was, however, learnt that Hogan was hurrying to the home of a herbal vendor in Abeokuta to buy medicine before he succumbed to the cold hands of death.

Five in court IG ‘demobilises’ 56 squadron commanders over corruption for theft of N20m shoes Juliana Francis

he Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has demobilised about 56 squadron commanders of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) over corruption allegations. A police source said that the IG’s move was not only connected with corruption, but that some of the commanders were incompetent and unprofessional.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

The affected men would go back to being regular police officers. The move also followed Arase’s vow to sanitise the police, beginning with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the federation and PMF. A top police officer, attached to the Force Headquarters who pleaded anonymity, described the removal of the 56 squadron commanders as a right move. He said: “Most of these officers have abandoned their responsibilities and became business moguls. In the past, some corrupt IGs used to take about N5 million from each of officers who wanted to be squadron commanders.” The police source said Arase’s action could be compared with what former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, did to Oshodi, Lagos. He added: “Don’t forget that Oshodi used to be a haven for miscreants, criminals, prostitutes and disgruntled elements for over 36 years. No succes-

Camillus Nnaji

IG, Arase

sive government of the state ever took a decisive action on Oshodi until Fashola. This is exactly what happened to our PMF unit of the force. Some of these officers have turned themselves into importers and exporters. What the IG did is a very good step in the right

direction.” A squadron commander, who wished not to be named, said: “I applaud the move of the IG. He should, however, rejig and reposition the operational wing of the police to confront contemporary national security challenges.”

ive persons appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for stealing a truck load of shoes valued at N20 million, property of one Abba Rabiu of 1, Tundu Wada area of Kano, Kano State. The accused are Kabiru Usman (29), Ikemefuna Okafor (41), Ndubisi Ani (31) and Nonso Nneji (29). The police prosecutor, ASP Samson Ekikere, told the court that Usman was hired and paid N6 million to clear the container but he reneged. However, after he learnt that another person had been hired to clear the goods, he went and stole them from where they were kept at Afromedia Continental Warehouse, Okokomaiko, Lagos. According to the prosecutor, the accused went to sell the goods to Nneji, a businessman in Onisha. Other defendants were arrested as accomplices.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Car robbers drive into police net Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he police yesterday said they had arrested a member of the bandits who kidnapped an expatriate and killed a police corporal. The corporal, Apogu Dzakwa with F/NO 381387, was shot dead on May 18, around 11:30am on Ayere-Ajowa Road in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, who disclosed this, said the corporal was on escort duties to one Karunadasa Dorawaka of Boroni Prono Construction Company Limited, an expatriate. According to Ojukwu, the expatriate was equally kidnapped by bandits. Ojukwu explained that on June 13, around 0200 hours, operatives of the Special Squad, acting on a tip-off, arrested one Isa Omouya aka ‘Cat or Sunday Moscow,’ aged 36 years of Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The suspects and the stolen vehicle, yesterday

the woman and her child to the expressway where they were dumped by the roadside before zooming off. The trio raced towards Ibadan Road with the plan of traversing the city and face Ikirun.” Nemesis, however, caught up with the robbers as they were arrested at the Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan in the early hours of yesterday by the Ambush Squad of the Oyo State Police Command. They were arrested during a stop-and-search operation. According to the police, items recovered from the suspects include one English made cut-to-size single-barrelled gun, one kitchen knife, five cartridges, one Samsung Duos, one Black Berry Touch 2 and some charms. One of the suspects,

Quadri, who introduced himself as a trained turner but presently a farmer, said he was invited by his friends to Sagamu from Ede on Saturday for the Sunday evening operation. The suspect said they trailed the woman to her house at Agura in Sagamu. According to him, as she was about driving into the compound, they caught up with her on the motorcycles they rode and snatched the SUV. He said: “About 8pm on Sunday, the leader of the gang came to convey us on ‘okada’ (motorcycle) to the place. We got to the place we were to carry out the task about 9pm. “At the time we got there, the woman was just being

driven into her house. As the driver opened the gate, our okada went in with her. We asked her to come down and one of us pointed the gun to the young man that drove the SUV. “The driver surrendered. The woman carried a baby and my colleagues wanted to beat her but I stopped them from doing so. The woman said she was just returning from Lagos where she had gone to pick her grandchild. “We entered the car and drove the woman and the driver away from the house. We eventually dropped them at Ogere, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. That was my first time in Sagamu and that was the first time I participated in armed robbery.”

Police, hoodlums clash in Lagos

Lagos CP, Aderanti

Taiwo Jimoh

here was confusion at the ‘Tollgate’ area of Onipanu in Lagos as some suspected hoodlums clashed with policemen. Many residents were said to have been injured as the mobile policemen shot into the air to prevent the hood-

Gunmen kill corporal, abduct expatriate Juliana Francis

olice yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State arrested three suspected inter-state armed robbers who had robbed a nursing mother of her car in Ogun state. The suspects are identified as Fatai Ademola (24), a native of Ikirun who resides in Sagamu, Ogun State; Jimoh Quadri (25), native of Ede; and Azeez Omotoso (25), a native of Agbeye, Odo-Otin, but resident in Kaara area of Sagamu. The trio had trailed their target, an unnamed woman, to her Sagamu residence about 8.30pm on Sunday and at gun point dispossessed her of her Toyota Highlander ‘jeep’ with registration number KJA 418 AW. The suspects were paraded yesterday by the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Katsina, at the state Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. Katsina, who was represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the suspects had bargained a deal with a buyer at Ikirun in Osun State. According to him, the would-be buyer was anxiously awaiting delivery of the vehicle. The commissioner said the woman was waiting in the car for the gateman to open the gate for her when the robbers jumped inside the car. He said: “Azeez had confessed that he mounted the steering wheel, and carried

City Briefs

lums from taking over the control of the Onipanu ‘Tollgate’. It was gathered that the hoodlums were protesting the arrest of some of their colleagues by a task force, which raided criminals’ hideout in the area. Some of the hoodlums were said to be terrorising

the residents of Somolu and Onipanu areas. The policemen had to send for reinforce from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Alakara Divisional Police Station and Ilupeju Police Station, before normalcy could return to the area. A resident of the area, who spoke on the condition anonymity, said: “Some policemen came and raided a shopping complex, where the hoodlums use as their hideout.” He added that the policemen attached to the task force succeeded in arresting hoodlums, who were accused of harbouring some cult members. Hardly had the cult members left, when the hoodlums attacked the policemen, who were stationed around the toll gate to forestall clashes between the different factions of hoodlums. The hoodlums, said to be

armed with guns, broken bottles and other dangerous weapons, reportedly engaged the police team in a gun battle. Another resident, who spoke on the condition anonymity, said the mobile policemen who were stationed at the tollgate were attacked by the hoodlums. He said: “I was in my shop close to the tollgate when the mobile policemen stationed at the tollgate chased the hoodlums away. The hoodlums regrouped and attacked the Amour Personnel Carrier (APC) of the mobile policemen parked at the tollgate.” When our correspondent visited the tollgate area, some passers-by were asked to raise their hands over their heads while the policemen subjected them to thorough searching. A resident, Mr Joshua Akindele, said the spate of killing in Mushin and its environs was becoming unbearable.

No respite yet for suspected homosexuals Eche Nwaobasi Nnewi

n Onitsha Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Mrs Nkemdilim Ikeh yesterday refused to grant bail to two people accused of being homosexuals, Mr Ebuka Anyansi (23) and Michael Ikegbunam (19). The two men were arraigned last Monday but the magistrate fixed yesterday for hearing of their application for bail and ordered them to be remanded in prison custody. However, when the case came up for hearing yesterday, Ikeh asked them to be returned to prison until July 1 for ruling on their bail application. This came after the magistrate heard and received written addresses from two defence counsel for the accused, Mr J. U. Chukwuma for the first defendant and Mr J. O. Odoh for the second defendant. The counsel supported their application with a 12-paragraph affidavit.

TREM holds 2015 word celebration

his year’s edition of the Word Celebration, organised by The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) will hold from June 23 to 28 at the church headquarters, the Cathedral of His Glory, Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Lagos. With the theme: “There is a Lifting,” the opening ceremony will kick today by 4.30pm. Other special activities lined up for the four-day event include a special International Women Prayer Conference billed for Thursday; free medical screening for all participants in the conference while the programme will end on Sunday with the Father’s blessing to be performed by Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of TREM and the chief host of the four-day celebration of “power in the word”. The men and women of God from across the globe expected to minister at the programme are Bishop Okonkowo and his wife, Bishop Peace Okonkwo; Bishop Wayne Malcom from the United Kingdom (UK); Rev Edith Iloh and Rev Deola Ojo.

News

SOUTH WEST

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osun restates commitment to pay workers’ salaries Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Chapter of the All P r o g r e s s ive s Congress (APC), yesterday reassured the state workers that the Aregbesola led administration will pay them all the outstanding salaries at the end of this month. The party Chairman, Prince Adegboyega Famodun, who made these known in a press confer-

ence in Osogbo, described the delay in paying the workers in the state as unfortunate and most regrettable. He said: The workers are our people. They are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends and relation. They are part of the people who freely gave us the mandate to govern and more importantly, they are also the people of the state who we govern and to whom we have responsibilities – to provide welfare

and protection”. “Their concerns are our concerns and we will stand by them, fight for them and go to any length to find solution to the current problem of delay in paying their salaries.” “We are comforted that Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has promised to pay them at the end of the month. by the grace of God, he will not fail.” Speaking on the circumstances that led to the delay in salaries, Famodun pointed out that, it was not

the making of the state government. He explained that state government has a track record of taking care of its workers and would have averted the current ugly development, if it could do so. He said: Don’t forget that for four consecutive years since December 2010, the government has paid 13th month salary to workers and has upwardly reviewed monthly pension from N200 million to N520 million.”

“On the other hand, while salaries and emoluments was N1.4 billion when we came in November 2010, it stands today at N3.6 billion, following the increase in minimum wage in 2012.” “We were told by the Goodluck Jonathan led PDP administration in 2013 that the stealing of 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily (in the full glare of law enforcement agencies) was responsible for the fall in allocation. That was before the crash in the price

of oil almost a year later.” “However, the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, now the Emir of Kano got into trouble and was unceremoniously removed from office when he alleged that $20 billion oil money was not remitted into the Federation Account by the NNPC.” “That is roughly equivalent to N4 trillion. A forensic audit carried out by Price Waterhouse Cooper later confirmed this allegation, although attempts were made to cover it up.”

Alake harps on agric entrepreneurship

he Alake of the Egba Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, , has lauded the vision of the Oodua Youths Congress (OYC), to liberate Yoruba youths from impoverishment and engage them in self-advancement through entrepreneurial support and empowerment programmes. The Alake, commended the group when its leaders paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Ake, Abeokuta recently. The monarch, who said he was highly impressed with the youths focus, especially coming at a time when millions of Nigerian youths were facedwith uncertainties due to the alarming rate of unemployment, gave his full support to the various empowerment programmes of the OYC particularly, the agric-business and entrepreneurship development programmes of the group which aims to support over 600,000 youths from the south-west region in the next two years. Oba Gbadebo charged the youths leaders to re-

main focused in their bid to ensure the Yoruba youths’ way out of poverty as he pledged his total support whenever needed. He called on government at different levels to invest in Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which he said has the capacity to generate millions of employments and huge revenue for government. Mr. Moronkeji Oladapo, President of the OYC, while commending the Alake for the time given to them, noted that Yoruba youths have continued to face huge socio-economic challenges and felt it was hightime they led efforts to genuinely empower themselves. He assured the OYC is committed to reposition Yoruba youths for greater economic empowerment through deliberate engagement with stakeholders at various levels and increased access to decent employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support, civic participation, protection of vulnerable youths, health and innovative poverty eradication initiatives.

Lordship mentality, bane of Nigeria’s democracy –Cleric Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

university lecturer, Dr. Murtada Badmus, has said democracy was not bringing the needed development to Nigeria because those occupying public offices prefer to lord themselves on the people rather than lead. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, while delivering a lecture titled “Islam and governance” at the Akinbami Central Mosque, Zone 3, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State University lecturer, traced the myriad of problems confronting the nation to dearth of genuine leaders. The Muslim cleric, who is a lecturer in the Department of Religion Studies, EKSU, Ado-

Ekiti spoke during the First Ramadan Lecture initiated by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Ekiti State Chapter. Badmus said that Nigeria’s democracy failed to bring about the required development and economic reforms because public officers preferred to rule rather than leading the people. The lecturer stated that the Shariah Law also underscores the principle of good governance and preserves the rights and religions of citizens under a Shariah Government. Unlike democracy, the lecturer said sovereignty belongs to God under the Islamic System of government.

L-R: Members, Oodua Youths Congress (OYC), Alade Adesanmi; Wale Adebiyi; President, Moronkeji Oladapo; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo; Deputy President, OYC, Mr. Bode Olalekan and member, Wale Popoola, during the congress’ courtesy visit to the Alake, Abeokuta …at the weekend

N4bn fraud allegation against Fayemi diversionary–APC Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ekiti State has said that the allegation against former Governor Kayode Fayemi, diverting over N4 billion belonging to the state was diversionary. The party also accused Governor Ayo Fayose, of spreading falsehood and blackmail, adding that the governor’s party, the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was also into the game of sheer blackmail. In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, it expressed dismay that the governor was just realising that N4 billion was diverted by Fayemi, after eight months in office and after the governor was exposed as an enemy of workers, having owed workers’ salaries and pensions at the time he awarded himself N720

million loan and paid back N650 million to his election contractors. The APC was reacting to the allegation levelled against Fayemi on Sunday by the PDP spokesman, Jackson Adebayo, that Fayemi, diverted N4 billion to the APC secretariat for the party’s use, to cushion its ouster from office. “It is laughable that a huge sum of N4 billion was allegedly diverted or embezzled by the Fayemi administration and Fay-

ose, is just knowing eight months after assumption of office, pretending that a kangaroo verification exercise had revealed this. This is better told to the marines! “Fayemi had earlier offered his administration for probe when Fayose started a similar campaign of calumny to cover his tracks in financial mismanagement but the governor had no courage for such exercise because there was nothing to probe.”

Oyo tribunal begins hearing on petition against former speaker today Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he Oyo State election petition tribunal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, will today commence pre-hearing into the petition filed by the Oyo Central senatorial district candidate of the Accord Party in the last March 28, 2015 election, Chief Bisi Ilaka, against

the winner and immediate past Speaker of the House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu. Chairman of the threeman tribunal, Justice J.G Abundaga, fixed the date yesterday after he had declared that the Electoral Act encourages the tribunal not to shut its doors at parties before it. The tribunal was also expected to give its ruling on a motion filed by

Sunmonu, seeking to dismiss another motion filed by Chief Ilaka, who was praying the tribunal to upturn her victory as the Senator representing the Oyo Central senatorial district . Sunmonu through her counsel, Tola Oshoobi, had informed the tribunal of the filing of the motion to dismiss Chief Ilaka’s motion on the ground that it did not comply with the

provisions of the Electoral Act regarding its time of submission and issues raised therein. Justice Abundaga, while reviewing the submission of Sunmonu’s counsel and that of Chief Ilaka, implored all the parties to allow fair hearing, observing that some of the issues raised by the counsel were pure technicalities and administrative matters.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Senate leadership

Parliament

Debt burden

Controversy

Saraki’s consults for consolidation

Challenges before Dogara’s reconciliation moves

Aliyu: In the eye of the storm

APC: The more things change…

Politics Buhari

Yari

Aregbesola

NGF: Walking a tight rope The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari today over the financial crunch facing most of the states in the country. ONYEKACHI EZE examines what might likely be the outcome of the meeting

here is no doubt that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is in quandary as it plans to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari today over its demand for financial assistance for the states. This

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

is because the Federal Government it is looking up to for help is also cash strapped. Most of the states in the country are facing financial crunch with about 26 of them unable to pay salaries of civil servants for upwards of between seven months and one year. When the NGF met last Wednesday, it resolved to meet with the president to seek for the settlement of outstanding projects executed by its members in various states of the federation on behalf of the Federal Government. Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abudullaziz Yari of Zamfara State, told newsmen at the end of the meeting that the governors decided not to push for bailout (as was earlier canvassed for by some governors), but instead, will ask for refund of money spent on Federal Government projects in the states. “We all know that the economy of the country is in bad shape. So, what we suggested is that a number of state governors have executed various projects for the Federal Government. So, instead of looking for that (bailout), let us ask the Federal Government to settle that backlog for us so that we can move forward. Nearly all the states... have undertaken federal projects that are not yet settled. So, if we can get that done, then most of the issues can be resolved in earnest,” the governor said. The governors might have come

We are surprised the excess crude fund has dropped to $2.5 billion... No nation makes enough money to feed the greed of its people

to this conclusion following the outcome of the meeting between the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum and Buhari before his inauguration as president. The president reportedly told the APC governors that the Federal Government was also in financial problem, and will therefore not entertain any request for a bailout from the states. Surprisingly, last week’s meeting did not revisit the issue of $20 billion reportedly accrued to the states from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), which the immediate past NGF leadership said was not accounted for. The NGF at its meeting on May 18 where Yari was chosen to pilot the affairs of the Forum for one year, requested the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala to account for the money that accrued to the Excess Crude Account since 2013. Immediate past Chairman of the Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, had while reading a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, expressed “the need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to provide explanation for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $20 billion.” But in her defence, OkonjoIweala said the former governors should be held responsible as the money has since been shared at the Federal Account Alloca-

tion Committee (FAAC) meeting where the governors were represented by their state commissioners for finance. According to the former minister, the 36 states of the federation, received a total of N2.92 trillion from the ECA in the last four years, between 2011 and 2014. Giving a detailed disbursement of the accruals, Okonjo-Iweala noted that the states received N966.6 billion in 2011, N816.3 billion in 2012, N859.4 billion in 2013 and N282.8 in 2014. “The low figure for 2014 reflects the steep decline in revenues due to the impact of the crash in global oil prices, which began in the middle of the year,” the former minister stated. She added that out of this amount, “Akwa Ibom got the highest with (N265 billion), Rivers (N230.4 billion), Delta (N216.7 billion), Bayelsa (N176.3 billion), Kano (N106.5 billion) and Lagos (N82.9 billion). “Kwara (N52.8 billion), Enugu (N51.6 billion), Gombe (N47.7 billion), Nassarawa (N46.9 billion), Ekiti (N46.8 billion) and Ebonyi (N44.3 billion) received the least amounts in that order.” Okonjo-Iweala stated that “the summary of the inflows and outflows from the Account shows that the opening balance was $4.56 billion in 2011 and reached a peak the following year at $8.7 billion before declining to $2.3 billion in CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Saraki, Obasanjo (first right) and others after a visit to the former President at the weekend.

L-R: U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and Saraki

Saraki’s consults for consolidation CHUKWU DAVID reports that the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has embarked on series of consultations to consolidate his election, which has been generating controversies within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

ince his emergence on June 9 as the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki has been engaged in deliberate efforts to consolidate his new position by seeking to attract the support and cooperation of Nigerians, particularly certain consequential political elements across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Senators from the Senate Unity Forum, who backed and extensively campaigned for the candidature of Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) for the Senate Presidency and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Tinubu, are still aggrieved and kicking against Saraki’s dramatic emergence as the President of the 8th Senate. Being fully aware of this situation on ground and the implication of not working in a harmonious political environment, Saraki has not ceased from embarking on consultations and visitations to notable politicians and traditional rulers to attract their support so as to help him consolidate his new position as the Senate’s helmsman. First, immediately after his election on June 9, Saraki paid a courtesy visit on former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar, a chieftain of the APC, to seek his support. It was believed that Saraki did this ahead of the anticipated moves to reject his election by the APC senators from the

Lawan camp and the leadership of the party, which had resolved to impose Senator Lawan on the Senate. Rather than criticise or condemn the emergence of the new leaders of the National Assembly, the former vice president admonished the new leaders to see their elections beyond the narrow interests of respective political parties. Not minding the seeming controversial circumstance under which Saraki and other presiding officers emerged, Atiku encouraged the 8th National Assembly never to lose focus of its role as a partner in progress with the other arms of government, especially the executive arm, so that there could be harmony in governance in the present dispensation. He said: “The Nigerian people look up to the new National Assembly to work with the executive arm in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and joblessness in the country. Their election is indeed a call to duty, and it is a call for which they cannot afford to fail the nation.” Also, on Friday June 19, the President of the Senate extended his consultation and perhaps, fence mending visit to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where he paid a courtesy visit on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at his Hilltop residence. Saraki, who arrived Obasanjo’s residence at 9:10a.m. was accompanied by Senators Ahmed Sani, Andy Uba, Tayo Alasoadura, Sonni Ogbuoji and Danjuma Goje. Others in his entourage were a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje. Apart from Ogbuoji, the rest were former PDP members who defected to the APC, formerly called New PDP. Saraki reportedly held a two-hour closed-door meeting with Obasanjo, which ended at 11:10a.m. The President of the Senate, who addressed journalists after the meeting, admitted that his emergence as the President of the Senate and that of his counterpart at the lower chamber, Yakubu Dogara, generated crisis within

As you can see, things are moving smoothly. Definitely, be rest assured that all that (the crisis) would be put behind us very shortly

the APC. He, however, expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved in no distant time in the interest of democracy and the citizenry. He said: “As you can see, things are moving smoothly. Definitely, be rest assured that all that (the crisis) would be put behind us very shortly. We are very confident about that.” He also stated that the main purpose of the team’s visit to Obasanjo, was to pay homage and seek the former President’s advice and blessings because of his immense value to the country. Saraki said: “I am here with some of my colleagues. We are here to pay our homage to him, seek his advice, get his blessings and also consult (with him). We all know President Obasanjo’s value to this country and we are here to tap from his wisdom, knowledge and experience.” When he left Abeokuta that Friday, Saraki and his entourage went straight to his home state, Kwara, where he was received by a mammoth crowd at the Ilorin International Airport. That was his first homecoming after emerging as the President of the Senate. Dignitaries that received him at the airport included the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Ishola Balogun. The Senate President was later driven from the airport in a motorcade to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, where he paid homage to the monarch. While speaking at the Emir’s palace, Saraki said that there was “no word big enough to thank the senators, who stood by him and fought the tortuous battle to get to the exalted seat.” As Saraki is busy visiting and consulting with who is who in Nigeria, in order to assuage those who are feeling deeply injured by his defiant reaction to the party’s directive, designed to frustrate him out of the Senate Presidency race, various segments of the public, including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the diplomatic community have also been paying him courtesy visits to pledge their support and cooperation, and also discuss how to help

him move the 8th Senate higher. The first diplomat to visit him after his election was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, who met with Saraki in his office on June 12 and expressed his country’s recognition of the new Senate boss and total support for the Assembly. The British High Commissioner did not only congratulate Saraki on the success of his election, he also described his victory as well-deserved, which should be supported by well-meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigeria. Pocock assured that the United Kingdom would always work in harmony with the Nigerian government to ensure good governance at all levels. On June 16, members of the CSOs, convened by Mr. Clement Nwankwo, also visited Saraki in his office, pledging support and soliciting partnership with the Senate. He commended the successes recorded in the elections of the leadership of the Senate and that of the House of Representatives. The group noted that the independence of the legislature would expedite growth and development in every sphere of governance. Similarly, on June 18, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle visited the President of the Senate and assured him of adequate cooperation and support in the areas of security, power, human development and investment opportunities. The envoy expressed optimism that Nigeria was destined to be a great nation, and promised that America would help the country to realise her potential through harmonious bilateral relations. All these visits made by Saraki to eminent Nigerians and those who voluntarily visited him are indications that his emergence has received national and international acceptance. Saraki’s expansive visitation and consultations with those who matter in the nation’s politics have also gone a long way in consolidating his victory, as there has been no record that any of his hosts rejected him or kicked against his election as the President of the Senate.

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Following his emergence in defiance of the directive of his party, the All Progressives Party (APC), and the acrimony that characterised the campaign, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has commenced the process of uniting the House. PHILIP NYAM reports

Challenges before Dogara’s reconciliation moves Speaking on behalf of the Imo caucus, Hon. Jerry Alagboso told the Speaker that the caucus were in his office to reiterate its support for his leadership just as it did during the process of election. He said: “We have come to greet you formally. We are also here to reiterate our support. As you are aware, Imo is intact, and as far as the election was concerned, we gave you a 100 per cent support. We have people from Imo who were principal officers in the previous House, and who told us of your good leadership qualities which made us to queue behind you. “Every man is entitled to his wages. We have worked and we need to let you know that. Every other thing we need to say maybe be in camera,” Alagboso said.

eminiscent of the 2011 experience when Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal emerged as speaker of the House of Representatives in disregard to the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Yakubu Dogara became speaker at the expense of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Dogara defeated Gbajabiamila in a keenly contested election by 182 to 174 votes. The outcome of the election of Dogara and his deputy, Hon. Sulaiman Lasun, has clearly created a division and ill feeling among members of the House. Aware of the bad blood caused by his emergence, Dogara has in the past one week been meeting with various state caucuses in order to assuage frayed nerves and re-unite the House. Conversely, the caucuses are also pledging their loyalty and support and at the same time presenting their demands before the speaker. Some of the state caucuses that have already met with Dogara include Taraba, Anambra, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Ebonyi. More of the caucuses will continue to meet with the speaker. In his inaugural address to the House, Dogara had declared that there was “no victor, no vanguished” and assured that his leadership would be fair and just to all members. Since after being sworn in, Dogara has reaffirmed his commitment at several fora. When Jigawa and Kano caucuses visited the speaker, he expressed gratitude for their thoughtfulness in coming to identify with him which is indicative of the fact that the House needs stability to function effectively in assisting the president to provide good governance. According to Dogara, “politics is over. Now we have to face the issue of governance. In politics, people have different views and positions either based on conviction or personal interest. “Like I said in my inaugural address, we as leaders have ran out of excuses and Nigerian people are also tired of excuses. We must come together to bring about stability and unity in the House, so as to make the achievement of the president’s policies a

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, after plenary session.

reality by facilitating enactment of legislations that would help him to govern well. “Those of us from the North must do more to ensure that we provide the needed leadership by making sure that our party succeeds because, if we bicker and let the president fail, then it is we who have failed. “We must also commend the president for his decision not to interfere in the process leading to our emergence by refusing to impose anybody on us. It was his stand on this matter that gave us the encouragement to offer ourselves for this leadership,” Dogara said. He added: “I bear no ill feeling toward anybody who did not vote for me, because this is the House for all and people must have their preference and I see all us as one. We will not run a divided House on the basis of opposition to my bid during the election. This House must be stable for us to succeed. “Although, we faced a seemingly insurmountable hurdle which took the grace of God to come about like a miracle. So, it was Nigerians who made this possible; members from all part of the country, and so we can’t say it was only the people of Bauchi or the North-East who supported me,” he stressed. The caucuses While responding on behalf of the joint caucuses of both Kano and Jigawa states, Hon. Alhassan Garba Ado Doguwa told the Speaker that the delegation was in his office to felicitate with him on his victory, adding that the position taken by the Kano caucus was according to party directive for which they have no regrets whatsoever. Majority of the Kano lawmak-

Gbajabiamila

We must come together... so as to make the achievement of the president’s policies a reality

ers had identified with Gbajabiamila against Dogara. Doguwa urged the speaker to bury all hatchets and carry everybody along in his leadership of the House. “While we have no regret whatsoever, with regards to the position we took during the contest, we must also accept the outcome of the process as democracy in action. “However, we did what we did according to our party directives. And we wish to declare our total support for your regime and work with you and also advice you whenever we see that you are going wrong,” he said. While Adamawa caucus was led by Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak, a fresh lawmaker, that of Katsina was led by Hon. Nasiru Sani Zango-Daura, a returning lawmaker as well as Gombe caucus led by Hon. Binta Bello and Imo was led by Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe.

The challenges Although, all the caucuses that have met the speaker pledged their loyalty, Dogara still have a long way to go. The appointment of other principal officers and constitution of committee chairmen and membership will be the speaker’s biggest headache. This is so because before the election, the various interest groups and camps campaigning for the leading candidates had chosen their principal officers and even allocated some key committees to some people. But such an arrangement is not sustainable now because, the speaker for instance cannot favour only those that openly identified with him. Hence, he has to accommodate those from the camp of Gbajabiamila. The challenge here is that Dogara will be torn between rewarding and compensating those who worked closely with him to ensure his victory and those who supported his opponent. Either way, the speaker is likely to incur the wrath of his colleagues because he cannot satisfy all the interests in the House. Composition of leadership of standing committees has always being a thorny issue in the parliament particularly in the House. In 2007, the first female speaker of the House, Hon. Patricia Etteh, was swept off her seat due to perceived lopsidedness in the appointment of committee chairmen. Although, Etteh’s ouster was dressed in the garb of corruption, committee leadership was the actual reason. Etteh’s successor, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, survived a similar fate by whiskers after he made his appointments. Dogara’s predecessor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, was very cautious and made every effort to bring on board his major opponents as a way of dousing the tension that accompanied his election and subsequent composition of committee chairmen and members. Therefore, how well Dogara handles this reconciliation process would go a long way in determining the shape of the 8th House.

Politics

The administration of the immediate past governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, is being called to question over a last-minute N2.9 billion loan allegedly shared by him and his aides. DAN ATORI reports

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Aliyu: In the eye of the storm

t is not the best of times for the immediate past governor of Niger state, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, popularly called the ‘Chief Servant’ as he has lots of issues to contend with from his successor, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who has vowed to probe the former outspoken governor unless he refunds state funds running to billions of Naira traceable to him. Also, the governor did not exempt officials and associates of Aliyu in the allegation, stating that the erstwhile governor must return the sum of N2.9 billion it took on the eve of his exit. Few days after being sworn in, Bello cried out that Aliyu left a huge debt of over N56 billion for him. This was disclosed when the governor received a report from the Transition Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC). “We cannot in good conscience accept this brazen theft of the people’s wealth. 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,” the governor said. But Aliyu had denied this claim at several fora, saying the debt is not up to that. While some of Aliyu’s supporters gleefully argued that government is a continuum, others on the other side of the divide insist that the ex-governor should tell the people the exact amount of debt he left behind instead of the incessant denials by him.

Aliyu

Bello

However, some Niger residents have queried the call for a refund of only N2.9 billion rather than the N60 billion misappropriated by the Aliyu-led administration. An APC stalwart in the state, Jonathan Vatsa, said: “There are more monies squandered by the past government and I am sure very soon the public will be in the know. The government wants a refund of the N2.9 billion because they took that money on the eve of their departure which means they are trying to cripple the state. “We are ready to take them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if they refuse to refund the money. We have all the evidences and documents to back our claims. The EFCC has started with some governors, I can assure you that Aliyu will not be spared.” In a statement made available to journalists, the Chief Press Secre-

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

2013. The balance as at May 2015 is $2.07 billion.” The statement explained that fluctuation in the ECA “reflects the sharing of the proceeds usually requested by state governors as well as the practice of augmentation which involves additional sharing from the ECA when available funds are not adequate to meet revenue projections.” The former minister noted that subsidy and SURE-P payments were also made from the ECA while the Federal Government’s share from the ECA during the period was N3.29 trillion. This explanation might have satisfied the governors into believing that their problem did not stem from the Federal Government but from their predecessors. Incidentally, about 14 of the present serving NGF members were in office when the disbursements were made. Particularly, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State who is presently at loggerheads with civil servants in his state over arrears of salaries, ought to have given explanation of what happened to the allocation meant for the state under his watch. So also are governors of Borno, Yobe, Bayelsa, Kwara,

We cannot in good conscience accept this brazen theft of the people’s wealth

tary to the governor, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba explained that: “The past government took the loan on the eve of its departure. And as was customary with that administration, they did nothing with the money. You cannot collect a loan on behalf of the people and share it among yourselves. That’s literally what they did. They simply raised a list and allocated money to those on the list. For instance, the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was given N600 million. “What he would do with the money, the records did not say. Well, we want our money back. The money belongs to the people. The governor took an oath to protect the people and by the grace of God, that is what he’s going to do.” But the former SSG, Sa’idu Kpaki, dismissed as false, the allegation that his principal, Aliyu, secured a N2.9 billion loan on the

eve of its departure. Kpaki said: “The allegation that my office received N600 million on the eve of the departure of the past administration is untrue, baseless and a figment of the imagination of its author. “There was no way such money could be given to my office at that time when the state was battling to pay workers’ salaries. I wonder how the new government didn’t know of a Federal Government circular which placed an embargo on granting loans to states since January 2015. The allegation exposed the ignorance of the present administration.” The former state scribe said the fact that the APC government is not able to produce the list of the purported beneficiaries of the loan goes to show that the government is only out to blackmail the immediate past administration. The governor had lamented the paucity of fund in the state. He said his government does not have money to spend because it inherited over N56 billion debt urging the people to make some sacrifice. Dooba said although government has stated that it would allow the EFCC do their job, it is important to ask some significant questions of the past administration: “For instance, why would the then SSG deny collecting any N600 million, only to later admit he collected the sum of N612 million for “general” security during the last senatorial by-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 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?” The governor’s spokesman stated that the new administration has uncovered more fraudulent dealings of the past administration. “We have continued to discover heinous scandals of the previous administration on a daily basis. Like I said earlier, we will allow the EFCC to do their work,” he said.

NGF: Walking a tight rope Gombe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Zamafara, Ondo and Ekiti states. Edo State governor, Adams Oshimhole, who said the state is not owing its workers, however, blamed the problem on the greed of few individuals and fall in excess crude account. “We are surprised the excess crude fund has dropped to $2.5 billion. How did this happen? No nation makes enough money to feed the greed of its people. “The issue is not about payment of salary. In Edo, we are paying. But the issues is not that because even the Bible says the labourer deserves his wage. A situation where what accrues to the states is less than what is required to pay workers, I think there are a couple of issues. Governors are prepared to assist plug all loopholes. You don’t need to witch-hunt anybody, just plug the loopholes,” Oshimhole added. Plugging the loopholes is what the governors need to get out of the woods. The corruption at state level is very high. Most state governors who operate state/local government joint account

could not give account how much that accrued to the state under their watch. What they have succeeded in doing is to enrich themselves at the expense of their citizens. Financial experts believe that if state chief executives are able to plug the leakages and boost their internally generated revenue (IGR), their financial problems would be over. “Most of the governors, instead of looking inwards to generate revenue internally, depended on Abuja. So, if there is shortfall in revenue allocation, like what we are witnessing now due to fall in crude oil prices at international market, they will be unable to meet their financial obligations,” a financial expert said. The lifestyle of the governors also did not help matter. They jet out of the country as soon as they collect their own share of federal allocation in the guise of scouting for foreign investors. Yet, no state government has been able, since 1999, to attract considerable foreign investment. Besides blaming dwindling ECA on

their problem, perhaps, the governors will today, tell the president how much accrues to them from IGR in their states. Apart from Lagos State (and to certain extent, Edo), no state in the country can boast of self-sustenance without revenue from the Federation Account. Now that there is crash of oil prices in the international market, the states are no longer able to meet their financial obligation. Getting refund of federal projects executed may not be quick as the governors might expect. Of course, they know there are stringent processes such as getting approval from the Federal Government before embarking on such projects as well as verification of the claims after execution before the cheques could be issued. With President Buhari yet to appoint a Minister of Finance or an Economic Adviser, the governors could only hope that the president might be sympathetic enough to turn to technocrats in the key ministries, as well as the Auditor General of the Federation for advice so as to quickly attend to their needs.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Buhari

Saraki

Odigie-Oyegun

APC: The more things change… Wole Ameyan

ometimes you just know it when something is not right. The uneasy feel, instinctive and intrinsic feelings are all tell-tale signs of an obvious anomaly and are sometimes needed to be relied on as clear pointers to outliers. The recent election in the National Assembly is one of such times. When news broke that Dr. Bukola Saraki had been elected Senate President, my initial thought was that of surprise but content. I was content because just like the presidential statement, released shortly after the inauguration of the 8th Senate stated, it had been my view that a constitutional process had taken place, an election had been conducted and an outcome decided. I had thought that Saraki had won a straight forward election. It was not to be. As soon as more details emerged, my content soon turned to surprise, unease and to be honest disappointment. Saraki had indeed won the election, but he had traded with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to emerge with a victory that made my stomach turn. I was surprised because I had taken it for granted that Saraki, a thoroughbred politician and professional would in the end tow the party line, the line of the majority in the party that brought him to power and which he helped bring to power. I had thought that just as any politician would probably have done, all he would do was to grandstand till the last minute and wait for the party to flinch and in the face of an unflinching party, drop his ambition and tow the party line. My disappointment also stemmed from the fact that most of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators

were not in the Senate chambers when the elections took place. There just seemed a lot of desperation in Saraki’s play. Saraki had secured his mandate through an unholy alliance with the once formidable PDP, an alliance that took most patriotic watchers by surprise and which I observed with intense astonishment and profound disbelief. That Senators Ike Ekweremadu and David Mark, two of the most prominent faces of what PDP meant to the Nigerian people, were promoted on the same ticket as that of the APC was an act as egregious as it was damning. It was a stark reminder of the malady that has plagued Nigeria for many decades, a chronic malaise that has ensured that the country is looked at by friends, neighbours and the world at large as a glaring and blatant example and model of what it is to underachieve. How can it be that a politician, any politician worth his salt would collude so sinisterly with the same party he had campaigned strenuously to the electorate against; an election where lives were lost, properties burnt and billions of naira spent? How can it be that anyone, politician or not would find it acceptable to work in ways that portray unprofessionalism, indiscipline and disruptiveness? There are people who want politics to be portrayed like this. They would be the first to say: ‘oh this is Nigerian politics for you,’ ‘In politics all is fair,’ ‘No permanent friends or enemies,’ ‘Politics is all about intrigues,’ and other stomach churning narratives. For the avoidance of doubt, politics and politicians do not have to be this way. Anyone can be traitorous, treacherous and perfidious. However, it takes men and women of character

Saraki had secured his mandate through an unholy alliance with the once formidable PDP

to do right not just in politics but in any profession. There can and there should be honour in politics and amongst politicians. When looked at in the appropriate perspective and in its intended form, politics should be seen as one of the noblest of professions. Without mincing words, what transpired at the inauguration of the eighth Senate was a crude slap in the face of those Nigerians that worked incredibly hard to change the face of politics in Nigeria by pushing the PDP out of power. People forget how powerful the PDP was, transcending our lives in ways that no political party has ever done since independence. It was a devastating setback to Nigerian democracy. With the election of Buhari and the ascension to power of APC with formidable characters like John Odigie-Oyegun, Bisi Akande, Bola Tinubu, Rabiu Kwakwanso, Nasir El-Rufai, Adams Oshiomole, Raji Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola, Ibikunle Amosun, Ogbonaya Onu, and others, most Nigerians - and with good reason - had begun to look patiently into the future; a future where a political party with an overriding moral conscience might slowly but steadily reverse the assured descent of the country into alarming anarchy, cataclysmic ruin and ominous deterioration. Make no mistake, the party APC must as an extreme priority and supreme obligation react in the strongest way possible to this clear attempt to undermine it. If the APC does not respond to this absurdly ridiculous and unashamedly wayward behaviour, then it may just be the beginning of the end. Maybe not quite the end but the end will surely come; it may be in two years, four years or even 10 but these events or

the lack of a harmonised, cogent and convincing response to it will lead to its implosion and ultimate demise. What needs to be done? Those who have chosen to go into this dubious alliance that has tainted the party, perhaps irreparably, should first be given a chance to submit themselves before a high level disciplinary committee set up by the highest organs of the party to defend themselves. Those that have gone against the party’s collective decisions must be made to pay. They must be made to pay with the same positions they usurped. Anything less than this will only nurture a rebellious ethos and philosophy as well as a culture of non-compliance within the party which will fester and spread with negatively portentous consequences. I had written an article a long time ago about the principle of collective responsibility and binding decisions. APC as a party will only be able to move to the next level when individuals are de-emphasised and the party is institutionalised and potent enough to make and enforce collective decisions. For those who love the party, now is the time to act. Strong leadership is also needed at this point. President Muhammadu Buhari needs to understand that the position he holds necessitates that he wields his influence. I’m sure we would have all wished that the president’s intervention would not be necessary but it is. It would be most ideal for the president not to get involved, like in more developed democracies. The glaring reality is that we are not there yet but the president can gradually set us on the path to practising our politics like in the more deCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Karma and Kwankwaso's fear of Tambuwalisation Law Mefor

here is a Nigerian adage, which goes thus: "The headhunter never allows machete carrier to go behind his back". This is the context that can help place the All Progressives Congress, APC’s fear over developments at the inauguration of the 8th Senate in proper perspectives. The Immediate past governor of Kano State and now Senator for Kano Central Senatorial District, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the election of a Deputy Senate President from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ike Ekweremadu will create problems for the APC federal government and will ultimately lead to the ‘tambuwalisation’ of the Senate. For those who do not quite understand the new word, ‘tambuwalisation’ or ‘tambuwalising’, it is adjectival for the politics of the erstwhile Speaker of House of Representatives, now Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, whose rebellion against the zoning of poitical offices after the 2011 general election inspired the balkanization of PDP. The Speaker also ultimately dumped the Party at the verge of the 2015 General Election, for the opposition party, the APC, which elements facilitated his rebellion in the first place. So, when Kwankwaso said Ekweremadu’s emergence as Deputy Senate President would ‘tambuwalise’ the Senate, he was expressing the fear that what APC elements helped Tambuwal to do to the PDP could also happen to the APC. To put the fear in perspective, we

need to complete the whole circles of lexicology, which is the science of minting new words or admitting new words into the dictionary. If ‘Tambuwalization’ is the process of balkanizing a Politcal Party, to ‘tambuwalise’ would be to bring on such an act, while ‘tambuwalism’ is the condition or state of being ‘tanbuwalized; or a situation that is ‘tambuwalizable’ or ‘tambuwalistic’. We can take the exercise even further by examining ‘tambuwalscopy’. A friend who supplied this last one has not said exactly what it means but I guess, like endoscopy, it is looking at some kind of anatomy. From the foregoing, it is also safe to say that ‘Tambuwalizers' are those who have the capacity to 'tambuwalize' a given polity or politcal Party and that is the suspicion of Musa Kwankwaso about the senate and perhaps the entire National Assembly under the trio of Saraki, Ekweremadu, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara et al. So, we can see that the former Speaker, Hon. Tambuwal, has made an invaluable contribution to the development of democracy in Nigeria and ultimately, to political lexicon . Beyond polemics, Kwankwaso’s fears may or may not be germane. First, Ekweremadu is of the PDP and Kwankwaso is now of the APC. The breaking of the APC by the trio would reverse the former Governor’s dreams of seeing PDP dead. In fact Kwankwaso has repeatedly called the PDP a dead party, so one can see his worry is about the breaking of the APC. Since this is the case, it then means his worry is about the new Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who he described as over 50 per cent PDP. Kwankwaso’s words: “What complicated the

whole matter is that the situation now is that more than 50 percent of Bukola is in PDP. If you take the position of the senate president it becomes more difficult. The implication is that very soon the leadership of the Senate will start ‘Tambuwalising’ the party and of course the government as we have seen in 2011”. In other words, Kwankwaso is looking at his presumed unholy alliance of Ekweremadu and Saraki who he now sees as ‘tambuwalizers’ and therefore capable of ‘tambuwalizing’ the Senate, to use his word again. For this presumption, he is calling on the APC National Chairman to write a letter of reprimand to Saraki and the other Senators who are members of the party in order to ensure party discipline. He also wants the position of the Deputy Senate President to be retrieved from Ike Ekweremadu. So, party indiscipline led to the emergence of Saraki then? If so, what was responsible for Tambuwal’s emergence? What was Kwankwaso’s role in it? If Kwankwaso believed in Party discipline and championed it in the PDP, would he have led the newPDP out of the PDP, of which Tambuwal was then but a smaller player compared to Kwankwaso? Is it not a fact that the new PDP led by Kwankwaso led ultimately to the defeat of the PDP in the last General Election? What party indiscipline could be worse than this ingratitude to a party that made Kwankwaso a two-time governor and Minister? Also false is Kwankwaso’s claim that the circumstances under which the current Senate leadership was put in place is worse than the circumstances that led to the emergence of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 and his defection to APC.

This is simply turning history upside down. In fact, it is a repeat of history we are witnessing at the National Assembly and democracy is at its peak in Nigeria. In 2011, Aminu Tambuwal went against the PDP’s choice of Mulikat Akande as Speaker and reached out to the opposition politicians (the legacy Parties that make up the APC today), which teamed up with Tambuwal’s supporters to enthrone him as Speaker. That was exactly what Saraki has done four years after. If it was right then, why is it wrong today? The former governor said the APC should do all it could to reclaim its mandate, saying the position of the Deputy Senate President rightly belongs to the ruling party. He recalled that for the five times the PDP controlled the government at the centre, it did not share the leadership positions in the National Assembly with any other party. The APC leadership has conveniently chosen to ignore the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which without any ambiguity, states that “the Senators shall elect from among themselves…” What this presupposes is that the Constitution envisages the possibility and even desirability of a minority Party producing the leadership of any of the two Chambers of the National Assembly. This has happened in and outside Nigeria. In the US, for example, the President of their Senate is even the Vice President. The APC also ensured that its lawmakers emerged Speakers of Plateau and Benue States Houses of Assembly even though PDP is the majority party in the two Assemblies. • Mefor (lawmefor@gmail.com) is an Abuja-based Forensic Psychologist and Journalist (+234-803-787-2893)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Obudu: Imoke's burden, Ayade's baggage

Killosophy and philosophy

JUST recently, precisely a day after Prof Ben Ayade, the new Cross River governor was sworn in, Obudu Cattle Ranch was the major topic of an interview granted Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River. Duke had, in the interview, stated that Liyel Imoke, his successor "neglected institutions such as the Obudu Cattle Ranch which was the most developed resort in West Africa". As a Cross Riverian and an insider, I have personal knowledge of a few more things about the Ranch. I have been there and seen it all. I have also asked a lot of questions and got my answers from the Duke and Imoke camps. So, after reading through the said Duke representations on the Ranch, I decided it is best to now weigh-in, and publicly tell the rest of the story about the Ranch. First, Obudu Ranch is more of a grand mirage, and even so, was very poorly-built from inception. Much of its splendour existed in the imagination of Donald Duke, the governor who built it and still thinks of it, to this day, as the most important legacy of his administration. Someone had, in the recent

CRISS Jami introduces me to a new theory called "Killosophy". Just as we have 'philosophy', "Killosophy" is dominant in the so-called organised religions of this world. Georg e Cardinal Pell, uses the Catholic Church as a casestudy in the work, "God and Caesar: Selected Essays on Religion, Politics, and Society", saying, “To understand our faith -- to theologize in the Catholic tradition -- we need philosophy. We must use the philosophical language of God, person, creation, relationship, identity, natural law, virtues, conscience, moral norms if we are to think about religion and defend it. Theology has some terms and methods of its own, but its fundamental tools are borrowed from philosophy. "The growth of religious fundamentalism

past, derisively but correctly called the Ranch 'Donald Duke's Alice-inwonderland'. Yet, on assumption of office, former governor Liyel Imoke proceeded to ensure completion of the critical works left undone by Duke; and otherwise continued to do improvement works on the Ranch. Highly placed sources close to Imoke told me that the main reason Imoke tried to save the Ranch is because he saw it as one project most dear to Duke and thus wanted so much to avoid the perception of lack of continuity. Second, during his tenure, Donald Duke used government subsidies to weave the toga of commercial and tourist viability on the Ranch. Cross Riverians never supported this Duke policy of running the Ranch on subsidies whereas the project was initially conceptualized by him as a self-sustaining commercial entity. That was part of the reason Imoke had to take the difficult decision of ending those costly and wasteful subsidies. Another is because the subsidy regime was no longer sustainable as it constituted a drain pipe on the meager resources meant for capital projects in the State. It is this

subsidy stoppage that Duke has mischaracterized and continues to bitterly spin as evidence of lack of continuity. Third, Cross River never made money from operations of the Ranch. Instead, it lost lots of money. But, given that Duke still feels that the Ranch is his all-in-all project, he should tell the world how much revenue Cross River earned from the Ranch when he was governor. Suffice it to say that the verifiable and sad truth is that, under Duke, Cross River earned nothing from the Ranch. One vital and potential source of revenue was the expensive cable cars Duke had imported and installed but which turned out to become the lowest patronized in the world. The truth is that Nigerians never bought into it, and there was virtual paucity of foreign tourists which presumably would have patronized the cable cars. Further, Duke had, for strange reasons, built the Ranch log-cabins with imported equatorial wood from Finland. Soon enough, our hot tropical weather expanded the wood. •Duncan Odey, Calabar.

and the collapse of religious education mean theology is more urgently needed in universities -- especially Catholic ones -- than ever before.” Today, many of us Seekers and not, Believers, are called names, because we do question the "Killosophy" of these alien religions in Igboland. But Jami has this comforting statement to make: “I will admit that we as young rebels always wanted fundamentalists to understand our take on their religion, but rarely, if ever, the other way around. The fundamentalists are the real artists. If you saw only a masterpiece of an original painting and someone threw a splash of red across it saying that their version is better, you would be offended too.” •Odimegwu Onwumere, Port-Harcourt

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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Politicians and pay cuts

t does not need a seer to let everyone know that tough times are here, what was left undone by those whose duty it was to manage finances must now be done in a hard and painful way for sanity to prevail. In times of crises, it is important to map out strategies to get things working or at least , find a way out of turbulence. The poor state of the economy which has almost crippled gover nance in the states, needs more than alignments and political verbosity to confront it. Three state governors are thinking out of the box. Kaduna state governor Malam Nasir El –Rufai, blazed the trail when on inauguration on May 29, he promised to take a 50 per cent pay cut. The former Federal Capital Territory [FCT] minister, went beyond that. He pledged to reduce the number of ministries from from 19 to 13. Alhaji Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa state made similar declaration. He is going to receive half of what his predecessor earned as governor. Unlike El- Rufai, Bindo is set to work with 10 commissioners. His Kano state counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje ,also caught the bug. There is going to be 50 per cent pay cut for him , the Deputy governor, Hafiz Abubakar, all 13 state commissioners and other political appointees. These steps, laudable as they may sound, will come to naught if stringent mechanisms are not applied in the administration of funds. Fat

salaries help put government accounts in the red just like inflation of contracts and scandalous loan agreements can hamper the delivery of dividends of democracy. It makes little sense if governors have to cut their salaries only to sit back idly awaiting manna to fall from oil. A governor who is so sure of security votes monthly loses nothing if his salary is denied for a whole year. In the same vein, when contract figures are quoted more than triple the actual cost of execution, pay cut is like outright mockery of the sensibilities of the governed. What we expect beyond the rhetorics of pay cut, is an aggressive programme aimed at reviving the financial bases of the various states. Government is not about words and speeches. We need to see Action Plans. The days of campaigns are past. The people are waiting for the legion

A governor who is so sure of security votes monthly loses nothing if his salary is denied for a whole year

promises by the politicians to be fulfilled. Japan has no sizeable natural resource. The Japanese are among the leading industrialized nations in the world. In terms of population , it is a thin line of difference between that country and Nigeria. It does not affect the Japs if the price of crude has gone down or is looking up. They have planned their economy in such a way that when the storm comes, there will always be away to check it. Nigeria is so richly blessed by nature, that some other countries would have been challenging the United States, Germany and China in terms of development if they changed places with Nigeria. South Korea, Singapore, India and Brazil were not too far ahead of Nigeria in the 1950s, that is, if they were not trailing behind. In the First Republic, the economy of the Eastern Region, under Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, could compete favourably with the economies of some European nations. The power of the East then was the palm tree. With palm plantations all over the region and a team of well educated and refined public servants, a lot of development was visible. Agriculture, was also the pride of the Western Region, in the years of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Cocoa made Ibadan one of the destination points in Africa. The Liberty Stadium, Cocoa House, the Nigeria Tribune and the the first television station in Africa. The North, under Sir Ahmadu Bello

turned groundnut to gold. Generatioins after these great men, cannot sit back and be complaining of paucity of funds when our national heroes laid a solid foundation. All they fought for could have been wasted by years of military maladministration and civilian looting. If the soldiers put us in a pool of uncertainity, the politicians vandalized our commonwealth. They have to bring this country back to life. President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to manage our finances according to the book. We are constrained to believe. He has also promised to slash his pay. That is good news. We heard that from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in February 2009. Let Mr. President’s word be his bond. This nation needs to work. Our governors must be ready to serve and creditably too. The Lagos state government made 2.42 Trillion Naira between May 2007 and May 2015. Today, the same government is indebted to the tune of 520 Billion Naira. That is not what Nigerians expect in the new dispensation. We commend those who are ready and willing to sacrifice. At the same time, pay cut without financial prudence, austerity without capacity for development, will amount to deceit. Nigerians are wiser now, let our politicians sit down and face the job they fought for. If they pay the supreme price in the bid to bring change for good, they will become national heroes. This country needs heroes.

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Politics

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC: The more things change… CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

veloped countries. For now, the system is still too weak and our politics too vulnerable for the best candidates to emerge without a little push. President Buhari of all people should understand this. He was considered the best candidate for the APC ticket not because he was the most eloquent of persons or the most cerebral or modern but because his qualities of honesty and sincerity of

purpose and strong will were the most important qualities needed at this time in Nigeria. Had Buhari been left to the elements of politics and politicians in Nigeria or had the field been made level, he would never have emerged the APC candidate. Just like the brilliant Fashola would never have emerged Governor of Lagos, a professor of law would never have emerged vice president; people like Kayode Fayemi, Amosun etc. would not

have emerged. They all emerged through what I will call an ‘affective influence to promote the natural order’ with the natural order should being that the rest of us should be governed by the best of us. It was a failure of this affective influence that produced a crank as governor of one of the most cerebral states in Nigeria. This affective influence to promote the natural order made patriotic characters feel the need and galvanised Nigerians to

APC propagated the sort of mantra that they could relate and buy into

see the need to vote for and bring back a retired army officer who had been very easily, I must say and unceremoniously pushed aside by his colleagues. In a clime where the electorate sell their votes, card readers are openly sabotaged, where ballot boxes are snatched, where Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials are compromised, where there are more law enforcement officers that would accept

a bribe than not, where judges are negotiated and where the leadership of the foremost law-making body in the country can be hijacked and traded, there is the need for affective influence. Indeed, there is the need to nurture, praise and acknowledge those who apply this affective influence for the good of what should be the natural order. APC ran on the platform of change. For the Nigerian, APC propagated the sort of mantra that they could relate and buy into. The Senate election which saw Saraki team up with PDP was a vexing departure from that mantra. It has left many hollow after a hopeful period. However, it must be said that these are still early days. APC sure deserves a chance to sort its teething problems. With President Buhari maintaining a calm disposition and a natural aversion to shadiness, he will begin to give the real politicians in the APC fold the much-needed backing to enforce the party’s lofty ideals on its members and the country. For the PDP, it needs to search its souls and purge itself of the sorts of scheming, conniving, egotistical and selfabsorbed manners that saw it lose favour in the eyes of Nigerians while reinventing itself to carry out the colossal task of representing a strong and virile opposition to the APC. PDP must be ready to earn its stripes as an opposition party. They must shelve the easy-way-out ideology (which teaming up with Saraki suggested) and be ready to put APC on its toes while working hard to win back the trust of Nigerians. But they must be ready to build slowly, painstakingly and conscientiously. Sometimes one might just think that it is better to give up; that a case is a basket case and not worth wasting one’s time about. The Nigeria case is like that sometimes; a country that we all love very much. The recent happenings in the eight Senate bring to mind an old maxim: The more things change the more they remain the same. The leadership of the APC have a herculean task to make a lie of this aphorism. •Ameyan writes via woleameyanjr@yahoo. com

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2015

Arts

CULTURE

Concession of National Theatre: Stakeholders fault GM on preferred bidder

Tony Okuyeme

he nation’s foremost cultural monument, the National Theatre is again mired in controversy over the choice of the preferred bidder on the concession of the fallow land around it for development of complimentary infrastructural facilities in line with the master plan of the edifice. Though the concession process, which is expected to see to the building of five star hotel, shopping mall, ultra-modern office buildings, land and water parks, amusement park, and multi-level car park has entered its final stages, there is a brewing controversy over the selection of the preferred bidder. Stakeholders have alleged attempt by the General Manager of the National Theatre of misinforming the public, noting that Calzada Nig. Ltd is actually the preferred bidder and not the reserved bidder as stated by the GM. The General Manager of National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, Mr Kabir Yusuf, had at a press conference held on Tuesday June 9, 2015, in the boardroom of the Theatre stressed that the concession arrangement relates to only the fallow land and not the main edifice nor any of its halls, said “After all the evaluations, Topwide Apeas/ Chris Michael Ltd emerged as the Preferred Bidder and Calzada Nig. Ltd as the Reserved Bidder”. He added that this result has been certified by the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Committee (ICRC), the Regulator of the Project. The two companies have been communicated to accordingly. “The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in its rebranding and transformation of the theatre and the nation’s tourism, considered the feasibility of Public Private Partnership for the provision of these facilities.

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

“Consequently, a stakeholders committee made up of the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Federal Ministry of Works, Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Committee (ICRC) and the National Theatre was constituted and inaugurated on 20th September, 2012 by the immediate past Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke. During the inauguration, he charged the Committee to think and plan on how best to actualize the master plan of the National Theatre since the government cannot do it alone because of other competing demands on the purse of the government,” Yusuf said, adding that after a series of brainstorming sessions, the option of Public Private Partnership (PPP) was agreed and this led to the procurement of a Transaction Adviser (BGL Capital PLC). According to him, by this, the Federal Government wanted to assess strategic fit, achievability, value for money and affordability inherent in the Procurement of Concessionaires to build, equip, operate, maintain and transfer basis in line with the National Policy on Public Private Partnership published by the ICRC. “The consultant and the National Theatre prepared an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the application of the PPP procurement for service delivery at the National Theatre. The main objective of this consultancy is to establish the technical, economic and financial viability of the National Theatre as PPP concession, through the generation OF AN Outline Business Case (OBC) which would represent a key input of the PPP Project preparation phase. “Upon ratification of the draft OBC by the ICRC and issuance of a certificate of “No Objection” by the commission which is the regulator of such projects, the OBC was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on 14th August, 2013 and 2nd July, 2014 respectively. “With these approvals, the parent Ministry and National Theatre went for shopping of credible local and international investors

National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos

by organizing Investor Road Shows in Lagos, London, Dubai and Johannesburg in 2014. From this exercise, 11 consortiums indicated interest and submitted Tender Bids upon advertisement for same in both local and international media.“ Mr. Yusuf further stated that in line with the work plan, the bids were opened and later analyzed and seven companies were pre-qualified for Request for Proposal. Of the seven, only three submitted their Technical and Financial bids. “After all the evaluations of the bids, Topwide Apeas/Chris Michael Ltd emerged as the Preferred Bidder and Calzada Nig. Ltd as the Reserved Bidder. This result has been certified by the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Committee (ICRC), the Regulator of the Project. The two companies have been communicated to accordingly. However, sources told the New Telegraph that the press conference was a way to pre-empt the truth. “He waited for this administration to round off before he came out. Federal government was genuinely interested in concessioning the place but there was a lot of pressure, based on the fallow land around it. That is what every one of them was interested in and not the theatre itself. Anyone that wants to get that place concessioned must ensure that the National Theatre as it stands today is maintained. The bid went out and the government appointed an agency is responsible for

looking at the bidding process and the FG paid about 200million naira to BGL to do that job. Money was also given to the National Theatre management and people in the ministry to do a tour, to go and see what is happening around the world, which he called ‘Road Show’, and millions was spent. At the end of the day, they called for bids and BDL did its work and they chose a preferred bidder and a reserved bidder. The recommendation of BDL is not what Kabiri is pushing forward, the source told New Telegraph. “This man is on a course to side track a process that I believe will bring change to the national theatre because I have seen some of the documents presented and the proposals of both parties shortlisted. Even in terms of financial outlay, Kasada is 144billion naira, whereas the other one is 103billion. In terms of experience and who has capacity and support, Kasada does. What endeared me to the preferred bidder’s bid was the fact that they were able to extract from them the independence of the National Theatre; the National Theatre will still be what it stands for, with investment of over 12billion to renovate the place and still remain something belonging to the federal government. What they are interested in is the land to do their business. My own concern there is that the National Theatre will still come back to us and all the things we had there before will come back but on an improved level,” one of the sources further said.

Arts

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Drama preparing students for life, living’ Ebere Ameh

rama teachers frequently find themselves trying to justify their existence as drama teachers. Government, parents and some school owners often don’t really understand what a classroom Drama teacher does. They feel it is a waste of precious time that could be used to teach math. But those who work in Drama with and for Young People know the cross-curricular importance of drama including its intrinsic value as Art. No wonder the American Association of School Administrators, The Alliance for Education and The John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, in Performing together: The Arts and Education, jointly agree that the future of the United States depends on their ability to create-and to be creative. “During the coming decades our most important national resources will be human resources. If our nation is to continue to meet the challenges of the future, today’s schools need to develop creative leaders.” Head Faculty, Creative and Performing Arts, Grange School, Lagos, Christopher Spring agrees with that when he told New Telegraph that drama is a subject which should be made compulsory for all students to offer. “Drama is about creativity, it is about expressing yourself. I think every student should take drama because they will learn so many important skills. If you have to be judge, you have to perform, if you have to be a teacher, you perform, in any job, you are performing in some form. In simply being able to present yourself on stage, you are learning to do all that. “If you look at 15 – 20 key skills that people want, we do most of them in drama. I think drama is absolutely important. In a sense, we create things but then we need to learn to express things, and drama is key in that. While the sciences are so very important, the arts fulfil our lives,” the English national said during the Thespian Junior Theatre Festival that held recently. Though children are creative and love to express themselves through art, especially drama, their enthusiasm is quenched, most of the times, by parents who rather want “dignified jobs” like Medicine and Law for their them. At the Junior Theatre Festival, an annual drama competition for secondary schools, organised by the Thespian Family Theatre and Productions Company, the participating students from different schools within and outside Lagos remained in high spirits despite the delay in take-off. Tens of them were at the event and despite their joy and enthusiasm, they already know they will do it for a while and no more, thanks to the unwritten wishes and body language of their parents. “Drama is everywhere in life. You need drama everywhere,” Kayode Fasawe, a student of Grange School enthused. “If you want to be a Lawyer, you need to be able to represent yourself. If

Children in a drama performance

you want to be a teacher, you need to be able to represent yourself too. I want to be a lawyer and drama is really preparing me for the task ahead,” he noted. For Ona Iloebunnem student from same Grange school, drama is great but singing is her first love. “I love drama but I want to be a singer. Although my mom said she would have liked me to be a doctor, she encourages me in everything that I do. I know I can be both, but I want to have a really good career in singing and if that doesn’t work out, maybe part-time singer, part time Electrical Engineer,” Iloegbunam said. Are arts, especially drama really un-progressive and undignified disciplines? Are parents right in restraining their children from arts? Playwright, composer, director and educator with almost thirty years’ experience in the field of child drama, Matt Buchanan thinks otherwise. “Dramatic Arts education is an important means of stimulating creativity in problem solving. It can challenge students’ perceptions about their world and about themselves. Dramatic exploration can provide students with an outlet for emotions, thoughts, and dreams that they might not otherwise have means to express. A student can, if only for a few moments, become another, explore a new role, try out and experiment with various personal choices and solutions to very real problems-problems from their own life, or problems faced by characters in literature or historical figures. This can happen in a safe atmosphere, where actions and consequences can be examined, discussed, and in a very real sense experienced without the dangers and pitfalls that such experimentation would obviously lead to in the “real” world. This is perhaps the most important reason for Dramatic Arts in schools,” Buchannan said. New Telegraph also spoke with some staff of Mayflower School Ikenne and Methodist Girls high school, Lagos, who also performed at the

Festival to get their own point of view. “The importance of Drama as a subject studied in secondary schools cannot be over emphasised,” Cecilia Labinjo, Drama teacher, MayFlower Private School, Ikenne said. “It is an avenue to meet with people, to learn and understand better that whatever talent is imbedded in them could take them places in the future. “Everybody wants his or her child to be a medical doctor or an engineer, because they see them as the so-called ‘dignified jobs’ and that is because of the level of ignorance,” Labinjo explained, adding that drama has various important functions that help in the overall development of children. “Drama has its functions. It is educative, it’s informative and it’s entertaining. Through drama you can communicate moral values to the people and people can discover their talents. Boldness and confidence and personality development can come up through drama,” she said. Labinjo who said they started drama in MayFlower two terms ago, explained that Psycho-Drama is the aspect of drama that is therapeutic. “Psycho-Drama bridges the marginalization between science and arts. In psyachiatric hospitals, people who are mentally ill or emotionally disturbed one way or the other have gotten relief and at times, healing through PsychoDrama. It was discovered, decades ago in the western world but it’s not practised so much in Nigeria because it is expensive.” She insists that drama is dignified and noble; not a degrading profession as people think, citing great men who were dramatists. “Ronald Regan was a Texas Actor but he did not just become the president of America, he served two terms. There are so many great men and women who studied drama both within and outside this country. So it’s not a degrading profession,” she said adding that the only thing that is un-progressive is tradition, because it is static. On the other hand, Ann Olugbola,

the drama teacher at the Methodist Girls High School, Yaba thinks that Drama is not just important, government should start encouraging it. “Drama, in addition to being entertaining and informative, also help in the preservation of culture. Government should make drama compulsory in schools,” Olugbola said. Talking about their level of preparedness for competition, the schools said they are more than ready. “I think we are prepared. The students have worked very hard. It’s going to be a very impressive outing. It’s the first competition I have done. It’s kind of interesting to see how it turns out,” Spring, who has been in Nigeria since February last year said. Though it is the first outing for MayFlower, which has offered drama in their junior school for just about one year, it is a nice exposure for both the school and the children. “We always see ourselves on top. We are well prepared to carry the day even though it’s our first outing,” Labinjo said. At the end of the event, Grange school carried the day, coming 1st with 88 points in the keenly contested competition, while Mayflower and Methodist girls came second and third with 66 and 65 points respectively. Thespian Family Theatre and Production Company has been at the forefront of family theatre in Nigeria. The maiden competition and festival, which has “Individual Change: A Panacea for a Better Nigeria” as its theme is designed to help discover and nurture budding talents in the performing arts industry in Nigeria. Speaking to New Telegraph, the Chief Executive Officer of the Thespian Family Theatre, Mrs Ayo Jaiyesismi said; “We believe that through our unique productions, we will be contributing to the ‘rebranding’ of this great country,” adding that their productions usually have five unique themes, which include Community and Citizenship; Unity and Diversity; Culture and Heritage; Character and Values; and Family and Fun.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 23, 2015

Skills LASTVEB sharpens 9,700 artisans’ skills in 4 years

Education PASS MARK

Key stakeholders in the education sector have scored the post-UTME high and challenged any move to scrap the scheme, despite the success story of the Computer-BasedTest (CBT). Mojeed Alabi

arely 10 years after its introduction, is the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME), conducted by respective universities, polytechnics and colleges of education on its way out? Its introduction to the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions by the Federal Government in 2005 was mainly to overhaul and restore sanity to the already sliding quality and standard characterizing the then Universities Matriculation Examination (UME) and the Monotechnics/Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Matriculation Examination (MPCE), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination (JAMB). For over two decades, JAMB was marred by consistent irregularities, owing to rising cases of cheating and use of mercenaries in the examinations, impersonation and other sharp practices by candidates and some JAMB officials which lowered the credibility of the examination. This, no doubt resulted to loss of faith and confidence in the examination organ to conduct credible qualifying examination into the institutions. Confronted with this challenge of distrust and lack of credibility in JAMB, key stakeholders in the education sector, especially the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities sought other credible means of screening the candidates, with a view to rescuing

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Students writing the post-JAMB exams

Why post-UTME must stay, by stakeholders the system from its imminent collapse. Piqued by the dwindling quality of new entrants into the institutions, the Federal Government’s efforts to reverse the trend were championed by the then Education Minister, Prof. Chinwe Obaji in 2005. She was said to have drummed the need for respective universities to organise separate screening tests for candidates based on their scores in the UTME. Obaji wondered why some candidates who scored 280 and above in UTME failed in their courses to an extent that many of them were being advised by their universities to withdraw. And indeed, since the candidates’ UTME scores were not true representation of their ability, the post-UTME served to midwife a way forward for the system and raised the credibility bar of the examination, as well as integrity and quality of candidates admitted into the institutions that had hitherto assumed worrisome situation. Meanwhile, faced with the credibility crisis and the need to tackle the menace of mal-

Ojerinde

Interactions with candidates are very essential

practices, JAMB also rose to the situation by introducing several measures aimed at curbing malpractices and cheating in its examinations. Among the measures were the use of Type question papers and outlawing of the use of calculators and phones in examination halls. On assumption of office in 2007, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, also swung to action by putting in place several policies and measures such as the use of biometric data capturing of candidates, use of metal detectors on candidates, among others, to curb the alarming rate of malpractices. In fact, JAMB did not renege on its efforts by strengthening its search for a lasting measure to bring sanity to the examination with the use of Bio-metric data capturing machines for candidates. The major breakthrough by JAMB was achieved in 2013, when for the first time; it introduced the Computer-Based-Test mode for the conduct of its examinations, which replaced the traditional paper pencil format.

Towards this end, Ojerinde had set 2015 as the deadline for the adoption of the technology for all candidates writing the UTME signalling outright cancellation of the Paper Pencil Test format. Indeed, ahead of the use of the CBT mode in 2013, Ojerinde had cited several reasons why the mode of testing had become imperative to curb the rot in the system, which according to him, include its flexibility, security, efficiency and being time-bound. Ojerinde had said: “Therefore, by 2015, there shall be no alternative to CBT as all our candidates would have to face it. And I promise that latest by 30 minutes after the examinations, students would be sent their graphical representation of their scores through their mobile phones before being sent the exact scores.” Although, the CBT mode which was adopted for the conduct of the examination for the over one million candidates this year might not have been entirely successful due largely CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

24 Education

TUESDAY, june 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

COMPETENCE The Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) has, in the past four years, trained 9,700 artisans in various capacity building programmes in 14 trades.

Kayode Olanrewaju

he efforts and resources invested in the development of technical and vocational education subsector by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) have continued to yield fruitful results. In fact, the practice whereby Lagosians hired artisans and tradesmen from other neighbouring West African countries to fix their building and construction works, due to the poor quality and incompetence of teeming artisans in the state and the country in general is now a thing of the past. The board, which was inaugurated in 2010, has, in the last five years of its establishment irrevocably committed itself to providing high quality world class skilled technicians, artisans, craftsmen and skilled workforce for the informal sector of the economy that has over the years been a source of worry and concern to stakeholders, who had inadvertently lost confidence in the artisanship. But, as part of efforts to transform and galvanise the technical skills of the artisans to meet the needs of the state in terms of quality and quantity, the board in 2012 was said to have risen to the challenges by initiating several special training programmes for practicing artisans in the state. The training programmes include skill competence and capacity building in entrepreneurship, which was introduced for the state’s artisans and tradesmen; as well as capacity building training for Lagos State Market Men and Women Association, where they are trained in computer and Information Technology (IT), functional communication skills and entrepreneurship. Under the training curriculum, which is divided into empowerment module and trade (profession), the artisans were trained in occupational health and safety, functional communication (English), functional numeracy (Mathematics), ICT, entrepreneurship, ethics of profession, customer service and design standard. Specifically, the trade courses focused extensively on garment making, hairdressing and beauty treatment, automotive technology, bricklaying and tiling, block molding, furniture making, interior decoration/event planning, vulcanizing, bead making, fashion designing, baking and pastries. The training, which holds on Friday

Some of the students during a practical session

LASTVEB sharpens 9,700 artisans’ skills in four years

Gasper

(4 pm to 7 pm), Saturday (10am to 3pm) and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 pm in line with the trainees’ time frame, also sharpened their skills in photography, welding and fabrication, aluminum fabrication, refrigeration/air-conditioning, electronics, computer repairs, handset repairs, tie and dye. So far, under the special training programmes, which is being offered free, LASTVEB has in the past four years, trained and equipped the skills of more than 9,700 artisans and tradesmen in capacity building and technical skills in modern tools and business orientation

in over 14 trades in line with the artisanship needs of the state. The main objective of the programmes, which is being facilitated by LASTVEB and sponsored by the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and run concurrently in the state’s five technical colleges located across the state, is to equip the beneficiaries with the current technological trend and modern skills in all trades relevant to the socioeconomic development of the state. While expressing the determination of the Lagos State Government to fix the ebbing technical and vocational sub-sector of the state’s economy and the urgent need to address the rising unemployment in the state as well as the incompetence of the artisans and craftsmen, the Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Anthony Olawumi Gasper, said part of LASTVEB’s mandate was to bridged the gap in the middle level manpower development and raise the quality of the artisans to meet the mega city needs of the State of Excellence. To achieve this, he noted that the board’s strategy for producing high quality and competent tradesmen and artisans was the collaboration with a number of public and private organizations within and outside the country. These, according to Gasper, include the Lagos State Association of Plumbing

Contractors for training and retraining of practitioners in the plumbing practice; DFID for developmental strategy to produce occupational standard and skills. Other industry practitioners partnered in ensuring the best delivery and training of the trainees include the Oprah Benson Beauty Training Institute, Yaba; Solomon Academy of Cosmetology; Nikky Africana, Ikeja; Automedics Limited; Qualitex Concrete Industry, Ikorodu; Neu-Speed Tyre Service Limited, Opebi and Circle Dot, Ikorodu. Gasper said of the need to re-equip the artisans: “Despite the fact that artisans constituted over 90 per cent of the workforce in factories, construction sites, workshops and saloon, among others in the state, there had been frequent reports and complaints of mishap in all aspects of the artisans’ work as a result of human errors due to the artisans’ incompetence and for not acquiring or possessing depth knowledge of prescribed standard in their trades.” Conscious o this, the Executive Secretary pointed out that the various capacity building training programmes centered on skill improvement to reform the trainees with a view to producing occupational competence and skilled middlelevel manpower acceptable worldwide for practitioners who will drive the various trades.

College lauds council over approval of courses Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he management of the Osun State College Of Education (OSCOE), IlaOrangun has lauded the Governing Council for approving entrepreneurship skills courses that would make the students self-reliant at the end of their studies in the college.

The Acting Provost, Dr. Basiru Gbadamosi, who gave the commendation, described members of the council as a formidable team and harbinger of dynamism in the development of the college. He noted: “The Governing Council of the Osun State College of education, has approved that all final year students of the institution should offer entrepreneurship skills in order to

enhance their self-employment that will be lifelong in terms of acquisition and benefits. When the council newly assumed office, it mandated that all students of the college should offer Agriculture as a compulsory course apart from individuals’ courses of study or disciplines.” Gbadamosi, however, explained that the council came up with the decision to intro-

duce entrepreneurship skills acquisition for all the students as a way of reducing the problem of unemployment confronting the nation after an intensive meeting of both the council and the management of the institution. The entrepreneur initiative, according to the council, is designed to provide knowledge, entrepreneurship and employability as added values to the

graduates of the institution. The provost stressed that “the 12-module training scheme, which was introduced by the council will commence in September, while the entrepreneurship scheme will be implemented in the college’s newly established Centre for Special Academic Programme (CESAP).” The provost pointed out that, the scheme would focus on collaborating with the private sector to effectively deliver the college’s non-core Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programme.

Education 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 23, 2015

Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he Chancellor and Proprietor of Gregory University, a private university located at Uturu, (GUU), Abia State, Dr. Gregory Iyke Ibe, has challenged the participants at the international conference held at the institution to beam their searchlight on how to address the nation’s energy crisis to be thorough. The theme of the conference, organised by the Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria (RAESN) was: “Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development.” Ibe, while challenging participants at the conference that Nigeria should join the rest of the world in seeking for alternative energy sources, urged them to rise to Nigeria’s power and energy inadequacies with a view to proffering lasting solution to the crisis, even as he said Nigeria should join in the global search for alternative and renewable energy sources. In his keynote address, the Director-General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Umar Bindir called

Chancellor tasks conference on renewable energy for the development of the nation’s diverse renewable energy sources potentials such as solar, wind, tidal and geothermal and biomass among others. Bindir, who was represented by Dr. Ephraim, however, suggested that renewable energy development should be pursued with a clear policy framework, even as he outlined the issues that needed to be addressed in the policy framework to include capacity development, research, funding, the extent to which the financial returns will benefit the country, ownership concerns, the nature of the initiative’s economic and community benefits in a country with pervasive poverty and how to create a long-term manufacturing and service industry, among others. The Conference President and Professor of Engineering at Bayero Uni-

versity, Kano (BUK), Umar Danbatta , in his opening address, described the theme of the conference as “appropriate in view of the myriad of problems delaying the attainment of our full potential as a nation, and problems that substantially require energy and environmentally-based solutions.” According to him, the sub-themes were also carefully selected in view of importance of renewable and alternative sources that could be used to augment energy needs and safety concerns of the country. These, he said are solar energy systems, biomass conversion and application, wind, tidal and geothermal energy, renewable energy in ICT applications and renewable energy in agriculture and environmental production and usage, among others.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Okorafor, who stood in for the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Juliet Elu, described the conference as a manifestation of a grand synergy between the Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria, the Gregory University and the ‘Skill G’ Nigeria Limited. He recalled that the private university had resolved to make renewable energy one of its focal research areas, expressing the readiness of the institution to establish the Centre for Renewable Energy Technology. The Fellow of RAESON was conferred on the Chancellor, while the university would name one of its buildings after Prof. Alex Acholonu based in the United States of America in recognition of his contributions to the academic development of the institution.

‘Post-UTME has come to stay’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

to infrastructural challenges, what was certain was that it had curbed the challenge of examination malpractice, cheating and impersonation, among others. Following its laudable achievement of CBT by JAMB, which to a large extent has restored public confidence in the system, the question over the desirability or otherwise of the post-UTME scheme, seemed to be generating a fresh call to scrap the scheme, which some stakeholders noted had outlived its relevance. Originally, the introduction of Post-UTME was greeted with mixed feelings from the JAMB, which vehemently condemned the scheme, saying it was another ploy to duplicate the conduct of the admission processes into the institution, which had been its prerogstive by law. To raise further dust over post-UTME conduct, was the amount charged by the institutions, which the parents described as exploitative since their wards and children had already paid JAMB’s registration forms. But, the University of Ilorin Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali at one of his media interactive sessions, spoke glowingly about the level of competence and fraud-free profile of the CBT mode and the success recorded so far, stressing that if the current form is sustained it would no doubt signal the cancellation of the post-UTME. Ambali, however, recalled that UNILORIN pioneered the use of CBT mode for its post-UTME before JAMB fully adopted it. He said: “Before, what JAMB was doing was 50-50 for CBT and paper pencil mode.” He added that it was in last examination that JAMB adopted it for the entire conduct of the UTME. Due to the integrity and transparency of the system, which no doubt has begun to restore sanity in the UTME, the vice-chancellor pointed out that very soon many universities might have to review their stand concerning the use or otherwise of post-UTME, if the noticeable improvement in the credibility and integrity of the CBT mode is sustained by JAMB. “But for now I will stress that we will keep on watching the system,” he noted. However, many stakeholders, including Obaji have kicked against the cancellation of the initiative, saying its relevance cannot simply be overshadowed by the adoption of CBT mode by JAMB. They argued that the new development could not be assessed based on a single trial and that only time will tell if it will endure. According to her, all over the world, candidates are subjected to series of screening processes to take the best out of them and that each university has its core values and goals requiring certain features in its candidates. Obaji said: “Regardless of what anybody says postUTME is my baby and I have no regret over it. We couldn’t have folded our alms watching the sector

we were appointed to protect to be destroyed by some corrupt individuals. “You can imagine that the quality of students being admitted into our higher institutions had degenerated and most of them only managed to graduate. Unfortunately, those with lower scores were those excelling in schools because their JAMB scores represented their true worth. The UTME had failed and the post-UTME only came to its rescue.” Also, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter, Dr. Caleb Aborishade said the move against the introduction of post-UTME could not be substantiated, but enjoined the institutions to reduce the fees they charge for the conduct of the screening and the checking of results. To Aborishade, the universities are usually at the receiving end of managing the rots through fraudulent UTME scores, and the best way to deal with that situation was the introduction of the post-UTME, which he claimed had served the purpose. He said: “It will be good if the UTME restores its credibility but Nigerians cannot compromise any failed system. So, we are waiting till it manages the new success for some years before anybody can query the continued relevance of Obaji post-UTME.” He added that as an advocate of equity and justice, he would expect the universities to reduce the financial burden placed on the candidates by reducing the fees they charge. “In fact, I do not expect the candidates to pay new fees to check their results having paid for the examination in the first instance,” he noted. Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Charles Ayo said each university is governed by different philosophies and that special interactions with potential candidates are essential to get the best out of the applicants. According to him, it is the tradition of his university to research into the history of its candidates by following them up to the level of interacting with their sponsors and referees. His words: “You cannot get a true picture of a candidate by a single assessment and that is why on our campus, we try as much as possible to know where our candidates are coming from. If you were a cultist

who was expelled from one campus and you believe you can secure admission into our university, our background check will reveal that. So, interactions with candidates are very essential.” On the allegation of high fees charged by the institutions to conduct the post-UTME, the former Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professor of Guidance and Counselling at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Mopelola Omoegun threw her weight behind the continued existence of post-UTME, describing as untrue the allegation, saying the fees charged by the institutions are usually accounted for. She told New Telegraph that the processes required to conduct a fraud-free examination are enormous and that the institutions must pay for security, supervisors and those who would mark the scripts. “So, when you consider what is charged and the task involved in conducting the screening exercise, definitely one would understand that no one is misappropriating the fund,” the don said.

26 Education

TUESDAY, june 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Australia partners OAU on agric, mining Kayode Olanrewaju

partnership that will promote and enhance the development of agriculture and mining has been endorsed by the Australian Government with the management of the Obafemi

Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. The Australian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson, expressed the readiness of his home government to partner the university during his one-day official visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole, in his office. According to the Public Relations Officer for the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, the envoy stressed the importance of the OAU to the overall success of the programme, expressing strong belief that the 1,240-hectare of land on which the teaching and research farm is located could be put to judicious use for the implementation of mechanised farming that would further boost food production for the country. He commended the university management for developing a curriculum that made it compulsory for the 400-Level students of the Faculty of Agriculture to participate in the farming, thus exposing them to the beauty and gains of farming, as well as sharpening their entrepreneurial skills. Richardson, however, reiterated the readiness of the Australian Government to award

scholarship to students who are willing to pursue their postgraduate in Agriculture and Mining in Australia, adding that more than 200 Nigerian students have benefitted from the scheme since its inception in 2010. According to him, ‘several thousands of Nigerians are already in Australia making waves in different fields, particularly in agriculture and mining, thereby contributing their quota to the economy of the two countries.” Richardson, however, applauding the administrative style of the ViceChancellor towards ensuring that his administration sustain the high moral, academic and ethical standard which was in line with the dreams of the founding fathers of the institution. Meanwhile, an alumnus and 1979 graduate of the university, and the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, who was at the institution to welcome Richardson and his team, lauded the Vice-Chancellor for doing a good job in the university. Considering the vast mineral resources in Nigeria, he noted that OAU with a large expanse of land and highly competent manpower readily comes to mind as the best institution for the collaboration by the Australian Government. He urged Omole to keep the country flag and that of the OAU flying, adding that posterity would not forget his

selfless service to humanity and the country in particular. While, responding, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the Envoy for finding time to visit the university despite his schedule, even as he promised to do all within the university’s power to provide every necessary logistic support for the smooth take-off and implementation of the bilateral engagement between OAU and Australian Government. Basking in the euphoria of leading OAU to its first position in fourth consecutive time, among more than 100 universities in Nigeria, Omole assured the Ambassador that his administration would not rest on its oars in providing quality leadership and adequate welfare to members of staff and students. The vice-chancellor pledged to continually make training and retraining of the workers his administration’s top priority in order for them to be abreast of current trend and to conform to the dictates of best practice in the 21st Century university administration. As part of the visit, the Envoy and his team were conducted round the university’s teaching and research farm by the Director, Prof. Sola Ajayi before visiting the famous Oduduwa Hall of the institution, where he delivered a lecture on: “Australia’s Place in the World and its Bilateral Engagement with Nigeria.”

US dons laud ADOPLOY entrepreneurship centre Omole

Okpara varsity Micro-Finance Bank gives N10m loan to societies Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

ichael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Micro Finance Bank has distributed N10 million loan to two women cooperative societies in Abia State. The beneficiaries are Nneji and Selisam Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies, with each of them receiving N5 million cheque. The cooperative societies under the umbrella of their national body, the Quintessential Women Cooperative Society, according to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Bashir Ogungbagbe, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hilary Edeoga at the cheque presentation ceremony, have satisfied the requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for such credit facility. Ogungbagbe said part of the CBN requirements as mandated by the bank is that the societies should put down 30 per cent of the amount, which he added that the societies had met before receiving the loans. While advising the beneficiaries to use the loan facilities for the purpose they were meant, he urged them to use the loan as seed for greater harvest, saying it marked

the beginning of more access to such facilities. The bank official, however, assured the societies of the readiness of the bank to assist them whichever areas they had challenge in the management of the credit facilities. Addressing the beneficiaries, the Vice President of the Quintessential Women Association, Mrs. Janet Eyo, said the association was borne out of the vision to empower women, even as she said “the hands of Nigerian women have remained weak for too long.” She, therefore, recalled that Abia State was one of the 15 states, after Akwa Ibom and Kwara States that secured the Federal Government approval through CBN having fulfilled the conditions for the loans. Mrs. Eyo, who hinted that the money would revolve for 10 years in order to allow more women societies to benefit from the facilities, added that the association was now fulfilled especially after several other banks had disappointed it. She urged the beneficiaries not to squander the opportunity, but keep to the terms of repayment in order to benefit more, even as she encouraged more women cooperative societies to identify with the association in order to lift their families out of poverty.

he Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADOPOLY) has been lauded for its giant strides and transformation drive in providing entrepreneurial knowledge, institutional research and innovation towards improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The commendation was giving by the duo of Prof. Matt Baker of the Texas Technological University, United States and Mr. Mike Bassey, during their visit to the polytechnic. According to Baker, who described the polytechnic as a reference point and proto-type in that area, he noted that the review of publications about his work on his last visit to the polytechnic’s Entrepreneurial Centre in June 2014, earned him the highly valuable American Presidential Award for committed volunteer work. He stressed that the recognition and morale-boosting award over his last volunteer working visit to the polytechnic encouraged the current visit to evaluate the progress made so far with a view

Akande

charting the way for further improvement. The duo, during the three-week visit to the institution’s laboratories, units, farm lands, poultries and lecture halls, expressed satisfaction over the facilities on ground and proffered solutions on how to improve the institution’s agricultural drive. The dons were excited about the inputs and other innovations made by the CEDVS in the laboratories, purchase of new tractors and welding machines, new curriculum, introduction of new species of snails in addition to the new ones as well as the newly constructed Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) building complex which will provide adequate space for students to learn. Meanwhile, the ninth Governing Council of the polytechnic has at its last meeting approved the promotion of no fewer than 117 members of staff across all cadres, as well as ratified the appointment of three substantive directors. The three new directors are Dr. Rasheed Adebimpe, Director of Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation (OOCEI); Mr. Olugbenga Owolabi as Director of the Directorate of Academic Planning and Dr. Joshua Mogaji,who was named thas Director of the Directorate of Universities Degrees Affiliation Programmes (DUDAP). In the teaching staff category, 11 lecturer were promoted to chief lecturers, seven principal lecturers, senior lecturers (eight), chief technologist and chief instructor (one each), and 73 others, while 24 were promoted in the non-teaching staff category. They were promoted to principal technical officer I, principal executive officers, as well as two senior accountants and senior internal auditor and principal technical officer II, among others.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 23, 2015

Campus

Development

Scholarship

Experts make case for human capital development

Implement effective policies in education sector, scholars tell FG

The winners of the exhibition with the dean of the faculty

Ali Toyin Abdul UNILORIN

espite their tight schedule, students of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), for one day gathered at the Faculty of Engineering Lecture Theatre for this year’s edition of the faculty contest. Tagged EPEX 2015, the Faculty of Engineering projects exhibition, featured no fewer than 10 exhibitors from each department in the faculty. Setting the stage for the exhibition, the panel of judges, counseled the students who thronged the capacity lecture theatre in their large number to cheer the participants, to ensure orderliness and decorum throughout the programme. One of the participants, Abimbola

Students offer free medical care to rural dwellers Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

o fewer than 100 residents of Ottah-Igbanke village, a rural community in Edo State, have so far benefited from the free medical service and supply of drugs by the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Association (FECAMDS) chapter of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The outreach programme, tagged: “Food Safety,” was held at St Francis Catholic Church, Ottah-Igbanke. According to the President of the association, Marietta Imadojiemu, the outreach medical programme, is a yearly event initiated by the association, with the aim of reaching out to rural dwellers as part of the love of God. The group said: “We deemed it fit to organise this outreach programme considering the fact that many rural dwellers hardly present themselves for medical checkups in the hospital. However, we decided to organise the medical outreach in order to encourage the people to always make it a habit to show themselves up for routine medical checkups.”

Faculty showcases students’ innovation skills Louis, a 500-Level Civil Engineering student, who was the only female student among the participants, was applauded for her project titled: “Design and Modeling of a Typical Household Rainwater Harvesting System.” In the project, for which she received commendation from the judges, Louis emerged third and went home with various prizes. But two of the students (participants), Isiwekpeni Obinna and Olajide Hafeez, held the judges and audience spell bound with their design and project, titled: “Cloud-Based Home Automation System.” With the innovation, one could power his appliances at home, while he or she is elsewhere and not at home. While commending the two students for their ground-breaking innovation,

one of the judges, Ibrahim Ogundeko of Samsung West Africa, promised to market the project outside the university. The design, however, won the first prize and the most innovative award in the competition for the year. In his welcome remarks, the President of the faculty, Abdulrahman Abdulhakeem, a 500-Level student, recalled the motive behind the programme and its impact on the students, saying: “The programme is expected to stimulate the innovative and technical skills among students and to motivate them.” According to him, the programme would go a long way in offering engineering students the opportunity to develop independent critical thinking skills, collaborative working skills, oral and written communication and presentation skills as well as market-

ing skills, towards building their confidence. “Particularly, these days when musicians and dancers are accorded more fame and recognition, the programme is projected to reward the engineering students, and assure them that the society still values excellence,” Abdulhakeem added. While challenging the students on the need for them to be goal-driven and market-oriented in their approach, one of the panelists and chief executive of Coastarich Limited, Lagos, Mr. David Osu, an engineer, reiterated that the quality of any engineering design or innovation is in its market tendency and strength. His words: “The marketability of a product should be the primary target of any designer.”

Don’t be afraid of change, VC tells administrators Shadrack Yusuf RUN

he Vice-Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University (RUN), Prof. Debo Adeyewa, has urged university administrators not to be afraid of change, saying change is imminent in any organisation. Adeyewa said administrators should be multifunctional and independent, while charging them to be hardworking, efficient, articulate, resourceful and technocratic in their different areas of administration. The vice-chancellor, who gave the advice during the second edition of the Redeemer’s University Registry Annual Lecture, however, reiterated the position of the former Registrar of the Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), Mrs. Mojisola Ladipo’s position that the redundancy of Secretaries was due to the supremacy of Information and

L-R: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adekeye; Mrs. Ladipo; Adeyewa and Mrs. Oloketuyi, at the lecture.

Communications Technology. In her paper, entitled, “Ensuring Relevance as a University Administrator in a Changing Clime,” Mrs. Ladipo, the guest lecturer at the event, condemned what she described as the ‘dis-sensus (as opposed to consensus)

and inevitable conflicts confronting the 21st Century universities. The registrar, who insisted that administration is not all about the registry, added that it encompasses every other service that facilitates academic pursuits in the university system.

28 Education | Campus

TUESDAY, june 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Christian association sharpens pupils’ writing skills Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

he curtains were lowered last week on the essay competition instituted by the Federation of Colleges Ex-Students Christian Association (FECA) Benin 3 chapter for pupils of junior secondary schools in Benin City, as part of activities marking the 2015 Children Day celebration. No fewer than eight schools competed for the converted prize in the competition, which took place penultimate week. The participants were said to have written an essay of not less than 1,000 words on the topic: ‘I am the Future.” The competition was instituted to test the pupils writing skills, creativity and competence. At a reception oprganised at the main auditorium of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Uselu, Benin City to honour winners of the competition, the President of the association, Gbolagun Kehinde explained that the competition was borne out of the desire of the group to encourage students to develop writing skills and creativity. She said: “For the past 25 years, FECA has been in the business of redeeming desolations and teaching young ones values that will help to make them be-

come better individuals. This year, we decided to extend our hands of fellowship to pupils in the junior secondary schools in order to explore and develop their writing skills. “While we celebrate the winners of the essay completion today, the event also calls for sober reflection in view of the fact that many of the essays were not legible. Many of the students could not express themselves and present their ideas, while several others wrote out of point. Mechanical accuracy, content and expression in some of the essays were rather too poor. Unfortunately, only one of the pupils out of about 42 essays we received and examined was able to write up to one thousand words. Our teachers need to do more to encourage students to learn. Towards this end, all hands must be on deck to help in restoring the sliding writing culture among students.” Kehinde, who assured the pupils that the association would not only

uphold the culture of essay writing among the young ones, and sustain it as an annual event, noted that ‘Save Generation Next (SGN)’ is a yearly programme instituted by the association as part of activities marking the Children’s Day. According to her, the programme aimed at reaching out to primary and junior school pupils who are the future hope of country. At the end of the exercise, Emvesiri Akpughe, a JSS pupil of Continental Group of Schools (CGS) emerged the winner, while Lawani Ehitomilola and Raji Faith of Iyoba Girls Junior School emerged the first and second runners up respectively. The ceremony also featured a debate between primary school pupils of Continental Group of Schools and Golden Touch Schools (GTS), with the topic: “There are more Advantages of Being a Young Person than an Adult.” In the debate, the pupils of GTS supported the motion, while those of CGS

opposed the motion. At the end of the debate, GTS emerged winner, having scored 78 points to beat CGS, which also scored 76 points. Meanwhile, Garrick Memorial Primary School has won the third edition of the annual spelling bee completion organised by Benin chapter of FECA. The school, which emerged as the first runner up in the last year contest, defeated 19 other primary schools that participated in the competition to win the converted prize. Describing the school’s performance as overwhelming, Rita Idowu, who represented the school in the competition said: “I am happy that we won the competition this year. In the first edition, we came third, while in its second edition, the school also came second, but now in the third edition we emerged the overall winner. We really prepared hard for the competition this year, and I want to commend the association for what its doing.”

Academy honours for Redeemer’s varsity Shadrack Yusuf RUN

he Nigerian Young Academy (NYA), has bestowed its Commendation Award on Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State in recognition of the institution’s contribution to the advancement of the academy and the course of young scientists in the country. The award was presented to the university amid frills and ovation during the fifth General Assembly and National Conference of the Academy, which took place at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State. While conferring the award on the university, the academy said: “The university (RUN), is being bestowed with the award for being at the vanguard of supporting and advancing the course of the NYA and its members since its inception in 2010.” According to the academy, “the contribution of the university to NYA could be described as a bold step in the right direction. Redeemer’s University accepted to host the event that gave birth to what is now known as NYA, against the negative thinking of many people toward the setting up of the academy in 2010.” The establishment of the academy was regarded by some people as a project that would fizzle out with time, but against this backdrop, the university accepted to host and fund the inaugural conference of the academy in 2010, as well as providing the NYA with a wellfurnished secretariat. Various awards were presented to some lecturers at the event, including Dr. Samuel Adesanya, a lecturer at the Department of Mathematical Science, who won the Professor Aderemi Kuku 2015 National Prize for Young Scientist in Mathematical Sciences, as well as the duo of Dr. Emmanuel Unuabonah and Dr. Abiodun Eseola of the Department of Chemical Sciences, who were bestowed with the Academy Recognition Award.

The winners of the debate competition; GTS in white uniform and CGS in horse blood colour.

Experts make case for human capital development Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

xperts and professionals as well as students have suggested ways in which human capital could be developed and maintained in every field for the socio-economic development of the country.

That was part of the thrust of a one-day conference, organised by the International Association for Promoting Professional Excellence in Research and Education (INTAPPERE), at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State. The conference, which is part of efforts at developing human capital through education prospects and

L-R: Prof. Osisioma; the Deputy Provost, Mrs. C. Mmadichie; the Registrar of the college, Mr. A.I Udensi; the Bursar, Mr. P.M Omile and others at the conference.

challenges in developing countries, assembled professionals in various fields of human endeavour, educators and students who brainstormed and suggested ways to develop human resources for every sector of the economy. The theme of the talk show, which took place at the college’s main auditorium, was: “Education and Human Capital Development: Changing Global Dynamics and Skill-Set.” Leading the discourse, Prof. Ben Osisioma, a don at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Aanmbra, noted that human development was concerned with the richness of human life, rather than the richness of the economy. He said in his paper: “Education is the pivot of national transformation and development. A dysfunctional educational system would perpetuate and deepen poverty and underdevelopment, and consequently, resources in rich economies such as Nigeria, would record abysmal performance in human development indices. “Education equips individuals and societies with the knowledge, values and skills to live and work in an equitable, secure and sustainable manner, balancing economic well-being and human development with cultural tradition and respect for and protection of earth’s natural resources and environment.”

Education | Campus 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 23, 2015

Oladele Oge UNN

or five days last week, over 2,000 scholars from Nigeria and abroad conveyed on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to brainstorm on how to improve and develop the education sector. It was at this year’s edition of the annual international conference, which took place at the Princess Alexandra Hall of the university. The theme of the conference was: “Promoting Best Practices in Nigerian Education through Effective Policy Formulation and Implementation Strategies.” In her opening address, a university lecturer and Dean, Faculty of Education at the university, Prof. Uju Umo called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, to formulate and implement of effective policy plans that will recapture educational values in the na-

Ajibefun, VC

JAMB rates Ajasin varsity high

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the examination body saddled with the responsibility of conducting qualifying examinations into tertiary institutions in the country, has rated the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) as the most sought-after and highly subscribed Ivory Tower in the SouthWest geo-political zone and as number 20 among Nigerian universities. According to JAMB Statistics of Choice Institutions 2015, no fewer than 22,832 candidates chose the university as their first choice, while 165; 22 and two candidates picked the university as their second, third and fourth choice respectively. In the statistics, 13 federal and seven state universities made the 2015 admission year top 20 Most Subscribed Universities list, in which the University of Ilorin leading the park, with the University of Benin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University as first and second runnersup respectively.

Implement effective policies in education sector, scholars tell FG tion’s universities. According to the dean, “It is only through the channel of effective policy promotion and implementation strategies that the universities’ vision and mission and the problems associating with the standard of university education could be achieved.” She added that “to improve and strengthen the quality of education and its delivery system,

the government should implement the national education policy to the letter, saying this would go a long way in enhancing professionalism and best practice in education sector. While enumerating the aims and objectives of the conference, Prof. Umo, urged the participants to look beyond the paper presentations, as the expectation was that the conference should

demonstrate and function optimally in the real sense of university development. “This is not restricted to the generation of ideas or diverse effective policy structures needed for sustainable best practices in country’s educational sector,” the don said, while explaining further that the conference would proffer some lasting solutions to the myriad of problems fac-

ing best practices in Nigerian education. Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, represented by his deputy in charge of Academic, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, noted that Faculty of Education, being the oldest and largest faculty among its counterparts in the university system is capable of addressing the problems facing the

country’s education sector. The conference, which is the third in its series and which attracted scholars outside Nigeria and Africa, is an annual event with increasing participation of scholars from other continents. He, however, said that whatever challenges responsible for restricting the conference from being an international to national conference should be addressed with seriousness since “education is an international commodity in which its products seek employment within local, national and international communities.”

30 Education

TUESDAY, june 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lions Club donates books to Open varsity Mojeed Alabi

he management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has taken delivery of about 48 cartons of textbooks on various fields donated to the institution by a non-governmental organisation, the Lions Club International, Region 10, District 404 A1 of Asaba, Delta State. The donation, according to the club, was aimed at improving the literacy level and to revive the waning reading culture in the country. The books, which cut across different disciplines such as, Law, Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Literature in English, Engineering, Health Sciences, among others, were donated to the institution to further enrich its library as well as the quality of teaching, learning and research materials in the institution. The club’s Regional Chair, Sir Monday Onyeme, while speaking during the presentation of the books, stated that the club in collaboration with Books for Af-

rica USA deemed it important to partner NOUN as the largest university in Nigeria in terms of students’ enrolment and its spread across the federation, adding that the initiative will further help to spread the campaign for ‘Books for All’ across the nooks and crannies of the country. Onyeme noted that the club, in similar gesture had not only donated books to institutions and schools across the federation, but also built and equipped a community library in Asaba with state-of-the-art book and equipment. In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe lauded the efforts of the club for finding the institution worthy of its assistance, saying such would go a long way to support the reading campaign initiated by the university. The vice-chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Patrick Eya, said the delivery of qualitative education would not be effective, if there were no adequate reading materials for learners, even as he added that the books are mostly in the choice areas of courses offered by the institution.

Eya (right) receiving copies of the books from Onyeme

Esther Albert

f the Internet platform introduced by the Mathematics Laboratory Limited to demystify Mathematics as a difficult school subject is anything to go by, secondary school pupils can now learn and practice mathematics with ease on the Internet. According to the Director of Mathematics Laboratory Limited, Andy Akhigbe, although Mathematics is admitted to be a source of head ache to most secondary school students who find the subject difficult to understand, with the Internet platform that experience has changed. “Students can now learn Mathematics without stress,” he added. Speaking at the launch of Naija Mathematics Olympiad for junior and senior secondary schools in the country which took place in Lagos, Akhigbe expressed delight that the over two years ambition has finally been launched to assist and guide the stu-

Maths-made-easy Internet platform debuts dents to effectively study and practise Mathematics. The internet platform developed in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja, Akhigbe said was packaged to increase the number of mathematics “professionals produced yearly in the country and to make the study of mathematics simple like other subjects.” According to Scholastica Adeniji-Fashola, a partner of the Mathematics Laboratory Limited in the project, the aim of

Akhigbe

the application is to provide students with easier access to the Naija Mathematics Olympiad (NMO). “Upon downloading of the application from the Internet, the users can log in to the website and the exercise and quizzes will be downloaded and stored locally in the users’ device,” she explained. Also, the Head of Education and Training Service Dragnet, Horace Obaze, said the programme would go a long way in helping a lot of Nigerian students to understand Mathematics better and prepare them adequately. The Business Development Manager, of Sky Bank Plc, Dipo Oshodi said the bank decided to partner Mathematics Laboratory in the programme in order to help the students to build the platform to become mathematics gurus.

EDUPEACE

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

Give and forgive; don’t get and forget

or about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, this is the holy season of Ramadhan. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is characterised by fasting and devotion. Ramadhan is the holiest month in the year and it is an opportunity to witness it. According to a statement released by the mercurial former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, (OFR), this season, which began last Thursday, is “associated with prayers, peace, restraint, piety, reflection, charity, kindness, devotion and love. It is the month in which the gates of Paradise are open and the gates of Hell are closed.” Apart from saying that the month of “Ramadhan offers a great moment for rejuvenation and renewal, of faith, of friendship, of relationships, of cooperation and of national unity regardless of religious, ethnic and political affiliations”, Prof. Oloyede added that the “month of Ramadhan as a period of forgiveness offers Nigerians an opportunity to forgive…” one another. There are many lessons that this fasting season offers but for the purpose of this discourse, I will emphasise three issues, two of which derive from the cited release. These three issues are components of a single philosophy that consists of two parts: “Give and forgive; don’t get and forget.” Imbibing this philosophy is a good way of attaining peace with oneself and others. Giving or being charitable is a virtue that everyone has to cultivate. It doesn’t really matter who you give and what you give, the essential thing is to be charitable and kind. An old adage is that “givers never lack” as what goes round comes round in their own favour too. Both the rich and the poor feel hunger the say way. As an equalizer, fasting makes one understand what the less privileged go through and encourages one to give. Then, one of the secrets of happiness is to forgive others. Just give and forgive them because a peaceful heart has no room for hatred or vengeance. For instance, many wrongs and evils have been committed against Nigerians based on their political, religious and ethnic identities in the past. Yet, the best approach is to just forgive and face forward. Meanwhile, the weak are not capable of forgiveness. Only the strong forgive. Nelson Mandela was a courageous man; he forgave his jailers. President Muhammadu Buhari is a coura-

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred; forgive them anyway

geous man. He appears to have forgiven all those who told lies against him and assassinated his character. On September 3, 1959, Mother Teresa sent a message that still reverberates across the world. “People are often unreasonable, illogical and selfcentred; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous, be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.” This season also engenders appreciation. There are many blessings we receive from above that we often take for granted. There are many favours that we get that we often elect to forget. But for one to get and forget is not virtuous; therefore, appreciation is crucial. Whoever is thoughtful is always grateful. Regardless of one’s level of education, if one does not imbibe the culture of giving, one’s education is meaningless. No matter the level of one’s accomplishments, if one does not forgive, all the achievements are meaningless. The strength of character lies in the ability to give people and forgive their faults. Always give; do not expect people to give you. Always forgive; but be careful not to always be in need of seeking forgiveness. Fulfil your promise; do not expect people to fulfil theirs. Be good to people, do not expect them to be good to you. Do not forget the good people do to you, but do not forget theirs. This way, you will graduate with distinction not only from the school of Ramadhan but also the School of Life..

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Energy

Oil search in North: Still a long road

Property

Aviation

National Housing Fund as contributors’ nightmare

Why Nigeria’s weather-related accidents are falling

Business What's news

Why Nigeria, others’ oil revenue plunged below $1trn Nigeria and other 11 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) oil revenues plunged below $1 trillion last year for the first time since 2010 because of the Saudi Arabia-led strategy of defending market share instead of prices.

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Lagos, Abuja among most expensive cities for expats Lagos is the 20th most expensive city for expatriates globally, New Telegraph has leant.

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

L-R: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Mr Tobe Okigbo; Chief Executive Officer, Lionstone Health Partners, Mrs. Njide Ndile; Chief Medical Director, First Consultants Medical Centre, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri; Market Development Manager, Intel, Simbo Olatoregun and Chief Executive Officer, Sabaoth Technologies, Dr. Dania Simpa, at the donation of Smile Router Wifi by Smile Communications Nigeria Limited to First Consultants Medical Center, Obalende, Lagos.

EU may reject Nigeria’s public sector financial statements financial expert and past president of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, has warned that financial statements from the country’s public sector may, in the coming years, no longer be accepted by

member countries of the European Union (EU). This, he said, is due to the plan by the EU to replace the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) with a European accounting standard. IPSAS are a set of accounting standards issued for use by public sector entities around the world in the preparation of financial statements. These benchmarks are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). In a chat with the New Tele-

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%

ANXIETY

Fears over EU’s decision to dump IPSAS

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

Tony Chukwunyem

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

graph, Nzekwe argued that if the EU drops IPSAS for their own standards, it would mean that financial statements of public sector entities in Nigeria, which are IPSAS-compliant, may no longer be accepted in Europe. He pointed out that this could also have an impact on the country’s adoption of IFRS as the EU may also decide to drop

N40trn Total value of transactions processed by NIBSS in 2014

the IFRS for another set of standards in the future. He said: “In Nigeria, the economy is public sector driven, so, we can see why IPSAS is so important. The public sector is the biggest spender and that is why when it is time for budgets, people are so interested to find out which agency gets what. I’m concerned because it means that our public sector accounts would not be accepted in the United Kingdom, for example, because they are now using a different standard. “Indeed, at times I wonder CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Jun 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N350 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N250

l Foreign Reserves – $29.008bn as at 18/06/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Jun 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199.40 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N315.29 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N226.72

Business | News

DEFICIT

OPEC members not earning enough to balance their budgets

Adeola Yusuf

igeria and other 11 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) oil revenues plunged below $1 trillion last year for the first time since 2010 because of the Saudi Arabia-led strategy of defending market share instead of prices. Bloomberg, which revealed this in a report, added that the strategy also led to a strain on the group’s members as they increased pumping at a time of oversupply. OPEC members also lost about $100 billion oil revenues in 2014. The report released by OPEC highlighted how slumping crude prices hurt countries reliant on oil sales to fund their economies. The group’s 12 members earned $993.3 billion in 2014, a decrease of 11 per cent from a year earlier. Their combined current account balance slumped by 35 per cent to $273.6 billion, as the drop in exports was accompanied by

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Nigeria, others’ oil revenue plunged below $1trn an increase in imports. “The revenue drop shows the strain on the group’s members as they increase pumping at a time of oversupply, following a Saudi Arabia-led strategy of defending market share instead of prices,” Bloomberg reported. According to a data compiled by Bloomberg, OPEC nations agreed on June 5 to keep a production limit of 30 million barrels a day, a level they have exceeded every month since June last year. “Given the weakness in the first half of the year, another

sub-one-trillion-dollar revenue year remains on the table,” Hamza Khan, an Amsterdambased senior commodity strategist at ING Bank NV, said by e-mail. The impact on government finances of some OPEC members could be mitigated by increased production and foreign direct investment, he said. Brent for August settlement gained 1.2 per cent to $64.43 a barrel at 9:48 a.m. local time on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The benchmark crude has rebounded 43

per cent since reaching a sixyear low of $45.19 in January. If OPEC keeps pumping at current rates through the third quarter, production will have exceeded demand for the longest period in at least three decades, International Energy Agency data show. Almost all the group’s members aren’t earning enough from current oil prices to balance their budgets, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “OPEC members may have been blind-sided by lower revenue last year, but they appear

to be mitigating risks moving forward,” Khan said. Venezuela, which had been one of the most vocal OPEC members in calling for a production cuts to support the oil price, has changed its stance. The country’s Oil Minister, Asdrubal Chavez, said that the oil market will stabilise by the end of this year and called the June 5 meeting “very successful.” Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, announced last month, plans for joint investments with Russia of over $14 billion in domestic oil projects.

EU may reject Nigeria’s public sector financial statements CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

if we followed the EU too early in adopting IPSAs too quickly. Maybe we should have waited to see the direction they were heading before following them. Now they have gone back to the European standards.” Attempts to get the reaction of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) were not successful as the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jim Obazee, did not respond to a text message sent to his phone. The Federal Government had, in July 2010, approved the adoption of the IPSAS and the IFRS for the public and private sectors to facilitate improvement in the country’s accounting and financial reporting system in line with global standards. Consequently, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, (FAAC), on June 13, 2011, constituted a sub-committee to work out modalities and draw up a road map for the adoption and implementation of IPSAS in the three tiers of government in the country. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), processed over 100 million transactions in terms of volume with a corresponding value of over N40 trillion (over $208 billion) in 2014, a document obtained by this newspaper revealed

L-R: Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Detlev Lubsch; Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Ekanem Madueke and Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Nurudeen Imam, during the company’s 45th Annual General Meeting in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

OVERPRICED Hong Kong, Zurich, Singapore and Geneva top the list of most expensive cities for expatriates Dayo Ayeyemi

agos is the 20th most expensive city for expatriates globally, New Telegraph has leant. The latest analysis from Mercer’s 2015 Cost of Living Rankings showed that Lagos moved up five places from 25th position in 2014 and 11 places from its 36th position in 2013. Abuja was also on the list at 35, having moved up first place when compared with 2014. Mercer, a global consulting leader in health, wealth and careers conducted the survey, which included 207 cities across five continents,

Lagos, Abuja among most expensive cities for expats measured the comparative cost of housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, entertainment and many others. The average three-bedroom apartment in Victoria Island and Ikoyi costs between N40 million and N150 million According to Mercer’s 2015 Cost of Living Survey, Asian and European cities – particularly Hong Kong, Zurich, Singapore and Geneva – top the list of most expensive cities for expats. The costliest city for the third consecutive year is Luanda, the capital of Angola. Despite being recognised as a relatively inexpensive city, the cost of imported goods and safe living conditions in this country are available at

a steep price. Over the past decade, workers and commuters in Lagos have generally become accustomed to the inherent problems that come with inadequate parking facilities. The report from Mercer noted that double parking and extortion-like car parking fees are just a few of many routine practices for car owners across the city. However, with the development of over 100,000sqm of prime purpose-built office space expected in the next 12 months, things may begin to change. “Key nodes like Victoria Island and Ikeja have it relatively tough; this is because many current office stocks are made up of residential

to office conversions. Consequently, parking for large number of people was not thoroughly considered. Even with the growing supply of purpose-built office spaces, especially in Victoria Island, it is found that some developers dismiss parking facilities from their development checklist and pushed the burden over to tenants, leaving them to find empty lots to rent or forcing them to make other costly provisions for their staff,” the mercer report said. According to Estateintel news, Lagos’ parking requirement for commercial developments in Victoria Island is one bay for every 90sqm. “This is poor, as that would translate to one parking space for four people.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Petralon Energy raises $50m for Africa’s expansion p.34

Energy

Oil search in North: Still a long road

Chad Basin. Inset: Buhari

he NNPC raised optimism on oil discovery in Chad basin on May 5, 2015, when its Group Managing Director, Dr. Joseph Dahwa, told staff of Integrated Data Services Nigeria Limited (IDL), a subsidiary of the NNPC, that is carrying out seismic data acquisition in the Chad Basin that he would move them back on site. Like a proverbial cock that perched on a dangling rope, the state of exploration activities in Chad basin had been shaky before this declaration by Dahwa in Abuja due to security situation, which had turned the site into a war zone between the Joint Task Force and Boko Haram insurgents. The ray of hope was later dashed by events that unfolded in the last few weeks. Determination of oil ‘searcher’ Dahwa, a northerner, hails from Borno State where the Chad basin exploration is on-going and he was propelled by determination to get oil from the basin. The NNPC boss, however, took advantage of his address at the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Integrated Data Services Nigeria Limited, to show this determination. Following improvements in the security situation in the Northeast, he said, the NNPC would remobilse for exploration. “Preliminary indications from the previous exercise so far are encouraging and we are going to move back there,” Dawha had said. He described the security situation in the Northeast that led to the corporation to suspend oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin as “unfortunate,” while commending the security forces for their recent success in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

Coming at a time the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had just completed another staff evacuation from the Chad basin exploration site, the new onslaught on Boko Haram has again grounded the search for oil in the North, reports Adeola Yusuf

tary said, not mentioning where the raids took place. Chad is to host a new regional force being set up to tackle Boko Haram. It believes that the group threatens the stability of the entire region.

and injured about 100 others, were the first in the city. This was the first suicide attack in N’Djamena. Consequently, the Chad basin slipped into becoming a war zone again. Chad’s military confirmed that it had carried out air strikes hundreds of kilometres from the basin site in Nigeria where it suspected to be the positions of the Boko Haram. The strikes were in response to the “cowardly and barbaric” bombing of Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, penultimate Monday, it added in a statement. The group suffered heavy casualties and six of its bases were destroyed, the military said.

Exploration grounded Given these developments, the renewed exploration efforts were grounded to a halt, making it the second time in two years that Nigeria had suffered the same fate. Checks by New Telegraph revealed that the NNPC had stepped down plans to deploy some IDL staff who are billed to be deployed on site while a few supporting staff of the corporation, who have been on site have been evacuated. This has made it impossible again for the Federal Government to achieve commercial oil production in the Chad Basin this year. Consequently, the over N27.7 billion investments will not be realised as scheduled. The project had gulped about $75 million (about N11.9 billion) in 2012, while another $100 million (or N15.8 billion) was earmarked for it in 2013. “I want to inform you that government is committed to the oil and gas search in the Lake Chad basin,” the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, said at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai, when he paid a courtesy call on the monarch.

Military triumph and ray of hope Basking in the euphoria of the success, which the Nigerian military recorded against insurgents in the region in weeks before the last general elections, Dahwa assured Nigerians that his team would swing back into action to find oil in the North. Before then, the military had rescued hundreds of persons held captive by the terrorists in the troubled region, a development that had improved the security situation in the Northeast. Dahwa is not the only one that shared this optimism. President Muhammadu Buhari also stated that his government would focus on reactivating Lake Chad and would deploy resources to resume the search for oil in parts of Borno State that fall within the basin. Dashed hope But the raging Boko Haram insurgency has, however, punctured government’s optimism. Government had, in a bid to douse the insurgency, lubricated the wheels of regional collaboration, especially among the countries that shared boundaries with Nigeria on the North East corridor. Those terrorists too had, however, retreated to launch guerrilla warfare on the countries. The Boko Haram struck in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital recently, bombing the police headquarters and a police academy in the city. The attacks, which led to the death of scores of people

Oil discovery hope was dashed by events that unfolded in the last few weeks

Rebuttal However, Nigeria’s military has said that the strikes were not on its territory. In a statement, it said that it had identified the targets, but the raids probably hit Niger. “The territory of Nigeria has not been violated,” it said. Both Chad and Niger have been helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram in recent months. Chad has, however, carried out airstrikes in Nigeria before, when it entered the conflict in January. However, the strikes are the first since Monday’s twin blasts, which killed over 20 people and wounded more than 100, according to reports. Chad will continue its “merciless” pursuit of the militants “so that no drop of Chadian blood spilt goes unpunished,” the mili-

Conclusion All monarchs, politicians, religious leaders and stakeholders from the Northeast, nay the entire northern region, must support the on-going military onslaught on Boko Haram to end the menace once and for all. This is the only way to fast track the dream of oil discovery in the region.

Business | Energy

APPOINTMENT Petralon Energy announces the appointment of Mutiu Sunmonu and Aigboje AigImoukhuede to its Board Stories by Adeola Yusuf

etralon Energy, an indigenous exploration and production company in Nigeria said it had raised $50 million for its expansion plans across Africa. The company in a statement, also announced the appointment of Mutiu Sunmonu and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as Chairman and Non-Executive Director (respectively) to its Board of Directors. “Petralon Energy is an indigenous exploration and Production Company in Nigeria with regional expansion plans across Africa. The firm, which has already raised over $50million to fund its immediate growth plans, is set to acquire, develop, and operate assets in the oil and gas sector,” the statement said. Mr. Sunmonu is the former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Country

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Petralon Energy raises $50m for Africa’s expansion Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria with an oil & gas career spanning over 36 years in Nigeria, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He was the pioneer responsible for mobilising the private sector to set up the National Business Council

for Sustainable Development (NBCSD) and currently serves on the board of various organisations across multiple sectors of the economy including Real Estate, Construction, Oil & Gas and Education. Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede is the

founder and Chairman of Coronation Capital - a private equity and propriety investment firm targeting the financial services, digital technology, upstream oil & gas and real estate sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, operating out of Mauritius.

He is President of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Chairman of Wapic Insurance Group, an emerging West African Underwriter. He also serves on the Board of the Africa Finance Corporation.

Total restates commitment to CSR

otal Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited has not abandoned its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), despite the crude oil price rout at the global market, its management has said. The company disclosed this during its first Book Reading Forum organised by Lagos district. The company explained that the number of its annually sponsored scholars had also increased to 10, 000. Fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline of the forum, Deputy General Manager, CSR/ Public Affairs, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Deep Water District, Dr. Nkoyo Attah, said that the company’s CSR efforts, which cut across the country, are based on the results of carefully conducted needs assessment. “We don’t focus on reducing the budget on CSR, because it’s very important to us. We take the nation as our host communities. We did need assessment before we arrive at all our CSR efforts. With this, we are sure that the footprint of Total will continue to be seen in Nigeria. “Total has a human-face and our efforts are to demonstrate this. We sponsor a lot of scholars: 10,000 scholars annually and we have been on this for a while.” The General Manager, Human Resources, Deep Water District, Mrs. Kofo Ati-John and the Executive General Manager, Deep Water Administration, Ms. Chinyere Uche, read parts of the book to the students. The Guest Reader/Role Model, Dr. Damilola Ajayi, while addressing the students, advised them to read one book per week because reading places one on a higher platform than others.

L-R: Director, Healthcare Programmes, Bayer Pharma AG, Dr. Michael Heerde; Director, Health, Population and Nutrition office, USAID Nigeria, Dr. Nancy Lowenthal; Director Family Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Balami Wapada and Senior Bayer Representative/Head, Bayer Healthcare West Central Africa, Mr. Amechi Nwachukwu, at the launch of Microgynon Fe Oral Contraceptive, in Abuja.

he Benin Electricity Distribution Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, to promote human capital development in the power sector. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, told journalists in Benin, Edo State, that the MoU was part of efforts of the DISCO’s core investor, Vigeo Power Ltd, to train new and existing personnel of the firm on best technical practices for addressing the needs of electricity consumers in the country. Osibodu, according to a statement, explained that the five-year partnership would cover the cost of training facilities in the university and remuneration of staff drawn from both in-house academy and the private institution.

BEDC, Elizade varsity sign MoU on human capacity devt DISCO recruits 200 graduates She said that the DISCO had recruited 200 graduates in relevant fields in electricity management, who had received on-the-job and rotational training and were set to commence the classroom training in the university, which, she said, shared the vision of the company. “This signing of a Memorandum of Agreement commits us to work together closely towards our common goal, which is grooming a crop of skilled workforce as a way of building capacity in the power sector. “Each party will pursue numerous significant activi-

ties such as effective classroom trainings, fieldwork, physical activities and community development projects, to mention a few,” she added. Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Valentine Aletor, described the initiative as a timely intervention to address major challenges such as human capital deficit and corruption practice in the power sector. Aletor said: “VIPL-EU joint initiative is to engender government-industry-university partnership in research and innovation for the projection of local initiatives, which would ultimately lead

to the building of home-made alternative, indigenous technologies that are easily adaptable to solving the emerging technical and engineering problems that have bedevilled electricity generation and distribution in Nigeria. He also noted that the partnership would serve as a major incentive to improve the university’s drive for global excellence in technological innovation, adding that the second phase of the programme would focus on the “production of light equipment and accessories to effect minor routine repairs within the power sector.”

Seven Energy to raise support for Nigeria’s infrastructure

even Energy has promised to increase its support for Nigeria’s economy through the gas infrastructure. The company had already invested over $1 billion in the south east region of the Niger Delta in the last five years. Managing Director, Ac-

cugas, a subsidiary of the company, Steve Tierney, said this in a statement to herald the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) forum for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s). He said that the forum is intended to develop and drive the company’s support to SME businesses, which

are the engines of growth for the Nigerian economy. Christened ‘Gas to Power Your Business,’’ Tierney said that his company intends to bring value and reliability to the SMEs. He said: “Understanding how switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a real alternative, which

will have a substantial impact on their competitiveness, Seven Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Accugas, has built up infrastructure and a reputation for the reliable supply of high quality gas to sustain business operations for many large industrial customers.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Infrastructure: Nigeria needs N166bn p.36

Property&Environment

National Housing Fund as contributors’ nightmare When the National Housing Fund (NHF) was introduced in Nigeria over two decades ago, many people saw it as an opportunity to own their houses. But 23 years after, have neither been able to access the house nor get housing loans. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

ontroversies have continued to trail the mandatory contributory scheme known as the National Housing Fund (NHF) over the difficulty in getting refund or access the housing loans to own their houses by contributors. While some people have attested to the importance of NHF, it has been a bitter experience for others who, after many years of contributing money to the scheme, did not know what to do to become homeowners. Their money has, therefore, been trapped in the scheme for many years. For Mr. Johnson Adebayo, a journalist, the enthusiasms with which many companies, including his former employer, accepted the scheme at inception over two decades ago, made many workers in the organisation subscribe to it, believing that their housing challenge would soon be over. Twenty-one years after, Adebayo and many of his colleagues are yet to access the fund to own their houses. He has left the organisation since 2007, but his NHF contribution is still hanging. He said: “Throughout my stay in the company, my employer ensured the deduction of the compulsory monthly contribution to the scheme in line with government’s prescription. My major concern is that this money that I contributed to the NHF between 1994 and when I left the organisation is still trapped.” Asked if he has approached the management of his former company for refund, Adebayo said that nobody in the company has been able to access the fund. “My regret is that for over 20 years now, I cannot access the money, talk less of utilising it to access a housing loan. The money is just trapped there, nobody knows how to access it and nobody is saying anything about it. I don’t believe in the NHF,” Adebayo said. To authenticate his claims, he presented his NHF contribution card to New Telegraph. The card, with membership number 101309132-5, printed in national colour (green, white, green), showed the number of years and monthly

Freedom Park Estate, Agbara, Ogun State.

deductions contributed by him since March 1994 to June 2003. Adebayo is not alone. Another contributor to the scheme from the same organisation, who identified himself simply as Andrew, expressed disappointed over the scheme. He said that he had contributed to the fund for 20 years, but did not know how to access his contributions. “I have left the company since 2003, but the fact remains that my contributions are with my former employer, including my card. I don’t even know what to do and nobody is coming out to inform us (contributors) about what to do. “I think this has to do with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). There is the need to educate and give the right information to Nigerians who are contributors on how to go about it,” Andrew said. Another contributor from the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Mr. Jerry Chukwuma, was eager to know how he can become a homeowner, going by his commitment in terms of monthly contributions to the NHF. He told this newspaper that he needed the right information on what to do, which estate developer or bank to approach so that he can have a roof over his head. Chukwuma is not alone in this dilemma. There are others out there that do not know the importance of NHF. Many experts have blamed paucity of funds, high cost of building, poor remuneration of workers and default by individuals, companies and ministry for not remitting workers’ contributions to the fund monthly for the NHF challenges. National Housing Fund NHF is a Federal Govern-

ment’s scheme, which entitles Nigerians above the age of 21 in paid employment to a low interest government-funded loan. Members of the scheme are expected to contribute 2.5 per cent of their monthly salary to the fund through the FMBN. The amount obtainable under the NHF has recently been increased from N5 million to N15 million and the borrowed capital is repayable over a maximum period of 30 years at six per cent interest rate. Commercial and merchant banks are expected to invest 10 per cent of their loans and advances portfolio; insurance companies to invest 20 per cent of non-life and 40 per cent life funds in the housing sector, with 50 per cent of these directly in NHF and the financial contributions of the Federal Government.

Out of about 170 million people in Nigeria, less than one per cent is contributing

FMBN’s defence But the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), which drives the process, has blamed ignorance among contributors for their inability to access their entitlements. The bank insists that it has facilitated thousands of housing loan portfolios and refunds in the last few years. A reliable source from FMBN, the apex mortgage institution in the country, explained that the bank channels the loans through accredited Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs), pointing out that “most of these individuals have never approached any PMI to find out the conditions they have to fulfil to access the mortgage.” Managing Director, FMBN, Mr. Gimba Kumo, said recently that less than one per cent of 170 million Nigerians contributed to the housing fund.

He said: “If you look at the National Housing Fund, out of about 170 million people in Nigeria, less than one per cent is contributing. So, we said this is not good enough.” He put the contribution of the mortgage industry to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at less than one per cent, saying that his target is to ensure that the mortgage sector contribute at least 15 per cent to the GDP. Contributions to NHF so far As at 2015, the managing director said that monthly NHF collection from over four million subscribers to the scheme had increased from N700 million to N2.4 billion monthly. He attributed the 300 per cent increase in collection to the automation of the bank’s operations and the introduction of e-collection platform processes. NHF contribution was reported to have hit N134 billion in 2014. A source said that N106 billion was contributed to the NHF as at March 2013, with the scheme currently having only 3,772,031 contributors out of about 35 million workers in the country. Accordingly, about N100 billion has been disbursed since inception of the scheme in March 2013 with 73,676 eligible contributors as beneficiaries. The cumulative number of refunds made since inception of the scheme till March 2013 is estimated at N1.7 billion. A breakdown of the figure showed that about N40 billion was disbursed by FMBN to primary mortgage institutions for the financing of housing for 22,246 beneficiaries while about N60 billion was granted as Estate Development Loan to some private developers, state-owned housing CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Business | Property & Environment

DEVELOPMENT Lagos spent N1.1 trillion on infrastructural in eight years Dayo Ayeyemi

member of the Steering Committee for the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), has disclosed that Nigeria needs an estimated N166 billion to provide quality infrastructure in the first phase of the plan. Shasore said that the overall amount required for infrastructure needs is in the region of N485 trillion in the next 30 years. He told facilities managers

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Infrastructure: Nigeria needs N166bn for first phase in Lagos that with Nigeria’s performance on the provision of funding for infrastructure standing at less than 25 per cent, the growth potential is evident. Besides, he stated that maintenance costs will also grow significantly as infrastructure stock increases, urging facilities managers to brace for the challenge. According to global benchmarks, Shasore, who is also the President, Lagos Court of Arbitration, noted that maintenance spend would amount to approximately two per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), “which translates into a total of

about $23 billion per annum.” He also said that Lagos State spent N1,132,000,000 on infrastructural development in the last eight years out of N2,749,498,000 trillion budgeted for the period. The amount, according to Shasore, represents a veritable source of continued growth for the facilities management industry. The money, he said, was spent on 8,961 projects, some of which included the Eko Light Rail Project, the Metro Blue Line and the Eko Atlantic City projects, among others.

He explained that the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) was borne out of the need to provide an overall direction for the growth and development of the state. Besides, he said that it was set up to provide a framework by which all sectors of the economy – public, private and civil society – could contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people. He said: “The plan pro-

Be conscious of ecological impact, conservationists warn Flora Onwudiwe

irector of United Nation’s Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, Mr. Ronald Kayanja, has urged Nigerians to be more conscious of the ecological impact in order to witness sustainable development. Kayanja, who was represented by one of his staff, Ms Adeola Adedeji, sensitised traders on the need to protect the environment, when celebrating the 2015 World Environment Day in Lagos. Director of Lagos Waste Management Board (LAWMA), Mrs. Abimbola JijohoOgun, stressed the health benefits of a clean environment and the importance of tree planting to the traders.

Site of Lagos light rail project

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

corporations and the Federal Housing Authority for the construction of 36,348 housing units across the country. Improvement plan Kumo disclosed that 30 states had so far joined the NHF, adding that the remaining six states, particularly Lagos, had formed co-operative societies. He said that the NHF is targeting the creation of four million mortgages in the next four years, adding that the bank had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the organised labour groups such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Employers Consultative Forum towards actualising the four million mortgage target. He disclosed that discussions had reached an advanced stage on the recapitalisation of the bank to the tune of N250 billion within the next few months. Management of FMBN said it is working to identify critical defaulters and make example of them. He said that its workers have visited several organisations to sensitise the staff on the need to follow up

vides overall direction for the growth and development of the state up to 2025, by which time it is estimated that Lagos will be ranked as the third largest city in the world after Tokyo and Mumbai.” Shasore told the practitioners that there would be a need for greater advocacy of the salient benefits of facilities management to the public and private sectors.

She enjoined the traders to avoid the habits of disposing their waste into the drainage, saying that it could block the channels and lead to flooding with possible loss of lives and property. Guest Speaker, Mr. Olayiwole Onasanya, while speaking on “Sustainable consumption and production,” emphasised the minimal usage of resources, the purpose and benefits of re-usage, recycling and reduction of material in use. Chairman of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Lagos State chapter, Dr. Eugene Itua, urged everyone to contribute to ensuring cleaner air and a greener environment in Nigeria.

National Housing Fund as contributors’ nightmare these deductions and ensure that they are remitted. Eligibility for NHF loan To be eligible for the NHF loan, an interested contributor must apply through a registered and duly accredited mortgage loan originator, such as a primary mortgage bank (PMB), who packages and forwards the application to FMBN. Applicants are required to provide satisfactory evidence of regular income. Deducted monthly contributions must be remitted to FMBN promptly and at least six months’ contributions should have been made. Documents required to process NHF loan include: Completed application form; photocopy of title documents; current valuation report on the proposed house to buy or bills of quantities (BoQ) for the house to build and, three years tax clearance certificate. Others are evidence of NHF participation, copy of pay slips for the previous three months and equity contribution or personal stake of 30 per cent, 20 per cent or 10 per cent depending on the amount applied for.

Buhari

Yao’kumo

NHF loan cannot be used to purchase piece of land to build a house. A prospective applicant who wishes to obtain a loan to build a house is expected to have his/her land as well as an acceptance title to the land prior to the application for NHF loan.

tion the necessary machinery to re-examine the NHF. He described NHF as a veritable vehicle for collection of money for mortgage, but that government lacked the political will to implement it to the letter. Akomolede stressed the need to assemble experts in order to re-examine the NHF law and remove areas of conflict by recommending how it can be implemented for the benefit of all.

Expert’s view Principal partner, Kola Akomolede and Company, Chief Kola Akomolede, said that government must set in mo-

He said: “For example, if government is asking workers to contribute two and half per cent of their monthly income to the fund, why can’t government itself (at all levels - federal state and local) show good example by contributing two and half per cent of its revenue to the fund? “It can then compel all companies to contribute two and half per cent of their annual profits before tax to the fund. In this way, the fund will grow from year to year and will provide sufficient fund for the mortgage institutions for on-lending to both property developers and individuals who want mortgage to build or buy a house.” Executive Director, Sparklight Property Development Company, Mr. Segun Olabode, described NHF as the cheapest housing loan as far as Nigeria is concerned. Olabode decried the fact that not everybody that contributed to the NHF benefited from it, blaming apathy towards the scheme on ignorance. He urged synergy between the primary mortgage institutions (PMIs) and the FMBN to sensitise people so that they can access the fund.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

German Wings crash: Europe plans air safety reforms p.38 Weather issues contribute about 35 per cent of aviation accidents worldwide. WOLE SHADARE writes that from no single wind shear alert system in any Nigerian airport in 2006, the nation now has some of the most sophisticated system

Aviation Why Nigeria’s weather-related accidents are falling

eteorological services started in Nigeria in 1892 under the British West Africa colonial government and were later christened the National Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Afterwards, meteorological services have been a department under various ministries at different times. However, in 2003, it became a parastatal that was established by an Act of the National Assembly under the Federal Ministry of Aviation. Section 7 of NIMET Establishment Act spells out its responsibilities. Until recently, NIMET - one of the critical aviation agencies was relatively unknown because of government’s lack of interest in one of the critical components of flight operations in Nigeria and anywhere in the world. Weather and air safety It must be said that weather issues contribute up to 30-35 per cent of aviation accidents and incidents worldwide. This is the global statistics and Nigeria is also part of the global community. In Nigeria, weather had been implicated, as it were, either in full or in part in some past air accidents and incidents. For instance, the Sosoliso crash of 2006, the ADC of 2006, and Belleview of 2005; these accidents were attributed to bad weather. In the ADC crash of 2006, there were indications that windshear was probably a major causative or contributing factor. At that time, there was no Low Level Windshear Alert Systems (LLWAS) in any airport in Nigeria. Windshear is, sudden change in wind direction and it is said that no aircraft has ever survived the phenomenon if it is not detected early. However, since that crash, steps had been taken to install LLWAS in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt - that is four International Airports. Today, they have even gone further, as they have now added Enugu, Owerri, Benin, Sokoto, and Yola airports to the existing ones. So, currently, nine airports in Nigeria have been equipped with the system at a rapid progress. A new beginning The accident reports show clearly that weather had its

One of the Doppler weather radars deployed in some of Nigeria’s airports

fingerprint. Consequently, the Director-General of NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, is providing high quality services to ensure safety in the airspace. He said: “We have had a couple of accidents. Yet you will agree that in recent times, nobody has heard that an aircraft went down because of bad weather. All you can hear is that there is air return or flight is delayed because we gave the accurate weather forecast, which enables the pilot to take informed decisions.” Anuforom stated that the responsibility for safety is a collective one. Specifically, he said that safety is a collective responsibility of the stakeholders (government and airline operators), explaining that they have collective responsibilities but differential roles and functions. He said: “We have collective responsibilities just like in the security circles. I will always say security is everybody’s business. In the same way, aviation safety is the business and responsibilities of all stakeholders, but the roles are different. That is why I said that collective responsibilities but differential roles. “Let me expatiate on this: on the part of government, its responsibility is to provide and maintain air navigation and meteorological infrastructure because the airline operator will not come and start building air control tower or provide navigational and weather monitoring equipment,” he said. Besides, he listed other roles of government to include provision of adequate manpower to meteorological services-meteorologists, weather forecasters and engineers - to maintain all

those equipment, which must be done on a sustainable basis. The third differential role of government is to provide the necessary regulatory, policy and legal frameworks. These, he explained, are the three main things government has the responsibilities to do. “The question now is, has government been living up to its responsibilities? Government has lived up to its responsibilities,” he added.

The question now is, has government been living up to its responsibilities?

DWR efficiency In 2009, six airports located in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt and Yola got Doppler Weather Radar (DWR). The DWR has the capacity to detect and track a weather system as far as 400 to 800 kilometres. It can also scan the atmosphere continuously and provide weather information every two minutes, thereby giving the weather forecaster the ability to update the public on the changing characteristics of the system. A document obtained by New Telegraph at the weekend, showed that the acquisition of the DWR system came almost 29 years after Nigeria attempted to install it in some of its airports. The first attempt by Nigeria to acquire Doppler Weather Radar was in the early 1980s, when three of the equipment were procured and installed in Lagos and Kano. The installation in Port Harcourt was inconclusive. That project was not sustained and by the early 1990s, the entire system had broken down. In 2003, a new move to procure DWR was initiated in the ministry. Again, this suffered a series of setbacks, until August 2008 when

President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government got the Nigerian Doppler Weather Radar back on track and gave it renewed impetus. Concerned with air safety, two other DWR were installed with the assistance of former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, for the agency for both Yola and Maiduguri airports, precisely in October 2013. Aside that, same year Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu, Owerri, Yola and Sokoto airports were installed with LLWAS. Speaking to journalists recently on the development in Abuja, Anuforom said that the world meteorological community acknowledges that NIMET has been transformed into a world class meteorological service provider. He said that Nigeria now ranks among the countries, especially in Africa, that have made significant progress in the development of meteorological services, adding that her voice is therefore well respected at all levels in WMO. Conclusion There are numerous specific mitigation strategies to maintain the safety of flight in certain types of weather. These may be technical, procedural or navigation-based, or all three, and it may be appropriate to re-route, delay or cancel a flight if no satisfactory mitigation is available. A common requirement is that all those associated with the safety of flight should have an understanding of meteorology appropriate to their operational role. Often times, these cancelations get passengers annoyed, but the safety measure must have the passenger at the core of the decision.

Business | Aviation

STRATEGY It was clear that this was a deed of a single person that committed mass murder Stories by Wole Shadare

urope is collaborating with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on new procedures that would be introduced to further improve safety on board. This is in a bid to forestall the repeat of the March 24, 2015 disaster where the pilot of German Wings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa German Airlines, deliberately committed mass murder. The German authorities and Europe are coming out with more proactive steps that will further ensure safety and security of air passengers and equipment. Currently, Germany and Europe are meeting with medi-

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

German Wings’ crash: Europe plans air safety reforms cal personnel on how medical results of pilots would not be hidden from the authorities or their employers despite the existence of privacy law in the country. Vice-President, Sales and Services Southeast Europe, Africa & Middle East, Mr. Tamur Goudarzi-Pour, disclosed this to New Telegraph in Lagos, at the weekend. Preliminary investigations by the French authorities indicated that the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately flew himself and 149 others to their deaths in the French Alps. Investigations showed that the late pilot was having some health issues, which he had been hiding from his employers and the public before the crash, but the details of the results were not made public due to the privacy laws, which prevented the doctors from revealing such.

Goudarzi-Pour said that the accidents, though, not the first of such in the annals of global air accidents, had brought about some reforms, which would further improve safety and security of equipment and passengers. He said that as a result of the crash, the entire Europe had made it mandatory for pilots to always be two in the cockpit at any given time while the redesigning of the cockpit and other psychological tests for pilots were still ongoing. Goudarzi-Pour, however, said that the new procedures had not been concluded yet, but assured that this would be done in the next couple of months. He said: “It was clear that this was a deed of a single person that committed mass murder. Of course, he was considered

safe to fly by the licensing authority, but as it turned out, he was hiding the details of his medical checks. He went to several doctors, but he hid them all. “There is a procedure, which is ongoing in Germany and Europe about medical checks. When you are starting your career you have medical checks. Nevertheless, it has led us to a situation that we re-check all procedures. This is something we are not doing alone; we are doing that with Germany and European ICAO and IATA. We are rechecking the procedures very carefully. “What do we concentrate on here? We are concentrating number one on the cockpit door, especially when the danger is from within and not from outside as we had in the September 11, 2001. The procedure of the

cockpit door is important. “Secondly, what form of medical checks do we have and what do we need in the future? How do we do the medical testing in the future? How do we do the psychological testing? I know we do medical checks yearly. This is ongoing and there is a taskforce right now that is investigating this, which I’m a member of and I’m sure they will come out with some proposals for deeper or modified psychological tests for the pilots and not all technical crews. “Also, the issue of doctors who get to know about the state of a pilot, what do they convey to the authorities? Because there is some kind of privacy laws in Germany that you cannot convey to the authorities or the public, these are the working rules and we have a proposal for that.”

Shut Benin airport re-opens July 10

he Federal Airports Authority Nigeria (FAAN) has said that the shut Benin airport would re-open on July 10, 2015. Benin airport was shut last week Saturday to enable the agency carry out repairs on its runway. A statement by the Deputy General Manager of FAAN, Mr. Onyekwere Nnaekpe, said: “FAAN wishes to inform members of the public, especially airline operators, airline passengers and other airport users, that the Benin Airport will be closed to flight operations from Saturday, June 20 to Friday, July 10, 2015, to facilitate rehabilitation work on the airport’s runway.” He said that a notice to air-

men (NOTAM) had already been issued to all operators of scheduled and non -scheduled flights to the airport, to enable them make alternative arrangements for their flight operations during the period of the closure. Nnaekpe said that the Asaba airport and the Osubi airstrip in Warri, Delta State, could be used as alternates to the Benin Airport. “The runway rehabilitation work is part of a routine maintenance programme designed by the Authority to ensure that airport runways and other ancillary facilities do not fall below standards recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).”

10 best ranked airlines in the world

usy business travelers: Is your favorite airline among the best in the world? If you fly predominantly in the United States, then the answer is no. Last week in Paris, air travel research firm, Skytrax, unveiled its annual World Airline award, ranking the top 100. “Travellers from across the globe take part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners,” Skytrax said. This year’s top airline is Doha-based Qatar Airways. Qartar Airways: Skytrax said: Qatar Airways also achieved success in the Best Business Class Seat category, finishing in the top spot for the first time. It is probably no coincidence that this award has coincided with the introduction of the A380 and A350 aircraft into the QR fleet - survey respondents indicated that these latest seating designs have set new benchmark standards of comfort, space and privacy. Singapore Airlines: The

Changi-based flag carrier finished second in the global survey ranking, edging out regional rival (and 2014 winner) Cathay Pacific Airways and ANA All Nippon Airways in the Asia region category. Cathay Pacific: The airline achieved success by winning the Best Airline Transpacific for the third time at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. This was the airlines, third success in this category, having previously triumphed in 2011 and 2013. South Korea’s Asiana Airlines secured second position, with ANA All Nippon Airways achieving third place. Turkish Airlines: Turkish also achieved considerable success in the Business Class cabin, winning the top awards for World’s Best Business Class Lounge and Best Business Class Lounge Dining. The flagship lounge in Istanbul is amongst the largest in the world - capable of accommodating 1000 custom-

L-R: Public Relation Manager sub-Sahara Africa, Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines, Hakeem Jimo; Vice-President Sales and Services Africa, Southeast Europe and Middle East, Tamur Goudarzi Pour and Managing Director sub-Sahara Africa, Claus Becker, during the announcement of Lagos as headquarters of Lufthansa sales, Stations Operations and Administration for sub-Sahara Africa, in Lagos.

ers and hosts several live cooking stations serving the best of local and International dishes, designed by catering company Do&Co. Emirates: Emirates retained its stranglehold on the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment awards at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. Finishing ahead of Qatar Airways in second place and Singapore Airlines in third, EK continues to have the edge over its closest global competitors despite continued hardware and programming improvements by carriers across the industry. Emirates secured the award for Best First Class Comfort Amenities ahead of local rival, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines. Etihad Airways: With a vast array of new product and service concepts introduced in the last six-months, it is perhaps no surprise that Etihad have once again achieved sig-

nificant success at the front end of the aircraft. Customers are clearly impressed by the WOW factor of the latest Etihad First Class innovations, which sit alongside an already competitive range of cabin products. Ana All Nippon Airways: The carrier was named as having the World’s Best Airport Services, which recognises frontline airport staff - from check-in through to the gate, arrival, transfer and lounge. EVA Air and Garuda Indonesia finished strongly in second and third positions in the Airport Services category. Garuda Indonesia: Indonesian flag carrier, Garuda, secured the prize for the World’s Best Cabin Staff for the second consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the first time an airline has managed to retain the award and is further recognition of the remarkable turnaround for the airline. Previous win-

ner, Asiana Airlines, secured second position, with the 2015 Best Airline in Asia Singapore Airlines achieving third. Eva Air: EVA Air were announced as the world’s cleanest airline at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards with the prize for World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness - this was ahead of Singapore Airlines in second position and previous winner ANA All Nippon Airways in third. Customers also voted EVA into the top-10 globally ranked airlines for the first time with a ninth place finish this year. Qantas Airways: Australia’s Qantas Airways had a successful year at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards winning the Best Airline in Australia/ Pacific award for the third consecutive year. Qantas also secured another top prize for the Best Business Class Comfort Amenities ahead of Qatar Airways and China’s Hainan Airlines with customers recognising the significant product upgrades made by QF in the last two-years.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, JUNE 23, 2015

Photo | News

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbeola (middle), with pupils of Seat of Wisdom, Nursery & Primary School, Awe, Oyo State, during their excursion to Ibadan Airport while the governor was returning from Abuja.

L-R: Senator Dino Melaye; Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi and President, Female Artists Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Ngozi Akande, inaugurating an art exhibition during the Ogidi-Ela Day celebration at Ogidi, Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.

L-R: President, Rotary Club of Awka metropolis, Dr. Dennis Ekemezike; Leader, Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo; Chairman, Comrade Matthias Ameke and others, at the 59th birthday celebration of Ezeemo at the Awka Prisons in Anambra State.

Oil workers fixing a ruptured pipeline that discharged crude into the environment on Agip’s OssiamaOgboinbiri pipeline in Okpotuwari community, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State. PHOTO: NAN

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje (right) with some Muslim faithful, during the annual Ramadan lecture in Kano State.

L-R: Mr. Ewos Iroro; Mr. Chinedu Eze; Director of Communications, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Anthony Council; Bekele Kalyesus from Ethiopia and Head, Editorial, Aviation & Allied Business Publications, Roland Ohaeri, at the 71st Annual General Meeting of IATA in Miami, Florida, USA.

L-R: Wife of Assistant Pastor-in-Charge (Admin), LP 37, Mrs. Olubunmi Obadimeji; WPIC LP 52, OjoAlaba, Pastor Olatokunbo Olubiyi; WAPIC (Admin) LP 21 Magodo, Pastor Aderonke Olowoyo; WPIC Rivers Province 3, Port Harcourt, Pastor Rhoda Adewuyi and WPICP Lagos Province 37/Convener, Pastor Victoria Ajayeoba, during RCCG Lagos Province 37 2015 Sisters’ of Grace Annual Convention entitled: ‘The Female Shepherded’, at the Elim Sanctuary, Dopemu, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Sisters of the Order of Preachers, Rev. Sis. Blessing Ugwu; Mrs. Carolyn Agudiegwu; Rev. Fr. Godwin Agudiegwu and Rev. Sis. Edith Osuala, during a reception in honour of Rev. Fr. Agudiegwu at the Missionary of Saint Paul’s Seminary, Gwagwalada in Abuja.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Citigroup CEO: Digital offerings, key to banks’ success

GROWING Customers’ digital needs on the increase

the increase and that lenders have to devise means of meeting them. He said, “In order to be a bank and to be successful, digital has to be an integral part of that strategy. And you can’t think of it along separate channels. What we see today from the consumer parts of our business is that the way we’re interacting with and attracting customers toward our products has changed. “The ways our cus-

Tony Chukwunyem

igital offerings should be a key part of the business strategy of any bank that wants to be successful in today’s world, the Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup, Michael Corbat, has said. In an interview with McKinsey, he pointed out that the lender customers’ digital needs are on

tomers are choosing to observe and to be part of their financial lives have changed. An example I use is the serial balance checker who used to call our call center five times a day to hear their balance. That person can now simply go online or check the mobile app wherever they are. This way, we allow people to be the architects of the information they’d like to receive and when they’d like to receive it.” He, however, rejected

the argument that the increasing demand for digital offerings would lead to traditional branches becoming a thing of the past. According to him, this is because even as some customers seek more digital-banking options, others continue to use branches for a variety of services. Many Nigerian banks are also increasingly using digital offerings to attract customers. For instance, only

Nigeria, Mexico trade volume hits N115bn Bayo Akomolafe

cember 2014 to strengthen the trade bilateral relationship between the two countries. Blanco declared that Mexico had already started some investments in Nigeria with capital, machinery and Mexican management on two agro-industrial projects, which would generate 7,500 direct jobs once fully implemented. The envoy said that Mexico had opened its Honourary Consulate in Lagos, noting that the consulate would allow a wide

he trade volume between Nigeria and Mexico has grown from $166.5 million in 2012 to N155billion ($575 million) in 2014. It was $166,5 million in 2012. The Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Mr. Marco Blanco, who dropped the hint yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria was Mexico’s largest trade partner in Africa. He noted that Nigeria and Mexico signed four trade agreements in De-

and better attention to the Nigerians interested in traveling to Mexico for tourism, business, training, cultural, academic or medical purposes. Blanco said: “Our bilateral trade went from 166.5 million dollars in 2012 to 575 million dollars in 2014, which is equivalent to a growth of 245.43 per cent. This amount is the largest record historically. By its total trade, in 2014, Nigeria was the main trade partner of Mexico in Africa, surpassing South Africa”

He noted that at 2011 Nigeria and Mexico had no bilateral agreements. The enjoy explained that the two countries had nine bilateral agreements and identified 11 more instruments, which were at their final stages of negotiation. Banco stressed: “Nigeria and Mexico will have a legal framework to regulate and promote their bilateral relationship.” He said that the Nigerian-Mexican Chamber of Commerce was launched in December 2014.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9 13 10.77 US$60.72 US$29,008,577,306

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2015 4/6/2015 Mar 2015 10/6/2015 18/6/2015

TTM

Price

1.16 1.86 4.03 4.65 6.61 8.74 19.08

FGN Bonds 99.78 102.52 106.46 104.63 110.82 102.35 86.50

NIBOR

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

Rate (%) 34.5833 15.7996 16.6807 17.6864

Bid Yield

13.22 13.49 13.85 14.13 13.83 13.72 14.21

Change (%) 17.88▲ 0.07 ▲ -0.02▼ 0.02 ▲

Change (%) -0.74▼ -0.31▼ -0.11▼ -0.12▼ -0.05 ▼ -0.08 ↔ -0.02 ▼

Price 99.93 102.67 106.76 104.93 111.12 102.65 86.80

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 13.08 13.40 13.75 14.04 13.76 13.66 14.16

NITTY

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 12.0613 12.7502 12.8086 13.5673 13.8936 14.3147

Spot ($/N)

Offer 197.42

Change (%) -0.74 ▼ -0.30 ▼ -0.11 ▼ -0.12 ▼ -0.05 ▼ -0.08 ↔ -0.02 ▼ Change (%) 0.21▲ -0.01▼ 0.01▲ -0.04 ▼ 0.19 ▲ 0.03▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 12.06 12.46 0.03▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 14.83 24-Sep-15 12.31 12.73 0.03 ▲ 12.39 13.20 0.12 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 15.13 17-Dec-15 12.64 13.49 0.12 ▲ 12.24 13.87 0.32 ▲ 02-Jun-16 12.49 14.19 0.32 ▲ Bid 197.32

Change (%) -0.04 ▼

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 198.9000

Offer 199.0000

Change (%) -0.50 ▼ -0.54 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

CBN Clearing Rates of June 19, 2015 Spot ($/N)

195.90

196.90

last week, leading tier 11 bank, Sterling Bank Plc launched one of such new offerings called the “New SterlingPlus Account” into the market in continuation of its strategy of taking banking services closer to the people. The lender said the new product, which is targeted at the mass market, is an, “affordable hybrid offering with the promise of many goodies and freebies such as free Lenovo smartphones pre-loaded with cool financial and

entertainment apps and cash rewards amongst others for its individual customers.” Sterling Bank’s Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, said the choice of the rewards for customers was due to the increasing demand and use of mobile platforms in the Nigerian market. He said, “We are consistently looking for ways of bringing banking services to where the people are.

Foreign tycoons eye African banks

panish billionaire, Alberto Cortina, appears set to give ex-Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer, Robert Diamond, a run for his money in the race to secure lucrative banking deals in Africa. According to Bloomberg, Cortina, who is building a banking presence in West Africa to take advantage of demand from sovereign and corporate clients, is conducting due diligence on a retail bank in Senegal after his Banque de Dakarinvestment bank started operations in the West African nation this month. He’s also planning to set up an investment banking unit in Ivory Coast to the East by the end of the year. Africa is attracting investor interest as growth outstrips that of many developed countries. Dia-

mond and Ugandan entrepreneur Ashish Thakkar set up Atlas Mara Ltd. to acquire African financial service companies and is in talks to invest in Banque Populaire du Rwanda. Only last week, David Bonderman’s TPG Capital also said it is looking at deals and that it had partnered with billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim’s Satya Capital to invest in African healthcare, consumer and financial services. According to Cortina, he and a group of partners plan to operate in the West African Economic and Monetary Union region, known by its French acronym UEMOA. The region contains relative political stability and a common currency, the West African CFA franc, backed by the French central bank, he said.

Lender boosts women entrepreneurs

Source:CBN

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

-0.03 ▼ Source: FMDQ

cobank Nigeria Plc is partnering Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) on the hosting of this year Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship (WOWe) Festival , the bank said in a statement. According to the statement, WOWe Festival 2015 with the theme ‘Vision to Reality’ slated for June 25 and 26 will provide the opportunity for female entrepreneurs and corporate professional women with entrepreneurial ambitions, to secure practical information on how to transform their businesses and realize their entrepreneurial ambitions. The conference will also provide a high levelnetworking platform that connects the most influential women entrepreneurs who will uncover new strategies and dia-

logue on issues relating to entrepreneurship and leadership. Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, said the bank decided to partner the high profile Festival because of its belief in female entrepreneurs. He was optimistic that the existing and budding entrepreneurs would find the knowledge sharing from the Festival useful. “As a bank, it is part of our philosophy to sponsor initiatives such as this. We believe this interactive and engaging dialogue from experts that have been assembled to facilitate at the conference will assist existing and budding entrepreneurs in becoming their own brands and job creators for their societies and have a positive impact on the sub-region economy.”

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

22-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 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 233.73 600.00 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 324.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,838.17

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,504.05

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1.15 1.85 2.10 2.19 2.94 4.02 4.34 4.65 6.60 8.73 13.44 13.92 14.41 15.09 19.07

13.54 13.69 13.73 13.75 13.84 13.94 14.22 14.27 13.85 13.73 16.98 17.51 18.12 15.55 14.24

13.39 13.59 13.65 13.66 13.78 13.84 14.11 14.18 13.79 13.67 16.92 17.44 18.02 15.48 14.19

99.45 102.19 93.10 91.88 92.60 106.18 77.19 104.14 110.70 102.27 89.61 74.07 51.24 68.00 86.34

99.60 102.34 93.25 92.03 92.75 106.48 77.49 104.44 111.00 102.57 89.91 74.37 51.54 68.30 86.64

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

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.78 1.46 1.83 2.04

2.27 1.00 1.00 1.00

15.66 14.62 14.69 14.73

101.16 101.74 105.63 102.41

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

307.67

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.19

4.44

16.61

99.13

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.27

3.23

15.41

99.30

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.52

4.46

17.65

98.28

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.55

3.48

16.69

99.40

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.83

1.00

14.69

92.68

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.09

1.00

14.57

99.21

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.53

1.79

15.58

96.80

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.91

1.80

15.50

97.61

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.92

1.00

14.71

98.81

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.10

1.00

14.74

99.58

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.11

4.78

18.52

92.65

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.09

1.00

14.73

101.23

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

2.53 4.42 2.59

2.02 1.00 1.00

15.81 15.27 14.80

99.31 97.54 99.90

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.04

1.82

15.67

97.90

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.43

1.00

15.18

93.92

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.53

1.00

15.14

99.46

‡ /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

3.18

1.00

14.87

99.11

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.21

1.00

14.88

100.27

99.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

448.65 434.35

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.15

1.00

13.23

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.46

1.00

14.02

99.11

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.30

2.63

14.91

99.79

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.27

1.00

14.60

98.15

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.34

14.95

99.13

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.27

1.00

14.76

96.65

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.51

1.88

15.51

103.93

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.55

3.84

17.47

98.08

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.72

1.00

14.67

104.65

101.82

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.72

1.00

14.67

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.27

3.00

16.89

92.89

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.82

2.29

15.98

99.57

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

1.90

6.11

19.81

97.36

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.53

2.16

15.95

100.03

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.40

2.76

16.95

94.10

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.41

1.80

15.65

94.42

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.52

2.63

16.45

99.99

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.27

1.00

14.91

106.75

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.27

1.00

14.91

91.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

178.07

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

171.68

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.64

1.00

14.80

90.20

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

15.33

83.05

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.58

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

5.78

5.57

104.59

105.60

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.76

4.38

101.03

102.09

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.08

5.92

101.87

102.89

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

1,537.40

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

4.34

102.75

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

9.68

90.40

93.11

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.54

7.06

95.48

96.85

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.23

96.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.07

9.59

95.80

97.31

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

9.27 10.49 9.82

9.27 10.19 9.82

95.25 94.79 91.05

95.25 96.07 91.05

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.37

9.90

92.01

93.99

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,495.14

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 66

FIXINGS Maturity 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15

Bid Discount (%) 13.66 10.44 11.80 11.91 12.15 12.26 12.31 12.45

Offer Discount (%) 13.41 10.19 11.55 11.66 11.90 12.01 12.06 12.20

Bid Yield (%) 13.71 10.49 11.89 12.03 12.31 12.45 12.53 12.74

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 17.8750 15.8010 16.9438 17.7752

Rate (%)

OBB

14.58

O/N

15.17

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 14.50 14.75

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.56 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.66 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

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

100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 233.73 600.00 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 324.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,838.17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

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

Description

13.75 13.84 13.94 14.22 14.27 13.85 13.73 16.98 17.51 18.12 15.55 14.24

13.66 13.78 13.84 14.11 14.18 13.79 13.67 16.92 17.44 18.02 15.48 14.19

91.88 92.60 106.18 77.19 104.14 110.70 102.27 89.61 74.07 51.24 68.00 86.34

92.03 92.75 106.48 77.49 104.44 111.00 102.57 89.91 74.37 51.54 68.30 86.64

Business | Financial Market News

4,504.05

Issuer

2.19 2.94 4.02 4.34 4.65 6.60 8.73 13.44 13.92 14.41 15.09 19.07

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

0.78 1.46 1.83 2.04

2.27 1.00 1.00 1.00

15.66 14.62 14.69 14.73

101.16 101.74 105.63 102.41

Stock market rebounds on bargain hunting

Agency 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

FMBN

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

the green territory, as market speculators took the local bourse recov- advantage of low prices 31-Aug-10 ered from days of losing 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 of stocks. 30-Sep-10 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 streaks following appreAt the close of trading 30-Jun-11 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 ciable demand by inves- in the day, 27 stocks ap30-Jun-09 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 19-Apr-10 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 tors. preciated, while 21 oth30-Jun-10 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 The twin market per- ers constituted the 30-Dec-10 losers’ 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 30-Sep-11 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 formance measures, the table. 04-Oct-11 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 NSE ASI and capThe the All-Share In09-Dec-11 14.50market EKITI 09-DEC-2018 NIGER IIIup 12-DEC-2018 italisation,14.00 firmed by dex rose by 97.712-Dec-13 basis 14-Feb-12 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 cent 0.38 per cent on the02-OCT-2019 back points or 0.38 per02-Oct-12 15.50 GOMBE 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 of blue chip companies. from 33,257.90 last Friday 12-Dec-12 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 while The market had last to close at 33,384.59,10-Oct-13 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 27-Nov-13 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 Friday closed further on the market capitalisation 31-Dec-13 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 or 0.38 the downward trend, as rose by N43 billion31-Dec-13 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

GROWTH

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

Investors gain N43 *EBONYI *BENUE ‡ /Agusto *IMO billion A-/Agusto

BBB+/Agusto

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

NIGER Stories by Chris Ugwu *EKITI

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

A-/GCR

*NASARAWA

rading activities *GOMBE LAGOS on the floor of the BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN Nigerian Stock BBB-/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR(NSE) opened LAGOS Exchange A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI week yesterday on ‡the /Agusto *EKITI BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

297.52

307.67 per cent from N11.353 trillion to N11.396 trillion. 12.50 Further analysis8.50 of the 2.16 day’s 13.00 trading showed that 14.00 3.90 Diamond 15.50 Bank Plc topped 5.73 10.00 57.00 the day’s gainers’25.73 table 13.75 with 5.46 close 14.00 per cent to 25.00 14.00 30.81 at N4.44 per share, while 14.00 9.00 Presco Oil Nigeria 12.40 Plc fol14.50 9.21 lowed14.00 with five per cent to 15.50 27.00 close 15.50 at N33.60 per15.09 share. 14.50 80.00 International Breweries 14.75 24.74 Plc gained 4.97 per 10.78 cent to 14.75 87.50 close 13.50 at N19.44 per share. 15.00 5.00 On14.50 the flip side, 4.55 Red

06-Jan-14

15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

15.00

Star Express Plc led the tor was enhanced by the losers’ chart with a drop activities in the shares of 16.61 99.13 Plc and UBA of 31-Aug-15 five per cent0.19to close 4.44 Zenith Bank 0.27 15.41 99.30 Plc. at 30-Sep-15 N4.75 per share, while 3.23 30-Jun-16 0.52 4.46 17.65 98.28 financial99.40 servicOkomu Plc 3.48 Other 30-Jun-16 Oil Nigeria 0.55 16.69 19-Apr-17 1.83 14.69 shed 4.98 per cent to close 1.00 es sector, boosted92.68 by the 30-Jun-17 1.09 1.00 14.57 99.21 shares N29.98. Products 1.79 activities 31-Dec-17 Vono 2.53 15.58on the 96.80 1.91 1.80 15.50 97.61 of FBNH Plc, followed Plc30-Sep-18 dropped 4.831.92 per cent 1.00 04-Oct-18 14.71 98.81 units, to 09-Dec-18 close at N1.38 per 2.10 share. 1.00 with 26.2 14.74 million99.58 12-Dec-18 2.11 4.78 18.52 92.65 worth N158.5 million in On the activity chart, 14-Feb-19 2.09 1.00 14.73 101.23 the banking sub-sector 02-Oct-19 2.53 2.02 668 deals. 15.81 99.31 22-Nov-19 15.27 97.54 dominated in4.42 volume 1.00 In all, investors ex12-Dec-19 2.59 1.00 14.80 99.90 terms with 154.9 a total of 278.1 10-Oct-20 3.04million 1.82 changed 15.67 97.90 27-Nov-20 5.43 93.92 shares worth N2.2 billion 1.00 million 15.18 shares, worth N3.8 31-Dec-20 5.53 1.00 15.14 99.46 in 31-Dec-20 1,145 deals. The 3,767 deals. 3.18sub-sec- 1.00 billion in 14.87 99.11

4.56

NSE plans naira futures’ trading

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

06-Jan-21

448.65 434.35

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

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

he Nigerian *CHELLARAMS Stock ExNAHCO change (NSE)FSDH plans to A/GCR start tradingUBA naira fuBBB-/GCR & I LEASING tures that will help*C investors Nil *DANA A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER hedge against movements in AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER the local currency, UBA Chief ExA+/Agusto; A/GCR ecutive Officer, OnyBBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR Mr. Oscar *LA CASERA BBB-/DataPro†; *CHELLARAMS ema, said.BB/GCR Nil *DANA “It would if we A+/Agusto; A-/GCR be awesome NAHCO BBB/GCR FCMB had a naira-dollar contract that A/GCR UBA we could trade on the Exchange. A/GCR STANBIC IBTC A/GCR IBTC Futures and optionsSTANBIC are asset TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE classes that we think would be TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION very beneficial to foreign invesSupranational Bond tors,” he said in an interview in AAA/S&P London yesterday. IFC Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB According to Bloomberg TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE News, Onyema said the bourse TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION might offer futures by the end of Rating/Agency Issuer 2017. Traders and bankers have called for a loosening of conFGN Eurobonds trols enforced by Central Bank BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P Godwin Emefiele, to protect the BB-/Fitch; currency of Africa’s biggest oil BB-/S&P producer againstVALUE a 45 per cent TOTAL OUTSTANDING slumpMARKET in Brent crude prices TOTAL CAPITALISATION in the past year. The naira has Corporate Eurobonds weakened 18 per cent against B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I the dollar in that period. B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC B/Fitch; B/S&P for this year FIDELITY BANK PLC “Plans include B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC a premium board for large-cap B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC securities that meetDIAMOND the highB/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC est corporate governance stanBB/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

dards,” the CEO said. 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 He14.25 noted a Nigerian deFSDHthat 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 positary receipt programme, C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 which18.00 will allow local investors MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 compato access foreign-listed MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 nies on the domestic market, is 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 also in the works. 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 Onyema said there was a 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 very 15.25 rich pipeline of compaNAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 14.25 FCMB nies that mayI 20-NOV-2021 start trading their 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 shares this year depending on 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25conditions, STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 market including businesses that could list securities in London and Lagos. Nigeria’s benchmark stocks IFC 11-FEB-2018 index10.20 added 0.4 per cent yester11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 day, its first gain in five days, cutting this year’s loss to 3.7 per cent. That compares with a 5.4 Description per cent drop for the MSCI Frontier Markets Index year to date. “We are seeing interest in 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 initial public offerings and 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 secondary listings from oil and 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 gas, fast-moving consumer goods, telecommunication and industrial-goods companies abroad. Dual listing will be part of the pitch,” Onyema said. 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 The NSE CEO de7.25had JUL 25,said 2017 6.88pressure MAY 09, 2018 spite downward on 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 the equities market throughout 6.25 APR 22, 2019 the course of the the Ex8.75year, May 21, 2019 8.25 stable AUG 07, 2020 change delivered order 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

10.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

2.50

17-Aug-15

14.88

100.27

0.15

1.00

13.23

99.49

24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

10.49 9.82

10.19 9.82

94.79 91.05

96.07 91.05

14-Aug-21

10.37

9.90

92.01

93.99

taco Insurance Plc 1.00 as stipulated in the99.11 Insur0.46 14.02 0.30 14.91 99.79 2003. has recorded 75 per 2.63 ance Act 29-Sep-16 1.27 1.00 14.60 98.15 cent growth “As 14.95 Section 26(1) of 25-Oct-16 1.34in prof- 1.34 99.13 14.76 96.652003 Act it 30-Sep-17 after tax for2.27 the first 1.00 the Insurance 30-Nov-17 1.51 15.51 103.93 quarter ended March 1.88 stipulates, every insurer 09-Apr-18 1.55 3.84 17.47 98.08 1.72 1.00 shall not 14.67 104.6530th later than 31,09-Sep-18 2015. 09-Sep-18 1.72 101.82 The insurance firm in 1.00 June of14.67 each year sub30-Sep-18 3.27 3.00 16.89 92.89 a notice Stock 2.29 mit to 15.98 NAICOM,99.57 a bal18-Oct-18 to Nigerian 1.82 17-Feb-19 1.90 said it 6.11 ance sheet 19.81 duly audited 97.36 Exchange (NSE) 01-Apr-19 2.53 2.16 15.95 100.03 posted after tax 2.76 showing 14-Nov-20a profit5.40 16.95 the financial 94.10 6.41 15.65 94.42 of20-Nov-21 N413.822 million dur- 1.80 position of the insurer 30-Dec-21 6.52 2.63 16.45 99.99 and its subsidiaries at ing the period under re30-Sep-24 9.27 1.00 14.91 106.75 30-Sep-24 14.91of the preced91.75 view, as against9.27 N235.725 1.00 the close million, representing a ing year together with a copy of the relevant growth of 75 per cent. The group’s gross pre- profit and loss account, 11-Feb-18 2.64 90.20 mium written firmed up 1.00 which 14.80 the insurer is to 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 15.33 83.05 by 10 per cent from N1.617 present to its shareholdbillion in 2014 to N1.780 ers at its annual general billion, accounting for a meeting,” Oyefeso stated. Maturity Date Yield (%) Offer Yield (%)He said Bid Price Offer Price growth of 10 Bid per cent. that the compaAccording to a state- Prices ny would always comply & Yields ment from the firm, 5.57 with the provisions of the 28-Jan-21 5.78 104.59 105.60 Staco Insurance Manag- law and that it achieved 12-Jul-18 4.76 101.03 102.09 ing Director, Sakiru Oye- 4.38 impressive results. 12-Jul-23 6.08 5.92 102.89 the feso, said the insurance He 101.87 added that company was one of the company successfully insurance companies overcame the challenge that submitted their 2014 of solvency margin durInternational Financial ing the102.75 year, as this stood 19-May-16 4.34 4.34 102.75 Reporting Standards ac- 7.51 at N4. 57 billion in 2014, 25-Jul-17 7.51 99.50 99.50 02-May-18to NAICOM 10.85 90.40 with the 93.11 counts and 9.68 compared previ08-Nov-18 7.54 95.48 96.85 got approval before the 7.06 ous year 2013 when the 22-Apr-19 7.23 7.23 96.75 96.75 deadline 30 given 9.59 solvency margin was 21-May-19 of June 10.07 95.80 97.31 N1. 9.27 9.27 03 billion. 95.25 95.25 to07-Aug-20 insurance companies 09-Dec-15

flow. 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 He attributed the improve25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 ment to a focused business 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.56 model and the completion of 09-Apr-11 16.00 5.40 18.00 2.54 several09-Sep-11 strategic initiatives. 09-Sep-11 0.70 Onyema noted that16.00 average 30-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 daily value 18-Oct-13 traded increased 15.75 2.10 18.00 0.36 29.5 per17-Feb-12 cent, while turnover 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 velocity14-Nov-13 increased 57.415.25 per cent 2.05 26.00 over the20-Nov-14 previous year.14.25 30-Dec-14 30.50 He added that the16.45 market 30-Sep-14 16.29 0.10 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 also saw a foreign and local par178.07 ticipation rate of 58.5 per cent 171.68 and 41.5 per cent respectively in total value traded. 11-Feb-13 12.00 Onyema said that10.20 during 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 the year under review, the NSE 24.95 consulted McKinsey & Co. to 21.58 refine the business’ five-year Outstanding Value Issue strategic Date Coupon (%) corporate plan. ($mm) The result according to him, was a focused growth 6.75 strategy, 07-Oct-11 500.00 anchored by three strategic ob5.13 500.00 jectives12-Jul-13 that will help shape the 12-Jul-13 500.00 Exchange’s future, and6.38 drive its long-term success. 1,500.00 “Going into 2015 with a 1,537.40 strong focus on execution, the NSE is 19-May-11 well-positioned7.50 to trans500.00 late its 25-Jul-12 strategy into 7.25 returns. 350.00 09-May-13 remains6.88 300.00 The Exchange commit08-Nov-13 400.00 ted to discovering what6.00 it can do 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 better for the business8.75 and for 21-May-14 200.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 its customers.

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.00

Staco reports 75% PAT growth

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

3.21

06-Jan-16

22-Jun-15

3,650.00 3,495.14

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 2-Jul-15 13.66 13.41 13.71 17 24 31 38 45 52 Rating/Agency 66 73 80 94 101 115 129 143 157 164 171 178 NA 199 206 213 220 227 234 241 248 255 269

9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 Issuer 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 10-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

10.44 11.80 11.91 12.15 12.26 12.31 Description 12.45 12.31 12.07 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.54 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 12.74 13.47 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.54 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.45 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.52 12.40 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.62 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.36 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.56 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.67 13.40 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.51 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.01 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.52 13.33 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.64 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.05 ^12.1493 13.08 18-JUL-2034

10.19 11.55 11.66 11.90 12.01 12.06 Issue 12.20Date 12.06 11.82 16-Aug-13 11.29 27-Apr-12 12.49 13.22 27-Jul-07 13.29 31-Aug-07 13.20 30-May-08 13.27 12.15 29-Jun-12 13.37 23-Oct-09 12.11 13-Feb-15 12.31 27-Jan-12 13.42 13.15 14-Mar-14 13.26 28-Nov-08 12.76 22-May-09 13.27 13.08 20-Nov-09 13.39 23-Jul-10 12.80 18-Jul-14 12.83

10.49 11.89 12.03 12.31 12.45 12.53 Coupon 12.74 (%) 12.62 12.39 13.05 11.89 15.10 13.20 14.07 9.85 14.22 9.35 14.19 10.70 14.35 13.13 16.00 14.55 7.00 13.15 15.54 13.49 16.39 14.81 14.54 14.20 14.71 15.00 14.15 12.49 14.81 14.61 8.50 15.03 10.00 14.36 12.1493 14.48

Bonds

276 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24-Mar-16

290

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

7-Apr-16

12.98

12.73

14.47

304

21-Apr-16

12.82

12.57

14.35

318

5-May-16

12.50

12.25

14.03

346

2-Jun-16

12.35

12.10

13.98

13.32

Rating/Agency Issuer and not the duration *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated

13.07

14.81

Description

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 581.39

Rate (%) 17.8750 15.8010 16.9438 17.7752

14.58

O/N

15.17

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 12.0009 12.3723 27-Jul-17 13.0847 31-Aug-17 13.3151 30-May-18 13.6664 14.2412 29-Jun-19

233.90 23-Oct-19 233.73 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N)14-Mar-24 599.99 BID($/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-30 324.50 18-Jul-34

Rate (%) 14.50

Tenor

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

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

198.56 198.66 201.81 201.93 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

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

Bid Yield (%) 14.75

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

0.78 1.46 1.83 2.04

2.27 1.00 1.00 1.00

15.66 14.62 14.69 14.73

101.16 101.74 105.63 102.41

15.00 15.25

1.15 13.54 13.39 1.85 13.69 13.59 NOTE: 2.10 13.73 13.65 :Benchmarks 2.19 13.75 13.66 * :Amortising Bond 2.94 13.84 13.78 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.02 Management Corporation 13.94 13.84 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.34 14.22 14.11 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 4.65 Finance Corporation 14.27 14.18 IFC: International 6.60 13.85 Management 13.79 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 8.73 Aviation Handling 13.73 Company 13.67 O/N: Overnight 13.44 16.98 16.92 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 13.92 17.51 Company17.44 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 14.41 18.12 18.02 15.09 15.55 15.48 19.07 14.24 14.19

99.45 99.60 102.19 102.34 93.10 93.25 NA :Not Applicable 91.88 92.03 ^ : Market Prices 92.60 92.75 # : Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 106.18 106.48 77.19 77.49 ‡ : Bond rating under review 104.44 †: Bond 104.14 rating expired 111.00 N/A :Not110.70 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 102.57 102.27 89.61 89.91 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 74.07Bank for Africa 74.37 UBA: United 51.24 51.54 68.00 68.30 86.34 86.64

4,838.17 4,504.05

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

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

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Agency Bonds

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Modified Duration Buckets TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

<3 3<5

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 Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

03-Apr-12 17.25 2.10 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 112.22 20-Apr-12FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.50 BOND INDEX 116.70 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

Weighting by Mkt Value

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

860.24

828.10

28.63

31.04

307.670.29

14.09

13.83

108.7854

1,218.83

10.0173

1,250.37

1,173.14

40.56

45.12

0.41

41.65

13.79

111.9499

1,117.05

10.3179

660.86

891.07

15.02

78.7168

1,106.37

30.81

23.85

31-Aug-10 100.00

12.50 100.00

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

*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

A/Agusto

297.52

Bucket Weighting

0.31

44.26

31-Aug-15 100.00

0.19 14.34

13.00

30-Sep-15

0.27

3.23

15.41

99.30

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.52

4.46

17.65

98.28

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.55

3.48

16.69

99.40

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.83

1.00

14.69

92.68

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.09

1.00

14.57

99.21

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.53

1.79

15.58

96.80

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.91

1.80

15.50

97.61

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.92

1.00

14.71

98.81

12.50 KADUNA2,771.47 31-AUG-2015

A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

2,892.30

4.44 100.8054

16.61 1,139.09

9.8663

8.50 1.00 2.16

KADUNA Market *EBONYI

99.13 7.9520

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015

Business | Capital Market

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 22, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 38 23 61

Current Price 29.98 33.60

Quantity Traded 410,848 209,287 620,135

Value Traded 12,333,172.98 6,948,319.60 19,281,492.58

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 2.21

Quantity Traded 5,472,700 5,472,700

Value Traded 12,044,903.85 12,044,903.85

6,092,835

31,326,396.43

Quantity Traded 5,187 2,000 7,117,289 388,697 7,513,173

Value Traded 7,261.80 1,800.00 19,819,200.71 16,335,908.32 36,164,170.83

7,513,173

36,164,170.83

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 JOHN15:15:25.025 HOLT PLC. Printed 22/06/2015 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

72 Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 3 2 138 57 200

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.47 0.94 2.80 42.00

200

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL Published by The Nigerian Stock ESTATE Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Page Quantity Traded 46,419 46,419

1 of 12 Value Traded 40,848.72 40,848.72

Current Price 52.39

Quantity Traded 48,063 48,063

Value Traded 2,392,576.14 2,392,576.14

Current Price 10.50

Quantity Traded 144,304 144,304

Value Traded 1,542,103.80 1,542,103.80

238,786

3,975,528.66

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.92

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 11 11

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 19 19

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

32 Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 2 1 56 15 100 174

Current Price 7.00 0.93 164.15 19.44 150.57

Quantity Traded 2,009 1,080 115,187 160,458 806,805 1,085,539

Value Traded 14,565.25 1,026.00 19,005,223.98 3,110,383.52 121,692,221.98 143,823,420.73

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 177.20

Quantity Traded 154,698 154,698

Value Traded 27,473,432.40 27,473,432.40

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 37 54 65 14 46 2 2 1 221

Current Price 3.99 7.00 34.20 3.80 8.12 18.05 11.84 0.50

Quantity Traded 158,436 3,000,261 543,973 67,000 802,184 1,500 12,100 199 4,585,653

Value Traded 624,864.85 21,055,631.45 18,603,168.73 244,602.06 6,536,449.59 27,060.00 136,125.00 99.50 47,228,001.18

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 31 56 87

Current Price 37.00 850.01

Quantity Traded 146,670 101,612 248,282

Value Traded 5,410,548.89 86,341,537.53 91,752,086.42

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 56 5 61

Current Price 5.50 1.38

Quantity Traded 3,189,731 89,151 3,278,882

Value Traded 17,077,321.38 123,028.38 17,200,349.76

No. of Deals 38 (Equities) 41 79

Current Price 31.80 45.50

Quantity Traded 387,562 5,462,295 5,849,857

Value Traded 12,279,931.72 248,543,443.44 260,823,375.16

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Daily Summary asPRODUCTS of 22/06/2015 VONO PLC. Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Page

Symbol PZ DailyUNILEVER Summary

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange LASACO ASSURANCE PLC.© MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

653 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 100 DIAMONDBNK 48 ETI 60 FIDELITYBK 67 GUARANTY 184 SKYEBANK 71 STERLNBANK 56 Daily UBASummary (Equities) 154 UBN 45 UNITYBNK 16

Quantity Traded 1,368,201 97,637,118 154,930,689

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STDINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 35 10 1 1 2 1 23 2 15 3 1 1 2 40 137

Current Price 0.96 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.50 0.74 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,122,312 170,425 100 100 85,750 Page 144,550

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Current Price 1.14

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

NPFMCRFBK

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 76,015,725.16 11,101,160.06 11,049,393.95 7,235,348.02 104,935,014.69 7,644,071.74 16,595,139.15 107,201,403.30 3,250,581.00 729,624.78

Current Price 1.00 19.50

Symbol UNHOMES

HEALTHCARE Totals

Quantity Traded 12,434,358 2,587,055 496,398 4,056,676 3,890,450 3,092,290 8,073,299 20,680,231 329,131 285,482

No. of Deals 36 308 1,145

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

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

588,300,665.65

1 1

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.78

No. of Deals 89 8 414 46 39 72 668

Current Price 2.79 4.00 8.21 3.00 28.00 1.40

1,952 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 1 22 22 24 24 2 95 95

Current Price 1.59 3.40 44.00 1.50 1.28 2.23

2,448,050 200,150 865,384 59,000 100 500 5,000 870,127 9,971,548

Page

Quantity Traded 3,668,154 438,401 11,309,894 2,606,787 1,266,902 6,860,358 26,150,496

Value Traded 10,344,829.04 1,753,609.00 93,506,548.34 7,818,674.18 35,460,975.26 9,669,809.16 158,554,444.98

191,053,748

2,416,792,398.89

Quantity Traded 200 27,283,995 215,821 636,562 345,606 40,000 28,522,184

Value Traded 304.00 94,139,945.50 9,496,733.25 935,885.70 453,856.59 89,222.42 105,115,947.46

28,522,184

105,115,947.46

Page

303.20

Quantity Traded 203,052 21,550 26,367 3,070,640 1,071,816 16,451 1,260,128 5,670,004

Value Traded 4,365,681.97 230,154.00 1,026,994.65 37,305,909.41 188,258,748.49 12,502.76 126,003,352.90 357,203,344.18

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 37.32

Quantity Traded 13,088 13,088

Value Traded 479,980.47 479,980.47

5,683,092

357,683,324.65

Quantity Traded 10,234

Value Traded 49,737.24

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 5.11

Page

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services

Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 10,234

Value Traded 49,737.24

10,234

49,737.24

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 77,605 77,605

Value Traded 38,802.50 38,802.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 207 207

Current Price 15.90

Quantity Traded 10,162,003 10,162,003

Value Traded 162,147,203.77 162,147,203.77

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 17 16 91 51 1 24 201

Current Price 0.50 42.00 2.53 179.75 146.01 50.54 159.10

Quantity Traded 6,519,830 24,385 218,436 304,943 298,505 Page 3,000 58,127 7,427,226

Value Traded 3,259,915.00 1,011,135.60 555,612.58 54,191,333.18 43,918,857.93 8 144,060.00 of 12 9,041,305.44 112,122,219.73

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 315.80

Quantity Traded 3,706 3,706

Value Traded 1,219,979.60 1,219,979.60

17,670,540

275,528,205.60

Activity Summary on Board EQTY OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Published by The Stock Exchange © MRSNigerian OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

OIL AND GAS Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

424

Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded Page 115,764 115,764

Value Traded 12 9 of 93,758.92 93,758.92

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 9 11 20

Current Price 4.75 1.27

Quantity Traded 144,670 197,020 341,690

Value Traded 691,050.10 236,334.20 927,384.30

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.54

Quantity Traded 1,032,090 1,032,090

Value Traded 563,440.60 563,440.60

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 3.75

Quantity Traded 3,747,589 3,747,589

Value Traded 13,945,413.81 13,945,413.81

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Totals Media/Entertainment Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,005 1,005

Value Traded 502.50 502.50

No. of Deals 6 16 22 (Equities)

Current Price 1.21 6.05

Quantity Traded 103,205 389,927 493,132

Value Traded 125,214.10 2,291,451.37 2,416,665.47

Value Traded 1,090.00 1,090.00 of

80 Current Price 21.50 11.24 41.00 12.00 175.50 0.76 100.00

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

7,296,054.50 100,075.00 649,683.46 29,500.00 50.00 250.00 2,500.00 435,943.50 13,535,983.33

Value Traded 303.20 303.20

No. of Deals 24 7 8 37 48 4 51 179

195

Quantity Traded 80 80

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER WAPCO

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL Daily Summary asRESOURCES of 22/06/2015 Chemicals Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 B.O.C. GASES PLC.

Chemicals Totals

Value Traded 4,735,984.67 170,677.20 50.00 50.00 42,890.00 12 4 of 72,275.00

Value Traded 82.50 82.50

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES

Value Traded 1,377,054.23 1,897,566,282.00 2,244,700,798.08

Quantity Traded 15 15

Current Price 3.98

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Exploration and Production Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

15,202,911

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Current Price 6.18 4.44 22.05 1.76 27.02 2.44 2.02 5.20 9.91 2.55

No. of Deals 1 1

ICT Totals

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Chemicals Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

Symbol CWG

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

Daily Summary

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 122,082 122,082

Value Traded 65,038.50 65,038.50

Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Specialty Totals

Symbol INTERLINK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.43

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 421.00 421.00

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

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 8 30 38

Current Price 2.08 5.03

Quantity Traded 56,611 182,455 239,066

Value Traded 114,476.25 941,141.62 1,055,617.87

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

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 3.60

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 102,600.00 102,600.00

139

6,122,518

19,170,842.97

3,765

278,110,101

3,834,107,521.58

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,160.00 1,160.00

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Printed 22/06/2015 SERVICES 15:15:25.025 Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Property Management Totals

Symbol SMURFIT

No. of Deals 2 2

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Current Price 1.11

Page

1,000

1,160.00

ASeM Board Totals

1,000

1,160.00

Equity Activity Totals

3,767

278,111,101

3,834,108,681.58

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

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

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 2,280.00 15.42

Quantity Traded 4 1,058 1,062

Value Traded 9,120.00 16,244.08 25,364.08

ETF Board Totals

1,062

25,364.08

ETP Activity Totals

1,062

25,364.08

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Features

Osun: Coping without wages The peace in Osun State is like the peace of the graveyard. A drop of pin could boom like a bomb blast. From Osogbo to Ile-Ife and other once boisterous towns in the ‘State of the Virtuous’, the signs of a distressed economy are visible. Due to the backlog of unpaid salaries and pensions, workers have suddenly turned labourers, and pensioners have become beggars, with a few already dead. In this report, MOJEED ALABI, who just returned from a tour of the state, writes on the pains and pangs of a once happy people.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin and Omolade Kareem (widows) and the latter's baby, Kudrat.

orty-seven-year-old Mumeen Kareem from Ede was until his death on February 22, a level 10 civil servant with the Osun State Office of the Auditor-General for Local Government. Kareem, an asthma patient,

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

also suffered from High Blood Pressure. His death, according to his wife, Mrs Oluwatoyin Kareem, was not unconnected with his inability to foot his pilling hospital bills, as he was being owed three months salary at the time of his death. According to Oluwatoyin, the health of the father of two had deteriorated following the demolition of his wife’s shops at OgoOluwa area of Osogbo to pave way for road expansion work. Oluwatoyin had voluntarily retired from the Civil Service Commission after about 23 years in service. She then accessed a bank loan to augment her gratuity and set up her frozen food stores. With the demolition, the business that had once flourished began to crumble while the pressure from the creditor mounted. She said: “My husband had a

How does it feel that as a medical doctor, I cannot cater for the health of my beloved parent?

very poor health and when the problem was consuming much of our salaries, we agreed that I should retire to go into business since I was fit and would be able to run around better. Everything went well until the demolition which forced us to relocate to our house at Owode, a suburb of Ede. “Since the demolition, life has not remained the same for us, and this could have contributed to my husband’s death. I just received a call from the bank’s loan recovery agent and I told him I could not raise enough to repay yet.” Meanwhile, Kareem’s second wife, Omolade, who he married in 2013, is the most hit. Omolade was married following pressure from family and friends, 21 years after Oluwatoyin’s only daughter, Boluwatife, had no sibling. Omolade, a fresh graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), had just given birth to her only

child barely six months before her husband’s death. Amidst sobs, she said she could not imagine what fate awaits the 10-month-old baby, Kudrat Kareem, “since I don’t have a job and the hope of getting one soon is just not there. “God took away our husband when we needed him most. We lost him because we could simply not raise enough money to take him to hospital on time and at the time of his death, his inhaler had finished. He died while being rushed to the hospital.” Similarly, Mrs Mojirade Faleye, works with the Primary Health Centre in Oke-Ila area of Erin-Osun, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state. Her husband, Mr Oduola Faleye, who in 2011 retired from United Christian School B, Erin-Osun, is now blind. 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

After four months of unpaid salaries for the wife and eight months of unpaid pension for the husband, both are finding it difficult to survive. With husband’s frail health requiring constant medical check-ups and four children in higher institutions to cater for, Mojirade could not tell how the family has been surviving. She said one of the children had been sent home for their inability to pay fees while the other three might soon join if the state did not clear the backlogs before the end of the month. Medical doctors are not exempted from this rage. The state-owned Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECHTH), Osogbo, has been under lock for many months, as it now wears the look of a deserted home. On Thursday, June 18, members of the hospital’s chapter of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) stormed the streets in protest of eight months of unpaid salary, accusing the government of insensitivity and callousness. The President of the association, Dr Olalekan Ajayi, of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Histopathology is a victim of what he described as a very pathetic situation. The 33-year-old man has had cause to postpone his marriage indefinitely over the development. To worsen the situation, the first son of retired parents has the burden of footing his father’s deteriorating health bill. He said: “As I speak to you, my father, who laboured to have me trained, is on admission at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, where he is receiving chemotherapy for prostatic cancer. “How does it feel that as a medical doctor, I cannot cater for the health of my beloved parent? Will it be wrong to say that I have failed? I was supposed to get married in November 2014, but due to the hospital’s peculiar crises, we called off the wedding. But how long can my fiancée be patient? I think elastic also has limit.” The case seems worse for some of the couples working in the same system. This is the category Dr. Olawale and his wife Abiola (not real names) belong. The husband works with the Community Medicine Department of LAUTECHTH while the wife is an employee of one of the 30 local government areas in the state. According to Olawale, the family has only managed to prepare soup once within the last two weeks, because it has prioritised the baby’ food. The case is complicated, according to the medical doctor, because private medical practice is also collapsing. This, according to him, is because people no longer patronise hospitals but prefer to take their cases to traditional healers because their pockets are empty. He said: “Patients now prefer to approach pharmacists who would only prescribe drugs for them. Many now give births at homes or in the homes of traditional birth attendants. Most of the gains we had recorded in the area of health awareness campaigns are being defeated by this dangerous situation. “I was shocked recently when my

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agony of unpaid labour

Protesting doctors

Nosegbe

four-year-old kid told me, ‘Daddy, I don’t like you again.’ I asked why? He said, ‘Because you don’t buy me many things again.’” One of the medical consultants in LAUTECHTH, who pleaded anonymity, said about 10 of the patients who were on dialysis at the hospital before the workers went on strike about four months ago, had died. “It is the same thing for many of the persons living with HIV/AIDS and numerous others with critical conditions,” the doctor added. The situation is the same at the General Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, and other health facilities across the state. In fact, today, almost all the stateowned public institutions have been shut including the higher institutions such as the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; the colleges of education in Ila and Ilesa, among others. Aminat Yekeen is a 15-year-old SS II pupil of Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, who is unhappy that her school has been shut for weeks while private schools are in session. Yekeen, who now assists her mother at Igbona Market in Osogbo, said her mother’s business was no longer flourishing “because everyone wants to buy on credit”. She said schools would soon be rounding off the 2014/2015 session and wondered how her school would manage to conduct the third term examination without adequate preparation. The Secretary of the Osun State

Ola-Oluwa

Isamotu

chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Tola Nosegbe, said everyone in the state, including Federal Government workers and private business owners, had been in for trouble since the non-payment of salary surfaced. According to Nosegbe, the larger Osun State society bears the brunt of unpaid workers, saying it was harrowing to see senior civil servants queuing up in churches, mosques and other places for hand-outs. She said: “I can confirm to you today that we have lost some of our members to very demeaning circumstances. Just last Tuesday, I received the news of an officer with the Public Service Office, Alhaji Kabir, who had gone for manual labour at a construction site in Ede, and died in the process.” An electronic seller at Igbona Market, who also deals in second-hand gadgets, but craved anonymity, said that some workers were already selling their property to attend to basic needs. He said: “But they don’t sell to us, maybe because this is an open place or because we are known to them. But we are aware that they take them to the Hausa in Sabo.” The state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Gani Ola-Oluwa, said Osun State was today not different from the war-torn Somalia. He challenged the governor to disclose the true allocation being released to the state monthly; saying

the deductions from the source by the state creditors had worsened the situation. Meanwhile, workers have also continued to ask pertinent questions, urging Governor Rauf Aregbesola to be fair to them. They alleged that most of the capital projects including inter- and intra-state road constructions, school buildings, among others, are either uncompleted or abandoned. An employee of one of the stateowned polytechnics, who pleaded anonymity, said it was callous for the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, to have wasted a lot of resources on his father’s burial ceremony while the workers were yet to be paid. He said: “You can imagine that at a time like this the SSG could still invite Wasiu Ayinde, killing several cows in the name of burying his father. We know many of Aregbesola’s aides who are buying houses in town and moving to new ones. So, workers know those who have brought us into this.” The NARD President, Ajayi, also wondered why LAUTECHTH with its “huge” Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) could not afford to pick its N230 million monthly wage bill. He claimed both the university and its Osun State University counterpart do not generate as much as the hospital but have been able to pay their workers substantially from their IGR. TO BE CONTINUED

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 23, 2015

News 47

south - east

Anambra’s poor condition of prisons worries officials

he Deputy Controller of Prisons in Awka, Anambra State, Matthew Kalu, yesterday lamented the decay in the prisons in the state, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the welfare of prison inmate and the condition of Nigerian prisons with a view to improving it. He made the statement during the visit of the leader of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo to Awka and Aguata prisons while commemorating his 59th birthday anniversary with inmates. Kalu lamented the hardship inmates pass through without adequate support from the government. He said: “The government is not doing anything apart from feeding and you can imagine the type of food that will sustain the inmates, what is sustaining them in this place is God. “We are suffering and we need a rescue mission."

Ikpeazu laments high cost of governance Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday lamented the high cost of governance in the country, stressing the need to cut down on such cost if the country is to make a headway in its development. The governor also announced a slash in his personal emolument and travelling allowances by 50 per cent until the salaries and allowances owed the workers are cleared. He said he was pained by the inability of the state government to pay salaries of workers as at when due, stressing that he finds it difficult to receive his salary when workers of the state are owed arrears of salaries. He called on other government appointees to follow his example and slash their salaries. Ikpeazu made the declaration yesterday in Umuahia while swearing in a new Head of Service [HOS] Dr. Vivian Uma, noting that the plight of workers in the state were of serious concern to his administration.

L-R: Managing Director, IDC Construction Limited, Mr. Shaheed El-Ahel; Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; Commissioner for Works, Chief Law Chinwuba and Senior Special Adviser, Special Projects, Mr. Emeka James Okoye, during the governor’s inspection of the three flyovers under construction in Awka...at the weekend

Anambra judiciary celebrates financial autonomy Pamela Eboh Awka

nambra State judiciary workers yesterday celebrated the financial autonomy granted the state’s judiciary by the governor, Chief Willie Obiano. The autonomy granted the judiciary by the governor was revealed yesterday by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi, at the High Court premises in Awka, while handing over 22 air-conditioned brand new Ford cars to newly sworn-in magistrates in the state. Handing over the keys to the magistrates yesterday, Umeadi, who was visibly elated, hailed the emergence of financial autonomy for the judiciary, saying that he was representing the state gover-

nor in handing over the cars to the magistrates. He said the vehicles would go a long way in assisting the magistrates in their work of ensuring that justice delivery was not lacking in the state. Umeadi said: “We hope that these cars will assist them in their work, and we also hope that they will make good use of it and always report to work in good time. “I am hereby making the presentation on behalf of the state governor to the magistrates.” Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman of Anambra State branch of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Vivian Udedike, commended the Chief Judge for the acquisition of the vehicles, saying that it was an eloquent testimony of his deserving the award on him by the union as

Counsel differ on INEC's compliance with tribunal’s order Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

ounsel to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 governorship election in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, Chief Chris Uche, and Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), Livy Uzoukwu, yesterday disagreed over the attitude of INEC to the

tribunal order, allowing Alex Otti access to the election materials for inspection. Chris Uche had told the tribunal that despite its order that the petitioner be allowed access to the electoral materials; the commission was not cooperating, saying that the attitude was responsible for the delay in the conclusion of the inspection.

father of magistrates. She thanked the governor for granting financial autonomy to the state’s judiciary. Udedike also commended the Chief Judge for his open door policy, which according to her, made it very easy for him to be reached and consulted on matters concerning the judiciary. Earlier in her address, the Chief Registrar of the state, Doris Ezeani, said it was the first time in the history of Anambra State that the judiciary was taking absolute charge of its affairs, following the financial autonomy granted it by Governor Obiano. She added that such act had in time past pitched the judiciary and the state governments in the country, even as the state judiciary would always remain grateful to the governor.

Ugwuanyi to partner with FRSC on IGR revenue

Enugu woos Road Safety Commission in boosting state revenue

nugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has assured the management of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of the readiness of his administration to partner with the commission to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. The governor made this known while receiving a delegation from the FRSC led by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Boboye Oyeyemi, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Government House, Enugu. He said the commission’s request for the state to provide more work stations for its official engagements was a welcome development that will increase the IGR of the state. Ugwuanyi, who lauded

the commission for its cooperation and partnership with the government, also urged it to continue with programmes and policies that would assist his administration realise its electoral promises on employment generation and investment promotion. He also applauded the commission for its proposal to decongest the popular 9th Mile corner in Enugu before the festive period, noting also that his administration has prominently listed the development of the area in its action plan. Governor Ugwuanyi added that a committee has already been set up to adjust the state budget to accommodate the area for immediate action. Earlier in his speech, Oyeyemi told the governor that his team was at the Government House to felicitate with him on his electoral victory and also to request for more partnership with the state for increased capacity building and work stations in order to boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.

Ebonyi Assembly to encourage private bills Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

lawmaker in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Augusta Chika, at the weekend, reiterated her commitment to ensure that private bills are encouraged in the assembly. The lawmaker representing Ohaozara East constituency, while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, also assured the peo-

ple of her preparedness to facilitate loans for the people of her constituency to go into intensive farming just as she declared her commitment to ensure that poverty is alleviated among the people. She said: “I will do my best to ensure that our youths andwomen are encouraged to go into intensive farming as well as private businesses to the extent that they will be able to contribute to the development of their

communities. “I'm going to look for a way to facilitate loans to enable them start off, especially the people of my constituency. “I wish to state emphatically that I’m going to support and ensure that private bills that are of great value and can contribute to the progress and success of the society are encouraged in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, especially in this fifth assembly.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Wike: Why Peterside lost guber election Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ivers State Governor Nyesom Ezewon Wike, has said that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, lost the 2015 election because former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi personalised the campaign, by making it a contest against him, (Wike). According to the governor, while he went searching for top political leaders across the state who were not in support of Amaechi’s style of politics and painstakingly carried out consultations with people at the grassroots, Amaechi, was preoccupied with attacks against his person. He said that Amaechi, allowed his emotion to overshadow the campaign by attacking his person whenever he was in the state during breaks from his campaign duties for President Muhammadu Buhari, rather than allow Peterside, to spearhead the campaign like he did. According to the Governor Wike,, because Peterside, was completely under the shadow of Amaechi during the

campaigns, he did not connect with the people and had no chance at the polls. “When I was busy campaigning across the state, they were busy following the campaign train of the federal government. The governor-

ship candidate was not running the election,” he said. Wike, who revealed this in Government House, Port Harcourt, said that voters were angry with Amaechi for playing a key role in the defeat of former Presi-

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, addressing the state’s civil servants in Port Harcourt …yesterday.

I’ll produce Oshiomhole’s successor in 2016, says Igbinedion Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ormer Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, has declared that he would influence the choice of who becomes the successor governor to Governor Adams Oshiomole, next year when the gubernatorial election is held in the state. He said he would play a major role for the emergence of a credible and sellable candidate who will fly the PDP’s flag when the time comes. Igbinedion stated this at the weekend during

the birthday ceremony of former his aide and Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his wife, Ivia held at their Ugbor residence in Benin City, the state capital. He explained that going by his rating in politics and the party he belongs, he was in a vantage position to anoint and determined who will be the next governor of the state when the time was ripe. According to the former governor when the time comes to pick the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer, he would play a prominent role in the process.

He said, “Whoever is going to be the next governor of Edo State must be one of the founding members of the PDP in the state and must also be a loyal member.’’ Igbinedion noted that there was no iota of doubt that he was well loved by the people of the state, stressing that till date he remains the only governor whose victory at the polls was never challenged in any court of law. He insisted that he remains a key member of the PDP, despite whatever was being said about his political future and his person, stating that he has never left the party.

Internet fraudsters hack into Rivers PDP chair’s Facebook account Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

uspected ICT fraudsters have hacked into the facebook account of the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State Mr. Felix Obuah, using

dent Goodluck Jonathan at the polls, and decided not to vote for Peterside. “The people of the state were not happy that their son had just lost an election that Amaechi contributed to, and decided not to vote for Peterside,” he said.

the platform to solicit funds from unsuspecting members of the public. Obuah, who raised the alarm in a statement signed by his media adviser, Jerry Needam, noted that the fraudsters were also using his facebook account,t to

seek for contracts and cash donations from financial institutions. He appealed to government agencies, corporate organizations and individuals to beware of such impostors and to also report such criminal(s) to the Police.

The Governor said that if he ran against Peterside 20 times, he would win, because he was the engine room during the periods Amaechi won elections based on the fact that he understands the political terrain inside out.

He added: “Before I became governor, I knew I would win. I was the engine room of the state. Where is the polling booth that I don’t know? Most of the people that were organizing press conferences were mostly teachers.

PHOTO-NAN

Guber poll: Okowa woos Ogboru, Emerhor out of court Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party, Olorogun O’Teger Emerhor and Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party to join hands with him in running the affairs of the state and moving it forward. The Governor, who admitted that litigations would only retard the growth and development of the state, urged them

not to play their roles in his all-inclusive government. But the LP state chairman, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, who described the governor’s olive branch in Asaba yesterday as an after-thought, following the Federal High Court, Asaba, quashing of the eligibility suit instituted by Okowa last week’s Thursday, against Ogboru and Emerhor, urged the governor to pursue the case to a logical conclusion. Speaking at the weekend in Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli North council area during a thanksgiv-

ing service and reception to celebrate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victory in the re-run of the Delta Central Senatorial election, Governor Okowa, enjoined Ogboru and Emerhor, to set aside all political differences and collaborate with him to bring about positive changes in the state. He said he would provide selfless service and ensure that dividends of democracy were evenly given to the three senatorial districts of the state, vowing to redeem his promise of ‘Prosperity for all Deltans’.

Community seeks DESOPADEC’s recognition Gabriel Choba Ughelli

he people of Ika nation in Delta State yesterday appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to send a bill to the State House of Assembly as a prelude to the community recognition as an oil producing community in the

Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. Speaking on the development, the National Organizing Secretary of the host communities in the area, (HOSTCOM), Mr. Ajobo Uni Edward told newsmen that the appeal became necessary to enable the people of Ika

nation in the Delta North senatorial district of the state benefit from DESOPADEC. He noted that such bill if passed by the State House of Assembly, would create more employment for the youths across the state in line with the government desire for prosperity for all Delta people.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 23, 2015

News 49

south north - south

‘Why El-Rufai stopped Ramadan feeding’ Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

aduna State government has stopped the yearly practice of feeding people during the Ramadan period. The programme, called “Ramadan Feeding,” was stopped because the foodstuff that was earmarked for the exercise in the past did not get to the masses as envisaged. A highly placed source, who confided in New Tele-

graph at the weekend, said the noble scheme was riddled with corruption “so the state government had to stop it.” According to the source, who did not want his name mentioned, said “the corruption was done in three layers. First, the suppliers inflated the cost of procuring the foodstuff, then government officials added fictitious names and the distributors also diverted some bags of foodstuff.

Sokoto to partner Catholic Church on social services Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Sokoto State government will partner with the Catholic Church to improve social services for the people. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal gave this assurance yesterday, when he said social services such as education, healthcare, religious harmony and peace, will receive priority in the state for the benefit of the citizens. He spoke while receiving a delegation of the Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, led by Bishop Matthew Kukah, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Sokoto.

Tambuwal said the role of the church in the provision of social services is commendable, saying his administration will render support the church to expand the services of the hospital and school currently run by the Sokoto Diocese. While urging the bishop to look into areas of youth empowerment and skills acquisition, Tambuwal said the state government welcomes suggestions and ideas from private individuals and corporate organisations that will ensure the unity and progress of the state. Earlier in his remarks, Kukah said the church is ready to partner with the government in all areas of interest.

Police parade Adoke's uncle for alleged robbery Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

ogi State police command yesterday paraded 72-year-old Ahmed Adoke, an uncle to the immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federal, Mohammed Adoke, over alleged involvement in armed robbery and kidnap in the state. Adoke is among the 45 suspects accused of various criminalities across Kogi State, who were arrested by men of the police command in collaboration with a special task force, set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to bring the rising wave of kidnapping and armed banditry under control. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who disclosed this while parading the suspects be-

fore newsmen in Lokoja, noted that the police command was complemented with 300 strong riot policemen drawn from different formations cross the country. He also said among those arrested was one Isa Sunday Omuya, also known as Cat or Sunday Moscow, in Ihima, in the central axis of the state, where one AK 47 rifle with 13 rounds ammunition was recovered from him. He added that further investigation revealed that the recovered rifle was snatched from Corporal Apogu Dzakwa, who was shot dead on May 18, along Ayere/Ajowa road in Ijumu Local Government. The force spokesman further disclosed that the deceased officer was on escort duties for an expatriate engineer, Karunadasa Dorawaka, of Borini Prono Construction Company.

L-R: Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Ahmad; Deputy Governor, Mr. Peter Kisra; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Managing Director/CEO, Harmony Holdings Limited, Tope Daramola; Chairman, Prof. Yahaya Halidu and Chief of Staff to the governor, Babatunde Yusuf Abdulwahab, during the flag-off of 42 operational vehicles of Harmony Transport Services in Ilorin...yesterday

20 killed in Borno bomb blast Ahmed Miringa and Ibrahim Abdul

wo female suicide bombers yesterday detonated explosives in a crowded market in Baga, Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving at least 20 people dead and others injured. According to Bloomberg, quoting residents and witnesses; not less than 20 bodies were evacuated from the scene of the blast. “We have evacuated 20 bodies from the scene,” Usman Tanimu, leader of a local vigilante group, said by phone from the Borno State capital; “several others also sustained injuries,” the report said. It also said the women got into the market while many traders had gathered together to say the

Yobe Assembly elects speaker Hassan Jirgi damaturu

embers of the Yobe State House of Assembly yesterday elected Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo, as their speaker for the sixth assembly. The lawmakers promised to work closely with him in enacting laws that would ensure the rebuilding of the state, which they said has suffered from excesses of the insurgents in the last few years. Dala Dogo, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who is representing Karasuwa Constituency, had been the sparker in the last four years.

late afternoon Muslim prayer, according to Hassan Ibrahim, a resident and vigilante group member. “They detonated the bombs strapped on them a few meters apart,” he said. Though another account of the incident said the blast was at the Baga Motor Park in the city. An eyewitness, who was said to be at the park, Mallam Gana Ibrahim said: “the incident occurred at exactly 3.45pm, when people were having their Asr prayer. A member of the Civilian JTF, a vigilante group, Garba Gora, said the bomb was planted in the area and that it was not a case of suicide bombing as claimed by some, saying another IED exploded at BEWAC, killing the suicide bomber alone. He said: “As I am

speaking with you, we are evacuating the bodies while those injured have being moved to the Borno State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri for treatment.” As at the time of filing this report, no official confirmation has come from the army spokesman and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) as their cell phones were switched off. Meanwhile, senators from the North-East states are putting finishing touches to the creation of North-East Development Commission to rebuild the region following its destruction by terrorist activities of Boko Haram sect. The senators vowed to sponsor a joint bill as they lament the level of destruction in the region, just as experts warned

northern state governors on the looming hunger in the area. Speaking in Yola, the senator representing Adamawa Central senatorial district, Senator Abdul-Aziz Muratal Nyako, said the move was to hasten the development of infrastructure in the affected states. “Everybody can see that the North-East is in serious crisis, particularly as it relates to Boko Haram crisis and a lot of infrastructure had gone down the drain. He said: “Virtually, we have to revamp the entire system and because of this, we have decided to come up with the commission to be in tune with the Niger Delta Development Commission that will lead to rebuilding the region and improve on its security.”

Tambuwal laments condition of patients in govt hospital Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

okoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday warned workers in the state that his government will not tolerate laxity from any civil servant. Tambuwal also expressed dismay on the condition of patients at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, when he paid an unscheduled visit to the hospital on Sunday. The visit, which occurred at 2.00am on Sun-

day morning, caught the few workers on duty unawares. A statement signed by the governor's spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said upon entering the hospital, the governor observed that there was no electricity supply while many patients, who could not withstand the heat in their wards, lied down outside the designated wards. He said: “After going round the dark complex for 30 minutes to assess things for himself, Tambuwal was then recognised by a few of the staff on duty. Upon noticing

his presence, the generating set was quickly put on while the staff made attempts to hurry the patients into their rooms,” the statement added. After speaking with the patients and wishing them quick recovery, Governor Tambuwal assured them that their health needs would not be toyed with by the government. He also admonished the staff on duty to fear God, and warned that any repeat of what he saw at the hospital by any government worker will be met with appropriate sanctions.

50 WORLD | News

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Greece spells out terms for debt crisis ‘breakthrough' G reece's economy minister has spelled out the terms of new proposals to end deadlock on its debt crisis, amid hopes a deal can now be struck this week. It includes new taxes on businesses and the wealthy, Giorgios Stathakis told the BBC in an exclusive interview. Eurozone finance ministers have welcomed the plan, saying there could be a deal "within days". Greece will default if it does not repay a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) IMF loan by

the end of the month. If that happens, it risks crashing out of the single currency and possibly the EU. Mr Stathakis told the BBC's Robert Peston he was confident Greece's new proposals to balance the government's books had broken the deadlock with its creditors. "We [will] try to remove the tax burden from pensions and wages towards business and the wealthy," he said. He said the proposals also included an increase in the VAT rate for some selected items.

Speaking ahead of an emergency Eurogroup summit in Brussels yesterday, European Council president Donald Tusk said the latest Greek proposals were the "first real proposals in many weeks". "This evening I want all cards on the table. That doesn't mean I want to negotiate technical details, but it means I want to end this political gambling," he said. Talks have been in deadlock for five months. The European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) are unwilling to unlock

the final €7.2bn tranche of bailout funds until Greece agrees to economic reforms. Separately, the European Central Bank (ECB) again increased its emergency funding for Greek banks after anxious savers withdrew more than €4bn in recent days. Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, who has ruled out pension cuts, higher power rates, and an excessive budget surplus, said he hoped Greece would "return to growth within the eurozone". He met the heads of Greece's three international

creditors in Brussels, ahead of his talks with the leaders of 18 other eurozone nations later yesterday. But eurozone finance ministers said they were not given enough time to study them for a proper assessment, amid confusion over different versions of the Greek proposals submitted. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Dijsselbloem described the proposals as "broad and comprehensive", but said work was needed to check they added up "in fiscal terms".

Ethiopia declares election sweep for ruling party, critics cry foul

thiopia's ruling party has swept all but one seat in the election to the 547-seat parliament held in May, final results showed yesterday, again crushing an opposition that complained of voting abuses. Voting for the last seat was delayed after clashes between backers of an independent and those supporting the candidate of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). But the EPRDF is expected to win that too. Merga Bekana, the electoral board chairman, declared the final tally, barring the last seat, at a news conference. The opposition secured just one seat in the last parliament, after winning an unprecedented 147 seats in

the 2005 election, which was marred by violence. The opposition did not take up their seats after that vote, saying the poll was rigged. Opposition activists have accused the authorities of irregularities and squeezing them out of politics in this latest and previous votes, a charge government official dismiss. "The election was coordinated in a free, fair, peaceful, credible and democratic manner," Merga said, adding turnout was 93.2 percent of the 36.8 million registered voters. Ethiopia's population is 96 million. Opposition groups such as the Medrek coalition and Semayawi party said last month they would reject the results, citing harassment and abuse of their candidates.

Germany releases Al Jazeera journalist

erman authorities have released Al Jazeera jour nalist Ahmed Mansour, who had been detained at Berlin airport at the request of the Egyptian government. Mansour's lawyers, who told Al Jazeera of the German decision, were expected to meet him following his release yesterday. Earlier reports had said a court in Germany was about to consider Egypt's request to extradite Mansour, one of the Arab world's most respected journalists. Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Berlin earlier,

said a temporary detention investigative judge concluded his investigation with Mansour on Sunday, after which he was transferred to Moabit prison in Berlin. Our correspondent said that the court and Mansour's lawyers are "making the arrangements for his departure." Saad Djebbar, one of Mansour's lawyer, said that while his client was "very happy" about the court's decision, he was also "very said" that the Al Jazeera journalist was detained in the first place. Another lawyer Patrick Teubner said that with the court decision, Mansour could now leave Germany.

Refugees cross back into Syria from Turkey

ore than 2,000 Syrian refugees who had fled into Turkey crossed back yesterday, security sources and witnesses said, as a gate reopened a few days after Islamic State militants were ousted from the frontier town of Tel Abyad by Syrian Kurds. Amid tight security on the Turkish side, hundreds of

refugees, mostly women and children carrying bags of belongings, crossed the border from the Turkish town of Akcakale to Tel Abyad. Forces led by Syrian Kurds captured Tel Abyad from Islamic State last week, driving the militants away from the frontier in an advance backed by US-led air strikes.

The bodies coping with the extreme heat.

Heatwave kills 224 in Pakistan

ome 224 people are now believed to have died during a heatwave in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. Health officials say most of the deaths have been in the largest city, Karachi, which has experienced temperatures as high as 45C (113F) in recent days. The city has seen power cuts caused by an increased demand for electricity because of the extreme weather. Many of the victims are elderly people who have been suffering from fever, dehydration and gastric problems. Hundreds of patients suffering from the effects of the heatwave are being treated at government hos-

pitals, provincial health secretary Saeed Mangnejo said. Local media report that more than 150 bodies have been taken since Saturday to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth, which usually receives about 20 bodies a day. The demand for electricity for air conditioning has coincided with increased power needs over Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours. Hot weather is not unusual during summer months in Pakistan, but prolonged power outages seem to have made matters worse, the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani reports. Sporadic angry protests have taken place in parts of the city, with some people blam-

ing the government and the city's main power utility, KElectric, for failing to avoid deaths, our correspondent says. The body's nor mal core temperature is 37-38C. If it heats up to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C, heat exhaustion is likely and above 41C, the body starts to shut down. Chemical processes start to be affected, the cells inside the body deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure. The body cannot even sweat at this point because blood flows to the skin stops, making it feel cold and clammy.

South Africa denies plan to protect Bashir

outh Africa's government yesterday denied secretly plotting a safe exit from the country for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, despite an international arrest warrant on war crimes charges. Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict in Darfur, flew out of Pretoria last Monday despite a court order that barred his departure.

South Africa's Sunday Times reported a secret meeting of top ministers that mapped a deal to protect Bashir. It alleged that Bashir was escorted from Johannesburg, where he attended an African Union summit, to his plane in Pretoria by President Jacob Zuma's personal security detail. But the authorities said no such meeting took place. "Government categorically denies that there was a secret meeting held by the security cluster ministers," government spokes-

woman Phumla Williams said in a statement. The government has come under fire from the ICC, rights groups, several other governments and by the opposition at home, over its failure to detain Bashir. The High Court in Pretoria ordered the government to explain this week why it defied the order that barred Bashir from leaving. Williams said the government is "expected to provide the court with a report that explains how President al-Bashir left the country".

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2015

Sport News

International Sport Cech signs for Arsenal

Eagles have cliques, not friends, says Pinnick

Hope rises to stage NBA game in Nigeria

Sport

Women World Cup

Did you know? That Stephen Keshi’s first win as Nigeria coach was the 2-0 friendly tie victory over Zambia in November 2011.

Golf: Spieth wins historic US Open title U

SA’s Jordan Spieth added the US Open title to his Masters victory after a thrilling climax at the muchcriticised Chambers Bay. The 21-year-old carded a one-under 69 to win his second major of 2015 by one shot on five under after Dustin Johnson three-putted the last from 12 feet. South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen sank six birdies in his last seven holes in a 67 to tie with Johnson for second.

Spieth

World number one Rory McIlroy (66) briefly threatened but ended level par. Spieth, who remains on course to become the first player to win all four majors in a calendar year, is the youngest player to win the US Open since Bobby Jones in 1923. He is the fourth-youngest player to win two majors and the sixth to win the Masters and US Open in the same year. “I’m in shock but I feel for Dustin,” said Spieth. “It’s cool

to be able to have two legs of the grand slam now, and to conquer golf ’s hardest test the US Open is conquering the hardest layout in all of golf. “I didn’t have my best ball-striking at all and really grinded over those four or five-footers - that was the difference.” Johnson said: “I did everything I was supposed to do. I hit the ball really well. I just really struggled getting it in the hole. I didn’t think I was

hitting bad putts, they just weren’t going in.” Spieth, the world number two, started the final round in a four-way tie for the lead with Johnson, Branden Grace and Jason Day of Australia on four under. He bogeyed his opening hole to drop back to three under but 12 pars and two birdies followed to keep the Texan in touch before a three-shot swing on the 16th put him three clear with two to play.

Decision Day for Enyeama Ajibade Olusesan

he Nigeria Football Federation is expected to take a decision on Tuesday (today) over the ongoing imbroglio involving Super Eagles skipper, Vincent Enyeama, who is billed to appear before a disciplinary panel. Whether Enyeama appears or not, a decision is likely to be taken on the national goalie with 101 caps for Nigeria. Sources said the disciplinary committee would give a fair hearing but the Lille of France goalie would still be banned

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

• As NFF, Super Eagles crisis deepens • Senior players kick over treatment of colleagues for some games or face an even more drastic punishment. Enyeama is currently holidaying abroad with his family and it is unclear if the Eagles skipper will be able to honour today’s meeting. New Telegraph also learnt that the NFF’s decision to slam a $5,000 fine on Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, had further strained the relationship between the soccer body and the national team players. The NFF, at the weekend, announced that the SS Lazio of Italy player had been fined for getting sent off during the Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Chad a fortnight ago. This followed another disciplinary action against the captain of the national team, Enyeama, who was issued a query because of his comment prior to the match. But the actions of the federation have not gone down well with a majority of the players, our correspondent learnt. One of them who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said that the actions of the federation were unprofessional. He said they were surprised to see the soccer body issue a query to their captain and felt embarrassed when they learned about the Onazi’s issue. He said that the players,

including the senior ones, who were not around for the Chad game had concluded to hold a meeting with the NFF to forestall the continuity of the ‘menace’. “Some of the things happening in the national team are strange to us. I am still at a loss as to why a national team captain will be issued a query, I have not heard of that before

but this is Nigeria, I have seen a lot of things in my few years in the national team. “I spoke with two players who were not around for the Chad match and they were surprised to hear all of the things happening. We are surely going to have a meeting with them (the NFF) when we come around for our match,” said the player who is still holi-

daying in Nigeria. Another player who is a defender said: “They told us about the code of conduct but it is also important they do not infringe on our rights as professionals. Anybody can get a red card in a match but it is hard to believe that our federation can punish the players even more, are we their employees? I do not understand this.”

Marcos Rojo of Argentina being challenged by Ogenyi Onazi (left) and Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Growing up: Impact of schooling in sport (1) The former Director General of the National Sport commission, Dr. PATRICK EKEJI, recently unveiled his book titled “Odyssey of a Green Eagle”. Today we begin the serialisation of the interesting book.

y village is called Ndiegbelu Umu Emeri Ogwu, a small clan of genealogically related families and within a larger group of an autonomous community called Nguru-Nwenkwo, which today is part of a political ward within Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. I was born here in 1951. Children who went to school at that time were either those whose parents were teachers or who had someone that realised the need for educating a child. I had an uncle who then was a school headmaster, Mr. Isaac Nwachukwu Ogwogwo (Da Isaac) and so I could claim I received the benefit of his knowledge and being in the school system to have been “drafted to school” by him. You were considered to be of school age if you were able to touch the upper lobe of either ear with either arm curled over your head. In January 1955, I passed this “school maturity test” as conducted by Da

Isaac who was then the school headmaster at St. Jude’s Catholic School, Amuzi. Da Isaac was on his way back from school. When he got close to us at the village playground, he alighted from his bicycle and summoned us. After a few jokes he administered the ‘school maturity test’. None of us understood the essence of what he did until the following week when those of us that passed the ‘test’ followed him on his instructions to St Jude’s Primary School Amuzi. With the benefit of hindsight, I think Da Isaac took me along because I was comparatively taller than my age mates as well as some others who were a little older. I guess he made his decisions on the merit of my visible maturity for school age. Not long after I got registered at school, my father who was a policeman sent for his family, which in that period was my mother, my immediate younger sister and myself, to join him in Lagos, at Obalende Police Barracks where

he lived, thus cutting short my time at St. Jude’s Amuzi. I continued my elementary education at St Mathias Catholic School Lafiaji, Lagos, less than a twenty-five-minute walking distance from Obalende barracks and was exposed to friends who shared my passion for football. I remember Gideon Njoku, who was our senior and therefore guide with whom my peers and I would go to play football especially at weekends, on different playgrounds such as Lafiaji, Race Course, Obele Odan, and Campos Square. In those early days I played for teams like Bolaji Seven and later British International. These were among the most successful youth teams (equivalent of today’s Under-13). There were three categories in this football championship namely: Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Such programmes were common across Island and Mainland of Lagos. Such early regular play, practice, and competition experiences provided the Odyssey of a Green Eagle—from the Pitch to the Summit foundation to soccer stardom for players like Olowo Oshodi, Haruna Ilerika, myself, Tunde Martins, Victor Oduah, Tunde Oshodi, Gideon Njoku and many others who

would later blossom and become household names. Youth soccer “championship” was organised essentially during school holidays and the format was on single elimination or “knock out” basis. There were three categories determined not by age but by school class. At that time the different classes at primary schools level were delineated as standards (1 through 6). The logic was simple: pupils (primary school children) within certain age bracket were expected to be at the same class level irrespective of the school attended. Therefore ‘Team Managers’ of all participating clubs were expected to render honest and true declaration of the classes and schools of their players. This categorisation represented a fair assessment of the ages of all participating pupils. Reflecting on the organisational structure used by the organisers of this youth football competition, it was doubtful that Team Managers declared false primary school classes of members of their teams (clubs) because there was a chance that a school or classmate would squeal should a player from a higher class who should rightly be featured in the intermediate

is presented at the junior. Simply put, honesty was the check and balance. In any case we played for fun and prestige. And how did we engage with clubs of our choice? Team managers identified talents and approached them to sign on and should the potential member be interested, that would be it. Each draftee would be expected to pay the necessary one-off registration fee. This guaranteed all privileges and thus conferred membership to wear the club’s colour at competitions. It was from such registration fees, that all equipment were provided by the team manager. The registration fee for my first and second clubs respectively was one shilling and six pence. A “huge amount” of money for kids from my type of background. Obviously in realisation of the difficulty we could and indeed had in raising that kind of money, team managers allowed a gradual payment system wherein members who could not raise all the money at once, were allowed to pay in instalments. It was fun and we were happy to look for the money to make the payments. I saved up mine from the three-pence-aday school meal allowance my mother gave me every school day. CONT INU E D on Friday

Hope rises to stage NBA game in Nigeria Ifeanyi Ibeh

igerians may in the foreseeable future look forward to watching top class National Basketball Association games at a venue in the country, so says Amadou Gallo Fall, the NBA’s Vice President for Development – Africa. South Africa will on August 1, host the continent’s maiden NBA event, the NBA Africa Game 2015, at Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg. The exhibition game will feature a Team Africa versus Team World format. Team Africa will be made up of players from Africa and secondgeneration African players such as Luol Deng (South Sudan), Serge Ibaka (Congo-Brazzaville) and Gorgui Dieng

(Senegal), while Team World, comprising of players from the rest of the world, will feature stars like the US-born Chris Paul, Bradley Beal and Kenneth Faried. Tickets for the game went on sale across the internet last Thursday, and Fall hopes the historic game will go a long way in further cementing basketball’s position as Africa’s second most popular sport – behind football, even as he spoke of the possibility of an NBA game someday taking place in Nigeria. “We opened shop in South Africa a few years ago with the goal of growing the sport across Africa. And when the question arose on where to go first, we focussed on countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Senegal and Kenya as the

priority countries,” said Fall, at a media parley hosted by the Dan Ngerem Foundation in Lagos. “With South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the eyes of the sporting world was on the country, and their economy was number one on the continent at the time. But Nigeria with its long history with the NBA and its revamped economy has a lot of potentials. And we see tremendous opportunities to grow our brand here and to develop basketball in Nigeria.” He added: “Basketball is the number two sport in Africa but we understand the challenges and opportunities. So our mission is to increase the number of children playing basketball by introducing them at an early age to the sport.

Gyan thrilled to play with Mikel

hana captain Asamoah Gyan has welcomed the prospect of playing together with Mikel Obi at club side Al Ain. Widespread rumours over the past week have claimed that the Nigerian international has agreed personal terms to join the UAE league champions and Gyan who has been a hit at the club since his

move from Sunderland in 2011 feels thrilled by the opportunity. “I heard it this week that he (Mikel Obi) has agreed terms with Al Ain and will most definitely be playing for us next season,” Gyan reacted to a question on Metro TV in Accra. “It’s great news for us because Mikel Obi is a very good player and very experienced.” “It will be exciting play-

ing with him in the same team, because I believe both of us, with the help of our other colleagues ,can do more for the club,” the 29-year-old added. Obi has been widely tipped for an exit from English champions Chelsea this summer - a move which will bring to an end a successful nine-year stint with the London-based club.

L-R: Chairman, 8th Royal Master’s School Sports Competition, Alausa, Ikeja, Mr. Opeyemi Oni; Head Teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Otnugwo; Master Myles Adedeji and Darasimi Yobun, during the school’s Sport Competition, in Ikeja, Lagos…recently

Malian, Angolan officials for Falcons, Equatorial Guinea match

he fact that they have little time to rest following elimination from the FIFA Women World Cup finals has been fully brought home to the Super Falcons after FIFA appointed officials for their 2016 Olympics qualifying fixture against Equatorial Guinea next month. For the first leg taking place at the National Stadium, Abuja on July 18, Malian Kankou Coulibaly will be the referee. Fellow Malians Djeneba Dembele, Mariam Coulibaly and Fatou Sacko will be Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.

Halimatou Hamidou from Niger Republic will be the Referee Assessor while Arret Nje Jah from The Gambia will be the Match Commissioner. For the return leg slated for Bata on August 2, Angolan Marximina Luzia Bernardo will be the referee. Fellow Angolans Luisa Massanga Luhaco, Andalia Bimbi Francisco Jeremias and Tania Marisa Duarte will be Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively. Agathe Athacou from Cote d’Ivoire will be the Referee Assessor and Nomsa Mahlangu from South Africa will be the Match Commissioner.

The winner of the fixture between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will clash with the winner of the fixture between South Africa and Kenya, for a spot at the Women’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympics, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Okon

International Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2015

Man United plot Ramos coup

Ramos

arma have been declared bankrupt and will be forced to drop down to Serie D, a court has confirmed. The Italian club finished sixth in Serie A in 2013-14 but rejection from the Europa League over financial issues set off a series of ownership changes and problems which led to them finishing bottom of the league in the recentlyconcluded campaign. After the deadline for new ownership bids passed without any interest - the only serious bidder, former baseball star

ergio Ramos could be closing in on a sensational move to Manchester United with Real Madrid reportedly ready to sanction the move. The Spanish international and World Cup winner has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City also thought to be interested. Ramos has so far failed to agree a new contract at the Bernabeu, and with recent negotiations

between the two parties breaking down, the Metro claimed that the defender wants to leave the club immediately. This has opened the door to Manchester United, who have made the 29-year-old their top defensive target with Louis van Gaal set to spend over £150million on recruiting talent this summer. A transfer fee has yet to be disclosed, but it is likely that United will have to pay a handsome fee to satisfy Madrid’s demands.

Cech signs for Arsenal

Parma declared bankrupt Mike Piazza, withdrew on Monday morning - officials declared Parma would be demoted to the amateur divisions rather than the second tier which their relegation would otherwise have meant. “The administrators of Parma, Dr. Angelo Anedda and Dr. Alberto Guion, communicated that as of 14.00CET on June 22, 2015 no offers have been received for the sporting rights of the

club,” a statement from the Creditors’ Committee confirmed. “In the coming hours the administrators will meet with the creditor’s committee and the bankruptcy judge Dr. Pietro Rogato to make the necessary arrangements for the bankruptcy proceedings.” Serie D is the fourth tier of Italian football and the highest amateur division, with ninth-tier Terza Categoria the lowest they could have sunk.

Cech

rsenal have completed the signing of Chelsea’s Petr Cech, and the goalkeeper could face his former club as soon as August 2 in the Community Shield at Wembley. Talks over an £11million deal have been ongoing since the season ended and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has

finally made the 33-yearold his first signing of the summer. Jose Mourinho was reluctant to sell Cech to a direct Barlcays Premier League rival, but the transfer has gone through. Paris Saint-Germain formally approached Chelsea about the veteran, but Czech Republic inter-

national Cech preferred to stay in London where his family are based. Cech’s arrival means either Wojciech Szczesny or David Ospina, who is wanted by Fenerbahce, is likely to leave Arsenal this summer. It also means Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon could follow Cech to Arsenal.

Neymar leaves Chile after Brazil withdraw appeal ... goalie will save Arsenal 12, 15 points a season – Terry

razil have resigned themselves to continuing their Copa America campaign without the services of Neymar following their decision to withdraw their appeal against the striker’s fourmatch ban. The Selecao star learned of his punishment last Friday following his petulant behaviour in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Colombia, during which he received a straight red card for attempting to headbutt Jeison Murillo before then verbally assaulting referee Enrique Osses. Despite the protestations of Neymar’s team-mates defending his innocence, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has opted against trying to overturn the lengthy suspension that ruled the 23-year-old out for the remainder of the tournament in Chile. “After a meeting that took place this Sunday night between Neymar and Brazil’s coaching staff, it was decided that CBF will accept Conmebol’s decision that suspended the player for four matches and therefore ended his Copa America campaign,” a statement read. “Both staff and the player hope that the same rigour that Conmebol used to punish Neymar will be adopted on all competitions organised by the federation. In conclusion, the Brazil NT coaching staff is sorry for the loss of another important player for this year’s competition.

he signing of Petr Cech will save Arsenal 12 or 15 points a season, according to Chelsea captain John Terry. Cech lost his position as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper to Thibaut Courtois last season and has since been given permission to seek a move elsewhere. The Czech Republic international joined Arsenal as Arsene Wenger seeks to find a solution at what has long been a

troublesome position for Chelsea’s London rivals. And Terry told talkSPORT: “There’s talk of Arsenal signing Petr Cech and, if they do get him, he will strengthen them for sure. He will save them 12 or 15 points a season. “Petr was an unbelievable professional last year. When you get left out of the team it can be hard to accept but, when he came in [to the side], he was exceptional.”

Russia slash 2018 Murray seeks solution to Djokovic puzzle World Cup budget Neymar of Brazil fights for the ball with Camilo Zuñiga of Colombia during the 2015 Copa America Chile

ndy Murray admits he has to find a way to beat Novak Djokovic if he is to claim the Wimbledon title this summer. The British number one and two-time Grand Slam champion has been in sensational form in recent months but has still struggled against the world number one. Djokovic is the only man to have beaten Murray since February and the Serb has come out on top in all four of their meetings in 2015 to date. Murray has lost his eight previous matches against the defending Wimbledon champion, with his last victory over Djokovic coming in the final at SW19 in 2013. The Scot, who is currently ranked as the world number

three, is confident he can finally break Djokovic’s winning run if they do meet at Wimbledon this year but he feels he will have to improve further to do so. “There is no disgrace in losing to him, but obviously if I want to win the major competitions [I have to find a way to beat Djokovic],” he told the Daily Record. “I have beaten him in those tournaments before when I won US Open and Wimbledon and the Olympics, and I need to continue to improve and learn from those matches. “But I can’t complain about the way I played the last few months. There is one player in the world that’s played better than me. I would like to be that player, but hopefully in the future I can be.”

ussia have slashed millions from their official budget for the 2018 World Cup after cutting spending on hotels and infrastructure. The government is curbing most areas of public spending as the economy contracts due to the low oil price. An order signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on Monday cut the total World Cup budget by 29.2 billion roubles ($700 million) to 631.5 billion roubles. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko revealed in April that the government had decided to slash the number of luxury hotels, warning they could lie empty

after the tournament. That reduction in the number of hotels was confirmed in law on Monday, while various projects to improve drainage were also removed from spending plans. “We’re optimising and cutting expenses,” Mutko told Russian agency RSport. “First of all we’re removing the excess number of hotels.” FIFA denied the cuts would mean a shortage of hotel rooms for fans in 2018. “As any other entity with operations in Russia, FIFA keeps a close eye on the financial situation in Russia,” FIFA said in an emailed statement.

Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eagles have cliques, not friends, says Pinnick

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has stated that there are cliques in the Super Eagles, the players are not friends and they lack discipline. Pinnick touched on a wide-range of issues on a television programme on Monday morning. “I noticed that the players are not friends, there are various cliques and all of these stuff,” said Pinnick. “They should love themselves. “There is a level of indiscipline and it impacts negatively on the performance of the team.”

He also spoke on the latest cases of indiscipline involving skipper Vincent Enyeama and Ogenyi Onazi, insisting nobody is bigger than Nigeria. Onazi was fined $5,000 for his sending off against Chad in an AFCON qualifier and Enyeama will on Tuesday (today) face the NFF disciplinary committee after his statement questioning the safety of Kaduna for the match. “Will you do that at your club?” he asked about the needless red card Onazi bagged. “Enyeama made careless and provocative statements about Kaduna and we

felt very bad about it. It cost us as it heightened the security situation in Kaduna. He said the executive committee will soon take a decision on the Flying Eagles and the Super Falcons after they both crashed out of their various World Cups this month. Pinnick further disclosed that the NFF is probing the reported application of Stephen Keshi to coach Cote d’Ivoire. “We will look into it. Let’s wait and see,” he said. “But it will be suicidal to say he wants to seek employment somewhere else when we do not owe him.”

MVP Gumut delighted as Nigerians dominate FIBA Africa 3x3 Tour Ifeanyi Ibeh

ost valuable player of the maiden FIBA Africa Zone Three 3x3 Tour, Stanley Gumut, has expressed delight at Team Nigeria’s victory at the championship which came to an end on Sunday at the National Stadium, Lagos. The Abuja Mark Mentors guard, who earlier in the year finished as the MVP at the South African Invitational, was named as the best male player of the Lagos Tour following Nigeria’s 1713 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in the Senior Men’s final. Gumut finished the game with 9 points and 6 rebounds, and he told New Telegraph: “It was a really good victory against a tough Ivoirian team. “They gave us a good fight but my teammates and I were determined to the very end.” Gumut’s teammate Yahaya Abdul also came up big in the final minutes

of Sunday’s final, scoring three of his five points while Azuoma Dike scored an additional three points to hand victory to the Nigerians, whose women team also emerged victorious in the Senior Women’s final. Led by Chioma Udeaja, who also won the women’s MVP trophy, and her nine points, the Nigerians powered to victory with a convincing 21-9 win over Togo. Nkechi Akashili scored 7 points; Atosu Upe added 5 points, while Sarah Ogoke

scored 2 points to go with her impressive playmaking skills. And an elated Ogoke thanked the FIBA Africa Zone 3 leadership for the opportunity to represent Nigeria once again. “It’s always an honour and privilege to come home and represent Nigeria in basketball, whether it’s three-onthree or five-on-five. I really want to appreciate the FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, Colonel Sam Ahmedu, for bringing this home to Nigeria. Hopefully we will see more of this.”

Stanley Gumut (left) receiving his MVP trophy.

Photo by DStv

Pay or lose points, LMC warn Dolphins Charles Ogundiya

he League Management Company on Monday directed Premier League outfit Dolphins to pay one of its players, Emeka Atuloma, who formally complained to the LMC over a breach of contractual agreement by the Port Harcourt-based club. Following a conclusive investigation of the very first formal complaint by a player on breach of contractual agreement by his club, the LMC has moved to sanction a club, invoking extant provisions of the Nigeria Professional Football League Rules and Frameworks 2014/2015 season. In the notification letter

to Dolphins and signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, the club’s attention was drawn to Article B9.45, which states: “The terms of a contract between a club and a player shall be strictly adhered to and where a club fails to pay remunerations and entitlements due to a player for a period of more than 60 days such club shall be liable to a deduction of 6 (six) points and a further deduction of 3 (three) points every 30 days for which the entitlement remains unpaid.” Atuloma filed the complaint against his employers on May 25, 2015 citing non-payment of his salary since the commencement of the

2014/15 season on March 8. The LMC has therefore charged Dolphins FC with breach of contract with not only the complainant player, but with all its players following the club’s own admission through a letter dated June 12, 2015, that no player of the club has received salaries during the period which has exceeded the 60 days cap. The LMC has thus directed Dolphins to comply with the cited provision within 60 days and pay all its players failing which the league board will exercise its summary jurisdiction to deduct 6 (six) points from the club’s total accrued points so far in the league season.

Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa (left) being tackled by a South African player

Eaglets’ opponents emerge August 6 Ajibade Olusesan

igeria’s Golden Eaglets will know their FIFA U-17 World Cup group opponents as the draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place at the Art Centre 660 in Santiago de Chile on August 6. According to the programme of the event, which will formally bring the world’s attention to the competition that holds in eight Chilean cities from October 17 to November 8, the Draw Ceremony will be followed by the Official Draw Banquet, at the Grand Hyatt Santiago, the same day. Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have the opportunity to defend the crown they won in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, after qualifying for this year’s finals. A fourth–place finish at the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic in February sent the Eaglets to Chile. Africa will be represented by Ni-

geria, Mali, Guinea and South Africa, while Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, England and Croatia will fly Europe’s flag. New Zealand will represent Oceania; USA, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica will fly the flag of North and Central America, and South America sends Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, alongside hosts Chile. North Korea, Australia, Syria and Korea Republic will fly Asia’s flag. The tournament’s 52 matches will be played across Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chillan, Concepcion, Talca, La Serena, Coquimbo and Vina del Mar. Nigeria has triumphed at the cadet World Cup on four occasions, in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013. Chile, currently hosting the Copa America finals, hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1962, and has also hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup (1987) and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (2008).

Funds hinder Nigeria’s AAG preparation Adeolu Johnson Abuja

he change of guard at the seat of power and delay in releasing funds for preparation of the country’s athletes may affect the country’s position on the overall medals table at the end of the next All Africa Games starting on September 4 in Congo-Brazzaville. With less than three months to the Games the Federal Government is yet to approve the budget passed to it by former Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo. Our source said the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut,

who should signal the commencement of Team Nigeria’s preparations for the Games, is running about in a bid to get the government to release funds for the event. As a result, the usual training tours organised by the NSC for athletes ahead of major competitions have been cancelled while camping is also yet to take off. “It is sad that the Games is coming just after the new President was sworn in and everything is not going well especially with the delay in announcing the new Ministers,” said our source, who preferred anonymity. Meanwhile Lesotho’s Sports and Recreation

Commission (LSRC) has budgeted US$375,000 for the forthcoming All Africa Games. LSRC Chief Executive Officer Kholang Mokalanyane announced on Monday that the budget includes transport, accommodation and food, amongst others, to cater for 72 athletes that would hoist Lesotho’s flag during the games. Mokalanyane said the money has already been transferred from the Ministry of Finance to LSRC to give assurance that Lesotho would indeed take part in the Games. He said Lesotho would participate in five sporting disciplines at the Games.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Can’t believe they are saying this…

f it is true that the new All Progressives Congress (APC) led government will remove petroleum subsidy then we are in for major ifs. Subsidy removal was exactly what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did in 2012 and hell was let loose. The reasons for the removal then are the same reasons being advanced today; the subsidy regime is riddled with corruption and we need to save money. While I am not debating these facts but I dare also say that subsidy removal will spiral inflation and worsen the sufferings and hardship faced by ordinary citizens. Removing subsidy because the government lacked the moral fiber to check the excesses of a few greedy marketers is unethical, unnecessary and unacceptable, and will be resisted. Nigerians didn’t vote for subsidy removal but for accountable and transparent management of the subsidy regime. We voted for a total war against corruption. Of course, the easy way out of the subsidy quagmire is to abolish the system but the hard way is to purge and rid the system of corruption so that the intended benefits of subsidy will reach the ordinary people. I can’t believe that this government lacks the spine to put in place a water tight system that will rid the subsidy regime of round tripping, over invoicing and outright presentation of fraudulent claims so that the system will work for the good of the people. I wish to urge the government to think of the people and quit listening to Tony Blair, IMF and the oil majors. Before Mr. Blair speaks on subsidy removal he should first try being a Nigerian for just one month and taste our kind of life without food, water , electricity, shelter , clothing ,medical care , transportation, no welfare system and then survive for a month with N15,000 as minimum wage. I can’t believe that APC is about to misuse the opportunity of weeding the subsidy regime of corruption. Since winning the presidential election the party has shown clear incompetence to lead and this is not in the interest of the nation. It is not in our collective interest that both the governing APC and opposing PDP are in crisis. I want APC in particular to succeed because it has the responsibility to lead Nigeria to her Eldorado but then APC is a strange party of strange bed fellows. Strange is the ease the party chieftains speak from both sides of the mouth. Inside the party, different sets of moral standards apply for different sets of people. Having lied her way to power, the party strangely believes it will govern and hold on to power with lies. When will APC learn to accept and speak the truth to Nigerians? With their kind of mindset I wonder how they will do better than PDP. Who amongst them will make the good laws? Who will interpret the laws and who will execute the laws? When will the change come and where will it come from? Are ‘Change’ and ‘Transformation’ the same one and six pence? Only APC will brazenly tell a nation of 170 million people that the President and Commander-in-Chief is not the leader of the party but a ‘mere product’ of the party. Mmh!. Who then is the leader of APC as there can’t be two captains in one

My Word CLEM AGUIYI

myword@gmail.com 08034747898 (sms only)

Buhari

Blair

ship. If President Muhammadu Buhari is not the leader, who is the leader? Again, only APC will tell 170 million marines that a government that is yet to constitute her cabinet has in one month achieved much more than the predecessor had achieved in six years. What more is more ridiculous and what other definition do we have for delusion? Is there anything wrong in giving deserving credit to your predecessor in office? Often I have written in this column that being a president is like running a relay race. You do your best within the time and space allowed you and hand over the baton to the next person who must continue from where you stopped. No president or political party can resolve the country’s entire problem. APC cannot resolve Nigeria’s

entire problem even if it spends 60 years in office. The party will only do her best and live the stage when the time comes. I still can’t understand the party querying the interest of Nigerians who want to see the composition of her cabinet. The people’s worries are genuine. I think APC should get cracking on the job. PMB at 72 can only work as hard as a septuagenarian so he needs very good hands to support him and steady the ship of state, hence amongst Nigerians there is this sense of urgency. Keeping the nation waiting and second guessing is unnecessary. I can’t believe that APC actually wants the people being bombed in Borno or the villagers in Adamawa, Benue and Taraba people being killed in their hundreds by Fulani herdsmen and the Southerners at the mercy of heartless kidnappers to understand that the APC team are not miracle workers and that change requires patience and time, yet these were the same understanding that was denied President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda as the opposition tore his government apart? I can’t believe that PMB actually told a Nigerian audience in South Africa that the Military Government he served built refineries, the Nigerian airways and Railway Corporation which he claimed PDP destroyed. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who led the first PDP government told this same story 16 years ago but blamed it on successive military governments that came after him. How then did PDP destroy these institutions when in actual fact the collapse of the Nigerian Airways and Railways for instance predated the PDP administration? PDP didn’t introduce the importation of fuel because I still recall vividly the Sani Abacha toxic fuel which wrecked the engines of my two cars. Why would PMB conveniently excuse

Only APC will brazenly tell a nation of 170 million people that the President and Commander-in-Chief is not the leader of the party but a ‘mere product’ of the party. Mmh!

the excesses of the military era while democracy which tried to right the wrongs of the military, uncharitably gets the blame? I can’t believe that APC members loyal to Chief Bola Tinubu are splitting hairs since the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as President of the 8th Senate. Suddenly Saraki is a stranger in the animal farm called APC, threatened with sanctions and court actions. The law never said APC as a party will choose the Senate President or House Speaker, rather the elected members will among themselves elect their presiding officers. The election of Saraki as the Senate President and Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President met all constitutional requirements. APCs ignoble call for Senators Saraki and Ekweremadu to resign or be impeached is unethical and unlawful. I can’t believe that the National Assembly losers are demanding choice Committee chairs from the winners as a condition for peace. Saraki himself will be naïve to abandon the 57 like minds that elected him president to satisfy the greed of some sharks. He can as well kiss the Senate Presidency goodbye the very moment he turns his back on the like minds. His only option is to bond closely with the like minds. I can’t believe what I heard from an APC chief from Osun who called me to lambast Ekweremadu and the Igbo in general who he claimed usurped what belonged to APC. In the end the chief reduced the National Assembly power game to a quarrel between the Yoruba and the Igbo. Why and how the South West see themselves as being in perpetual war with the Igbo remains puzzling to me. I am Igbo without appology. I confess being aware of the rivalry between the Igbo and Yoruba. I am aware that deep down in the heart of every Igbo , that we love the Yoruba as our brothers and wish them all the good things we wish to ourselves. We never see the rise of the Yoruba as a threat to Igbo renaissance and progress. We see our rivalry as a healthy competition between two brothers who share common pains and common aspirations. We the Igbo yearn for an honest and transparent brotherhood and sisterhood with the Yoruba. We desire a constructive engagement with the Yoruba that will eventually metamorphose into a trusted handshake across the Niger because only the unity of the Igbo and Yoruba without betrayal can bring ultimate progress to the black race. Ironically , the Igbo quest for unity with the Yoruba has often been rebuffed albeit ignorantly by successive Yoruba elites. I can’t believe that after Raji Fashola’s deportation of the Igbo and the threat to perish the Igbo in the Lagoon by the Oba of Lagos that some Yoruba will still carry anti Igbo placard in Lagos asking the Igbo to pack and go. I wish to be the coward, to beg the Yoruba not to ignite any ethnic war with the Igbo. It will be a needless war. I repeat again that we Igbo have nothing against the Yoruba race and do not see the Yoruba as a threat to us whether as Nigerians or as citizens of Biafra. If there is any rivalry between us , it is a healthy brotherly rivalry. Our roads have crossed at many points severally and we shared common dreams and common aspirations. We must work to strengthen the bonds that unite us. I rest my case.

On Marble

Sanctity of Truth

When one's expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.

Clem Aguiyi Can’t believe they are saying this…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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Tinubu: The unchanging ‘Change’ Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

he uproar that emerged from the recent National Assembly leadership elections is presently subdued by a pretence: The pretence is like that of the ashes’ calmness on top of a burning coal. As a matter of fact, it makes sense to assume that the only reason the issue has been prevented from escalating is because there is a consoling feeling that a lot of political offices have not been appropriated. Moreover, we cannot foreclose the occasions of further interests being hurt by the way President Muhammadu Buhari could go about sharing of the other things in APC’s official wardrobe; even now that he prefers keeping the key of the ‘wardrobe’ inside his ‘underwear’. After all, he (President Buhari) has from the onset warned that nobody should assume ownership of him or attempt to wield an overbearing power of influence over him – which as events unfold, could prove that the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) was not exempted from the stern warning. Notwithstanding how any person feels about now, the success of APC is benchmarked on three inseparable factors. Firstly, the common will of a majority of Nigerians to have a political leadership change owing to PDP’s serial failures. Secondly, the availability of APC and its astute managers such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongly supported by the States’ coordinators - embodied in the APC States’ governors, who made APC a formidable front to drive the people’s quest for change. Thirdly, the untainted personality of President Muhammadu Buhari which assured the yearning public that the mission would deliver their desires. On a more quizzical side, some persons are jittery with the belief that, the NASS leadership elections is an early unveiling of certain characters who joined the APC as a convenient platform to berth their interests after been bruised in the raging inferno of PDP’s brinkmanship; and nothing more than the constant blustering of such personal interest: Coupled with those suffering from highly ubiquitous ambitions, currently scheming to join the victorious APC camp by default. Interestingly, the bringing of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator David Mark into relevance at so early a time within the APC fold is tantamount to assisting those who have eaten their cakes to also keep brandishing the cakes in mockery of most Nigerians – The NASS Elections is like ingratiating those who have largely ignored Nigerians in their oppressed state with a fresh mandate

Buhari

Tinubu

Saraki

Ekweremadu

to keep on. The question now is whether the outcome is not tending to make the ‘Change’ philosophy die a stillbirth as some of the elected principal officers in the highly influential National Assembly could use their entrenched interests to undermine APC’s efforts in order to revive PDP’s. From good senses, the patriotic clamour of today is that the present Federal government is more than just an APC thing. Importantly, it is a test case of whether the essence of Nigeria as a united entity is necessary, possible and profitable by focusing on only the right and necessary things. For once, let us observe whether the unity of Nigeria is not like aiming to produce grains from rocks even when we choose to apply the needed fertilizer. And as important as this experimentation is, Nigerians may be justifiably worried to find

those who saw nothing wrong with forestalling about forty-six humanity enhancement bills until such a time their parliamentary-life was almost entering the morgue of history, been empowered to keep laying down the laws. Nigerians would rather prefer the laws being planted by those with copious populist sentiments. In any case, the NASS leadership elections seem to have been challenged more by the attempt of APC leadership to reinvent and strengthen party discipline. Today, there is no gainsaying that the lack of party discipline was a major flaw that led the elected and appointed members of the PDP to operate without recourse to the directives or advice of the party structure with itinerant capacity to notice and remonstrate over the feelings of the public. Instead, such appraisal of public feelings was left to the whims of elected and appointed PDP members

who sat on their official high horses and avoided the giddiness of looking below to observe the masses’ plight. However, party discipline is not about making the dictates or intentions of any man to become the divine order. It is also not about putting up with the antics of the middlemen political jobbers who eke out a living by constituting themselves into political commission houses where they snitch on what other party members have committed or omitted. Presently, the goodwill that APC enjoys is because Nigerians cannot see any credible alternative in sight. It is the lone one to be treasured, guided and prayed for to succeed. It is what Nigerians got when they decided to go along with the Yiddish proverb “Let it be worse, so long as it’s a change”. The threat of an election that could go awry is not as dangerous as the outcome of Nigerians getting to understand that the APC was only a ploy to remove the tension from the former oppressive order; and that the ‘Change’ philosophy is always going to remain unchanged. But even as some may blame Dr. Olusola Saraki and his fellow elected NASS officers for what seems like a deliberate attempt to exclude some members from voting, we should also be mindful that such a stand may not have been his wish from the onset. Perhaps he only resorted to the ploy when we felt his right to be ambitious and aspire for a higher platform of delivering more to his people, being conspiratorially undermined. Added to that, he could also have considered that he was only contesting against one of his mates, and not directly against any of APC’s national leaders. And as such, he had a choice of taking certain personal actions that could appear like making God and not APC to decide his fate. As it is said in my place, Benin, if you choose not to be disturbed by a child’s wailing; you must refrain from spanking the child. So it would also seem that the APC pushed Dr. Saraki to take the actions that have not revealed a departure from the old ways of the PDP; and some Nigerians are kicking that the ‘Change’ may never change. Taken together, it is also important to refrain from actions that seem like spiting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu within the APC camp because most other persons in the hierarchy of APC have tried without success to achieve what has now become like a political tsunami to the PDP until he (Tinubu) mustered the people, materials and courage to achieve the ‘Yes we can’. For this, members of the party should be careful about baying him with their ambitious actions. •Ogbeide-Ihama (mustardaffairs@yahoo.com), sent in this piece from Benin City.

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