Tuesday, october 25, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Firm insured moribund coaches for N142m lReps query NRC, insurance coys lCommittee: Insurance of presidential fleet unclear Philip Nyam

he House of Representatives has raised the alarm over al-

leged expenditure of over N142 million insurance cover for non-functional

coaches and other machines belonging to the Nigerian Railway Corpo-

ration (NRC). The House ad hoc committee investigating cash

paid out to government officials annually by insurance companies mandated to in-

IMF: Delayed response by Nigeria hinders economic recovery

sure government fixed assets said Regency Alliance Insurance Plc. provided the insurance cover for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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INEC accuses Jimoh Ibrahim of trying to bribe REC }4

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Vol. 3 No. 979

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Corruption, a major challenge of judiciary –CJN }6

Osinbajo: Niger Delta peace deal crucial to 7,000 MW target }7

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Funds repatriation: CBN halts MTN dividend payments }6

N150

APC governors reject lopsided appointments Ibrahim

Mohammed

Osinbajo

Emefiele

...set to write Buhari on ambassadorial nomination Ex-minister declines nomination, cites poor consultation Market women protest demolition, block lagos-benin expressway }9

The protesting traders along Lagos-Benin Expressway in Benin-City...yesterday

Arms deal: EFCC arrests Jonathan's spokesman, Abati lEx-FCT minister quizzed over alleged contract fraud 40 ailments you don't need treatment for –researchers }7

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, during a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in Abuja …yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

APC govs meet Buhari, reject lopsided appointments Anule Emmanuel Abuja

overnors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held an emergency meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja over the choice of nominees for non-career ambassadors. Most of the 23 governors and leaders of the governing party are angry with the president for excluding them in the selection of 46 nominees whose names are currently with the Senate for confirmation. At the meeting, the governors expressed reservations over the lopsidedness in the federal appointments made by the president. It was learnt that each of the governors will now write the president formally, stating clearly their view

on the ambassadorial appointment and other previous federal appointments for consideration. No specific time frame has, however, been given on when such letters would reach the presidency on the matter. Our correspondent gathered that complaints from APC governors vary from outright rejection of their nominees for appointment or non-consultation for their input in the selection process. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State said the aggrieved APC governors have agreed to respectively write to the president for a re-consideration of their nominees. Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, which lasted for about four hours, the Plateau State governor explained that the issue of the ambassadorial appointments featured prominently during the meeting with the president.

Lalong said: "So all the states that had complaints are going to put it in writing and the president promised he is going to look into it." He noted that former deputy governor in his state, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, rejected her nomination as ambassador based on principles in line with the political disposition of the state. Lalong said he had already complained to the president that appointment into federal positions from the state should not be concentrated in one particular zone. "Now we are approaching Mr. President to consider fairness and appoint people from those areas that do not have representation,” he said. In his remarks, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State told reporters that the emergency meeting with the president also discussed the successes made in fighting the Boko

Haram sect and the recent release of 21 Chibok girls kidnapped over two years ago. On the hardship being faced by Nigerians as the economy remains in recession, Okorocha said although the problem was not created by the APC, government takes full responsibility for the economic crisis. He said: "There is no surgery that is not painful. Nigeria is going through a very serious economic surgery and that is the pains we are experiencing. "We share the pains of Nigerians; every human being must feel it. We also feel what they are going through, but we are asking for a little patience, let us do things the right way and do it once and for all. "This was not a problem brought by APC government, it is a problem that has existed long before APC came to government and we are only trying to clear the mess of the past.

"But we must take responsibility and we must never shift the responsibility to anybody. For everything happening in Nigeria, we are responsible." Okorocha assured that by next year, things would begin to take shape. "The price of rice will drop, prices of dollars will begin to stabilise and we will see a lot of changes. He said the governors also reported to Mr. President that his agriculture policy was producing result. "This time around, we have bumper harvest in most parts of the country in rice production and other things. So, that policy should be sustained. "And the funding policy by CBN, the anchor borrowers should be encouraged because it is yielding results. In the next couple of years, Nigeria would be self-sufficient in agriculture and would not need to

cal government and tribe with Governor Simon Lalong. I turned down the nomination because of balancing of appointments; I don’t think it is right for me to accept the appointment. “Secondly, proper consultation was not done, my governor was not consulted because I called him when he was in the United States of America to ask, but he said that he was not aware. “For me, I was consulted and I turned down the appointment even before the announcement was made. My husband’s ill health is another reason why I will not accept the appointment,” she said. Tallen said that President Muhammadu Buhari gave her another option and also assured her that Plateau would not miss its two slots. The former deputy gov-

ernor said that her name was not included on the list of nominees and was surprised when the announcement was made. She further said that her decline would not affect Plateau’s chances for the two slots as another name had already been submitted in her stead. Meanwhile, Governor Lalong has described Tallen’s decline as an exhibition of political maturity. “Plateau is always on the front burner when it comes to politics. That shows her maturity not just in Plateau, but as a national figure. “Once things are not done properly, it is better for a leader and a mother to come out and say that things are not done properly in the interest of the state. “When I heard the announcement, I was very shocked because what hap-

pened was without proper consultation,” the governor said while interacting with newsmen in Abuja. Governor Lalong said that his administration was working towards addressing the issue of balancing appointments, and pointed out that he had already discussed the issue with Mr. President in their last meeting. Lalong said that the opposition was already saying that the appointments were lopsided, but stressed his administration was a government of change and they would only do what would favour all sections of the state. He appreciated Tallen for her decision and assured the people that their quota would be filled and he would go further to ensure that distinguished sons and daughters of Plateau get more appointments.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

N99.14

The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) of Ebonyi State in March 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

N487.93bn

The total value of payment channels made by cheques of Nigeria in May 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

import anymore food products into this country.” According to him, Buhari was also encouraged to continue with the war against corruption. The governors, he disclosed, considered the forth-coming governorship election in Ondo State with the view to strategising to win at the poll. "Ondo is coming back to APC and we would do all we can. These were some of the things we discussed," he stressed.

Firm insured moribund Ex-minister rejects nomination, cites poor consultation coaches for N142m

former deputy governor of Plateau, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, has explained the basis of her rejection of the ambassadorial nomination. Tallen, a former Minister of Science and Technology and Labour Party governorship candidate in Plateau in 2011, said there was no proper consultation in the process leading to the nomination. She specifically stated that her governor, Simon Lalong, was not consulted. New Telegraph had exclusively reported yesterday that most governors elected on the platform of the APC were not consulted on the ambassadorial nomination. Also, Tallen, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said she rejected the nomination in order to be fair to other parts of the state in terms of federal appointments. “I hail from the same lo-

non-functional coaches and machines. It also picked holes in the insurance cover for the Presidential Air Fleet, which the insurance company, Standard Alliance, could not provide the exact insured amount for 2013. Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade Abdulkabir, sought for explanation from the Regency Alliance why it provided a ‘plant all risk’ insurance for NRC at insured sum of N142,362,000 in 2014, when most of the machines were not functional. The committee, at the pre-investigative hearing with management of insurance companies providing insurance for federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Abuja, yesterday, asked why the NRC entered into a plant all risk insurance cov-

er in 2014 when most of its equipment were grounded. But representatives of Regency Alliance, the Executive Director (Business Development), Mr. Sunny Olaniyi, and the Executive Director (Operations), told the committee that there was nothing wrong in insuring non-functional assets since they still belong to the NRC. Abdulkabir had asked: “As at 2014, what were you insuring at NRC? You mean if your vehicle is grounded, you can still insure it?” Responding, the Executive Director (Operations) said: “Yes, you can insure it; it depends on what you want.” He decried the unethical practices between some insurance companies and federal government functionaries leading to infractions running into billions of naira. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arms deal: EFCC arrests Jonathan's spokesman, Abati Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati. Abati was quizzed by the agency over an alleged N50 million remitted to him by the Office of the then National Security Adviser (ONSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd). The money was said to be part of the $2.1 billion arms funds. New Telegraph learnt that Abati was invited by the EFCC to explain what the N50 million was meant for “since his office was on monthly imprest.”

A source in the agency said: "We are interrogating Abati over alleged curious payment of N50 million to him by ONSA under Dasuki. The cash was part of the $2.1 billion arms funds. "He is expected to explain why he collected a separate allocation from the ex-NSA when he maintained his office with a monthly imprest." Also yesterday, the EFCC quizzed a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed. Highly placed sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said Mohammed's interrogation bordered on allegations of irregular award of contracts during his tenure as FCT Minister as well as abuse of office. It would be recalled that operatives of the

anti-graft agency had, about two months ago, interrogated a director of the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Mrs. Jamila Tangaza, over alleged award of questionable contracts. "I can confirm to you that Bala Mohammed, former Minister of the FCT, is with us. "You know the EFCC has been investigating him over allegations of contract fraud and abuse of office through the allocation of plots of land to persons close to him. "There are, indeed, many petitions pending against the former minister, and the commission's probe will be thorough. "Operatives are also investigating firms and fronts he allegedly perpetrated the offences through," the source said.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comments. The arrest of Abati yesterday brought another name in the list of people arrested, quizzed or being investigated by the agency over the arms deal scandal. Currently, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is also in detention in connection with the arms fund. A former Minister of State for Defence under Jonathan, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, is also in detention at the EFCC over an alleged N4.5 billion, which was allegedly used from the funds for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections. Also being prosecuted

L-R: Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), his wife, Bolanle and wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, during the opening ceremony of the 16th National Women Conference in Lagos... yesterday

INEC accuses Jimoh Ibrahim of attempt to bribe REC Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accused Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim of attempting to compromise the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje. The commission also restated its earlier position that there was no truth in Ibrahim's allegation that its Acting Director, Legal Services, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, demanded $1 million from him to comply with court order recognising him as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ondo State governorship election. Ibrahim had, at a press conference on Sunday, alleged that Agbaje "requested to hold a meeting with him (Ibrahim) in London in the United Kingdom."

He, therefore, called for Agbaje's removal as Ondo REC as he would not conduct a credible election on November 26. But in a statement yesterday by Prince Adedeji Soyebi, National Commissioner in Charge of Publicity, INEC said Ibrahim was economical with the truth. According to the commission, it was Ibrahim, who through an intermediary, tried to arrange a meeting with the Ondo State REC in London. "This, Mr. Agbaje promptly declined and insisted that if Mr. Ibrahim wanted to see him (Agbaje), he was free to do so at the Ondo State INEC office during official hours. "Therefore, Mr. lbrahim’s allegation cannot be the correct account of what actually took place," the statement added. The commission also said there was no time when Babalola demanded $1 million bribe

from Ibrahim before she could act on Justice Okon Abang's court order. It added that preliminary investigation revealed that "Mr. Ibrahim turned up at the INEC headquarters, Abuja unannounced, made his way to Mrs. Babalola's office, brandished a copy of the court document and insisted that INEC should accept him as the official candidate of the PDP for the Ondo governorship poll. "On sighting the unexpected guest, Mrs. Babalola called three other lawyers in her department to witness her encounter with Mr. Ibrahim and politely told him that the commission was already in possession of the court document. "At no time during the encounter that lasted less than 15 minutes did Mrs. Babalola ask for $1million. "Therefore, the allegation by Mr. Ibrahim is false."

INEC noted that court orders/judgements are served by court bailiffs and not individual parties. It also added that the commission only receives nomination papers from the national chairmen of political parties or their designated officials and not aspirants. The commission assured that it will never succumb to any form of blackmail or intimidation, but will remain focused on its determination to deliver free, transparent and credible elections, based on the rule of law.

N102.78

The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) of Enugu State in March 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

$3.83m

The capital importation of the Oil & Gas sector of Nigeria in Q2 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

are service chiefs, former ministers and politicians, who have been accused of taking money from the arms funds. There is also the investigation of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, over an alleged involvement to the tune of $15 million, which was found in her account. Apart from Dasuki, other prominent figures

arrested in connection with the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal, include Chief Raymond Dokpesi, ex-minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yugudu; former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; exminister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman; ex-National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, and many others.

IMF: Delayed response by Nigeria hinders economic recovery Tony Chukwunyem

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed worry over what it described as the slow policy response of Nigeria and other oil exporting countries in Sub Saharan Africa to the economic crisis assailing the region. The Fund stated this in its October 2016 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa entitled, “Multispeed Growth” billed to be officially released today. The Fund said that the economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa in 2016 would slow to its lowest level in more than 20 years, adding that average growth in the region is projected to be just 1.4 per cent – “well below population growth, and in sharp contrast to the high growth rates of recent years.” Director, IMF’s African Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, attributed the slowdown to the slump in commodity prices, tight financing conditions coupled with the fact that the policy response in many of the countries most affected by the shocks, “has been delayed and inadequate, raising uncertainty, deterring private investment and stifling new sources of growth.” Specifically, the Fund stated: “Worryingly, in the face of strong financial and economic pressures, the policy response in many of the hardesthit countries has been slow and piecemeal, often accompanied by stopgap measures such as central bank financing and the accumulation of arrears, and leading to rapidly rising public debt. “In oil-exporting countries with flexible regimes, exchange rates have been allowed to adjust only with reluctance, resulting in strong pressures on deposits and foreign exchange reserves. As a result, the delayed adjustment and ensuing policy uncertainty have been

deterring investment and stifling new sources of growth – making a return to strong growth rates more difficult.” Although the IMF said modest pick-up in economic activity in the region was likely, it said this would depend on strong policy action being taken to tackle the problems. Indeed, calling for prompt policy action to secure a rebound in growth, the IMF said: “A sustained adjustment effort is needed, based on a comprehensive and internally consistent set of policies. This implies fully allowing the exchange rate to absorb external pressures for countries outside monetary unions, re-establishing macroeconomic stability – including by tightening monetary policy where needed to tackle sharp increases in inflation – and focusing as much as possible on growth-friendly elements of fiscal consolidation. “With limited buffers, the scope to ease the adjustment path will depend critically on the availability of new financing, ideally on concessional terms,” the Fund added. However, Mr. Selassie pointed out that not all countries were performing poorly, listing non–resource-intensive countries (such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya and Senegal) among those that continue to perform well. According to him, these countries benefit from lower oil import prices, an improved business environment, and continuous strong infrastructure investment. He predicted that growth would recover close to three per cent in 2017, stressing, “to make this happen, the hardesthit countries, especially oil exporters, need to act promptly. “Further delays in addressing the elevated macroeconomic imbalances are certain to undermine growth prospects further and delay a robust and jobrich recovery.”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

An Open Letter to President Mohammadu Buhari Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria

Dear President Buhari,

ith due respect Mr. President we the Ijaw youths are concerned with current events as concern sons and daughters of Ijaw ethnic nationality, most especially the continued harassment of the immediate past first family, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. We are watching keenly on the manner you are treating Dr. Jonathan and his family. The continued deliberate attempt to tarnish the good image of Dame Patience Jonathan is another effort to continue the elimination of Ijaw people just as it was done to late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha. Again, the recent bout surrounding the frozen of medical account belonging to the immediate past first family by the EFCC clearly shows the hatred towards Ijaw people. Furthermore, the recent statement by the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu stating that “Patience Jonathan will never go scoutfree” is inflammatory and an attempt to provoke the general Ijaw people. Such statement by the EFCC only shows that judgment is already been passed on the former first lady for an issue yet to be investigated. If the EFCC or related organization has not commenced any investigation on this matter, why should Mr. Magu make such a provocative statement against Patience Jonathan? We think that some respect ought to be given to a woman who has served her country in the capacity of a first lady. Mr. President Sir, the way this issue is being handled shows that the government has something against Mrs. Jonathan which we are yet to understand. However, you don’t need to be reminded that Mrs. Jonathan recently underwent several operations abroad with a lot of enduring pains which now requires periodic medical attention abroad. Don’t you think that treating her in such a manner could possibly increase the level of pain she is currently passing through? Well, if anything happened to her due to this unjustified trauma, the Ijaw people will never exonerate those involved. We are still in shock with the ill-treatment Chief Alamieyeseigha went through in Nigeria who on the same manner was chased to death. On this matter, should anything happened to Dame Patience Jonathan, the Ijaw people will never take it kindly. Again, we are aware of all the moves by the EFCC to deliberately investigate Mrs. Jonathan and her husband with a view of implicating and denting their good record. If this does not STOP we will have no option but to notify the World of our presence as a key factor in the Nigerian state capable of employing negative values.

It is important to note that Mrs. Jonathan who is the owner of Pafacajo Investment Limited Company (a financial institution) and owner of other business ventures is equally the wife of an assistant director of OMPADEC (now NDDC), wife of a former deputy governor of a state, wife of a governor of a state, wife of a vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wife an acting president and wife of a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. More so, been a civil servant who rose to the position of a permanent secretary should be capable of setting money aside for her medicals which is critical to her. Mr. President Sir, on this matter we expect your government to assist Mrs. Jonathan in this time of need and not to embark on a mission capable of worsening her health situation, therefore, it is imperative the government leave Mrs. Jonathan and her family in peace. The said money which is less than $9 million should not be too heavy in your eyes as this money is for the sustainability of future medical services as required. If we may ask you sir, is the government treating other former first ladies in this manner? Are other past presidents and their families or high profiled Nigerians not operating card carrying accounts abroad? Are you yourself not operating a card carrying accounts abroad for same purpose? Why is the government treating Dr. Jonathan and his family differently? What did Jonathan and his family do to warrant this level of harassment? Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who is now a statesman was a politically stable man consistently elevated from deputy governor to president in Nigeria, and should be celebrated as one of its kind in the World, and not elements of harassments from the same government he peacefully transmitted power to. Therefore, we will appreciate it if this harassment/campaign against Dr. Jonathan and his family is stopped. If Mr. President actually wants peace in the Niger Delta as claimed, then the president should treat the people of the Niger Delta and indeed the Ijaw people with the peaceful manner they deserved. In conclusion, we will like to advise that this shouldn’t be a time for unnecessary victimization but a time where your administration needs to explore all available measures of developing the nation’s economy with a sense of consultation with all relevant stakeholders focusing the best strategies of moving Nigeria forward. God bless Nigeria!!! Best regards,

Sign:

Dr. Laguo Gilbert Ph.D

National President Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Wing

Comr. Prince Okenema

National Secretary IYC Central Zone

Cc: Mr. Ibrahim Magu The chairman EFCC Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation General Babagana Monguno (rtd) The National Security Adviser

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Funds repatriation: CBN orders MTN to halt dividend payments Kunle Azeez

frica's largest telecoms firm, MTN Group, has suspended dividend payment by its Nigerian subsidiary, MTN Nigeria, over an allegation of repatriation of funds between the two countries. MTN’s action was based on a directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), asking the telecoms firm to halt disbursement of dividends to shareholders, majority of whom are based outside Nigeria. But MTN, which yesterday also intimated its shareholders of the development through the firm’s quarterly update to shareholders, however, stated that it was not guilty of the illegal repatriation charges levelled against it by the Senate. It added that the claims were unfounded and without merit. The banking watchdog had ordered the four com-

mercial banks operated by MTN to suspend dividend payout from Nigeria. The banks are Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Diamond Bank and Citi Bank. The South African telecoms firm said: “MTN Nigeria, four commercial banks, certain MTN Nigeria directors and shareholders, the Central Bank of Nigeria and others appeared before the Senate on October 20, 2016 at the outset of this investigation. “The allegations are that $13.97 billion was repatriated illegally by MTN Nigeria through its bankers. MTN Nigeria and its bankers are cooperating with the investigation with a view to resolving the matter as expeditiously as possible. “In the interim, the CBN has instructed the banks to suspend any remittance of dividends until further notice. MTN Nigeria continues to refute the allegations that MTN Nigeria had improperly repatriated funds

from Nigeria. “Consequently, MTN Nigeria will strongly defend any action that would be prejudicial to its interest. MTN Nigeria has no intention to make any dividend payments over the next six months.” It will be recalled that Senator Dino Melaye had revealed that MTN, in connivance with the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, and four commercial banks exploited the Nigerian financial system to illegally move the money

out of the country without the required authorisation through those banks. Also, the embattled telecommunications firm has revealed that its new chief executive will take over three months ahead of plan. Vodafone European boss, Rob Shuter, was due to start in July next year, but MTN said in a statement accompanying its quarterly update he would now start on March 13, 2017. South Africa-born Shuter, a banker with risk

management background, will inherit a company that is the subject of a parliamentary investigation in Nigeria on whether it unlawfully repatriated $13.97 billion between 2006 and 2016. The crux of the allegation is that MTN did not obtain certificates declaring it had invested foreign currency in Nigeria within a 24-hour deadline stipulated in a 1995 law and, therefore, the repatriation of returns on those investments was illegal. MTN this year agreed

L-R: Company Secretary, FBN Holdings Plc., Mr. Tijjani Borodo; Chairman, FBN Merchant Bank Ltd., Mallam Bello Maccido; President/ Chairman of Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Segun Ajibola and Managing Director/CEO, FBN Merchant Bank, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe, at the 2016 CIBN Investiture, in Lagos …at the weekend

Committee: Insurance of presidential fleet unclear CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

According to him, the committee had compiled some of the infractions it has discovered and forwarded it to the law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution of indicted individuals and organisations. From documents provided by the ad hoc committee, details of the insurance for 2014 and 2015 show that the gross premium invoiced (GPI) was N404,922, the premium received N323,937, commission N80,984 while the net premium was N323,937. Also, for June and September 2014, the NRC was insured by the Regency Alliance at an insured sum of N408,720 with a GDI of N1,097,669, premium received stood at N878,158 while the commission was N219,539 and net premium N878,159. The committee also queried Regency Alliance for not providing the specific sum insured for the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in January 2013 as well as the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) for January and November 2014. While taking on the Managing Director of Standard Alliance, Mr. Bode Akinboye, the committee frowned at the absence of a clear figure for the sum insured for the Presidential Air Fleet. It equally queried why the

premium received for July 2015 was higher than the sum insured. The ad hoc committee asked the managing director to explain why there was discrepancy in the premium received and the net premium for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in January 2013, saying, “the sum of N19, 484, 675 was unaccounted for”. Considering the insurance cover for the Federal Ministry of Works for May 2013, the committee noted that “the sum invoiced by the ministry does not tally with money received by the insurance company (Standard Alliance), therefore, N749,925 is outstanding.” The committee also said it was not comfortable that the same policy number was used for 17 different sums insured and premiums, adding that there is a “stark difference in gross premium invoiced despite same figure in sum insured” for motor insurance in the Federal Ministry of Works. Similarly, the ad hoc committee picked holes in the motor insurance cover provided for the Court of Appeal by the Standard Alliance, which it noted has the “same policy number and class cover, yet different figures entered for sum insured.” All the companies have been asked to return to the House next Friday to provide explanations to the queries raised by the committee.

to pay a reduced fine of N330 billion ($1.08 billion) to end a long running dispute over unregistered SIM cards in Nigeria. Meanwhile, shares in the company have fallen by more than 14 per cent to their lowest level in more than six years since the latest issue surfaced on September 27. The company reported a slight fall in third-quarter user numbers due to a weaker showing in South Africa, where it vies for market share with Vodacom and Cell C.

Corruption, a major challenge of judiciary –CJN Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday admitted that corruption was a major problem in the nation's justice sector. This was just as he inaugurated a 10-man committee to review the code of conduct for judges. The CJN, however, noted that measures were being intensified to curb the menace, which informed the unveiling of a National Judicial Policy (NJP). Speaking at the unveiling held in Abuja, the CJN said: "It would be stating the obvious to opine that the greatest single menace that challenges the justice system in Nigeria today is corruption. "This endemic vice is not peculiar to any region and ethnic group, cutting across faiths, religious denominations, levels of education and economic status. "Corruption has serious implications for both the rule of law and access to justice, and must be fought both institutionally and individually. "This is why the National Judicial Policy contains clear provisions restating the judiciary’s commitment to transparency and

accountability. "This is clearly spelt out in Paragraph 5.1 of the National Judicial Policy 2016, thus: 'the National Judicial Policy recognises that the greatest and most damaging challenge to administration of justice is corruption and that tackling this challenge must go beyond mere exhortation and sentiments. "The policy gives the legal backing for several multifaceted strategies and guidelines to be developed while the judiciary continues to walk the talk in ridding corrupt judicial officers from its ranks, strictly in accordance with due process and the rule of law." The 10-man committee is headed by a former CJN, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, while another retired justice of the Supreme Court and erstwhile Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd) is also a member. Other members of the committee include former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi; President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo; Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello; President of the Nigerian Bar

Association, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), two retired Justices of the Supreme Court, as well as a former President of the NBA, Chief Okey Wali (SAN). While inaugurating the committee, the CJN urged the members "to do all such things necessary to ensure a continuous high standard of judicial accountability and probity." He further noted that the absence of a uniformed policy guiding the conduct of judges in the past has occasioned an uneven growth of the judiciary. "Certainly, the absence of a blueprint has resulted in a demand for the transformation of the Nigerian Judiciary into a modern judicial system. "For a number of years, each jurisdiction has had to muddle along in developing core values and objectives and this has led to a mixed bag of standards and policies. "This has also been compounded by the challenging deprivations and paucity of resources, without which critical development was limited. "The National Judicial Policy is a charter of commitment to the values that elevate not only our judicial institutions, but also those who are employed by or involved in it. "The importance of the

foundational virtues of discipline, efficiency, integrity and enduring commitment are reflected in the National Judicial Policy as embodied in its first three regulations and rules of the policy," the CJN said. He also added that the policy would serve as a mechanism to facilitate a greater knowledge of the judiciary by the other arms of government. In his own address, a former CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher noted that the absence of a National Judicial Policy before now resulted in a disjointed development of the judiciary. According to him, "It is certainly time, given recent events that bring to the fore the importance of the third arm of government in the high expectation reposed in it by every Nigerian. "The National Judicial Policy provides a statement of intent that will better improve us and protect our institutions and the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary."

$201.14m

The capital importation of the Oil & Gas sector of Nigeria in Q1 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

183,047

The total number of active mobile lines Fixed Wired/Wireless of Nigeria in January 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

national | news

tuesday, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osinbajo: N' Delta peace deal crucial to 7,000 MW target

You don’t need treatment for 40 ailments, says AMRC

Abeokuta

Kunle Olayeni

ice-President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday said the restoration of peace in the Niger Delta region of the country was a necessary condition for the attainment of 7,000 megawatts target by the Federal Government. Osinbajo, who said this in his address at the 8th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment held in Abeokuta, declared that vandalism of power sector facilities must stop for the nation to experience real economic development. The four-day event, with the theme "Diversification of the Nigerian economy from over dependence on oil exports," had in attendance relevant officials from the 36 states of the federation. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gov-

21.15

ernor Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Dr Sam Egwu, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, were among the dignitaries present. The Vice President stated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to improving the nation's investment profile by developing the power sector and promoting flexible exchange rate policy. He said the government was making efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in the country and encourage local content in project conceptualisation and implementation. Osinbajo observed that stable electricity remained crucial to the attainment of sound economy for Nigeria. He said: "We are doing a lot more in the area of power. I'm sure that many of us followed in February

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Brazil in 2001. Source: Itu.int

2016, we were producing 5,000 Megawatts of power which is the highest ever in the history of the country. "But with the vandalisation of the Forcados terminal and four other export terminals, we found ourselves back to 2,500MW. But substantial investment of the power sector will certainly be a key in improving and moving forward and we are doing quite a lot in that area. "Of course, many are aware of efforts being made. There are about eight or nine transmission projects expected to be completed by 2017 and this would substantially increase our general output. "Our 7,000 megawatts target is achievable; of course a lot of this depends on peace in the Niger Delta. A lot depends on whether we are able to ensure that vandalisation stops in Niger Delta on both oil and gas facilities."

N105.54

The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) of Kano State in March 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Biodun Oyeleye

n a novel proclamation, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC), representing the 21 Royal medical colleges in the United Kingdom, UK, declared yesterday that patients don’t actually need the treatment doctors give them for some 40 ailments. News of the report immediately went viral with many seeking to know details of the recommendations that could save them huge amount in medical expenditure. For instance, the AMRC stated that chemotherapy in the final months of life for cancer patients can "do more harm than good", that wrist fractures do not need casts, X-rays do not help with lower back pain and water is just as good at cleaning wounds as saline solution. The senior medical professionals said these treatments were ineffective or of no use, according to reports in the London Evening Standard. Giving examples of such conditions, the

"Chief Executive Officer, Dreg Waters Petroleum & Logistics Ltd., Ms. Damilola Owolabi (middle), discussing with delegates at 2015 Africa Oil Week (22nd AOW) in Cape Town, South Africa"

urther hearing in the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu Nunayon (rtd) and 10 others, who were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 26-count charge of alleged N22.8billion fraud has been adjourned to Nov. 23 by Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos. The adjournment followed the conclusion of cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Mojeed Olatunji, a compliance officer with Skye bank, by the defence law-

Patient pressure or patient expectation was given as the main reason, the AMRC noted. It suggested that patients should be encouraged to ask about the risks or downsides, the possible side effects, if there are simpler or safer options, and "what will happen if I do nothing?". The advice noted that chemotherapy may be used to relieve terminal cancer symptoms but can also be painful, cannot cure the disease and may well bring further distress in the final months of life. Adrienne Betteley of Macmillan Cancer Support said: "It is vital patients are as well-informed as possible to help them make decisions around their treatment. Chemotherapy is a crucial part of cancer treatment. However, it can result in severe side effects. Therefore, it's important that health care professionals consider the full impact when delivering something so powerful. "It's also important that cancer patients are told about potential side effects, be offered a care plan, be told where to get support and know who to speak to about their worries and fears." AMRC chairman, Professor Dame Sue Bailey said: "What is important is that both doctors and patients really question whether the particular treatment is really necessary. Medicine or surgical interventions don't need to be the only solution offered by a doctor and more certainly doesn't always mean better".

N314.4m fraud: Former NIMASA DG, others opt for plea bargaining Akeem Nafiu

Court adjourns Amosu, others’ trial Judge upbraids EFCC over alleged N22.8bn fraud over Rickey Tarfa’s trial Akeem Nafiu

group said for children with chronic constipation, changes to diet and lifestyle should be considered first before medical treatment; quality tap water is just as effective for cleaning cuts as saline solution; some injuries such as hip and shoulder dislocations do not need to go under general anaesthetic to be treated, minor head injuries do not normally require imaging, among others. The report, according to the tabloid has been published as part of a campaign to reduce the number of unnecessary medical treatments provided to patients. The advice, provided by the AMRC, comes after 82 per cent of doctors said they had prescribed or carried out a treatment which they knew to be unnecessary. In an attempt to reduce "over-medicalisation", the AMRC is encouraging staff to remember "more doesn't always mean better" as part of its ‘Choosing Wisely UK’ campaign. The advice suggested that a plaster cast is not needed for some small wrist fractures in children who may find that a removable splint will help them to heal as quickly. It also stated that women over 45 do not need a blood test to diagnose menopause. It also pointed out that electronic monitoring of a baby's heart is only needed during labour if the mother has a high risk of complications and routine screening for prostate conditions does not lead to longer life and can induce unnecessary anxiety.

yers. Amosu was on June 29 arraigned alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and eight companies. The companies are: Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care. At yesterday’s proceedings, the court admitted the international passport of the witness as evidence. However, a letter written by the Economic

Foluso Ogunmodede

or the umpteenth time, the trial of Mr Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was yesterday stalled following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) inability to make necessary documents available for Tarfa’s trial. EFCC had arraigned Tarfa before the court for allegedly preventing its officers from arresting some suspects, Nadir Odeste and Gnanhoue of Rane Prestige Nigeria Ltd and Hair Prestige Nig. Ltd at the premises of the state High Court, Igbosere.

At the hearing of the matter yesterday before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, lawyer to the prosecution, Abba Mohammed, tendered before the court petition written by the prosecution witness, Awolusi Moses, intimating the Deputy Director of Operation, how the defendant allegedly prevented the arrest of the suspects. However, in his reaction, the defence counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) objected to the tendering of the document, on the grounds that it was not included in the proof of evidence filed before the court by the prosecution.

here were indications yesterday that a former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Baba Jauro and two others currently facing trial over an alleged N314.4million fraud are already in talk with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a plea bargain arrangement. This was deduced from the submissions of both the defence and EFCC lawyer at the continuation of proceedings yesterday before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos. EFCC's lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, in his response to a comment on the issue by Jauro's lawyer, Chief Babajide Koku (SAN), confirmed to the court

that the defendants had indeed approached the commission to explore the option of plea bargain. He said: “I confirm the intention of the defence to enter into a plea bargain with the prosecution.” The silk had earlier informed the court that his client had decided to enter into plea bargain with the EFCC and has already commenced discussions with regards to same. According to him, "the plea bargain decision came up yesterday morning and I discussed directly with my learned friend, prosecuting counsel.” At this juncture, the judge directed the parties to proceed with the plea bargain and ensure that the process went on without delay. “By the time you come back, you would have filed the plea bargain agreement and I would look at it and evaluate it.”

tuesday, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Website owner blackmails Otedola, Tinubu

•Suspect plants stories to get money –Police •Female lawyer loses job, marriage over ‘nude’ pictures Juliana Francis

etectives attached to the police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a 23-year-old website owner, Babatunde Oyebode, for attempting to defraud oil magnate, Sir Femi Otedola and the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu. According to the police, the suspect, Oyebode, a school certificate holder and alleged owner of a website naijagistlife.com, living at Festac Town, Lagos, was arrested after SFU received a series of petitions. One of the petitioners is Mr. Dapo Balogun, who said Oyebode posted on naijagistlife. com, a story alleging that the petitioner worked with former Petroleum Minister, Deziani Allison-Maduekwe, and that throughout that working period, he fraudulently acquired huge sums of money. Balogun told the police he received an email from the suspect, demanding millions of naira, if he wanted him to pull down the story. Balogun, who said the story by the website alleged that he looted $100 million, said it also made him a prime target for kidnappers. He stressed that several attempts had been made to abduct him. Although the suspect had a fraud case pending in court, it didn’t stop him from continuing

in his fraudulent ways. In May, Oyebode was said to have posted a defamatory story on Tinubu. He was arrested but released after he allegedly promised to pull down the story. But according to the police, the suspect tried the second time to blackmail the Oando boss. Although he claimed not to be the owner of the website, police said the money paid by some victims was traced to his account. Stating his own side of the story, Oyebode said he was framed by the owners of the website. He said that he designed the website for an unknown client, whom he only had dealings with via email. He added: “I designed websites for people and after designing the site, I included my contacts on the website to attract other customers. I was arrested through my contact displayed on naijagistlive.com.” The police said Oyebode used to send threat messages to high profile businessmen and women, demanding undisclosed sums of money or he would run damaging stories on them. Sometimes, he would demand money to pull down a damaging and fabricated story. Police added that Oyebode posted superimposed nude pictures of a female lawyer, Ivie Omoregia, and alleged that she was having an affair with her boss and other clients.

Oyebode

The ruse cost the woman her marriage and job. Oyebode allegedly said he would pull down the story and pictures only after the lawyer paid N3.5 million, but she refused, saying that the damaged had already been done. The SFU Public Relations Officer (PRO), an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr.

Lawal Audu, said: “The suspect demanded N3.5 million from the lawyer, in order to enable him pull down the provocative pictures from the site. The victim told the suspect she had no such amount of money in her account. She told police that those pictures posted on the website cost her, her job, marriage and social life. The fe-

male lawyer is among the three different persons who wrote a petition to SFU.” Audu said the suspect had three different cases pending before the police. The PRO said that the first and second case had to do with threat to life and fraud. Audu explained that on October 19, Balogun reported a case of extortion, blackmail and threat to life to SFU against Oyebode. The second petitioner is Femi Otedola, who told the police that Oyebode also posted an annoying story on the same naijagistlife.com, alleging that he had been having sex with different girls in his office. In his petition to the SFU, Otedola said the story portrayed him as an irresponsible man who cheats on his wife. He added that other parts of the story talking about his wealth, led to threat to his life by kidnappers. The police also said preliminary investigations had revealed that the suspect, in conjunction with others, were in the business of using Photoshop, an editing tool, to superimpose nude pictures of unidentified persons with high profile persons in the society. Audu said: “It was on the strength of the petition that operatives of the unit swung into action and arrested the suspect. The suspect has another fraud case pending at the Federal High Court.”

City Briefs Court remands Lagos monarch’s kidnappers Akeem Nafiu

ustice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Igbosere High Court yesterday remanded in prison custody the four people standing trial for the kidnap of Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni. The accused, Duba Furejo, Ododomo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh, were arraigned on an eight-count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder, armed robbery and kidnapping. On resumption of proceedings yesterday, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who led the prosecution team, informed the judge of

a criminal charge filed against the accused. He also expressed his readiness to proceed with their arraignment. The accused were subsequently arraigned but they all pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Attorney General then urged the court to remand them

in prison pending trial. Taiwo, in a brief ruling, remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the matter till November 4, 11 and 18 for commencement of trial. The accused, who allegedly carried out the crime on July 16, at the palace of the monarch. Suspected kidnappers of Oniba of Iba, Duba Furejo; Ododomo Isaiah; Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh, during their arraignment at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere… yesterday

Hospital detains nursing mothers over bill Ola James Warri

wo nursing mothers have been detained by a private hospital in Warri, Delta State for their inability to settle their medical bills. Investigation revealed that the women, who are now crying for help, were delivered of their babies through normal delivery, but have not been able to settle their bills. Sources said their jobless husbands had deserted them. It was learnt that one of the women lost her baby as she could not afford the needed medication for the baby while the other woman is still nurs-

ing her baby in the hospital. It was also learnt that the management of the hospital ignored the pleas from the women to allow them to go on humanitarian grounds. Although the women were not allowed to speak to the press, those close to them said they could not feed themselves and the surviving baby. The hospital located on the popular Jakpa Road in Uvwie Local Government Area was said to be generous to people in such situation, but the economic recession has affected its fortunes. Attempt to speak with the hospital’s management failed as our correspondent was not allowed into the premises.

METRO

tuesday, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

undreds of traders and market women at the popular Uselu Market on the Benin-Lagos Expressway yesterday took to the streets to protest demolition of their shops. It was learnt that the traders have earlier been asked to vacate their shops but they ignored the order and resisted the attempt to demolish the market. A policeman escaped being lynched as he was beaten black and blue by the angry protesting women and traders. The policeman was saved by the timely intervention of chiefs sent from the palace of Oba of Benin. The women had earlier resisted pleas by some anti-riot policemen as they blocked the expressway thereby caused gridlock for several hours. It was learnt that officials of the task force deployed from Egor Local Government Area, which oversees the market, yesterday morning began demolishing the temporary shops after the traders defied its order to move into the ultramodern lock-up shops it was building for them. The Eson of Uselu, Chief James Ebose, on hearing the news of traffic build up on the expressway, appealed to the protesting women to vacate the road and sheathe their swords. The women, who initially said they would block the road till 2p.m., changed their minds when they were reminded the new Oba of Benin was just a few days on the throne. Armed with various placards and weapons such as woods and sharp objects, the women blocked the expressway for over six hours, thereby preventing mo-

Market women protest demolition, block Lagos-Benin expressway

The demolished shops and market by Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo State…yesterday

torists coming into or going out of Benin. One of the women told journalists that they were made to pay N1.2 million per store allocated to them by the local government. According to her, it is too expensive for the traders, especially with the type of business most of them do on a daily basis. The spokesperson for the aggrieved women, Mrs. Cecilia Okoror, described the action of the local government as an act of wickedness considering the present economic situation in the country. She said: “Many of us took loan from

Lapo, some N30,000, some N50,000. We are selling vegetables and fruits. Is that what you will force me to pay over N1 million for a single store? I believe they should be interested in the worth of our businesses as individuals.” When contacted, the local government Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Prisca Ebvadiaro, refused to speak on the issue. She said: “I cannot speak on this. There is a committee that has been set up and as such, I cannot speak on it.” At press time, long queues of vehicles had extended to Uselu Shell from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) gate.

Members protest Assemblies of God Church crisis Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

istrict Superintendent, Nsukka District, Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Livinus Agaba, has called on members to embrace tenets of democracy to resolve crisis rocking the church. Agaba made the call at the weekend during a protest by the congregation on the streets of Nsukka, Enugu State, to kick against the crisis in the church, which has lingered for years. According to him, the leadership tussle in the church has impacted on activities in God’s vineyard. The reverend said the church should not be turned into a battle field by those who, according to him, are power drunk. Agaba added that since March 6, 2014, peace and tranquillity had eluded the church. He said: “Since the 6th of March 2014, the Assemblies of God has been passing through terrible crisis; crisis that has dragged the church to the mud and has refused to end. “Assemblies of God Nigeria has been passing through turbulence, through trouble that we never knew can ever come into a church that is well respected, even by the government because of its way of Christianity. It is a church that believes in peace, unity and love. But all of a sudden, because of quest for power, trouble came into the church

Church members during the protest

and has been lingering.” Agaba regretted that despite the peace overtures made in several quarters to resolve the crisis, some elders of the church, who knew the truth and facts of the matter, had refused to speak up, but preferred

to remain silent to enable the crisis degenerate. This was even as he said that the General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Paul Emeka, had since been absolved of any wrong doing, as alleged by a faction of the church, who

claimed he stole billions of naira belonging to the church. He said: “The Pentecostals Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) called them for peace talk, but they said no. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called them for peace talk, they said no. The Inspector General of Police asked them to go for peace talk and they also said no. When one says that one is not ready for peace talk, one wonders what one is looking for. It means that one is looking for trouble.” According to him, the General Superintendent, Emeka, is also saying that peace is essentially necessary in the church. Agaba added that his followers were also saying that they needed the general superintendent in the church to continue his services to God and humanity.

Five held for stealing N56m pharmaceutical products Taiwo Jimoh

olice in Lagos have arrested five apprentices for allegedly stealing pharmaceutical products worth N56 million at Peakins Pharmaceutical Com-

The suspects

pany in Lekki. The suspects, Emmanuel Okechukwu, Ikechukwu Orji, Chisom Azubuke, Uchechukwu Ofoepeka and Goddy Ogobi, were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Zone 2 Command at Mobolaji John-

son Estate, Lekki Phase 2. The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO) SP Muyiwa Adejobi, said on October 10, Mr. Isaac Ugwu, the chief executive officer of the pharmaceutical company, reported an alleged case of conspiracy and stealing of some products through a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) office. The petitioner, according to Adejobi, said in October, he caught one of his staff, Emmanuel Okechukwu, with a carton of Funbact A worth about N400,000 which was stolen from his warehouse.

Police kill five-year-old girl in Bayelsa

Ibrahim, IG

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

here was tension in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) allegedly shot dead a five-year-old girl and another person during a raid on cult members at Ekeki community in Yenagoa Local Government Area. The residents said though SARS officials responded to the distress calls on the cult-related violence in the area, they left two innocent persons dead and one person shot in the rib. But, according to the residents, the police were unable to arrest any member of the rival cult gangs engaged in bloody battle. It was learnt that the incident, which occurred about 4p.m. on Saturday, had thrown the residents of Ekeki and adjourning streets into panic as sounds of gunshots were heard from the SARS officials. A resident, who identified himself as Kingsley, said those killed by the police were a 30-year-old man popularly known as Inyan and a five-year-old girl, identified as Godsgift Odoku. The police shot the victims while pursuing members of a notorious cult group known as Islanders. “The cult boys came into Ekeki community about 2p.m. to bury one of their members. They were in a deadly mood and went to Yenezue-Epie with the mood. But the SARS team chased them away. “But they later re-grouped at Ekeki community and saw two girls entering the area to visit their boyfriends and they collected their mobile phones. While the girls ran away, their boyfriends called the police. One of the girls later came back with some men of SARS and while pursuing the cultists to the waterside.”

NEWS | national

tuesday, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

N145 per litre difficult to maintain, says NNPC Adeola Yusuf

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday declared that Vitol, Northwest, Petrocam and other contractors in the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) have shunned product's importation. They are maintaining that the N145 per litre price breeds difficult busi-

ness environment. Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, who declared this at the OTL downstream conference in Lagos, maintained that it is "very clear that we have issues around regulation in this country." He said: "At the bottom of all our issues is regulation and legislation. Then, you have a very difficult business environment. It is

impossible today to import products at current market price, at current forex fixed rate. "I am sure we have resolved that issue of forex and that shouldn’t be an issue. There is no way today you can take products to the retail and sell it at N145. So, if that is true, and I believe that is true because we all go to the market and we know what is going on, why can’t we sell

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

Matseri

Formerly Know and address as Aminu Muhammadu now wish to be called as Aminu Dan Dare Matseri. All former document remain valid. General public should take note.

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Igbonekwu

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Tonade

above N145? That is where the issue of regulation and legislation come in. "And I know today that it is impossible to announce tomorrow that petrol price is N150 tomorrow. This government cannot sustain it. It is unfair even to expect the government to do that today." He continued: "That is the truth. But all of us including myself, we are not ready to take

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KAMALU

AUWAL

Ayawo

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Ewewe

This is to notify that Urenuvre Colonel Odiri, Ewewe Colonel and Ewewe Colonel Odiri all refers to one and same person. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank, GTBank, First Bank and the general public should please take note.

Onah

I, formerly known as Miss Onah Gloria Ijeoma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onah Gloria Ijeoma. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Amar Bashiru now wish to be known and addressed as Auwal Bashir. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

Lot

I, formerly known as Fredick Seime and Sese Seime now wish to be known and addressed as Lot Sese. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Igboke

I, formerly known as Miss Ugwuagbowo Nkechi Emelda now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igboke Nkechi Emelda. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NIGERIAN PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS SOCIETY The General Public is hereby notified that NIGERIAN PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS SOCIETY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission,Abuja for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Professor Elsie Samaila 2. Professor Aderonke Mojisola Baiyeroju 3. Dr. Dienye Iyalla Apiafi 4. Professor Oseluese Anastasia Dawodu 5. Dr. Dupe Serifat Ademola-Popoola AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote comprehensive high quality eye care for children and adults with strabismus. 2. To promote and build up a high standard of practice of paediatric ophthalmology in Nigeria. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Barr. Olajumoke Ayano.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kofi Sera now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayawo Serah. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Ohabueyi

I, formerly known as Miss Onah Gertrude Uchenna now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ohabueyi Gertrude Uchenna. All former documents remain valid. Local Govt Service Commission, Enugu and the general public should take note.

Ugwu

I, formerly known as Olatinwo Emelda now wish to be known and addressed as Ugwu Emelda Chinonye. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Parkinson

I, formerly known as Kenigbolo Parkinson Joshua now wish to be known and addressed as Kenigbolo Parkinson. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Timi

I, formerly known as Daniel Oyinmiebi Thompson now wish to be known and addressed as Daniel Oyinmiebi Timi. All former documents remain valid. Sterling bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Oje

I, formerly known as Miss Nwagwu Nneka now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. James Nneka Oje. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as Aneke Godwin Onyeije now wish to be known and addressed as Aneke Godwin Enebechi. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Bradianwei

This is to confirm that the names Bradianwei Justus John and Justus John refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Bradianwei Justus John. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public, please take note.

Nnodim

I, formerly known as Nwosu Dorathy Nnenna now wish to be known and addressed as Nnodim Nnenna Dorathy. All former documents remain valid. Skye bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Enem

I, formerly known as Okafor Odinakachi Nkem now wish to be known and addressed as Enem Odinakachukwu Nkem Confidence. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ugwu

I, formerly known as Ugwu Frank Chinweike now wish to be known and addressed as Ugwu Levi Chinweike. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ekhosuehi

I, formerly known as Miss Utubor Obehi Tabitha now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekhosuehi Obehi Tabitha. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, Access bank Plc and the general public should take note.

that number. That is why Vitol, Northwest, Petrocam, and others are not

importing; it is not forex. We have created a niche market for the forex."

NGOs indict NJC over corruption allegations against judges Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he forum of nong ove r n m e n t a l organisations yesterday indicted the National Judicial Council (NJC) over allegations of corruption against judges. The group, at a media briefing in Abuja, said it was the inability of the NJC to deal appropriately with petitions on corruption against some judges that led to the invasion of the some judges’ homes by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The forum debunked the claims by the NJC that there were no petitions against the judges before them, as they ask for the resignation of the indicted judges for proper investigation and prosecution. According to the forum, which claims to be made up of 50 NGOs, they would be forced to mobilise Nigerians against the judges. Chairman of the forum, Wole Badmus, buttressing

his point for the call for the resignation of the judges said: “The judges have been tainted in the court of public opinion." Further, he said: “We are hereby calling on the serving judges/justices who were arrested by the DSS to immediately step down, since the conniving NJC is not willing to suspend them. Even though the arrested judges/justices have not been declared guilty by any court of law, they have been tainted in the court of public opinion and their positions are no longer tenable until they have been able to clear their names of the allegations against them. “If the affected judges/ justices fail to step down, we will mobilise Nigerians to besiege their courts until they heed the call to step down, which even their allies, the NBA as well as the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, has endorsed." “We will also embark on a peaceful demonstration in support of the battle to rid the judiciary of bad eggs."

I worked for next generation, says Jonathan Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

igeria's former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has said that while in office, he engaged himself with working for next generation to ensure Nigerian children had a promising future instead of working for the next election. He also defended his ad-

ministration’s Transformation Agenda, stressing that it was designed to engage the latent potential in the entire nation, as well as stimulate and enable higher productivity. Jonathan made the remarks yesterday in a lecture at the Oxford Union of the Oxford University in the United Kingdom, according to statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.

Minister to herdsmen: Take your cattle out of Abuja Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, yesterday called on herdsmen operating in the FCT to move their cattle out of the territory, stressing that there was no way cattle can continue to co-

correction OF NAME

UKPEBO

I have noticed that Trustfund made an error in the spelling of my middle name. I am ROY UKPEBO ILEGBODU and not ROY URPEBO ILEGBODU. Trustfund should please note and effect the correction in their records with immediate effect.

habit with the residents. The Minister gave the warning as part of efforts to stop cattle grazing in Abuja metropolis and other major access and exit highways into the city centre. He spoke when he met with members of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, FCT chapter in his office. He emphasised that for safety reasons, cattle should not roam the streets and highways of the city, saying “this is not because the government wants to prevent cattle breeders from raring cattle in the territory.

TUESDAY, octoBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo Group seeks quick resolution of PDP crisis

Politics Insinuations in Anambra State are that there is a cold war between the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi and his successor, Chief Willie Obiano on governance style. While some believe the former governor elevated governance and would not wish the tempo to drop, others are of the view that he should not distract his successor with allegations of poor performance. Johnchuks Onuanyim reports on the perspectives

y standard of governance in Nigeria, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano could be said to have performed well. Obiano, a former bank executive, who is serving his first term was brought into politics and governance by his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi. And since he climbed the saddle, he has kept his eyes on governance, avoiding politics and politicking. Obiano, was said to have inherited a strong financial state as it was reported that Obi left over N70 billion in the coffers of Anambra State. With this, some people believe that he would leverage on the achievements of the immediate past governor, and make sure that the tide of good governance is maintained in the state. Expectedly, security and other dividends of democracy have been provided and maintained. Such dividend include constant

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Nation building Southern leaders set agenda for national unity

13 16

Beyond the prudency claim

Obiano

payment of workers' salaries even at a time most states are finding it difficult to pay their workers. But, Obi’s recent appearance on "The Platform," on the Independence day, where he spoke on the culture of wastefulness by Nigerian leaders, using his eight-year stewardship in Anambra State as an example of how to curtail government expenditure is being considered a ploy to discredit Obiano's government. The former governor had used the opportunity to exonerate himself from some of the wastages characterised with most governors in their states, saying that throughout his tenure as governor, he never used outriders, bulletproof SUVs, and he ensured that he never had more than five cars in his convoy at any point in time. He added that the government house is not a place where people come to make merry and party all night, but a place reserved for the governor to work and tend the state from. He condemned the intake of expensive alcoholic beverages like champagne in most government houses, and the use of private jets by governors’ at the expense of the state. According to him, he flew economy class while he was governor to save money, regreting that governors embark on wasteful and expensive trips, which have no bearing on the development of their states. While Obi’s revelation was commended by many, some key players in his administration have come out to fault some of the issues. Apart from disagreeing with the former governor on

Obi

Those who have played their part should leave the stage for the current governor to do his job

his account of prudence while he was in office, they suggested that he was referring to the present Anambra State government led by Obiano as wasteful one. This, they consider as a campaign of calumny against the governor given that Anambra State governorship election is getting close. Ordinarily, it could be said that Obi does not to have issues with his political son that would result to a campaign of calumny, but some analysts believe that his dumping of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform through which he was elected governors for two terms, for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), could make him feel that Obiano is not doing well, and therefore should be voted out in the next election. Obi’s defection to PDP at the eve of the 2015 elections was for him to join governance at the national level since he was governor on the platform of APGA for eight years and never defected to any other party even when he was wooed. One of those who believe that the former governor was economical with the truth in his account of governance is his former Special Assistant on Inter Party Matters, Chief Ben Obi. The former aide, who also is a kinsman to the former governor, faulted some of the claims of his ex-principal raised on The Platform. Chief Obi, who spoke with journalist in Abuja, alleged that his former principal was not as prudent as he claimed. According to him, the ways his former boss ruled Anambra was very

different from what he told his audience at The Platform. His words: “Peter Obi always uses private jets to travel as often as any other state governor in Nigeria. The records are there and can be made public. He used helicopters to travel often while he was the governor and he usually travels alone or with one trusted aide. It was not a secret within the administrative circle in Awka. He flew in a helicopter, always accompanied by Valentine Obienyem, his Special Assistant on Media." On the former governor’s claim that he was never served buffet meals, he said: “Obi increased the money for his private kitchen at the government house to N2 million per month and increased the feeding for police officers attached to him to N7 million monthly, which he always pocketed. What he did was to sack all the previous cooks and butlers and employed over 30 cooks, butlers and stewards from Akwa Ibom and expanded the kitchen budget. The bills are still there. It is verifiable. The Akwa Ibom cooks and stewards were over 20. So, who were they cooking for? Prof. Emenike Obi, the Principal Secretary was withdrawing the money every month and paying it into Obi's account. It is verifiable." He also described as laughable Obi's claim of banning alcoholic drinks such as Champagne at the government house. The former aide made reference to the Squash Court located inside the government house, which was renovated by the former governor and utilised as a makeshift warehouse for alcoholic drinks among which are those from his company. He alleged that many of the contracts awarded by Obi’s government were not done prudently as claimed. “All contractors must have accounts with Fidelity Bank and all cheques were collected from his house,” he said, adding that it is not true the Obi administration was not owing any contractor as Obiano is silently paying for works done during the last administration. Chief Obi is not alone in faulting the former governor. Others who spoke on the issue faulted insinuations of bad governance against Obiano. While they acknowledged that Obi did well as governor, they said that Obiano is prudent and equally doing well. The consensus is that those who have played their part should leave the stage for the current governor to do his job and avoid being seen as trying to replicate the old tradition of former officials insisting on having their hands in the kitty.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, octoBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group seeks quick resolution of PDP crisis Stories by Babatope Okeowo

political group, Ondo Democratic Movement (ODM), yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ensure that the ruling of Justice Okon Abang instructing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute the name of Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim with that of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the Peoples Democratic Party's flagbearer in the November 26 gubernatorial does not stand. The group in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade

Ademola Blessing, said the ruling "reeks of corruption." It added that it is the height of judicial recklessness for a judge to connive with plaintiffs to impersonate defendants in a suit before him and go ahead to give a ruling against a defendant, who was not represented in court to plead his case as presented in the petition. The group stated: "We demand that the allegation contained in the PDP petitions to President Buhari and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the effect that a counsel, Mr. Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), who took the summon for the plaintiffs also later appeared for the defendants in the suit before Justice Abang to plead guilty to get a favourable ruling be probed.

"As contained in the PDP petition, an originating summon dated June 7 on behalf of the plaintiffs was written by Fakunle and taken out by the same Fakunle for the plaintiff, in the course of proceeding and Fakunle shifted position unethically to represent PDP and then conceded to the relief claimed by the plaintiff at the hearing of the originating summons." The group tasked the authorities to also investigate the submission in

ONDo DECIDES

the petition of the PDP that it found out that there was a motion on notice dated September 29 signed by one Miss Clarissa Adaugo Ebuzeme

of TRLPLAW law firm brought on behalf of the plaintiffs ostensibly for the enforcement of the ruling ofJune 29, in which the applicants sought the substitution of Eyitayo Jegede's name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim, among other reliefs. "The petitioner's claim that R A Oluyede is the proprietor and principal partner of TRLPLAW law firm which filed the application for the enforcement of the ruling of June 29 and in which

substitution of name was sought , with the submission that in the course of the proceedings that led to the judgement of June 29, R A Oluyede was never a counsel and therefore did not appear for any of the plaintiffs or the 2nd defendant, but appeared at the enforcement stage, while his firm, TRLPLAW through Clarissa Adaugo Ebuzeme appeared for the 2nd defendant to compromise the case, and should be properly investigated,” the group further stated.

Akeredolu promises to complete abandoned projects in Ondo South T he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday, promised to complete all abandoned projects initiated by the Olusegun Agagu administration in the southern district of the state. Akeredolu lamented the absence of dividend of democracy in the south senatorial district since the inception of Mimiko's administration, but assured the people that he will ensure the completion of the Alape bridge which will link Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments areas of the state. The legal luminary said his administration will take care of the interest of the southern senatorial district of the state. He also assured that his government will res-

cue the dying Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH). He spoke at Ore, Odigbo local government area of the state during the flag-off of his campaign rally. He was welcome to the commercial city by a mammoth crowd, who trooped out en mass to attend the campaign rally. The rally was attended by leaders of the party within and outside the state.The leaders include the chairman of the party in the state, Isaac Kekemeke; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Ifedayo Abegunde, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa and Mr. Donald Ojogo. Kekemeke, who also spoke at the rally, charged the people to vote en mass for the APC in the election, stressing that Ondo State cannot be left behind in the South-West.

Oke weeps over state of Ondo roads T he overnorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday gave way to tears when narrating the state of roads in Ondo East Local Government of the state. Oke wept uncontrollable at the dilapidated state of the road leading to Epe, an agrarian community in the local government, where he started his electioneering campaign for the November 26 governorship election. Oke, who wondered why Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who hailed from the area neglected the place despite its huge agricultural potential and

the role of agriculture in restoring the glory of the state, assured that the AD government, when voted into office, would redress the situation. Oke told the people that the power for the development of the state or otherwise was in their votes, urging them to cast their votes for the AD, which had been tested in the state with a lot of positive things to show for it. He implored the people to shun moneybag politicians who are out to amass wealth at the expense of the state and in return plunge it into further debts and underdevelopment.

Akeredolu

Jegede

Oke

DPP candidate warns against money politics

he governorship candidate of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Ondo State, Mrs. Olamide Falana, has urged voters to shun monetary inducement in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. Advising youths to be wary of cash and carry politicians who are ready to mortgage their future, Falana, who is one of the four female governorship candidates in the state, described inducement of voters as "Transactional Voting System," which according to her, is fast becoming a culture. She, however, blamed

votes for the highest bidder to the prevalent poverty in the society, saying: “This negative culture finds its root in the prevailing poverty of the people who have been impoverished by poor government economic policies and leadership at the various tiers of government. "Indeed, this practice is negative, totally unsustainable and evil. It is such that will ensure the people are forever at the mercy of the money-bags, whose only interest is to attain power and not the overall development of the people. "The show of wealth

equally encouraged by some political parties during party primaries goes on to tell of their readiness to buy their way to Alagbaka. The youth must realise that this political practice is indeed politics of exclusion and a deliberate plot to take leadership away from the purview of the honest, purposeful and determined youth." She urged all stakeholders to rise up to the challenge so as to stamp out monetary inducement in the forthcoming governorship election, emphasising that it is a task that must be undertaken by ev-

ery resident of the state. “I call on all well meaning indigenes of Ondo state, all religious and academic institutions as well as the traditional leaders to caution their constituents from collecting money and other incentives from political parties and politicians in exchange for their votes in the November poll. "Voters must be conscientised to use civil engagement and dialogue to demand developmental projects that are long lasting from the politicians while voting for true representation and good governance," she said.

Jegede’ll win Ondo for PDP – Olayinka Wale Elegbede

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Amos Olayinka, has said that the party will win the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State. Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Olayinka said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has exhausted its goodwill among the electorate, adding that, “the people of Ondo State won’t vote for the APC because there is much hunger in the land and Nigerians are not

happy with them.” Fielding questions on the current impasse about the candidate of the PDP for the election, the businessman cum politician said: “PDP will present a candidate because Jimoh Ibrahim and Eyitayo Jegede will soon agree among themselves who will be the party’s candidate. His words: “I think Jegede might be the best option for PDP because Jimoh Ibrahim had contested before and lost. It is better for him to just allow someone fresh with popularity to step in and win

the election for the party because we cannot afford to lose Ondo to any political party. “I am 100 per cent sure that PDP will win Ondo state with Jegede because he has the popularity needed to win an election of such magnitude even though Jimoh Ibrahim has a lot of money. Seriously, I don’t know why Jimoh Ibrahim wants to even become a governor because he has enough wealth than a governor.” Ruling out the possibility of an APC victory, the PDP chieftain said: “Except they rig the elec-

tion because that is their stock in trade, I don’t see them winning the state. In Ondo, Jegede of the PDP will win once the differences are resolved. Nigerians are so disenchanted with the APC and there is no way they will vote for them.” While urging all factions in the PDP to sheath their swords, Olayinka said: “PDP is a family and there is no way there won’t be disagreements in the family but that will not be the end of the family. All interest must come together and give Nigerians a new lease of life.”

POLITICS

TUESDAY, octoBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Forum shopping, jurisdiction, lis pendens: Lessons for Nigerian adjudicatory system C O N T I N U E D F R O M Y E S T E R D AY

Silva Opusunju Highlights of Reforms –From Convention to Regulation In terms of reforms, the Brussels 1 Regulation on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (European Council Regulation No. 44/2001, December 2000) seeks to imbibe a character of bindiness among the Contracting states, and removes the discretion inherent in the Convention. Since the binding nature means that the ECJ would exercise final authority as apex court (of appeals and interpretation), the objective becomes the promotion of uniformity on the rules of jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments among the Member states. This is accomplished by newer but more streamlined Euro-legal definitions provided in the Regulation. Both Convention and Regulation have their Articles 1 similar on the question of suing the defendant in his domicile according to the domestic laws of the Contracting states. However, and with respect to artificial persons, the change is made in Article 60 of the Regulation. Another reform ushered in by the Regulation is the determination of the place of performance of contract obligations per Article 5(1). The Regulation was explicit in setting a two stage-tests or criteria; while the Convention left the interpretation to domestic courts on the basis of Conflict of Law principles. The Convention was beset with difficulties in dealing with internet commerce (e-Commerce) and trade activities as contained in its Article 13(3) (a-b). But the Regulation addressed this shortcoming in its Article 15(1)(c) on consumer contracts, qualification and justiciability of such agreements, protecting the weaker person- the consumer. Article 15(1)(c) should be read in conjunction with Article 23 of the Regulation which seeks to protect the validity of internet contracts executed by use of email/digital signatures, the ``Ssubmit or ``I Accept’’ buttons of dialogue boxes by providing that ``…any communication by electronic means which provides a durable record of the agreement shall be the equivalent of [writing..]’’ By the combined effect of Articles 18-21 under a new Section 5 introduced in the Regulation, matters of employment contracts were given more clarity . Thus the flexibility in the Convention has been removed for a stricter provision on where an employee can be sued. The jurisdiction may be the place of his domicile in the Contracting state, where he habitually works, or the business place where his engagement is situated . Again the regulation seeks to protect the weaker party- the employee. Regulation’s Article 30 deals

Mohammed

with the question of seisn of court s. The Convention had left this to the municipal courts. A two-limb approach has been enunciated by the regime which reconciles the role of state judicial authorities and the defendant in effecting processes. This will be further explored in the text of this paper. On the crucial issue of enforcement of judgment, Article 27 of the Convention was silent on the validity of parallel judgments issued by courts of Contracting states. However, Article 34 of the Regulation now decrees that the first judgment if qualified for recognition, prevails. In addition , judgments must have regard to the public policy of Member states where the recognition is being sought. Finally, and provided in Article 43, such judgments, once given, remain sacrosanct and cannot be subjected to further questions of recognition, even though appeals are allowed. Except for this, the enforcement of judgments are automatic per the Regulation. Under Article 57 of the Convention, Contracting states may wish to be party to other international obligations on the same subjectmatter as contracted under the Convention. However the Regulation has reformed this provision, by handing over such matters to the EC (and not to the states). This is to maintain sustainability of the spirit of the Regulation on a European civil regime. The Protocol on the Convention (1971) required that only appellate courts (including the House of Lords) when sitting in that capacity can refer matters to the ECJ, where such matters are not acte clair. The Regulation in its Article 68 has changed this by providing that referrals can still be made, but only if there are no existing remedies within domestic courts. 2. Jurisdiction in the context of Brussels 1 regulation England, uses the open forum

Magu

Lugano Convention – jurisdiction arises where one of the parties is domiciled in an EEC/EFTA state

to determine questions of jurisdiction which in itself falls into two categories: common law, and statutory provisions. This means that English courts maintain minimal regard to a particularized form of theory of jurisdiction which is not under the general approach of common law. In pursuit of this, English courts will under the common law (also called traditional) jurisdiction, give consideration to the following: “(a) jurisdiction founded upon presence; (b) submission to the jurisdiction , and (c) the extended jurisdiction of the High Courts arising under RSC Ord. 11(Rules of Court). There are differences with particular reference to the Dutch and the French approaches which are mostly statute governed. However with regard to the subject-matter, the question of the exercise of civil jurisdiction can be made either through: i) common law/traditional rules - which cover those cases that were being litigated before the inception of the Brussels, the Modified or the Lugano Conventions , the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act (1982) or cases that are specifically outside the ambit of the provisions of the Conventions. The determination of jurisdiction will of course be dependent on the establishment of the considerations contained in a-c, above. ii) Brussels Convention - for those cases that are still governed by the Brussels Convention and its statute enacted in 1968 on European Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters and as may be permitted by prorogation. iii) Modified Convention- as incorporated by the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. The key element of this special Convention code is that a reference to the UK, automatically means the

particular legal system (such as those of Northern Ireland, Wales, etc) within the UK. O’Brien notes that the ``…Conventions applies to: internal cases which would otherwise be outside the Conventions… situations where the defendant is domiciled in the UK… [and] where the UK courts have exclusive jurisdiction under the Conventions’’ …in civil and commercial cases. iv) Lugano Convention – jurisdiction arises where one of the parties is domiciled in an EEC/ EFTA state, although such cases are not appealble to the ECJ, but it bears close similarity with the Brussels Convention. v) Brussels 1 Regulation on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (European Council Regulation No. 44/2001) effective from 2000. Note that all references to Convention heretofore mean the Regulation. Specifically with respect to the EC, the UK derives its powers from the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act (1968) which is itself a “mirror” of the Modified Convention. Including the Lugano Convention, four fundamental issues characterize the application of the rules and principles of the provisions of the Regulation, with respect to the question of jurisdiction. The are: i) The matter for determination by the Regulation must involve “international law” or “elements foreign to the contracting state.” ii) The matter or dispute must be within the realm of commercial law. This appear to be the most difficult to evaluate especially in view of the fact that Article 1 of the neither the Convention nor the Regulation did not specifically define the meaning of such terms as civil, commercial, revenue, customs, or administrative matters. These conflicts as to the recognition of these subject-matter in litigation, appears to have been addressed in two cases by the ECJ. In LTU v Eurocontrol , it held that disputes arising from the imposition of levies or charges by the state on foreign airlines were not commercial, but administrative law in the eyes of this Community; while in Netherlands State v Ruffer , it held same – that the discharge of a public body’s statutory duty, whether arising by indirect or consequential exercise of its mandate, is in the class of administrative and not commercial law. The matter for which jurisdiction is being sought must also not include any of the following which have been excluded by the tenor of Article 1 of the Regulation the `` …status or legal capacity of natural persons; rights in property arising out of a matrimonial relationship, will and succession; bankruptcy, proceeding relating to winding up of natural or other legal persons… social security…arbitration awards…’’ TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Aisha Buhari on my mind My Word CLEM AGUIYI totalpolitics@ymail.com 0803-474-7898 (sms only)

resident Muhammadu Buhari is not your regular politician. He is no friends with politicians either and does not pretend about it. He cannot understand why the wife or fellow party men would criticize his policies. He sees debate as an affront and therefore brooks no opposition. His disdain for opposition is even more evident in his desperation to kill PDP and decimate anyone he perceives as being opposed to his fancy corruption war, it doesn’t matter if your grouse is only limited to the strategy being deployed by his goons. He forgets that without opposition, democracy will be dead; that the beauty of the game is the cacophony of voices for and against; he fails to understand that successful political leadership requires a good dose of politics. Perhaps his lack of political finesse explains his failure with the economy, the Biafrans, Niger Deltans and the current gulf with his once vocal supporters from the South West. I also doubt if he understands those basic golden rules of politics which states: ‘do not kill, assassinate or murder your political opponent; stay clear from the spouse and children of your opponent. Every decent politician observes and lives by these golden rules. Those who don’t, end up ingloriously. If respect for the golden rules count for the current regime may be it wouldn't go against the wife of Femi Fani-Kayode and her eight months old child the way it has done or come against Mrs. Patience Jonathan when it is obvious she never held any public office. General Sani Abacha would have preserved his honour if his goons had stayed clear of Kudirat Abiola. A word is enough for the wise.

Respect for the golden rules informs my decision to always refrain from saying anything about the spouse of any opposite politician except I have something positive to say about them. On Aisha Buhari, I must confess that I never expected her to go public in voicing her frustration on the state of the nation under her husband’s watch. It requires a lot of gut and courage for her to speak out, more so when the man in charge is the love of her life. When the media promoted the highlights of the BBC interview, my first reaction was disbelief because I grew up to learn that the media hardly report any event accurately. They must add their own slant to create headlines. I only believed the Aisha interview after I watched the video clip where she revealed that the husband's government has been hijacked by some cabals who knew nothing about the promises made by APC to the masses. That’s an honest and forthright woman who wants the best for her husband. Her short but incisive interview can be surmised in her own words: “I have decided as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.” “The president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don't know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.” “Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position.” “You will know them [the people who hijacked Buhari’s government] if you watch television.” On whether the president was in charge, she said: “That is left for the people to decide.” Aisha Buhari didn’t say anything new. She said what many people have repeated over and over. The only difference is that she is the wife of the president, she is rich and comfortable and can afford to remain silent or lie low like Lai Mohammad. But she chose to be brutally frank and spoke almost the same way President Buhari had spoken when he was with the masses, not now that he has been hijacked. For speaking her mind as a citizen, the cabals

The president needs help; he needs our prayers

unleashed their propaganda machine on her. They accused her of working for the opposition. One will not be surprised if she receives the Winnie Mandela treatment as divorce has been canvassed in certain quarters. It will not be beyond the regime to unleash EFCC against her based on fictitious petitions bordering on her mismanaging her soup money or the DSS breaking into her other room in the dead of the night after which they will surface with tales of recovering some imaginary millions of dollars found either inside her soup pot or women's stuff. If Aisha Buhari could be so vilified by some men that parade as the president’s men for speaking her mind, imagine the danger faced by ordinary citizens who attempt to speak truth to power. It is indeed very sad that the government has been hijacked by some cabals, who are invoking the names of the President to intimidate judges, harass journalists and target citizens not minding that all their strong arm tactics cannot put food on the table of the people or create jobs for the millions of people without jobs. A certain Islamic cleric even went to the extent of calling for Aisha's arrest and beheading. The president himself in an effort to make light of the situation and not being a good comedian ended in a bad gaffe that didn’t just consign her in the kitchen and living room but cast her away to the other room, far away from the master bedroom. The president's statement in Germany is an insult to the women. I expect him and his party to apologize or be damned in 2019. I wish to urge President Buhari to listen to the wife and make use of her advice for she spoke the truth. He must ensure that not a single hair of hers falls to the ground. He must not in his chauvinistic pride fail to appreciate some teachable moments in the things the wife told the BBC. Some of these teachable lessons are that the country is indeed in trouble; APC as the ruling party needs to weld its unity together for the good of Nigeria. The president needs help; he needs our prayers; he needs our patience and understanding. It is in our collective interest to support him, pray for him so that God will guide him towards success and a better legacy irrespective of our divergent political views.

Madam, the cabal and other room Jones Onwuasoanya

igeria has not had a First Lady as beautiful as Aisha, at least, not in my judgement, for beauty as they say is in the eyes of the beholder. Nor in my own generation, it is not quite long I started observing these First Ladies as intently as I now do. For someone like me who likes to admire beautiful women, I have not seen any since I became conscious of my environment and the politics of my nation who is as attractive as this president’s wife. She is so beautiful that she wrote a book on beauty and runs a center where beauty is either created or enhanced! As long as I can remember, we have always had hardworking First Ladies, but never have we had First Lady who publicly disagrees with her husband on political issues, at least not to our ears or our eyes. Isn’t that how marriages should be? First Ladies come to be known to us, not because of any contracts we have with them, but for the contracts we have with their husbands. First Ladies all over the world are

usually their husband’s number one supporters and political associates. This is not to say that these First Ladies do not have areas of discord with their husbands, but because they understand the importance of bedrooms and kitchens. Not in the literal sense though. Kitchens can be the belly, while the bedroom may actually be the heart. We shall get to that as we progress. It is only an insincere person who will disagree with me that the immediate past First Lady, Patience Jonathan, contributed in no small way to the defeat of her husband in the 2015 polls. Do we talk about the embarrassment meted out to the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, which made the later begin to look elsewhere for political sojourn instead of protecting his own kith and kin? Or do we talk about the many embarrassing gaffes that gave the then opposition lots of rooms to make mincemeat of the president? Or her overbearing influence over the control of the Party’s structures that got many party members alienated and aggrieved? There are lots of reasons why the next First Lady needs to be careful or the next president needs

to be careful not to allow his First Lady get him into trouble. One of the promises made by the then presidential candidate and his party was that there will not be the office of the First Lady when they come to power. This promise was obviously predicated on the several embarrassments that the former President Goodluck Jonathan had to stomach as a result of Mama Patience’s alleged excesses. On coming to power, the president’s wife got all the perks of the office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic, but whether she had the influence the other First Ladies before her had is what few people can tell. However, the official nomenclature of her office was changed from the office of the First Lady to the office of the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Observers are still not satisfied that the president kept to his promise of not allowing the Office of the First Lady, but the Presidency thinks that the name change was enough. It is instructive to note that Mama Aisha brought a lot of positives to the presidential campaigns of the president. Her visibility during the cam-

paigns may be credited, not in small part, for the eventual victory of her husband, especially when you consider the fact that her husband had made three previous attempts at becoming Nigeria’s president through the ballots but failed to clinch majority of the votes. In 2003, 2007 and 2011, Aisha’s presence in the campaigns was not as dominant and effective as it became in 2015. No doubt, many of the women who cast their votes for Buhari in the main election did so because of Aisha. The full participation of Aisha in the campaign train humanised Buhari who was hitherto seen by not a few of Nigerians as a male chauvinist, considering where he is coming from and his history with his first wife. Aisha Buhari did not only come out to join the campaign, she led the women wing of the campaign, she brought lots of new ideas into the campaign, she inspired her fellow women to believe, she went to the streets to mobilise her fellow women and youths and convinced millions of them into believing in the ideology of change. • Onwuasoanya wrote in from Owerri.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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eam Nigeria’s poor showing at the 2016 Olympic Games which took place in Rio, Brazil was a reflection of the state of the nation in sport. Despite the dismal London 2012 outing, Nigeria again failed to make impact at the Olympiad as the country finished in the 76th position with only a bronze medal won at the games. The country’s U-23 football team that went through so much ‘pains’ in its build-up salvaged the bronze medal for Nigeria in the football event of the Rio Games. After the event, it was generally agreed that poor funding was one of the major problems that led to the poor run of Nigeria. The athletes were unable to go for a training tour contrary to the promise by the Sports Ministry duo to financial constraints. A committee set up by the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, to reform sports submitted its report shortly after the games and it was comprehensive with solutions to some of the obvious problems being faced over the years. We believe the committee, just like many other past bodies set up for similar reasons, did well. Credible sports people like Chief Segun Odegbami, Col Sam Ahmedu and Mary Onyali were in the committee headed by Godwin Kienka. The reform body noted that

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Still on sports funding sports had the capacity to create between 480 and 620 billion dollars global industry in Nigeria if the right things were done. Big business organisations should be encouraged to embrace sports and see it as a corporate social responsibility. We believe strongly in the recommendations of the reform committee on funding but, sadly, there is no hope of implementation of the report. At least, not soon. We make bold to say that there should be deliberate effort by the ministry and federation to create alternative sources to fund sports.

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

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Another case is that of Aruna Quadri who did very well for Nigeria and Africa at the Olympic Games but had to sponsor himself to the Table Tennis World Cup in Germany just a few weeks after. That was very embarrassing and so discouraging to someone who emerged as the first African to play in the last eight of the Olympics table tennis event. Sponsors should be brought back to sports. Some of them can take up full sponsorship

Sponsors should be brought back to sports

It is obvious that government cannot do it alone. Rather than learning from the mistakes that led to the poor performances at the Rio Games, we observe that the country is still matching on the same spot and there seems to be no hope of better tidings ahead. Only recently, the Nigeria Football Federation ran to the National Assembly that there was no money to prosecute the Zambia-Nigeria match that took place in Ndola. President Muhammadu Buhari had to dole out N100 million to boost the team since there was a chattered flight to ease the travelling arrangements of the Super Eagles.

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of national teams while some can help the athletes with endorsements and grants that

could boost their participation in international events. For example, the Africa Table Tennis Championship will start on October 24 in Morocco and as at October 20, the athletes were in the dark about the arrangements. This is also due to money issues as federation officials are running from pillar to post to raise funds for those who will travel from the country, while athletes abroad were asked to buy tickets on their own to Morocco. It is very disturbing that there is no budget for sports events that are duly scheduled in the calendar of the federations and the Ministry of Sports. The effect of poor fund-

ing is already manifesting. A good example is the inability of the ministry to stage a National Sports Festival since 2012 and so, for four years, little or nothing was done to get young athletes that could be superstars in years to come. Youth Games took place only recently but it did not have the same effect like the NSF. The avenue for youths to express themselves is so limited and this, we believe, is also a setback for sports development in Nigeria. Of the 36 states in the federation, 21 were absent at the youth games. Lagos was among the states that did not attend. Such event cannot be regarded as a true national competition Recession has largely affected the running of sports but we advise there should be a proper evaluation of the sector with a view to providing alternate sources of funding. It is the funding that will boost development, especially at grassroots level, where hidden talents are expected to be identified. In many parts of the world, lottery is used as a major source of funding various sports projects. Time is ripe to activate the national Lottery Fund Limited, which was originally conceived as a sports lottery. The ministry of sports should rise to optimally exploit lottery as a source of funding to ease the pains of national athletes.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, octoBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Southern leaders set agenda for national unity Leaders of the three zones of southern Nigeria – South-East, South-West and South-South recently met in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to deliberate on the way forward for Nigeria and presented what could be termed the Southern agenda for Nigeria’s unity, IGBEAKU ORJI reports

he roll call of personalities that attended the meeting underscored the weight and importance of the gathering of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. It had in attendance, first Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mabazulike Amaechi, who chaired the meeting; co-chairman and leader of the South-South, Chief Edwin Clark; co-chairman and leader of the South-Wes,t Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, represented by Senator Femi Okuroummu; former Senate President, Chief Adolph Wabara; former Anambra State governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Senator Anthony Adefuyi. Others were Iyom Josephine Anenih, General Tony Etukudo, Profs George Obiozor and Ihechukwu Madubuike, Senator Adelekan, Dr Gregory Ibe, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Hon. Tunde Akogun, Senators Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Rowland Owie, Col. Pam Oga and Chief Simon Okeke. The list is almost endless. And from the Abia state government were Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Azubuike and members of the state executive council. The three day meeting (October 17 to 19), entitled Expanded Elders/Management Committee meeting of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, took a critical look at the issues challenging the corporate existence, peace and unity of Nigeria. The 10-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting would represent the stand of Southern Nigeria on burning national issues. Governor Ikpeazu, who declared the meeting open commended the elders and leaders for coming together to unite the South and to promote the unity of Nigeria. He expressed his appreciation for the choice of Umuahia as the venue for the crucial meeting of this great body of elder statesmen and women who contributed greater part of their lives for the development and unity of Nigeria.

L-R: Iwuanyanwu, Clark, Okunrounmu, Amaechi and Ikpeazu at the event

The participants deliberated on the continuous herdsman attack on Southern Nigeria, the controversial grazing bill before the National Assembly, urgent call for restructuring the country, activities of the Niger Delta Avengers and the military presence in the Niger Delta region. Other issues discussed include the economy and options for economic cooperation and diversification by southern states and the anti-corruption war of the Muhammadu Buhari led Government. The gathering noted with dismay that the herdsmen attacks in Southern Nigeria has persisted despite repeated calls to the Federal Government to deal with the issue decisively. The southern leaders lamented that the “attacks, raping and wanton destruction of lives and property especially in Enugu and Benue states which have border with Cross River State does not make for peaceful co-existence and stability of the country.” The SNPA held that the draft ill-conceived Grazing bill, which seeks to establish grazing reserves across the states of Nigeria is not only anachronistic and antiquated, but also an unfortunate imposition of what ought to be private commercial business ventures into a national or government business.” “That the unwillingness of the Buhari administration to begin the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference is objectionable as the resolutions of that conference, if implemented will resolve the many political, socio-economic and security challenges of the nation. It described as unacceptable, the lopsided appointments into federal positions and offices, which is skewed against the people of Southern Nigeria, especially the South-East and South-South. Noting that the development is unconstitutional, it warned that such is capable of eroding the confidence of the people of the

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Southern Nigeria on the ability of the government to protect their interest. SNPA said it alarmed at the unprecedented loss in value of Naira against other major foreign currencies which has resulted in the inability of the business and manufacturing sectors to source enough foreign exchange for their operations. This development, it noted has reduced the productive capacity of the real sector leading to increased unemployment and has brought untold hardship to Nigerians, just as “the inability of many state governments to pay salaries and pensions duly has brought untold hardship to the families of hard working Nigerians. The Southern Nigerian leaders therefore resolved that Nigerians should support President Buhari’s administration in his effort to move our country forward, especially in his anticorruption efforts, war on the insurgency and his effort to revive our ailing economy. In doing this, they urge the President to respect the rule of law, the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights and the pronouncements of the courts of competent jurisdiction, adding that the war on corruption should neither be vindictive nor selective as selective justice amounts to injustice. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read in part: “That the states and National Assembly should legislate the prohibition of nomadic grazing by herdsmen and the establishment of grazing reserves and ranches with public funds. We therefore call on the National Assembly to oppose the grazing bill in both chambers. “That the Southern governors and the states Assembly of the South are advised to follow the Ekiti model of handling the herdsmen attack without rancor. “That President Buhari should respect the rule of law,

pronouncement and ruling of courts of competent jurisdiction by ensuring the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and all other prisoners of conscience, who various courts have granted bail and who have subsequently met their bail conditions. The principle of separation of power must be applied to advance our democracy and strict adherence to acceptable dignified tenets of investigation, arrest and prosecution be applied. “That the Northern Elders desist from infusing the present administration the ‘we versus them’ mentality, which is responsible for creating division and suspicion in the polity. Therefore the government should consciously ensure equitable distribution of appointments and projects. “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take positive steps to ensure the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference without further delay. As a matter of urgency, government should find solution to our infrastructural deficit, particularly electricity supply and rehabilitation of Federal roads in Southern Nigeria. “We call on the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta agitators/Avengers and the agitators for Biafra to find a peaceful resolution of their grievances rather than the current use of force. “That the fight against corruption should be total and inclusive, while prosecution, conviction and recovery of loot should be applied irrespective of status, political affiliation and ethnicity, plea bargaining should be discontinued.” The SNPA, which said that it will organise a Southern Economic Summit in collaboration with Southern governors for economic collaboration and cooperation between the states and to enhance economic diversification, opposed the proposal for sale of public assets in any guise to avoid further abuse and misappropriation.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Management Honour for 118-yr-old war veteran

Inside Abuja

News ‘One chance' robbers on the prowl'

Winning war against Fulani herdsmen? Despite the threats, public enlightenment campaigns and repeated ultimatum issued to the Fulani herdsmen in the Federal Capital Territory, the herders have refused to quit the city. YEKEEN NURUDEEN reports

Recalcitrant Abuja herdsmen Akinwunmi was driving on University of Abuja temporary campus road in Gwagwalada area of Abuja when the road was suddenly taken over by a herd of cow. "To avoid any problem, I pulled over to a side of the road but before I could realise what was

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happening, one of the cows had removed my car's side mirror," he said. But when he complained to the Fulani man controlling the animals, he got what he described as the most frightening and annoying threat of his life. "When I told him his cow broke my car's mirror, he asked me to leave the road. Even a bike man joined him to say, they will kill me and nothing will happen," said a frustrated Akinwunmi. He drove his car away quickly out of fear of the unknown with the broken side mirror. His experience in Gwagwalada is now a reflection of daily occurrence in the nation's capital where despite public outcry, Fulani herdsmen have continued to desecrate the status of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Nowhere is sacred: Fulani herdsmen take their cattle freely in the FCT, from the revered Three Arms zone to the Central Business District and residential areas, cattle grazing is a common sight. According to a resident, Chuks Emmanuel, activities of Fulani herdsmen are already a threat to the peace of the city. He lamented that besides the fear of an imminent attack from

Fulani herdsmen have continued to desecrate the status of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory

the herdsmen, roads in the city are littered with cow dungs and in some instances cars parked by roads are damaged by the cows while vehicular movement is usually obstructed by them. Yet, nobody dare to confront the herders as they move around with lethal weapons. The magnificent Abuja National Stadium has also become a grazing area for the herdsmen cattle. Though the FCT Administration has clamped down on their activities, the Fulani herdsmen are still roaming the streets of Abuja with their stocks. Minister's riot act to herdsmen Worried by the public complaints about the menace of herdsmen in the city and criticism that he has not exerted his authority as the man in charge, FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, earlier in September directed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to get rid of herdsmen involved in grazing. Describing the situation as “buzzard”, the minister equally directed the two agencies to stop hawkers selling on pedestrian bridges. This followed earlier

19 20

Cows roaming freely on Abuja streets. Inset: FCT Official impounding cows

warning to the herdsmen and sensitisation meeting with their leaders during which it was clearly noted to them that grazing is prohibited in Abuja. Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Alhaji Abubakar Sani, said the law prohibiting cattle grazing in Abuja has existed as far back as 1998. Consequently, the minister at an emergency FCT Security Committee meeting restated that grazing, begging, street hawking and commercial motorcycle remained banned in Abuja and must be enforced by the security agents. He gave directive to security operatives to arrest defaulters. The Senate's order On September 26, The Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Dino Melaye, ordered for the slaughter of any cow found loitering within the Abuja Metropolis. Melaye who gave the order at a plenary session said it became necessary to give the go ahead to kill the animals since herders have refused to yield several warnings to keep their animals out of the city. Melaye said it was obvious that the ban placed on herders was not working as such new measures needed to be adopted to serve as deterrent to errant herdsmen. He said: “Honourable Minister, Senate as an institution is not happy at how Fulani herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you have given directive against some time ago. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Inside ABUJA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abuja Int'l Trade Fair:

Exhibitors lament poor sales, attendance The 2016 Abuja International Trade Fair has come and gone but participants at that event think it was a jamboree marred by poor attendance and low patronage. CLEM KHENA- OGBENA, who was at the closing ceremony, reports

s the two-week long Abuja International Trade Fair came to a close, both the exhibitors and visitors lamented that poor sales and patronage were major challenges at the year's edition of the trade jamboree. Many came with high hopes, but little did they know that they were just building their castle in the air. They bought spaces to display their wares and products, following the massive publicity floated by the organisers, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Culture (ABUCCIMA) but it appears that their projections were far from the reality. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) which had a pavilion at the fair, however said that it was a good outing. The regulator of the telecommunications industry which held its special day at the fair, used the occasion to meet and interact with consumers of telecommunications products and services. Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the commission placed high premium on consumers' satisfaction. Danbatta, who was represented on the occasion by the NCC Head of Public Relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka, announced to the exhibitors and participants that the commission had finally found and brought the solution to the unsolicited text messages palaver. "We hope that all telecom consumers are taking advantage of the Do-Not-Disturb Code, 2442, launched by the commission, to combat the menace of unsolicited text messages. The commission has now empowered the consumers to determine which text messages to receive," he said. According to him, the service providers had been given the mandate to ensure that they would not only provide this solution to the consumers, but should also create adequate awareness so that con-

sumers could take advantage of it. A caterer, Tonia Robert, who operates a restaurant at the fair, noted that this year's fair is not like that of last year, which in her opinion, was much better. Robert, however, pointed out that the low attendance and poor sales by exhibitors at this year's fair are veritable indications that things have been very difficult for people. According to Robert, "I own and run a restaurant at the trade fair this year. I did not run any business at the trade fair last year. I came to patronise people with their products or services, but in this year's fair, things are not the same as in last year's fair. Things are very hard and difficult for people now. No sales, nothing! People are really complaining that there is no money. "Money is not there, the economy is very bad and things are expensive. There is no money to even buy those things. When you buy things in the market and bring them to the trade fair here, people keep pricing them low, and this makes the business not moving forward at all. I am going through hell now here." She stressed that this year's ABUCCIMA Trade Fair has failed to meet a lot of people's expectations, because the economy is down and the sales are down too. "The fair is very down and sales are down, according to people. The stands alone are very expensive, and we have not yet made any profit. We have not made even a quarter of what we have spent and we have not yet realised any profit. The food department side is N40,000 per space or stand. So, we could not even recover the money." A Senior Sales Officer, Erisco Foods Ltd., Mr. Chukwu Ebuka Iheanaetu, noted that the event was a bit fair. He, however, released a hard knock on ABUCCIMA for inadequate publicity about the fair which, he said, resulted in poor attendance. "The trade fair is a bit okay; the chamber did very well to put up the structures at the fair. Though the attendance is not so impressive, from what we are having so far. They should actually heed the advice to work more on the publicity to get people down here for the trade fair to meet different companies. They should just work more on the publicity." Similarly, Chukas Emeka Nde of Mekdon Global Link Ltd, dealer in fitness and gym equipment, said it is appalling that the Federal Government is no more supporting trade fairs in the country. Nde also noted that rather than growing and developing, the trade

A view of exhibition stands at the Abuja Trade Fair

We have not made even a quarter of what we have spent

fairs and exhibitions in the country are gradually dying off, as they are no longer taken seriously, while he described this year's ABUCCIMA Trade Fair as â&#x20AC;&#x153;too poor, unlike last year.â&#x20AC;? "So, the Federal Government should know what to do about it, not only talking about politics and oil. Trade fair is also a reasonable event that if the Federal Government supports it well, it can go to any length to bring foreign investors and get unemployed jobs and take away the jobless in this country," he said. Commenting on what sales are like at the ongoing fair, the Manager, Vita Foam Ltd, Chinyere Onyechechi, said this year's fair cannot be compared with the previous year. He said so many exhibitors and visitors attended last year's fair. According to her, "We can't compare this year with last year's trade fair. Like last year, we saw many people coming; they would be pricing and buying but today now, people are complaining, because the prices of the goods are high and the goods are affected by the economic recession in the country, of which everybody is aware. "Now, to even get the chemicals

to produce is a big problem; so it makes the foam to be costlier. When people come and price and you tell them the price, they tell you the price is too high. You can see for yourself now that nobody is coming. You can't even sit down because people carry their goods on their heads, but today now, we have not sold any single mattress since morning, and everybody is complaining and that is the problem we are facing right now." When Inside Abuja spoke with Mr. Olawale Jonathan Olorunmaiye, Senior Manager, Trade Facilitation and Business Support, ABUCCIMA, who responded on behalf of the chamber's directorgeneral, he refuted the claim that the publicity and awareness campaign carried out by the chamber was far from being enough. He said so much money has been spent on publicity, adding that as at the time of this interview publicity pertaining to the fair was still on going. According to Olorunmaiye, "One, you know that our jingles are still ongoing, and our girls are still sharing fliers in FCT towns and cities. Two, to create awareness, we printed banners and distributed them to people in towns and cities of the FCT."

How security guard died Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

unday Bulus was barely four weeks in the service of Proserv Nigeria Limited as a security guard to protect one of the telecommunication masts of a communication giant, Glo Nigeria, situated at Katampe Estate, Abuja when he met his sudden end. He died while trying to siphon what he was employed to guard, eyewitness told Inside Abuja. The eyewitness who declined to mention his name when Inside Abuja visited the location of the mast which was under lock and key after the incident revealed that Bulus who hailed from Nasarawa State fell inside the 5000 litres gas tank meant to power the CAT generator while attempting to use a gallon to take some gas. Though it was gathered that the company had deployed a replacement for the dead security guard, there was no one to talk to Inside Abuja at the scene . According to him, the security guard had

succeeded in filling a gallon but accidentally fell into the tank which was full of gas when he made effort to fill a second gallon. "When he fell inside the tank, there was nobody around to help him out," he said. His lifeless body, he said, was discovered in the tank three days later by an engineer assigned to carry out maintenance on the generating set. "He fell into the tank on Sunday October 16, but when the engineer came on Wednesday, October 19 to service the generator, he met the gate to the mast opened and there was no one around. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was when he looked around that he realised there was something inside the tank. He used a stick to touch it, it got broken and then used an iron rod and discovered it was a human body. So he shouted and people around came," he narrated. But Bulus swollen body could not be brought out of the tank until men of the Federal Capital Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were called. The Search and Rescue team of FEMA that retrieved the remains of the security guard

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A stir was created recently at the famous Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, when an aged man decked in quasimilitary regalia was led into the hall, in a dramatic fashion. CALEB ONWE who was there reports

Inside ABUJA

Honour for 118-yr-old war veteran

t was not completely a strange occurrence, given the fact that the event was a war veterans’ function. However, seeing an elderly man, on a green military regalia that looked like a typical relics of the Colonial era, created a palpable curiosity in the minds of participants who were already seated and waiting for the event to fully accelerate. The suspicion that permeated the atmosphere of the hall with the arrival of such a guest was however dispelled, soon as the Master of Ceremony, with a rare craftsmanship quickly introduced him as Major Clement Eze, a 118-year-old Second World War two veteran. Supplanting the earlier suspicion, was a thunderous shout of excitement that exposed the audience’s shock seeing a Nigerian that has not only cheated on death but discredited the life expectancy theory of the United Nations, which suggests that life span of an average man in Nigeria has abysmally depleted to a ridiculous figure of 50-55 years, due to the persistent harsh economic climate that is taking its toll on the populace. A scenario that initially appeared to be nerve-racking by the way the old man on green regalia walked in with his entourage, soon became a scintillating source of inspiration, after the true identity of the guest was revealed. More entertaining also was a doubtful remark by the same MC, that he has also learnt that the old veteran still ride his bicycle to demonstrate the military adrenalin that is still running down his blood stream. The doubt created in the minds

Eze (second left) receiving an XXXXXX award in Abuja

of the people by such proclamation, that a man who has gracefully crossed the 'century bridge ' could still have the mental and physical agility to be engaging in an exercise, such as riding the bicycle was cleared when Veteran Eze was given the microphone to greet the audience. He did not just demonstrate that "once a soldier is always a soldier" but with a sonorous voice sang some songs that made it clear that he actually mingled with the Colonial military regiment. Veteran Eze, reportedly born sometime in 1898, served as a soldier in Sierra Lone, South Africa, Germany and India and finally in Japan. He participated in the Second World War which ended in 1945. He was said to have been demobilided as a Lance Corporal in 1949, he was also said to have been

The veteran was flown all the way from Enugu State to Abuja to be honoured with an award as a distinguished soldier

siphoning gas in Abuja had to cut the trunk of the tank open before he could be brought out. According to the Director General of the agency, Alhaji Abbas Idris, the Search and Rescue Unit of FEMA got a distress call by 8:15a.m. on Wednesday, October 19 from the 112 Control Room. According to him, the guard was said to have been diverting diesel from a tank when he accidentally fell in and got drowned. "The diesel is meant to power the generator assigned to the Globalcom mast in case of power outage," he said in a statement. The corpse, he said, was evacuated and deposited at Asokoro General Hospital. Further findings revealed that Proserv Nigeria Limited was incorporated in November 1992 and licensed as a Private Guard Service Company in August 1993. The company commenced business in January 1993 with an authorised share capital of N10 million and a paid up capital of N4 million. Its business are static security guards system, escort and VIP protection, supply and maintenance of security/ safety equipment.

However, the company which appears to be in charge of protecting most of the Glo Masts in Abuja is finding it hard to pay salaries of its workers after 23 years of operation. A staff of the company assigned to guard another mast in the nation's capital said the company currently owes its workers three months’ salary. “If this month ends, it will be four months that they are owing us. And if they pay one month now, we don't know when the remaining one will be paid," said the security guard who did not give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the press. A security guard in Proserv receives N14,000 as monthly salary. "It was hunger that drove the boy to the act. They are owing us three months and they are paying us N14,000 as salary every month. If this month ends now, it will be four months," he said. The security guard who also lamented poor working conditions at the security outfit said he purchased torch light and sometimes padlocks to secure his duty post with his personal money.

issued a certificate of transfer back to Nigeria due to his young age; and he continued in the services till when the Nigerian Civil war broke out. Eze was said to be one of those who through sheer ingenuity manufactured the mass destructive bomb known as “ ogwunigwe” which the Biafran soldiers resorted to, during the war. The veteran was flown all the way from Enugu State to Abuja to be honoured with an award as a distinguished soldier, and also be celebrated whilst alive by the Nigeria Fallen Heroes Project, against the backdrop of what is obtained in some part of the Nigerian society, where people are only celebrated at death. He was honoured alongside other deserving individuals, said to have made contributions one way or the other in promoting the ideals of the society, as well as the cause of the fallen heroes. The Fallen Heroes Project The event that unveiled this uncommon statesman, who has gracefully crossed the century bridge, was an International Symposium on Nigeria Fallen Heroes, organised by the Nigeria Fallen Heroes Project; an event said to have been conceived and planned as a platform to raise public awareness and also muster support for a successful 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Celebration. Nigeria Fallen Heroes Project, a Public Private Partnership is collaborating with the ministry of defence, the Nigerian Legion and a consulting firm, TCL, to emphasise the essence of the sacrifices of the military in the society. According to the promoters, the organisation is a platform that seeks to garner the support of different stakeholder-blocks, whilst directing more attention towards the plights of the families of the

fallen heroes. Dr. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, the National Coordinator for the project, said that the symposium was for the purpose of creating awareness and sending signal to Nigerians, both at home and in diaspora on the need to acknowledge, remember and honour the fallen heroes, who died at various wars and conflicts. Ibe-Kalu also stressed that the project seeks to promote national participation of Nigerians and foreigners during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. He emphasided that there are several activities and programmes that have been designed to ensure that the fallen heroes families are adequately given a sense of belonging. He also noted that honouring the fallen heroes should go beyond the rituals of the 15th January ceremony, considering the enormous sacrifices that these heroes made to keep the unity and peace of Nigeria. He added that the Nigerian Fallen Heroes Project, besides giving the widows of some of the fallen heroes some level of succour by giving them grinding machines, the organisation has instituted a scholarship scheme that will give a five-year scholarship to about 101 children of these fallen heroes. Speaking further, he observed that the project is motivated by sample of world statistics which shows that over 45 million poppy was used by Britain in 2010; Canada 18 million, Australia 4 million, America over 50 million; while in Nigeria, not up to 0.001%, representing about 17,000 citizens wore the Armed Forces Remembrance emblem in 2016. Poppy is a bright red flower adopted by a Canadian doctor, Lt. Col John McCrae, after losing a friend during the first World War as symbol of remembrance. This poppy is what has become the emblem used as a symbol to remember the fallen war heroes, a ritual that has become a state function in many countries of the world. The national coordinator of the project was optimistic that with the aggressive campaign that will be embarked upon by the project team, the perceived ingratitude towards "those who died to let us live" would have been changed. One of the highlights of the symposium was the unveiling of a booklet called "The Fact Book", a book said to have been prepared to drive home to Nigerians the tradition of honouring and remembering the fallen heroes, while using the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of their loved ones. The Symposium with the “ Our Fallen Heroes: sacrifices, the challenges and our responsibilities” was attended by both serving and retired public servants, such as the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Gen. Ibrahim Haruna (rtd) who was the chairman of the occasion.

INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘One chance' robbers on the prowl' Fraudsters posing as commercial taxi drivers have been operating on Abuja roads for several years. The mobile thieves and their accomplices have robbed many commuters, but many of them have been caught by security agencies. RUTH MONDAY reports on their tricks

he acclaimed beauty of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not only based on its architectural aesthetic, but also on relative security which residents enjoy. However, some of the attractions that make Abuja a dream city to many people, including security of lives and valuables are gradually disappearing. The city may not have been free from some crimes that are associated with metropolitan cities of its rank, but the crime rate of the FCT has remained low compared to other places. It appears that the present economic hardship in the country is increasing the propensity of crimes that lately have been making the residents of the FCT to readjust their safety belt. Recently, the gang of robbers known as 'one chance' have increased their rampaging within the city and many unsuspecting residents have fallen victims. The way and manner that these criminals operate calls for caution, especially for those who depend on cabs for the running of their daily businesses in the city. One of the victims has warned that anybody must board the taxi, more especially those that pick multiple passengers known "as along", taxis needs to apply caution in order to avoid falling victim of these fraudsters. Just when residents thought that the heat of "one chance" has gone down, the scary and frightening situation has revisited the nation’s capital. Robbers in form of taxi drivers still use the kabu kabu method of picking passengers to rob them of their money and other valuables. These robbers don’t just operate in the night but also in the broad daylight with so many techniques that keep making people

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

“From now, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre and let them pay a fine of N50,000 per cow or both. This order must be carried out.” The committee chairman told Bello, during an interactive session in the Senate that members of the committee were unhappy with the poor sanitary condition of the once beautiful city. FCTA prosecutes 16 herdsmen In what has appeared as giving bite to the threat by the minister against grazing in Abuja, the FCTA prosecuted 16 herdsmen, while 36 cows and 38 sheep grazed in the FCT have been impounded. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Mohammed Hazat Sule, revealed that 16 herdsmen were arraigned and convicted before the Sanitation Mobile Court. The statement said AEPB and the Task Team tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibit to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.

FCT Minister, Muhammedu Bello

vulnerable. These robbers operate in gang; the driver, and the remaining at the back and front seat looking for passengers to pick up by the road side. Familiar trick Most times, this is how it goes: They pick up a passenger at a point and one member of the gang posing as a passenger will request to drop, then he clears and let everyone know that he can't drop simply because he has foreign currency in the boot and his taking him to the police. The other gang members knowing the game will beg on his behalf and suggest that the money be shared among them. At this point, if you agree to share the money with them, one loses his senses and anything they demand, one will give it freely. The non-painted taxi was known for this nefarious act but recently it seems like the painted green and white Abuja colour has joined in the business. New approach Inside Abuja gathered that one chance has developed new tactics of defrauding people since everyone is familiar with the old one. Most of the victims of these attacks are women and Abuja residents who board public transport on a daily basis.

IG, Ibrahim

Popular bus stop in Abuja where these robbers are found, are places like the area three junction, Wuse /Berger junction to mention but a few. Inside Abuja’s reporter took a tour to some major parks and actually found out that some women have experienced this ugly incidence. Nkoli Okafor told a story of her sister who fell into the hands of these fraudsters. Nkoli said her sister, a student of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), was duped of her school fee on her way to the bank. “They have picked her up from Berger junction with three other people in the taxi not knowing they were robbers. She greeted them and they answered only for her to find out a few minutes later that she has entered one chance. "One of them said he wanted to alight at a bus stop, but the driver refused on the ground that the passenger has foreign currency in the booth. The passenger started shedding tears. She was about to believe that there is really dollar in the booth only for one of them to say let's share the money instead of going to the police. She demanded to see the dollar and before my sister knew it, she opened her bag and gave them her school fee. It was when she got to the destination that she knew that something went wrong,” Nkoli told New Telegraph.

Winning war against Fulani herdsmen? The exercise followed the directive of the minister to AEPB and the FCT Task Team on Environment to stop forthwith the grazing of cattle within Abuja metropolis. "Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they have paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with strong warning to desist from doing same. The exercise is a continuous one," Sule said in the statement Not a flash in the pan But for Akinwunmi and Chucks, the arrest and prosecution of the herders could just be a flash in the pan as the FCTA like all other governments in the country lack continuity. They argued that the enforcement of the ban on grazing, arrest and prosecu-

tion would soon die a natural death. "Yes, they have arrested some of them and charged them to court, but you know our government doesn't continue with policies. We will be happy if this is not just to score some political points," Akinwunmi said. According to Chucks, the FCTA would win the confidence of residents if the clampdown can be sustained and herdsmen were totally barred from entering the city centre. While reacting to whether or not the administration can keep up with the tempo, the minister’s media aide said the authority is committed to enforcing the ban against grazing in Abuja city centre. "The exercise is being vigorously pursued. In order to consolidate on the enforcement, the FCTA through AEPB has been meeting with Fulani elders also

Another respondent who decided to interfere in the conversation, was of the opinion that the robbers work with charm. "If they are arguing and you interfere, you automatically lose your senses and do whatever they demand,” she stated. Another one chance incident involved a lady who came out from a Plaza in Area 3 where she had gone to use the ATM. Coming out of the plaza, she boarded a painted taxi not knowing that both the driver and the passenger are robbers and belong to the same gang. Luckily for her, she ran out of the cab leaving her bag when she suspected foul play. Another taxi pursued the robbers who in turn threw out the lady’s bag after they had emptied the content. Another victim, Mr. Tunde Oladeji said he boarded taxi to Kubwa about 8p.m. after work on a Tuesday. According to him, as he approached the taxi, the driver turned on the inner light as usual. He said when they got to a lonely road, suddenly another passenger from the back put small bread knife on his neck, collected his phone and envelope, then kicked him out of the car. Oladeji recalled that nobody was at the back seat when he entered the cab, so it was possible that the man that attacked him came from the booth. "I guess Abuja green cab booths are linked to the seat," he said. Mr. Bala, a road transport worker in the Area One, told Inside Abuja that the NURTW said most of the criminal activities are being carried out by those who do not use the park. Bala also said that most passengers do not like boarding a taxi at the park because they don't have the patience to wait. "If a passenger forgets valuable items like phone in a car boarded at the park, we can trace the car and return it to the person," he said. The issue of one chance is really alarming and should be looked into, sometimes one can't suspect their movement, most of the time a woman can be a member of the gang which will make a passenger feel more comfortable. Another woman who boarded a taxi on a Sunday morning after church service said: "In the cab, we were about four. A woman was sitting close to me after a while the driver started driving to a very rough road and I asked why he was taking the road. He said he wanted to bypass the traffic. Before I could tell him to drop me the woman beside me held my neck so tight the other person collected my phone and what was on me," she said.

known as Ardo. The administration has reiterated the need for them to understand and obey the law that bans grazing in the FCT. “The ban will be sustained; enforcement will be sustained vigorously. As more arrests are made, prosecution would also be carried out," he told New Telegraph. He was, however, quick to add that the administration was not against anyone who wants to go into animal husbandry. The minister's spokesman said a 100 hectares of land in Paikonkoro Grazing Reserve under Gwagwalada Area Council is available for anyone who is interested in that sector of agriculture. The grazing reserve, he explained, is vast that can accommodate all herders without encroachment or clash with either farmers or villagers. "This grazing reserve is under the Agric Secretariat. Recently, some of their staff went into the bush there for inoculation of their animals. It is an existing facility and has some Fulani herdsmen there already," he said.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Olodo Road after Monatan in Ibadan PHOTOS: SOLA ADEYEMO

Oyo roads: Motorists groan, police, robbers grin

n Oyo State, the deplorable state of many roads is now a source of worry to the residents contrary to the pre-2015 election period. Owing to the economic recession in the country, the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has, since his second term victory about 18 months ago, not been able to construct more roads like he did in his first term, neither has repair work on the dilapidated roads across the state been appropriately attended to in line with the expectations of the electorate. Many residents, as well as those who traverse Ibadan, the state capital, to Ile-Ife in Osun State or to Ondo State, have always had a hectic time at Alakia

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

In Oyo State, it is different strokes for different folks. While motorists bemoan hours spent in bad road-induced gridlock, policemen and robbers are happy, reports SOLA ADEYEMO area of Ibadan in Egbeda Local Government Area of the state. Though it is a federal road, many motorists who spend hours on the bad section of that road believe it is more of the responsibility of the state government than the Federal Government. A traveller, who recently spent about two hours within a distance of less than a kilometre, wondered what Ajimobi was doing in the state. “What is Ajimobi doing in this state for God’s sake? I spent less than two hours from Lagos to Ibadan, and at Alakia here, I have spent over two hours for a distance of less than a kilometre. The road is just too bad and the government cannot find something to do to this. This is the negative effect of second term in office. Oyo State people should have been wiser. This is indeed too bad! What a menace?” he said. Many residents of Akobo area of Olorunda, as well as those of Ologuneru at Iddo in the Iddo Local Government Area of Ibadan, which is on the outskirts of the Ibadan metropolis, now regulate the time they go out and come in. This is to avoid the usual traffic

Many thieves and robbers are arrested at such checkpoints

snarls which they experience on a daily basis. “If you don’t leave your home as early as 5:30a.m. or 6a.m., you won't get to your office or place of work at the right time. If you are returning from your place of work, you had better make it before 5p.m. or rather wait outside till about 9p.m., otherwise you will put yourself in untold agony. This is as a result of the bad roads leading to these communities,” a distraught resident of Ologuneru told New Telegraph. Much as many motorists and residents complain and blame the state government for the poor state of the roads, policemen in the state are cashing in on the situation to make money. They have turned the failed sections of the roads to checkpoints. Different strokes for different folks, one would say. Interestingly, it is not only the police that would pray that such sections of the roads are not mended; bandits, especially those loitering at bus stops pretending to be commuters, also cash in on the opportunity to rob. While the police choose to position themselves close to

the bad sections of the roads at different times of the day, morning, afternoon and night, to check the particulars as well as 'party kolas' of motorists, robbers also stay there because motorists would automatically slow down there. Policemen have extorted many motorists in the name of not having complete vehicle particulars, while those who do not obtain vehicle particulars have been arrested and forced to pay. But on the positive side, many thieves and robbers are arrested at such checkpoints when they are forced to slow down. Also, many stolen vehicles have been recovered through this, as parades of suspects by police at the Eleyele Police Headquarters have shown on many occasions. At Motunde area of Iroko between Akinyele and Fiditi towns on the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, no motorist would have an unhindered journey from Oyo town straight to Ibadan as he would have to slow down considerably to avoid running into the potholes caused by erosion. On many occasions, at any time of the day, regular policemen and Mobile policemen do CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

FEATURES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

mount checkpoints at Motunde village. A similar thing is obtainable at Eleekara Market area of Oyo town, close to Ilora in Afijio Local Government Area of the ancient town where the road has been damaged by erosion. Any motorist going to Oyo from Ibadan would have seen the men in uniform from afar flagging down vehicles, asking some to pull over. No motorist, however expert, could beat the security men because the road is so bad and articulated vehicles, otherwise called trailers usually form a long line during stop-over on their way to the North. Aside the expressway, many roads in the hinterland, as well as in the metropolis also serve as haven for the police and armed robbers, to the detriment of many innocent motorists. At Omowumi area of Olorunsogo, near the Olorunsogo flyover on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the short route leading to the flyover from Iwo Road is so bad that motorists would always have to ‘crawl’. In the middle of the route are always policemen who always prey on motorists trying to link Orita Aperin, as well as those trying to meander their way to the Olunloyo/ Amuloko axis through the flyover. Similarly, a bad section of the road close to Ariyo Bridge at Olunloyo community on Amuloko-Akanran Road in Ona Ara Local Government Area is another haven for the police to make money from motorists. Also, at night, many motorists are usually robbed by the miscreants who ride on motorcycles and snatch valuables from vehicles. Recently, a motorist was robbed at that failed section of the road. One of the thieves on motorcycle drew the driver’s attention that one of his tyres had a problem. While the motorist was trying to see what happened to the tyre, the thief ’s accomplice, who had already positioned himself on the side of the car, swiftly removed the driver’s bag containing his laptop and other valuables. The bag was on the back seat of the car. Before the driver detected what had happened to him, the thieves had disappeared. The bad roads, coupled with police checkpoints at such bad spots, have continued to be a thorn in the flesh of many motorists, who are trapped for several hours whenever the police are collecting ‘tolls’ while checking vehicle particulars. Commercial bus, cab and tricycle operators have been so much used to this ugly system that many of them flout traffic regulations and cause traffic jam for many road users with impunity. Policemen at the checkpoints would not punish these errant commercial drivers since they would hand out the 'expected,' as soon as they wriggle their way to where the policemen are stationed. A motorist, who identified himself simply as Mr. Ikumapayi, said the level of frustration of many people as a result of the bad roads was unimaginable. “Aside the flood which takes over this road and the Ariyo Bridge whenever it rains, thus causing gridlock, the menace of the bad road, coupled with the activities of policemen who also hinder free flow of traffic in the name of ‘checking,’ is irritating. Sometimes, I spend over an hour in the traffic snarl which extends from Jegede area to Ariyo, a distance of about two kilometres. “Governor Ajimobi should quick-

Oyo roads of agony

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ariyo area in Ibadan

Oki-Orogbangba Bridge in Lagelu Local Government Area

ly fix this section of the road to save us from this undeserved agony. If the road is smooth, I believe the police would not make that area a traditional checkpoint where they disturb motorists every day,” Ikumapayi said. A female trader, Mama Idia, recently fell down from a commercial motorcycle in the rain because of the recklessness on the part of commercial bus drivers coupled with the potholes. “May God deliver us from this suffering. All the roads have gone bad and the government has refused to mend them. If the road is okay, these drivers would not turn the road to this mess, leading to this accident,” she fumed. Asked for his comment on the deplorable state of many of the roads in the state and the menace

the roads are causing the people, one of the Media Assistants to the governor, Mr Wale Sadiq, said government was mindful of such roads. He said: “I know the state of the road presently, and we are going to work on it soon. The local government chairman did some work on that section of the road at Ariyo about two months ago when rain wreaked havoc on the area. I'm going to inform the necessary people and that place is going to be fixed soon, I promise you. The government is poised to attend to the roads.” The Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Mr. Yomi Layinka, also gave the assurance that in the next four weeks, government would embark on massive rehabilitation of many of the roads complained about. He said: “The government is

aware of such roads, but dwindling allocation is the cause of delay. We also pass through the roads as a matter of fact and we see them. But the governorhas just appointed a special assistant on infrastructure. He is a seasoned technocrat who will soon commence aggressive work. “We have not started the rehabilitation because of the raining season we are in now. Once the rain stops in about three to four weeks, we are going to commence fixing of the bad roads. People should please bear with us.” A police officer, who pleaded anonymity, responded to the observation that the use of pothole-ridden sections of the road as checkpoints was unwholesome because it appeared they are encouraging government not to fix the roads. He said: “How does our operation affect government's performance on maintenance of roads? Many Nigerians love to run away from their responsibilities, and would not want to do the right thing unless forced to do so. If you see any of our men at such points, it is to ensure that they make disobedient road users comply with road traffic regulations, including possession of relevant vehicle particulars and curb crimes. “If I may tell you, many of the stolen vehicles we do recover and armed robbers nabbed, are usually tracked down at such checkpoints because their drivers would be forced to slow down for our checking. Ironically, if the roads were to be smooth, many of such car thieves would escape arrest, unless we are on special stopand-search assignment. So, the exercise has its benefits, although like you said, anybody could ordinarily think that we are cashing in on the deplorable condition of the roads to carry out our duty. “After all, if you don't contravene any law, you are not delayed, but simply allowed to carry on. So, using such points with boreholes to check motorists is just a security strategy,” the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) explained.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes & Property

Business FORECAST The Energy Information Administration (EIA) and others forecast oil prices to be around $60 by September 2017

Developers fret over exodus of foreign artisans

Aviation Boeing, Airbus for African market

27 29

Nigeria’s oil drilling dips as IOCs cancel $20bn contracts

Adeola Yusuf

ver 110 contracts worth $20 billion have been cancelled in the past two years a period oil drilling in Nigeria touched its lowest ebb. A RigOutlook document sighted by New Telegraph, said that offshore rig market is currently in its worst slump since the mid-1980s. Offshore drilling in Nigeria and many parts of the world are already in tight position, the document revealed. New Telegraph had earlier reported the lull in investments for oil exploration and drilling in Nigeria, a situation analysts blamed on foot-dragging in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the price rout rocking the global oil industry. Meanwhile, hope of early recovery for offshore drilling appeared dimmed at the weekend. The RigOutlook document showed that the current oil price of $50 per barrel is still low for some offshore drilling contracts. The drilling is dependent on the price of oil; the current price of Brent crude has risen to around $50 after bottoming out at just under $30 a barrel earlier in 2016, according to the October 2016 issue of RigOutlook. Since September 2014, when the current downturn began,

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

L-R: Group Executive, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Mr. Patrick Akinwutan; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Charles Kie and Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Mr. Ade Adeyemi, at Ecobank Africa’s biggest digital launch in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

utilisation worldwide had fallen by around 20 per cent, day rates had followed, with new fixtures, contract extensions and rate adjustments falling by as much as 50 per cent. The EIA and others forecast oil prices to be around $60 by September 2017, which is generally considered the price necessary to spur an increase in offshore drilling. Whether higher prices can be sustained, however, is another question, as energy demand in some parts of the world is declining. The offshore rig market is currently in its worst slump since the mid-1980s, according to the October 2016 issue of RigOutlook. Rig attrition, which the entire industry says must occur, has increased, but nowhere near the pace that most believe is necessary

to help rig supply and demand balance. As for new rig construction, the industry finds itself once again in an overbuilding situation. As of October 2016, there were 143 jack ups, semisubmersibles (semis) and drill ships on order or under construction (not including the 29 rigs for Brazil’s operations) – far more than rig demand can absorb. Construction on many rigs has been completed, but owners have made deals with the shipyards to delay delivery and avoid final balloon payments. Currently, only 17 of the 143 units have contracts in place. During the one-year forecast term, there are still 100 rigs with “official” delivery dates through September 2017, but the report details that only a very small percentage of those units will actually be delivered. In addition, rig owners have yet to demonstrate they can

INFLATION RATE Sept 2016 ..............................17.9% August 2016 ...........................17.6% July 2016...............................17.1%

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

Dayo Ayeyemi Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

EXCHANGE RATE

WHAT'S NEW

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market August 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N456 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N545 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N495

l Foreign Reserves – $23.901bn as at 20/10/2016

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

The cumulative loss Nigeria risks in 10 years due to dearth of investment in exploration

Rates Dashboard

Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf

$185 billion

maintain high attrition rates for any sustained period. In 2016, for instance, 30 rigs retired in the first six months of 2016 – an average of five per month – but between July and September just seven units were removed from service, an average of just 2.3 per month. Rig owners say they have to space their retirements out due to accounting and other financial consequences, but the bottom line is that many of these older, cold stacked rigs will never return to service and will ultimately be retired. The only question is in what time frame will rig owners take them out? During the one-year RigOutlook forecast period, it is projected that between 50 and 75 rigs will be removed from service. Should rig owners actually undertake the kind of attrition they all say is necessary? Those numbers may actually be low; however, as stated,

(Interbank as at August 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N316 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N374 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N335

Source: CBN

Recession: Incomes from C of O, Governor’s Consent fall

African airlines race towards single sky pact

p.24

BUSINESS |NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Recession: Incomes from C of O, Governor’s Consent fall CASH COW Lagos raked in N3.I billion from applications for Governor’s Consent in the first quarter of 2016

Dayo Ayeyemi

overnment’s revenue generation from land transactions is dwindling by the day due to the ongoing economic hardship in the country, New Telegraph has learnt. Permanent Secretary, Lagos’ Land Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, who confirmed this development, said there had been a slowdown in number of land transactions from individuals, investors and institutions applying for Governor’s Consent and Certificates and Occupancy (Cs-of O). Blaming the scenario on the current downturn in the economy, Agoro noted that various taxes from applications for Governor’s Consent and issuance of C of O were the highest revenue generating channels for the bureau. He said: “Presently, we have seen a slowdown in transactions. Our Governor’s Consent is the highest revenue generation area of the bureau, but we have seen a reduction in the number of transactions by people.” Before the recession, Agoro disclosed that the bureau used to record about 500 applications for Governor’s Consent in a month but that the figure has reduced to between 250 and 300 due to the slump. “This shows that people are no longer transacting business as before. Recession is affecting our transactions,” he said.

Nigeria’s oil exploration falls as IOCs cancel $20bn contracts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

the evidence supporting that level of attrition occurring does not exist. Rig day rates have reached or fallen below operating costs for some rig types in a few regions; so, Rigzone’s Data Service does not anticipate any further deterioration for those rigs. However, there are still many rigs operating at the high rates negotiated in 2011 to 2013 and those will have to be adjusted or the rig owner could face contract termination. In other instances, rigs that have already undergone rate cuts could see further reductions, likely nearing breakeven levels.

On how to rejig the situation for better business transactions, the permanent secretary disclosed that his ministry had been concentrating on speeding up the process of granting Governor’s Consent and C of O so that people get their documents fast. He expressed optimism that the processes being put in place to ensure fast and seamless business dealings would attract more customers to the bureau. To ensure speedy issuance of C of O, he said the state had fully embraced the

E-Survey project, a digital electronic format in the production of survey plans, adding that 1,043 e-survey plans were produced within a very short time. These survey plans, he explained, has been used for production of the e-C of O. The bureau generated N3.14 billion as revenue from applications for issuance of C of O, while N3.17 billion was realised from Governor’s Consent between January and April 2016. The land bureau boss disclosed that the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi

Ambode, had issued over 5,500 Cs of O in the last one year. In order to stimulate development within the state and nation’s economy, Agoro tasked allottees of land in the government’s residential schemes in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki phase 1 and 11 and Abijo to take physical possession and fully develop plots allocated to them. He said: “The government is seeking your cooperation to discourage the spate of vacant and underdeveloped parcels of land in our megacity, which constitutes security challenges and a blight on the

cityscape.” He also disclosed that some new residential schemes would be unveiled in the state soon by Governor Ambode, explaining that the new schemes were being designed uniquely and managed with quality infrastructure to show government’s determination and willingness to provide sustainable proper ty investment and renewed integrity. “They are carefully selected to ensure that allottees live in a habitable, safe, serene and peaceful environment,” he said.

L-R: Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Uche Olowu; Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha; President/ Chairman of Council, CIBN, Prof. Segun Ajibola; Managing Director/CEO, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)/ honorary Fellow, CIBN, Mr. Ahmed Kuru and former Central Bank Governor, Dr. Joseph Sanusi, during the 2016 CIBN Investiture in Lagos.

DESPERATION 18 African countries including Nigeria have ratified the Yamoussoukro Decision

Wole Shadare

frican airlines are racing to ratify a decade and half old agreement that seeks to promote the indigenisation and liberalisation of African skies in terms of capacity, access, frequency and tariffs in order to produce connectivity within the continent. To date, 18 African countries including Nigeria, have ratified the Yamoussoukro Decision, which states that liberalisation of international air markets could see Africa growing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while increasing the number of passengers for the airlines. To seek solution to the problem, Airlines from Southern Africa under the aegis of Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) called for single sky for Africa, which it said would see a combination of more flights and bigger aircraft operating in the continent’s skies.

African airlines race towards single sky pact Chief Executive Officer of AASA, Chris Zweigenthal, stated this at the industry body’s annual General Assembly, held last weekend in Swakopmund, Namibia, where governments, regulatory authorities and industry partners met to discuss the ramifications of a newly – approved global carbon offset mechanism for international aviation, which is to be implemented worldwide. A for mer Managing Director of IRS Airlines, Yemi Dada, said promoting internal air links could reap huge economic rewards, such as more trade between African countries and other parts of the world, as well as a reduction in the expensive transport costs with which African businesses are saddled at present. He stated that the growing affluence across Africa had created greater demand for air travel, adding that by 2034, eight of the 10 fastest growing aviation markets would be in Africa, while nearly 300 million passengers would travel to and from African destinations. Much of this growth is expected in routes within the continent. He stated that African airlines could take advantage

of emerging middle classes and Asian links, but needed to enact a longstanding agreement between 44 African governments, known as the Yamoussoukro Decision that would enable airspace to be shared without the imposition of fees. “One of the ways African airlines can have an advantage is the ability to go with the Yamoussoukro Decision of African ministers to liberalise air space in Africa, which would allow them to coordinate (flights between) African cities and bring them together in a hub and spoke manner.” Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the clearing house for over 270 airlines, bemoaned the slow march of progress towards implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision. The benefits, IATA said have not been realised, just as it estimated that liberalising African airspace in 12 countries could create more than 150,000 jobs and add $1.3billion (£872million) to the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP) by encouraging tourism. There is a growing belief that tourism can bolster

African economies and that improved air networks will encourage more travellers to visit the continent. In 2015, more than 50 million tourists travelled to Africa, making it one of the world’s most popular regions. This number is expected to increase further this year. For the first time, African airport operators now boast of a better safety record than the world average, allaying fears that have plagued the continent’s aviation industry for decades. Experts believe that what Africa needs to do, going forward, is to intensify the regulatory oversight, especially in the area of general aviation. IATA remains optimistic that African skies will open up, stressing that what the western aviation companies cannot do, the African companies can do – if they fully liberalise the air space in Africa. “So you will find an Arik airplane bringing people from Sierra Leone, from Liberia, from The Gambia, and being able to pool them together in Lagos or Abuja for on-wards flights. African airlines can do more if we work towards the liberalisation of air space”, Dada added.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

xxonMobil, world’s biggest oil company, last Wednesday officially exited Nigeria’s downstream sector with the outright sale of its 60 per cent stake in Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) to indigenous firm, NIPCO Plc. The company, which doubles as the second biggest oil firm in Nigeria in terms of assets and production, confirmed the move in a statement. This major move, seen as a breakthrough for the deregulation of the downstream and for Nigeria’s local content, has however, set tongues wagging. ExxonMobil’s statement ExxonMobil was the first to go to town with news of its assets sale to NIPCO Plc. Basking in the euphoria of what it described as its emergence through professionalism and expertise in running the downstream among its peers, ExxonMobil said that it carefully evaluated opportunities across a wide range of market conditions and only advanced projects generating long-term shareholder value. “Following these assessments, we sometimes find that it makes greater business sense to divest when the businesses are estimated to have higher value to others. This decision is in no way a reflection of our view on the local business climate, financial results or the workforce,” the company said. NIPCO concurs NIPCO Plc, an indigenous Nigerian downstream oil and gas company, concurred with ExxonMobil’s submission. It added by announcing the acquisition of 60 per cent stake in MON, which it described as a leading downstream player of high repute. The acquisition, Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, Venkataraman Venkatapathy, told New Telegraph, was agreed with the execution of a Sales and Purchase Agreement with ExxonMobil. “With the signing, we will start the transition period and initiate the process of obtaining regulatory approvals from the requisite federal agencies – the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),” he said at a press briefing, adding that the transition period “will also enable NIPCO to effectively manage a smooth and successful completion of the transaction.” According to the NIPCO boss, the leading indigenous downstream firm considers this acquisition an important synergy. “It is part of our strategic move to support NIPCO’s continuous growth and expansion of its Nigerian retail footprint. We are confident of adding tremendous value to MON and likewise MON will add a huge value to NIPCO,” he said. Value addition In furtherance of this value addition, NIPCO, Venkatapathy said, would continue to maintain the Mobil brand on its retail outlets as well as continue to blend and sell the Mobil brand of lubricants under branding licence(s) from ExxonMobil. He said: “NIPCO wishes to ex-

ENERGY

NIPCO gas plant and ExxonMobil headquarters in Lagos

Another look at ExxonMobil, NIPCO’s deal The exit of ExxonMobil from Nigeria’s downstream sector has set tongues wagging. In this report, ADEOLA YUSUF looks at how NIPCO Plc, an indigenous firm, will contend with the reality of its emergence as winner of the multi-national’s assets. press its profound gratitude and appreciation to ExxonMobil for selecting us as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of MON. “We wish to give every assurance to ExxonMobil that having entrusted us with this invaluable asset (MON), we will ensure full brand compliance with ExxonMobil’s global standards as well as rigorously sustain and follow ExxonMobil’s code of conduct/ethos and operational excellence.” Besides, he said: “NIPCO’s expansion trend reinforces its implicit confidence in Nigeria’s future. The Nigerian economy still provides a robust and premium return on investment and NIPCO Plc is privileged to have been given this opportunity by ExxonMobil on its home ground. Allaying mass sack “To our shareholders and stakeholders, we say welcome to a new dawn. A new era that will usher in stability, prosperity, sustainability and growth.” NIPCO, in less than 30 minutes after announcement of its ExxonMobil assets’ acquisition, issued a statement allaying fear of mass sack of Mobil staff. Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, in a statement, allayed fear of jobs’ loss by staff in the service of ExxonMobil whose 60 per cent stake has been bought by NIPCO. He said: “In our usual way of attaching premium to staff welfare, NIPCO shall respect the terms of all collective agreements with employees and the unions that represent them (PENGASSAN & NUPENG). All employees are assured of job safety, as there is no plan for staff redundancies. “In addition to giving the employees much needed assurances on their job safety, which we did today, our goal is to increase presence and efficiency by expanding

Staff welfare and comfort will be paramount and receive priority

MON’s retail footprint to a minimum of 300 by December 2017 and make it a vibrant one.” According to hom, the company’s successful philosophy and track record of supporting and empowering its staff and management team will continue at MON. Staff welfare and comfort will be paramount and receive priority as we forge ahead. “We urged MON personnel to the new roadmaps for growth whilst simultaneous exploring opportunities to provide MON with additional products like LPG,” he added. The acquisition The acquisition was agreed with the execution of a Sales and Purchase Agreement with ExxonMobil last Monday (October 17, 2016). With the signing, the NIPCO MD said: “We will start the transition period, which will span about six months. We have initiated the process of obtaining regulatory approvals from the requisite Federal Agencies – SEC and NSE. The transition period will also enable NIPCO to effectively manage a smooth and successful completion of the transaction. “NIPCO considers this acquisition an important synergy. It is part of our strategic move to support NIPCO’s continuous growth and expansion of its Nigerian retail footprint. We are confident of adding tremendous value to MON and likewise MON will add a huge value to NIPCO. “In furtherance of this value addition, NIPCO will continue to maintain the Mobil brand on its retail outlets as well as continue to blend and sell the Mobil brand of lubricants under branding licence(s) from ExxonMobil.” He added: “NIPCO wishes to express its profound gratitude and appreciation to ExxonMobil for selecting us as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of MON. We wish to give

every assurance to ExxonMobil that having entrusted us with this invaluable asset (MON), we will ensure full brand compliance with ExxonMobil’s global standards as well as rigorously sustain and follow ExxonMobil’s code of conduct/ ethos and operational excellence. “MON will continue to run as a separate, distinct and independent company, from NIPCO Plc. Each with its own CEO. Each CEO will report to its board of directors. Elixir for local content NIPCO’s expansion trend reinforces its implicit confidence in Nigeria’s future, the company’s CEO said: “The Nigerian economy still provides a robust and premium return on investment and NIPCO is privileged to have been given this opportunity by ExxonMobil on its home ground. “To our shareholders and stakeholders, we say welcome to a new dawn. A new era that will usher in stability, prosperity, sustainability and growth. Two days before the ExxonMobil’s assets takeover, the Federal Government had declared plans to review the implementation process for local content law. Newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, dropped this hint when he assumed office last Monday at the board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He pledged to use the implementation of Nigerian Content to support President Muhammed Buhari’s administration to create jobs and upscale the capacity and skills of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry. The executive secretary, whose former roles included General CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Shell targets $500m revenue in fresh assets sale HUGE Anglo-Dutch multinational had earlier announced intention to sell off assets totaling $30billion over the next three years

Adeola Yusuf

oyal Dutch Shell is currently offering 16 assets worth more than $500 mil-

lion for sale as part of its vast $30 billion three-year asset sales programme, the oil and gas company’s head of upstream, Andy Brown has said. The Anglo-Dutch company launched the programme to reduce its debt following the acquisition of BG Group earlier this year. Uncertainty over the future oil price has led to a sharp slowdown in deal making in the sector in recent years. “There are 16 assets currently in the

market that are above $500 million in value,” Brown told the Oil and Money conference in London. Oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, is generally eyeing a possible $40billion spin-off of non-core assets around the globe, as it grapples with a $70billion debt pile following a takeover of BG Group earlier this year. Chief financial officer, Simon Henry, told analysts that a float of Shell’s non-core assets was “very much on the

agenda.” The comments were made after the AngloDutch multinational announced its intention to sell off assets totaling $30billion over the next three years in an attempt to protect its dividend, after the merger with BG left it with a stretched balance sheet. Analysts at Exane BNP Paribas are now concerned that despite its attempts to offload assets, “a dry market for asset sales leaves Shell exposed.”

An oil rig

‘Nigeria’s 25 years behind in solar energy solution’ SUPPORT Sterling bank explains support for Clean Energy Summit

Adeola Yusuf

igeria is 25 years behind other countries in the sourcing and usage of solar off-grid and other clean energy solutions for its teeming population, Director General, Africa Clean Energy Summit, Dr. Victor Fodeke, has said. He disclosed this at the National Solar Power programme for Small and Medium Scale summit in Lagos. The summit was sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc. Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 170 million people, generates an average of 3, 500 mega watt (MW), a major deficit, which the participants said could be bridged with focus of attention to clean energy.

As Sterling Bank backs power summit

Sterling Bank explained that it supported the Clean Energy Summit for MSMES as part of its corporate mission. Stating that it was never too late for the country to key into the programme, Fodeke maintained that the summit now had an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health in May 2016 on this clean energy project. Identifying low standard of imported batteries as a major problem facing the solar market, he said that his summit was “talking with companies in Canada for supply of batteries that can last for seven years.” His views were corroborated by Chairman of the Summit, Olawale Akinwumi, who added that the summit’s quest to get small and medium business on solar power had garnered support from the academia. “We secured also a Memorandum of Understanding with Covenant University on the provision of a 30 hectares where solar panels will be produced within the university premises,” Akinwumi said. The programme, he continued, would take barbers, hair dressers and their over 10 millions customers off the national

grid through the provision of mini kilowatts generation solely for their needs. Reiterating that the Federal Government had through the federal ministry of health adopted the programme, the chairman added that the proposal would be taken to the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in due course. Professor Samuel Wara of Covenant University confirmedthe alliance between the summit and his university.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BEDC tops NERC’s metering roll out rating

●Plans aggressive ATC & C loss reduction Adeola Yusuf

enin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) has emerged tops in metering progress performance rating report amongst Distribution Companies (Discos) carried out by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its 2016 second quarter state of affairs of the electricity supply industry. The report, which came on the heels of additional 100,000 metering plan for the remainder 2016, announced at the recent power sector stakeholders, showed BEDC scoring 65.30 per cent to emerge overall lead performer in metering progress aspect of the report, which indicates the percentage of customers metered. BEDC, which hosted the event, had demonstrated its consciousness of the metering gaps existing across its various customer classes and had commenced the process to cover the metering gap for existing customers in its area of operations. The company has been proactive in installation of meters having installed over 120,500 meters since takeover. It has taken advantage of both the Industry CAPMI Scheme and own funded meters. More than 90,000 out of these have been installed in 2016 alone. According to the statement, in its metering rollout plan for the rest of the year, BEDC plans to achieve 100 per cent metering of all industrial and maximum demand customers by the end of November 2016; installation of another 100,000 meters for domestic and commercial customers for the remainder of the year; extension of the existing Automated Meter Reading (AMR) capability to 3,000 maximum demand meters, and metering of at least 1,000 distribution transformers in order to adequately account for energy billing to customers. To achieve the targets set, the company has in addition to the existing stock of 32,000 meters; placed order for another 45,000 units for distribution, while it has also recently re-engineered its metering process with a view to eliminating all administrative bottlenecks to reduce processing and installation time. The company, according to a statement, has also implemented some projects to ascertain the health of the customer meters; 100 per cent recertification and rectification of existing Maximum Demand customers, massive meter sealing exercise for domestic and commercial customers. Prepaid meters recertification and rectification exercise and shifting meters from customer premise to external visible locations/poles. The company says it has recently commenced installation of over 10,000 small high performing transformers called High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) to reduce technical loss and provide better quality of power to customers to enhance reliability.

Another look into ExxonMobil, NIPCO deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Manager, Business and Government Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria, Local Content Manager, Shell C&P Global and General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, commended the management and staff of the board for the huge achievements they recorded in the past six years implementing the Nigerian Content Act. He, however, noted in a

statement by the board that the urgent task before the board would be to review its activities and implementation process and evolve new strategies.

The challenges Admitting that the oil and gas industry is facing challenges, particularly the sharp drop in crude oil price, reduction in activities and inability to fund new projects, Wabote promised to lead the board to find prospects in the

circumstances. He added: “That it is in times like this that opportunities are created because you ask yourself, what can we do differently?” He also hinted that the board would extend its focus to indigenous operating companies, noting that the board’s remit goes beyond monitoring international oil companies to include the midstream and some part of the downstream segments of the industry.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

A construction site in Lagos

Developers fret over exodus of foreign artisans Mass exit of foreign artisans in the heat of economic meltdown and the subsequent vacuum is generating concerns among stakeholder. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

oor job delivery among Nigerian artisans is causing headache for built environment professionals, as the preferred foreign counterparts from Togo, Ghana, Chad, Niger and Benin are returning to their countries. Their mass exit has currently left developers, contractors and homebuilders in the hands of local artisans, who were once rejected due to poor workmanship, high cost and lackadaisical attitude towards job execution. The exit of foreign artisans is not unconnected with the perceived unfavourable government policies and economic recession that has hit the country. Some of the artisans include tillers, plumbers, bricklayers, painters, welders, turners, aluminium fabricators, sand and granite suppliers, carpenters and furniture makers. The major challenge in the housing sector currently is how to fill the vacuum left behind by these foreigners. Faced with the reality, built environment experts are now charting a new course to train and retrain some of the local artisans to enhance their performance. Experts’ views Construction experts have noticed that economic problem that may tarry for a while and bleed the country of its lean foreign exchange earnings is the continuous influx of foreign professionals, artisans and

craftsmen into the construction sub-sector of the nation’s economy. Experts that appraised the situation agree that the consequences of allowing the trend to continue unchecked are enormous and could have adverse effects on the economy. Dissecting the problem, President of Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), Solomon Ogunbusola, said the country was losing over N9 billion to foreign artisans and tradesmen annually. The FOCI leader, who x-rayed the merits and demerits of expatriates into Nigeria’s economy, noted that though the expatriates provided excellent model finishing as seen in developed countries among other functions, the present capital flight from the country could ruin the economy. Taking the bull by the horns, the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos chapter is championing a vocational training for artisans and unemployed youths in its two-day Annual Conference/Annual General Meeting (AGM) to prepare them for the task ahead. Since the current economic downturn has made skilled workers from neighbouring countries return to their homelands in droves, the institute is making efforts to ensure that the vacuum left behind is not felt. Stating the importance of the conference entitled: “Vocational Training: Bedrock for Nigeria Housing and Infrastructural Development,” Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos chapter, Mrs. Adenike Saidi, said that the vacuum created in the industry must be filled by competent local artisans through training. She noted that the exit has brought in an increased shortfall in the number of skilled technical manpower in the housing and construction industry. According to her, best time for youths to think aright and take wonderful opportunity to acquire the needed vocational

The exit has brought in an increased shortfall in the number of skilled technical manpower

training is now, as it will also drastically reduce unemployment in the economy. Saidi recalled how the nation’s trained youths had abandoned their trades, leaving a room for foreign counterparts to take advantage provided by the flourishing construction industry. Chairman, Conference Committee, Mr. Fadil Elegbede, described the theme of the AGM as “very germane and timely than ever,” considering the massive shortfall in acquisition of vocational training in the housing industry by the teeming youths. “Even majority of few youths who had hitherto managed to acquire one skill or the other now turned to Okada or Maruwa operators. To worsen the situation, some have decided to join the notorious gangs of kidnappers, robbers, abductors and others,” he said. However, he pointed out that the Federal Government had noticed the trend and danger it portends for the nation, hence the introduction of the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQS) as a comprehensive package for the training and certification of workmen. “NIOB has been assigned the role of awarding body in the framework,” Elegbede said. The Federal Government, early this year, announced plans to train 370,000 artisans to boost skills development and employment generation through a programme tagged: “ Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Programme (C-STEmp). C-STEmP is an accelerated skills development project to prepare eligible beneficiaries for employment as artisans in construction industry. NIOB President, Mr. Tijani Shuaib, said: “NIOB is ready to commence training, assessment and certification of the building craftsmen and artisans in collaboration with CORBON and the DFID sponsored C-STEmp.” Shuaib added that a good number of assessors and verifiers were also being trained with the

assistance of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Artisans’ complaints President, Association of Building Consultants and Artisans of Nigeria (ASBAN), Mr. Jimmy Oshinubi, said that the impression among Nigerian professional was that foreign workers were better than their indigenous counterparts, who are his members. “This is not true, we are better than them,” he said, adding,“If the government feels they are better, then the authority should up their game by training indigenous artisans. “But we all know that they prefer foreign artisans because they are cheap and some contractors use them to cut corners.” Oshinubi lamented that the ongoing recession, which has slowed down construction activities, has left over one million local artisans jobless, calling on the government to do everything possible to reflate the economy. Recently, Public Relations Officer of Niger Delta Indigenous Artisan Association of Nigeria (NDIAAN), Benjamine Aribibia, in Port Harcourt, alleged that developers preferred to use artisans from neighbouring countries due to cheap labour and not because they were better skilled than the locals. The NDIAAN boss said their exit was good for the nation’s development, adding that it would afford employment opportunities for the youth. According to the Executive Director of Shelter Watch Initiative, Mr Segun Olutade, the lackadaisical attitude of local construction artisans coupled with obsolete knowledge on their trades has not helped matters. Submissions As a way out of the woods, Ogunbusola said it was high time professionals in the sector endeavoured to work together as CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | Homes & Property

Developer to govt: Reduce housing deficit via PPP CHEAP HOUSES Firm targets 2,000 housing units across Nigeria by 2017 Stories Dayo Ayeyemi

he government should partner with competent real estate developers through Private Public Partnership (PPP) initiative for quick delivery of low and medium residential units for citizens, Chief Executive Officer, Ifitech and Associates Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Isaac, has said. He made this call during an interactive session with to journalists in Lagos. Isaac suggested a situation where the government would provide land to developers at reduced prices and ensure that such houses built are introduced to the property market at reduced prices. To ensure affordability and easy access, he suggested that the government should ensure that mortgage banks provide long-term payment facilities at single digit interest for the developed houses. Besides, he called on the government to give concessions to developers in the areas of payments for land documentation and titles to reduce the cost of the houses. “These are things the government can do and over the next 20 years the housing deficit in

the country would have been reduced to the barest minimum,” he explained. The Ifitech boss unveiled plans to deliver 2,000 housing units in different parts of the country before the end of 2017, explaining that the objective of the firm was to provide affordable and lowcost housing to ordinary Nigerians in most convenient way. To achieve this target, he disclosed that the firm had acquired land in three states - Lagos, Enugu and Imo. He said: “In Lagos, at Ibeju-Lekki to be precise, we

currently have six schemes, in Imo state, we have two schemes and in Enugu, we only have one scheme. All these schemes come under the name Westpoint Gardens and Solid Base Gardens Estates.” To ensure that the target group, which is the low-income earners, becomes landlord, Isaac said his firm had ensured that price of a plot of land in some of the estates does not go beyond N250, 000. “Our most expensive estates are the ones in Ibeju-Lekki axis and other upcoming landmark projects in Lagos

a team and form mega companies, stressing that they should learn to integrate construction professionals and artisans. In ensuring better performance of the indigenous firms and growth of the economy, he urged the government to ensure total compliance of the laws enacted for the practice of the construction work and regulate the influx of expatriates into the construction industry. He said: “Expatriates should only be allowed specialised programme where Nigerians cannot effectively deliver. Also, where the work is assigned to the expatriates, Nigeria should be represented by her own experts or technologists.” Olutade tasked the three tiers of government to work together in order to solve the problem. Conclusion The best time for the government to compel and encourage vocational trainings among the nations artisans and unemployed youth is now. All stakeholders must cooperate with the government to ensure that the nation’s technical schools are overhauled for the training to commence fully.

building and selling to those who may not want to go through the rigours of starting from land ownership. “We hope that by the end of 2017, we would have been able to deliver a minimum of 2000 housing units and by 2020, we would have been able to deliver over 10,000 housing units.” He disclosed that over 200 personnel are already on ground to push the ambition through, adding that the company would ensure that residents and property owners have access to top-notch infrastructure.

L-R: Secretary, Ifitech and Associates Limited, Ella Louis Kent; Managing Director, Ifeanyi Isaac; Executive Director, Susan Isaac; General Manager, Ngoha Johnson; and Human Resource/ Admin Manager, Uchechi Oyakhire; during the unveiling of Westpoint Gardens and Solid Base Estates in Lagos.

Experts mount Lagos moves to automate pressure on land administration indigenous f plans by the Lagos Lands by six times of the current Bureau to deploy an Inte- level and reduce cost of land artisans grated Land Administra- transaction, while increas-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

and price of plots in these estates range from between N1million and N2.5million,” Isaac explained. According to the Ifitech boss, payment for plots in all the estates have been structured to run over a period of six to 12 months, and buyers who pay out-rightly will get cheaper prices, while those that want to spread payment over 12 months will pay a little higher. He said: “We currently have over 2,000 subscribers and they have all started to build their own houses in addition to the ones the firm is

tion and Automation System (ILAAS) were anything to go by, individual investors, corporate organisations and institutions would enjoy the ease of doing business in the state. Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, disclosed this. He said that the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had already approved the deployment of the new system with the contract awarded to a competent company. He disclosed that the new technology would be ready for use in the next 18 months. ILAAS is a suite of technology modules that can conduct rapid inventory of land rights, automate/manage land records, create/ maintain integrated geographic data accurately and fairly value any property. On its advantage to the bureau and general public, Agoro said the new technology would reduce timeframe for obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy to a maximum of 14 days, optimise revenue collected from land transactions, multiply land transactions and revenues

ing incentives for private sector investment. Once deployed, he stated that the credibility of the state land titles would be enhanced, which would guarantee land title. He said: “This will also open up a secondary mortgage market in Nigeria. There will be rebirth of land title insurance where insurance firms would be able to insure land title issued by the government, thus giving the buyer complete peace of mind.” In preparation for its deployment, the permanent secretary said the bureau was currently creating quality control units to vet and scrutinise land registrations, adding that all former documents would be scanned and converted to electronic modes. Besides, he disclosed that some of the staff of the bureau had been engaged in training and reorientation on the importance of punctuality, discipline and customers care. He said: “The new motto of the bureau is professionalism, discipline and integrity. We have zero tolerance for corruption.”

‘High housing cost liable for exorbitant mortgage costs’

ousing experts have admitted that high mortgage costs in the country have pushed up the cost of houses, thereby increasing homelessness among the urban poor. According to the experts in Lagos, the situation has impacted negatively on low income earners to the extent that they cannot own houses as a result of high interest rates and inadequate supply of affordable housing. They noted that most lenders give loans for home purchase and equity release while a few lenders give loans for selfconstruction, which for the most part continue to be expensive beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. One of the experts, Lead Partner, Detail Commercial Solicitors, Mr. Ayuli Jemide, noted that demand for housing and housing loans have remained extremely high, adding that the situation was constrained by inadequate supply of affordable housing and high interest rates. “Moreover, high value added tax on houses adds another challenge on affordability of housing to lower income earners,” he said.

According to him, the nation’s mortgage system has stifled real estate investment and interest rate is on the high side coupled with absence of foreclosure laws. “There is no centralised credit history; there is low pool of affordable loans for low income housing,” he said. Jemide, a property investment lawyer, pointed out that only five per cent of existing housing stock in the country qualified as affordable, blaming the gap on poor land tenure system, stifling mortgage, outdated land titling and registration system. He also itemised controversial Land Use Act, delay in issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O) and Governor’s Consent as major challenges. The current housing shortage in Nigeria stands at 17 million housing units with a 720,000 unit additional annual demand. At the first quarter of 2016, interest rates offered by mortgage lenders ranged between 20 and 25 per cent. Group Chairman, Dunn Loren Merrifield, Mr. Sonnie Ayere, also blamed high cost of houses on lack of access to mortgage finance. He urged the government to do something about the current interest rate.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

Boeing, Airbus, two aircraft giants that have monopolised the aero space market

Boeing, Airbus battle for African market Africa is described as the last frontier for aircraft giants, Boeing and Airbus, as the duo penetrate the continent’s aviation market, which provides a win-win situation for stakeholders. WOLE SHADARE writes

Seeking strong presence in Africa Aerospace giants, Boeing and Airbus, are looking to expand their presence in Africa, through a range of activities including biofuels, training and manufacturing among others. Just last week, Airbus indicated plans to open an operational office in Nigeria. The move signposts confidence in Federal Government’s agenda for the aviation industry. Leading the delegation on a visit to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in his office, the Ambassador of France in Nigeria, Denys Gauer, said they were in the ministry to acquaint themselves and identify with new government’s vision and plans for the aviation sector, as presented by the Minister to various industry stakeholders both in the country and at the international level. He also informed the Minister of the intention of one of the largest aircraft manufacturers and leasers in the world, the Airbus Group, to open an operational office in Nigeria as a mark of confidence in government’s agenda for the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Govt’s support Also briefing the aviation minister, the Vice President of the Airbus Group for Africa, Vincent Larnicol, said the company had expanded its strong European roots to move forward on an international scale with fully-owned subsidiaries in the United States, China, Japan, India and the Middle East. Besides, he said the company had spare parts centres in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Washington, Beijing, Dubai and Singapore as well as engineering and training centres in Toulouse, Miami, Wichita, Hamburg, Bangalore and Beijing; and more than 150 field service offices around the world. According to him, Airbus, in its desire to get closer to its customers, is also actively developing engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities in Europe, China, India, Russia, the Middle East, Singapore and the United States. This, he said, also informed the decision to establish its presence in Nigeria with the opening of an operational office. The Airbus executive also informed Sirika of the group’s interest in plans of the government to concession major airports across the country, as well as the establishment of a national carrier. He also commended government’s plan to establish an aircraft leasing company in view of the inherent difficulties in acquiring new aircraft. The Airbus Group also promised to collaborate, through its cooperation programme, with the Nigerian government in the establishment of an Aviation University to which the International Civil Aviation Organisation

(ICAO) is largely committed.

Just last week, Airbus indicated plans to open an operational office in Nigeria

Repositioning aviation In response, Sirika informed the Ambassador and the Airbus delegation that the vision of the government for the sector included, amongst others, the establishment of a private sector-driven national carrier, concession of the nation’s major airports to make them more viable and up to global standards. Also included are repositioning of domestic airlines to make them competitive and profitable, establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and development of human capital for the anticipated expansion of the sector. According to the minister, the plan of Buhari’s administration is to gradually reposition the Nigerian aviation industry in such a way that it would turn the nation into a regional hub for air transportation, given the ICAO forecast of a quadruple growth for the nation’s air travel in the next ten years. He expressed Nigeria’s preparedness to collaborate with all genuine partners, insisting, however, that the government’s decisions and actions would always be guided by the protection of national interests. Benefit to airlines Although airline operators in Nigeria have more of Boeing aircraft than Airbus, the new in road in Nigeria and Africa could be seen as enhancing or strengthening of the competition between the two major aircraft makers. Only two airlines, Arik and First Nation, operate that aircraft type, just as the presence of the operational office of the Airbus in Nigeria could be a win-win situation both for the airplane maker and the carriers, as the planned maintenance centre could help the airlines

to service their aircraft in the country or get their spare parts, thereby saving money. Rivalry Airbus’ fiercest competitor, Boeing, had also expanded its presence in Africa through a range of activities including biofuels, training and manufacturing. Boeing is involved in many different sectors of the aerospace industry in South Africa. For instance, it has partnered with 43 Air School on pilot training and is working on additive manufacturing and titanium powder in conjunction with local researchers and has a biofuels programme with South African Airways. In June 2013, Boeing and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on research into using titanium powder in industrial manufacturing. South Africa is the second largest titanium mineral producer. In October last year, Boeing and South African Airways signed an agreement on the establishment of a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa. This is Boeing’s first biofuel supply chain project in Africa. Struggle for continent’s market Airbus and Boeing, the two global giants of aviation, neck and neck in a global trade war, are eyeing the African market, where some 700 aircraft should be sold by 2030. Recognising the potential of this promising market, they remain in close contact with African carriers and those who service the continent. Indeed, sustained economic growth on the continent has helped to revive air travel. With an average fleet age of almost CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Air controllers fret over airspace safety DISASTER Radar equipment working condition is appalling as a result of frequent failures

Wole Shadare

ir traffic controllers under the aegis of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) have called on Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on what it described as the epileptic working condition of communication facilities in the Nigerian airspace. In a communiqué issued at the end of its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Jos, Plateau State and signed by Victor Eyaru and Banji Olawode, President and Secretary General of NATCA respectively, the group disclosed that the present controller-pilot VHF communication coverage of the country’s airspace did not meet the required standard thereby constituting threats to air safety. They said they are seriously concerned about the safety of pilots, aircraft and passengers that operate within the Nigerian airspace. They noted that on a daily basis, Nigeria loses enormous revenue in foreign exchange due to many aircraft operating within the upper airspace avoiding Nigeria’s airspace. According to the communiqué, “the inability of air traffic controllers to communicate effectively with pilots over the years has negatively affected the health of air traffic controllers. “We hereby call on the Fed-

Boeing, Airbus battle for soul of African market 20 years, Africa has no choice but to move to more efficient aircraft. The stakes are high for the manufacturers, who have seen many of their markets soften somewhat. With a string of sales successes in Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Kenya safely under its belt, an increasingly assertive Airbus industry has sent a warning shot across the bows of its US rival, Boeing. The message is clear: Boeing should no longer regard its dominance of Africa’s aircraft market as sacrosanct. Skillful salesmanship and nimble political footwork have enabled the European aircraft consortium to establish a firm beach-head in traditional Boeing territory, forcing officials in Seattle to embark on a thorough re-examination of the company’s market strategy. Conclusion According to Boeing’s own figures, African civil aviation will be in need of nearly 1,100 new airframes by 2032. No manufacturer can afford to overfly the emerging continent.

•Nigeria loses revenue over equipment failure eral Government to investigate these claims by involving the end users (pilots’ association) and also request urgent reforms within three months. After this period, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers may be left with no option than to take necessary actions.” They further disclosed that the radar equipment (TRACON) working condition is appalling as a result of frequent failures. To them, the lifespan of the equipment has expired and requires urgent replacement or upgrade. They added that the replacement/upgrade should

involve active Air Traffic Controllers and be handled in a transparent way in the interest of the nation. The association therefore rejected what it said was the lip service being paid to the air traffic control manpower shortage in the country where only less than half the required number is available. For illustration, Air Traffic Navigation Service (ATNS) of South Africa has 1, 076 personnel of air traffic controllers, 500 Area Control Centres with two airport control towers whereas, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has 2, 500 personnel

with just 300 air traffic controllers across the nation with two Area Control Centres and 32 control towers. The group called on the Federal Government and NAMA to immediately recruit more air traffic controllers into the system in the interest of air safety. They added that the inability of the various agencies employing air traffic controllers such as NAMA, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) to provide adequate resources for their recruitment and training as a result of the over bloated per-

sonnel was skewed against the core professionals and unacceptable. The controllers therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently appoint a well-qualified person as chief executive officer for the agency. It would be recalled that NAMA has been with an acting Managing Director for over eight months after its former Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, was nabbed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged theft and fraud. He has since pleaded not guilty as his trial continues in Federal High Court, Lagos.

An airport control tower

Group vows to resist airport concession Wole Shadare

embers of the newly registered aviation union, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP)s have vowed to resist any attempt by the government to concession four of the viable airports in the country. ANAP, which spoke through its Secretary General, Abdulrasaq Saidu, faulted the previous concession arrangements done in the aviation sector. The group stressed that a large chunk of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) revenue had been concessioned out illegally. The aviation union therefore, challenged the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to ask questions and look into the issue of those concessions as seen in the toll gates, car parks and fuel surcharge amongst others. Saidu said: “We want to know what has become of the former concessionaires because as at today, 90 per cent of revenue points of FAAN have been concessioned out. For example, when we have the commercial department of FAAN; what brought about the

concessionaire of billboards across the nation’s airport of N800 million and now down to N700 million? Who concessioned out the toll gates, car parks, fuel surcharge. These are things they have been hiding from people and we want government to visit that area. We are interested because past experience showed that there is conspiracy within FAAN and outside to divert the money of these concessionaires,” Saidu stated.

On the immediate impact the union wants to make in the sector, Saidu said “We have two issues in the sense that we want to professionalise the industry so that round peg can be put in a round hole. The changes that were made in NAMA are not complete and it ought to go round the parastatals across the industry. We have seen and welcome that of FAAN, though, it is not complete yet, because they must revert to the operational structure in line with

the Act that originally established it. “This is because they have over bloated staff from outside to squander money, placing them above people that have been working over the years to collect money. So we welcome the step taken in FAAN and want it to be extended to NCAA, NAMA and other agencies where such wrongful placements were carried out in line with the Act establishing them.”

Peacock rewards travel partners

igeria’s fastest-growing travel management company, Peacock Travels and Tours, a subsidiary of Peacock Group, has rewarded over 550 trade partners and customers in the South-West, South East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country. The rewards were meant to show the travel firm’s appreciation to its loyal and esteemed trade partners and customers for their patronage in 2015. The programme came barely four months after the Lagos edition in which over

200 trade partners were rewarded with various gift items. Over 80 travel agencies won in the star prize categories in Lagos. Chairman, Peacock Group, Segun Philips, had during the Lagos Agency Forum in April, promised that the event would be held in the six geopolitical zones of the country. In the three geopolitical zones of South-West, SouthEast and South-South, a total of 26 return free tickets to various destinations including to London, United States, Doha and New York were given to the trade partners.

Over 300 trade partners and customers, who emerged winners in the Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories (based on the volumes of tickets sold during the year), went home with grand prizes including deep freezer, LED television, electric cooker, giant fan and air conditioner among others. Some of the international and foreign airlines present at the special event are Arik Air, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Egypt Air, AirFrance-KLM, South African Airways, and Golden Tulip Hotels.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Challenge Governor lauds TETFund for intervention in varsities

Education

Agriculture Stakeholders, experts harp on mechanised agric

33 35

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), held its fourth convocation last Friday, where no fewer than 61 graduating students obtained First Class out of 921 who received their scrolls for the award of first and postgraduate degrees. GEOFFREY EKENNA and SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN report

efore big wigs and who is who in the society, including top government functionaries, traditional rulers, captains of industry, parents and other well-wishers, the Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), released another set of eagles. It was the fourth convocation ceremony of the private university founded by notable philanthropist and legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). At the event, which took place last Friday, a total of 912 graduating students in undergraduate and postgraduate studies, received their scrolls. Of the figure, 61 obtained First Class Degree. The graduating students were spread across the institution’s six colleges or faculties, with five of the 61 First Class graduates scoring a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5 points, while the CGPA of the 56 others fell within 4.85 and 4.99 points. The 7,000-seater capacity Alfa Belgore Hall of the institution was filled to the brim by those who had gathered to witness yet another milestone in the annals of ABUAD’s enchanting six-year history. Among these were parents and family members of the graduating students, hundreds of other students of the Institution at various levels, alongside its lecturers and ranking authorities led by the Founder/Chancellor, Babalola, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Michael Ajisafe, as well as dignitaries from

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Founder of ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola and Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the convocation ceremony

ABUAD releases its eagles

all walks of life from within and outside Nigeria. Dignitaries had included the nation’s Vice President and Professor of Law, Yemi Osinbajo; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; former governors Bamidele Olumilua and Kayode Fayemi; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore after whom the Hall was named; and former Governor of the then Western State, retired Gen. David Jemibewon. On the list also were former Minister of Education and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Prof Tunde Adeniran, who is also a member of the university’s Governing Council; Senator Babafemi Ojudu; former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Ibidapo Obe; former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola; UNESCO Regional Director, Mr. Bennot Sossou; and Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary. The gathering did not exclude monarchs among whom were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe. The day equally offered the founder an opportunity to repeat his familiar philanthropic gesture, giving out a total of N90,026,840 cheque as prizes to four categories of recipients numbering 487, whose performances were sufficiently sterling enough to merit medals. The four were Founder’s Merit Awards list, where a total of 13 awardees went away with N7m;

We are the first university to secure full accreditation for Medicine within five years

Award For Academic Excellence in which 402 got N30,750 million; Awards from Endowment from which 50 benefited N13,505,750m; and Award of Educational Advancement and Scholarship to Staff where 22 got N45,671,090. Specifically, Founder’s Merit Awards list contained Ariyibi Olawale Emmanuel who got whopping One million naira (N1,000,000) as Overall Best Graduating Student. It also contained Popoola Olamide (Best Alumnus of The Year: N500,000), graduate of Engineering, who came tops at an International Competition in the United Kingdom; Oguntuase Oluwaseyi Bolaji (Best Inventor of The Year: N500,000); Odunsi Olusola and Babafemi Tomilehin (Best First Class Students at Law School: N500,000 each); and Mrs Smaranda Olarinde, Dr. Adeola Oluboyo and Associate Prof. Elizabeth Ojo (Best Teachers of The Year: N500,000 each). Others were Dr. Adeyinka Adeoye, Mr. Babatunde Wahab and Prof. Abiodun Ojo (Utility Teachers of the Year: N500,000 each); College of Law (Best College of the Year: N500,000); and Mrs. Adenike Agbotoba (Best Parent of the Year: N500,000). There was also ABUAD Alumni Association Award and Faculty-based awards which saw quite a number clinching various cash prizes. Three highly distinguished individuals were also awarded honorary degrees, including Prof Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, President, Central State University, Wilberforce Island, Ohio, United States of America, who gave the Convocation Lecture; Dr. Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis

Nigerian Limited and Chief Raymond Zard, founder of Zartech Industries. Maduka and Zard received awards in Business Administration. Words/exhortations from the VP, others It was also a day of speeches, the last of which, observing strict protocols, was given by Osinbajo. Urging value re-orientation among Nigerians, especially the political leadership, if the current war against corruption must be won, the VP lamented that the ill of corruption had conquered all tiers and arms of government. His words: “All the institutions of government, I mean the executive, legislature and the judiciary are corrupt. Value reorientation is a key weapon to fight corruption.” Describing ABUAD as a great university given its achievements since it was established, Osinbajo explained that the country might leverage on the training system provided for learners in the institution to reverse the horrifying corruption picture, “as it teaches learning, character and morality.” He said; “That was why the present Federal Government is intervening, because if we refuse to do that, every fabric of the country will fail. We must act fast and deal with the situation as quickly as possible.” He assured Nigerians that no sector of the society would be left untouched in the anti-graft war by the present administration, adding that high level poverty, CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

education

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

When ABUAD showcased its strength

CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

inflation and other ills facing the country were direct results of corruption. He recalled that it was Babalola, who in 2002, argued in favour of the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), noting “I have great respect for Chief Afe Babalola because of his stand against corruption. Sometimes in 2002, Chief Babalola argued the case for the establishment of ICPC where he let the court realised that corruption was the greatest problem of our nation”, Osinbajo said. Commending ABUAD for setting the pace in the academic and other areas of human endeavour, the VP advised the graduands to be ‘multi-skilled’ to have better chances of survival, given the harsh economic environment. He said: “You must be trustworthy and honest, apart from being skillful and resourceful to be able to make great impacts in the future ahead of you. You must reflect on the values they have inculcated in you in the institution and be conscious of the fact that Nigeria, your country, must be great and through which this can be achieved with your contributions.” Urging universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country to support ongoing war against corruption by the Federal Government, the VP said the institutions were well positioned as moulders of the future generations to spearhead a national orientation against corruption, an ill he described as too pervasive to toy with. ABUAD’s founder, who had spoken earlier, clarified the Institution was established on “three core principles of determination, industry and service” with an objective to instill in students “attributes of discipline, determination, kindness, sound education/learning and excellence.” He explained that ABUAD had, within six years of its establishment, scored several ‘firsts’ among both the public and private universities in the country. His words: “In the last six years, the university has emerged the Best College of Law in West Africa. Our students in the last Bar Examination recorded two First Class and 16 Second Class (Upper Division) with a total of 94%. “We are the first university to secure full accreditation for Medicine within five years, the first university to secure full accreditation for Nursing within five years, the first university to secure 100 per cent success in its Nursing Examination and 100 per cent in Medical Laboratory Science, as well as 94 per cent in MBBS Examinations.” Other laurels won by students and graduates of the Institution, according to him, included “Imagine Cup Ability Award in the 2015 edition of Microsoft Imagine Cup Competition in Seattle, United States of America; the 2016 edition of the Unilever Idea Trophy

Kayode Olanrewaju

he Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Kudirat Margaret Ladipo, has said the college, the cradled of higher institution in the country, will not relent in its role to offer solutions to national economy crisis through advancement of technological and entrepreneurship development.

L-R: Chief Babalola; Osinbajo and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, at the ceremony.

Cross-section of the graduating students

in Category Number 1 Award.” He noted: “Oluwaseye Oguntuase, a 500 level Mechanical Engineering student of ABUAD won the 1st National Engineering Student’s Competition in Abuja on June 30, 2016, with his project entitled “Autonomous Pipeline Leakage in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria”. Babalola also boasted to parents that the Institution had succeeded in impacting not only academic excellence, but also very positive values into their children/wards, saying, “we are proud that we are building a new set of young Nigerians and indeed a new Nigeria, because of our belief that the only solution to Nigeria’s problem is change of attitude and lifestyle.” His words: “Government has been preaching the gospel of change in all spheres of Nigerian life. However, we believe that the only sustainable change is the change that changes the minds of the people. “It is a notorious fact that older people have formed hardened habit and can hardly be changed and that is why we pegged admission into the university at 21. Indeed, those admitted into the university are between the ages of 16-18, often described as the plastic age, when young people can still be moulded”, Afe said. Some of the parents, including Mr. Akin Fayinminu, an Accountant and Chief (Mrs.) Funmi Awomolo (SAN)

spoke of their joy, describing the institution as the best of its kind in the country. According to Chief (Mrs.) Funmi Awomolo (SAN), her last child, Eric Ooreofeoluwa Awomolo, whose pregnancy she carried while studying Law at the University of Ibadan and staying in Aare Afe’s house, studied Electrical Engineering, making the family proud. Said she: “I am happy, proud and grateful to God that he is graduating from this particular university for a very important reason. I gave birth to him when I was studying law at the University of lbadan and was living in Aare Afe Babalola’s house in Bodija. And God in His mercy just structured it that that little baby would go to Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.” The Founder’s Day Yet, the Friday outing had only brought to a climax other equally notable events which included Founder’s Day, Awards, Endowment, Book Presentation and Convocation Dinner, all held just a day earlier (Thursday) during which the popular Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade, thrilled entire gathering who had convoked upon same Alfa Belgore Hall, to several of his much familiar tunes. Sunny Ade, who sang as the dinner went on, kept drawing the Institution’s respected Founder to the dance floor.

Babalola had, this specific instant, demonstrated not just his leadership quality but unusual physical strength, given his relative advanced age, consistently opening the dances with steps and sways attributable to and found more often among much younger crème of his kind, always supported by his wife, Yeye Aare Modupe. The parents of the graduating students were also allowed some time to prove their joy on the dance platform. Babalola had equally thrown a surprise package at the musician-King who recently turned 70, with a modest party-within-party celebration. A cake, tastefully decorated and boldly announcing his (Sunny Ade’s) septuagenarian status, had been brought and, joined by whole legion of notables in attendance, the King had cut the cake, a session superintended by the University’s scribe, Dr. Christie Oluborode. Showing his gratitude for the unexpected but complimentary gift, the Juju maestro, spotting black suit and looking favoured by mother-nature, owing to his youthful visage and even much more youthful carriage, thanked Babalola for what he called a ‘coup’, saying “My intention is to come and entertain the audience here. So, I say thank you and thank you and thank you.” Babalola expressed his gratitude to Justice Yinka Ayoola to whom he credited his success in life, saying; “he rose to the position of a supreme court judge in this country and also a member of the world court. I owe much of my success in practice which eventually gave birth to ABUAD to this man.” In return, Justice Ayoola had described Babalola in a brief remark at the occasion with superlatives. He noted: “Today is a happy day. Aare is one of the greatest Nigerians, even Africans. We give glory to God for enabling and ennobling him for his great contribution to education and scholarship and to the legal profession. It is indeed a pleasure and a matter of great satisfaction that for over 50 years I have been watching your rise. I pray you will continue to be who you have always been.” Babalola also spent some time to express his gratitude to Zard, who he regarded as “The greatest philanthropist I have ever known,” saying he (Chief Zard) was the first person to donate/ fund a project in this Institution when it took off. He said: “First Nigerian to give us a helping while still building the Institution. He has remained the same since I knew him over Fifty years ago”. Alaafin assured the gathering that students who had passed through ABUAD had received the very best quality education, noting “The greatest gift a man receives from education is the gift of character”. Hagher, in his speech, had noted the need for improved manpower training in the country, adding, “now that the nation is in economic recession,” adding that “knowledge has become the world’s greatest capital and source of wealth.”

YABATECH to graduate 7,102 students

This was even as she stressed the need for the college to add its academic voice to the robust discussion on how the country could wriggle out of the present economy doldrums. The rector spoke while addressing newsmen during the pre-convocation press briefing, where she pointed out the no

fewer than 7,102 graduates will received their scrolls for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in fulltime and part-time programmes. According to her, the graduation ceremony will feature the convocation lecturer, entitled: “Technology as a Tool to Salvage the Current Economic

Recession,” to be delivered by Mr. Mustapha Chike Obi, a financial/investment analyst on October 26, while the award of diplomas, certificate and special prizes will take place on October 27 at the institution’s Sports Ground. “The choice of the topic for the lecture is informed by the

present reality facing the country and the need for the college to add its academic voice to the robust discussion regarding the economy and how to wriggle out of its present situation,” Dr. Ladipo said. The rector, who noted that the Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu would be the guest of honour and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the chief host.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kayode Olanrewaju

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has lauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for effectiveness and intervention in the areas of infrastructural growth, research development and staff training in Nigerian universities. The governor, who gave the commendation while receiving the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa at his official residence, described the various intervention of TETFund towards improving academic standard and quality of tertiary institutions in the country as second to none, saying such efforts have gone a long way in reengineering teaching and learning in university system. The TETFund delegation led by the Executive Secretary were in the state to commission some

Fayose lauds TETFund for intervention in varsities

TETFund-sponsored projects at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, which include the multi-million naira academic building, the Centre for Gender and Development Studies and the Four-In-One (4 in 1) Lecture Theatre. Baffa was said to have been accompanied to the governor by the Vice-Chancellor of university, Prof. Samuel Bandele. Fayose, while addressing the visitors, however, said that he

was more concerned about what happened at the primary and secondary schools as the foundation of education, even as he added that when the foundation is strong and solid the universities would not have problem in producing quality graduates. He noted that infrastructure as well as teaching and learning process at the primary and secondary school levels across the nation needed urgent attention, stressing that TETFund should

Senate’s bill on JAMB’ll hurt students, nation –Registrar Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, has explained the rationale for the opposition of the board against the Senate bill that seeks to give a threeyear validity to Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results issued by the agency. According to him, such bill would cause more damage to the nation’s ailing education system and hurt the students more than it would help them as thought by the Senate. Although, Oloyede, in a chat with newsmen at the 32nd convocation lecture of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), argued that it is only Nigerians that can make the examination body implement the law, even as he called on the House of Representatives to throw out the bill when it comes to them for consent. Oloyede said: “Senate has taken a decision and I belief JAMB does not agree with that decision. But, if it is the wish of Nigerians, then JAMB will faithfully implement it. And I believe JAMB has notified the lawmakers of the danger inherent in such act. “It is an unhealthy decision because it is going to hurt the students more than it would help them and at the end of the day, it is going to create infrastructural problems on the nation. For instance, people don’t know that what JAMB conducted is achievement test and not aptitude test. So, in Nigeria like in every other issue, when you get something copied from outside, we do not look at the infrastructure on which is being treated. “Achievement test will not allow for such because it is not meant for that purpose and there is also a correlation and a sort of relationship between the curriculum and the questions set by JAMB.”

Prof. Bandele (first right); Baffa and others during the commissioning of some TETFund projects at the university.

show interest in what happens at the secondary level by making it mandatory for states to excel at the secondary level as a condition to access TETFund interventions for their stateowned universities. Fayose, who explained that this would go a long way in promoting quality education in the country, also hinted that his administration had succeeded in taking education out of its pit. He recalled: “In 2003, I met Ekiti State as number 35th position in WAEC and in three years, I moved the state from number 35 to number 18 and to seventh position in the country. But on my return to office again in 2014, the Ekiti State had gone back to number 35 and I am happy to announce to you that Ekiti State is number one in Nigeria presently.” In his response, Baffa expressed delight over the commissioning of the projects at the university, which according to him, would be the first institution he would visit to inaugurate TETFund-sponsored projects since he assumed office as TETFund Executive Secretary.

Mixed reaction as JAMB stops use of scratch cards Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

hen Professor Ishaq Oloyede took over the baton on August 8, as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), he assured stakeholders, specifically his predecessor, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde to sustain the good policies he introduced at the Board. Oloyede was also quick to add that there was still enough room for improvement and whether his tenure will be long, short or truncated is not really important. The important thing is for him to do his bit and leave the stage better than he met it just like his predecessors have done. One of his five-point agenda at the Board was to introduce improved technology in the discharge of its mandates. True to his words, the former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin recently announced that the Board would stop the use of scratch cards by candidates for all its examination processes. He made the announcement in Abuja in a paper he delivered during a meeting of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU). While describing the use of scratch cards as “archaic,” the JAMB Registrar said the Board would be using the platform of pin vending to check all forms of fraudulent practices which was prevalent with the use of scratch cards. “The decision is as a result of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices, the use of scratch cards is archaic and it is the aim of JAMB to also promote accountability in line with

government’s zero tolerance for corruption. This new system will be accessible through the options of web payment, ATM issued cards (Visa, Verve and MasterCard), online quick teller, ATM payment, quick teller mobile application and Bank Branch case/card,” he stressed. This decision has, however, been praised by stakeholders in the education sector, who described it as a measure to reduce corruption in the system. According to a report, some parents, who expressed delight over the scrapping of the scratch card use by candidates, said many of the dealers of the commodity used to cheat candidates. “I support the scrapping of JAMB scratch cards because some of the people that sell the scratch cards cheat the students by selling above the actual cost. The decision will also reduce fraud and enable parents to access and check the result themselves,” said a parent in Abuja He thanked JAMB and implored the Board not to relent in its efforts to sanitise the education sector.

Another parent, Mrs. Roseline Ajogun said the decision was favourable to both parents and students alike. “I believe all parents and students alike support the decision to scrap the JAMB scratch card. It is unfortunate but the truth is that most people who sell the scratch cards are corrupt. They do not care about how parents or students struggle to get the money. As a parent, I gladly welcome the decision,” she said. Ajogun thanked the government and JAMB authorities for the decision and appealed to them to revamp the education sector to guarantee a better future for the country. On the rationale behind scraping of scratch card for JAMB examinations, the Head of JAMB Public Relations Department, Dr. Fabian Benjamin corroborated Prof. Oloyede’s position, saying that the “use of scratch cards has been discontinued because it was prone to fraudulent practices, it is archaic and also part of the Board’s effort to promote accountability and for zero tolerance of corruption.”

education

Commission bemoans over 50m adult illiterates in Nigeria Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

s Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International World Literacy Day, last week, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Aba Abubakar Haladu lamented that the country has an estimated figure of over 50 million adult illiterates. According to him, at a Ministerial press briefing held in Abuja to mark the day, the world is still home to at least 758 adult illiterates, whose about two thirds are women despite substantial progress made in the last five decades in the war against illiteracy. While adding that there are also 11.5 million out-of-school children in the country, Haladu noted that the problem of illiteracy remained one of nation’s greatest obstacles to development. He said: “In fact, the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2016 contended that as other regions of the world are recording progress in the fight against illiteracy, sub-Saharan Africa, in which Nigeria has the highest number of population, is unfortunately experiencing absolute rising number of non-literate adults. “For us to have a Nigeria free of poverty, hunger, diseases and want, where life can thrive better; a Nigeria free of fear and violence, a country where the physical, mental and social well-being of citizens are assured, then we must ensure an equitable and universal access to quality education at all levels, that is, for children as well as adults.” On the 758 million adults, who cannot read or write simple sentences, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova said these vulnerable people who are mainly women receive none of the benefits of globalisation and suffer all its costs. “These women and men are vulnerable to ill health, exploitation and human rights abuse. They are more likely to be unemployed and paid less wage.” AAUA VC, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun (3rd Right), in a handshake with the Divisional Police Officer, Akungba Akoko Police Division, Mr. Olajide Samuel, after the donation of some office equipment to the Division, while the other principal officers of the institution applaud.

education

Mojeed Alabi

midst the deafening cries of Nigerian teachers over non-payment of their salary and allowances, there is a ray of hope that teachers in Nigerian schools will no longer wait till they get to heaven before receiving their rewards. Thanks to the newly instituted Maltina Teacher of the Year Award by the Nigerian Breweries under the auspices of the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which is the second in its series. With an annual investment of N50 million, Nigerian teachers and teaching profession, according to the organisers of the event, which the second edition was flagged off in February, have begun to receive adequate attention they deserved. For Mr. Imoh Essien, a teacher of Computer, Basic Sciences and Physical Education at the Special Education Centre for Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who was crowned as this year’s Maltina Teacher of Year, amid thunderous ovation, the future of teaching profession in the country is bright. Essien, the Maltina Teacher of The Year received N1 million star prize and additional N1 million yearly for the next five years, while his school will also benefit from the donation of a block of six classrooms by the sponsor, which is billed to be completed before the next edition. Each of the 23 state champions received the cheque of N500,000, while the best three teachers went home with additional N1 million, N750,000 and N500,000 as the Maltina Teacher of the Year, first and second runners-up respectively. According to the Chairman of the Jury for the award, Prof. Pat Utomi, the competition this year became more keenly contested than the previous edition, with entries received across 34 states of the federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. He said the job of selecting the winners was challenging, but enormously important because of the role teachers play in moulding children, adding that at the end of the exercise, only 23 states including the FCT produced candidates with required requisites to be crowned the state champions. “And out of the 23 state champions, who faced further rigorous tests, the best three have emerged to be crowned the national champion, the first and second runnersup respectively,” Utomi explained. The 23 states that qualified are Abia, Abuja, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Taraba, and Yobe. In the first edition, Utomi recalled that only 19 states qualified for the competition. In a tension-soaked atmosphere that pervaded the hall as the teachers and guests waited anxiously for who will eventually emerged and crowned as this year’s best teacher, the 23 names of the list was further pruned down to 10 which produced Maureen Paulinus from Abuja; Kadalla Yusuff from Adamawa; Imoh Essien

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Day of honour for best Nigerian teachers

•As NBL showers cash prizes on 23 winners •I’m overwhelmed, says Essien, 2016 overall best teacher

L-R: Vervelde, Anwukah, Essien and Utomi at the event

(Akwa Ibom), Binta Lawan Muhammed (Borno), Cornellia Agwu (Ebonyi), Cordellia Onyinmba (Edo). Others are; Silvester Omole (Ekiti), Lawrence Patrick Ogwu (Kogi), and those state champions from Imo and Taraba States. At the Oriental Hotel, Lagos venue of the ceremony were key stakeholders in the country’s education sector including the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah; the Executive Secretary of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye; President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Michael Alogba-Olukoya; immediate past President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Dr. Binta Abdulrahman, and representatives of government of various states, among others. After much drama from the anchors of the event, Patrick Ogwu from Government Day Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State emerged the second runner-up, while Binta Lawan Mohammed, an English teacher from Borno State, who placed first runner-up last year, also repeated the feat this year. Essien, a graduate of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said within the last 16 years that he took up teaching as a profession he has had no cause to regret it. He said: “I am a fulfilled teacher because each day I enter the classroom is a new day. In 2005, when I visited the exceptional children school, I found out the school lacked adequate teachers and other facilities. I requested to be deployed to school from a regular school, and in the last 11 years that I have been teaching there, I have remained fulfilled.” He thanked the organisers of the award for providing and seeking better welfare for the teachers, saying no nation could grow above the quality of its teachers.

Teaching is where I derive joy and I will remain faithful to it

“I hope to invest this money into education through whatever means. I could develop a product towards the education of the special needs children, among other things. But, we appeal to other individuals and corporate organisations to see investment in education and teachers’ training and development as the best way to develop the country.” He said it is challenging teaching the special children but concluded that like every other child, the special children are also intelligent and require special attention to impact knowledge into them. He pledged his further commitment to their care and support. On her part, the first runnerup dedicated the trophy to Essien, saying teaching the physically challenged required additional skills. She said retaining her last year’s position is an indication of her commitment to education, and vowed that no matter the danger posed by the insurgency to education in her home state of Borno, she would remain committed to the profession. “Teaching is where I derive joy and I will remain faithful to it. Not even the rampaging insurgency can deter me from teaching,” Muhammed vowed. The winner of the last year’s edition, Mrs. Rose Obi, said since she was crowned, she had become a symbol of teaching in the country and globally, and that many of her pupils who once despised the profession have been engaging her on how to become successful teachers in future. While welcoming guests to the event, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, explained that Nigerian Breweries operates with a philosophy of “Winning with Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946. “In 1994, we raised the profile of our support of the education

sector when we established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to enable us contribute to the development of the sector. Everywhere in the world, teachers play vital role in sustainable national development by training, coaching and modeling which is critical to determining the quality of education. He noted that the firm recently handed over a twin three-bedroom staff quarters to Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, in honour of last year’s winner, Mrs. Obi. He thanked the stakeholders in the education sector for their support especially the Federal Ministry of Education, the state ministries of education, NUT, ANCOPSS and TRCN, among others. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, commended the initiative describing it as laudable, even as he advised teachers to invest in themselves to raise their standard. He, however, added that the ministry looks forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian Breweries on the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative. The NUT President commended the organisers for finding teachers worthy of such support, while promising his union’s unflinching support for the initiative. “We thank God that Nigerian teachers’ reward can also be received on the earth and not only in heaven as we were once made to believe,” Alogba-Olukoya said. The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Director of Private and Special Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ajoke Gbeleyi, described teachers as the most critical asset of the nation and thanked Nigerian Breweries for the initiative she described as a big boost to teachers and the teaching profession.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

campus

R-L; Prof. J.O Ogbuagu, Provost, FCE(T), Umunze and Prof. Francis Otunta, VC MOUA, Umudike flanked by other guests

ABSU

UNIZIK

xperts and major stakeholders in the nation’s agricultural sector last week assembled at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State to brainstorm on how to chart a new direction for agricultural mechanisation in the country. It was at a conference organised by the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering of university, where they offered scientifically proven solution to the challenges facing agricultural development in the nation. With the theme of the conference: “Mechanisation of Root and Tubers Production and Processing in Nigeria,” the stakeholders from diverse fields, said the conference would go a long way in helping the government at all levels to ensure self-sufficiency in food production, create employment opportunities, make raw materials available for agro-industries, increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product and foreign exchange. In his keynote address, the Director-General/CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Mohammed Jibrin, urged the participants comprising scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, teachers and professors in the agriculture and agricultural engineering sector as well as farmers, food processors and other stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of roots and tuber production and processing in the country. He noted that the future prospects of agricultural mechanisation in the country strongly rest on the development of machines and equipment locally, as well as with the adaptation of new designs and innovation in agricultural mechanisation technology from imported equipment and machines and the building and development of expertise for maintenance and repair of machines. He said: “The importance of agricultural mechanisation for the enhancement of roots and tuber crops production in the country is further magnified by the present realities of want and hunger.

Our work is, therefore, to bring our brains to bear and evolve appropriate machines and system for revolutionising the cultivation and production of roots and tuber crops.” Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the conference, a Professor of Industrial Chemistry and the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, said that the theme of the conference was imperative, especially now that the economy of the country is facing challenges. He further expressed optimism that the outcome of the conference would help to provide solution to the country’s multifarious econom-

ic problems. In his welcome address, the ViceChancellor of the university, Prof. Francis Otunta, described farming as the key to prosperity, saying: “Thus, participants must address all major issues relating to technology transfer and commercialisation modalities so that ventures, funds from internal and external sources could be attracted towards strategic investments in the areas of food production, processing, packaging and marketing of food products especially roots, tubers and other high ranking crops, whose commercial prospects have already been proven in our technology incubation centres (TICs) nationwide.”

s part of their mission to care for the less-privileged in the society, the Christian Medical and Dental Student’s Association (CMDA), Abia State University, Uturu chapter, has taken its medical outreach to Mgboko in Obingwa Local Government of Abia State, where the people in the rural communities were offered free medical services and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The outreach, which lasted for two days, started on Friday will rally round the village by the students and a crusade that was attended by the villagers who turned out in large number. The crusade was held at Umuhuaba Isikor Primary School. In his sermon, Dr. Uwaoma Godwin urged the people to reconcile themselves with God, even as he admonished them to desist from diabolical activities, while encouraging

them to give their lives to Christ. He noted that God could solve all their problems if only they become born again as demanded of them by Jesus Christ before they can inherit the Kingdom of God. He offered prayers for the villagers who agreed to give their lives to Christ as well as for the land. It was the turn of home visitation the following day as early as 5 am by the students, who held morning devotion with the villagers and also reminded them of the free medical service, which was scheduled to hold that same day. The free medical service kicked off that morning at Umuhuaba Isikor Primary School premises with series of lectures. Addressing the villagers, Nancy Nwagboso, a Part Five medical student, lectured them on dental hygiene, which is the act of taking proper care of the human teeth. “It involves everything one can do to promote the health of the teeth.”

Students recount losses as lecturers suspend strike

A L-R: Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; Heads of Service of the state, Mr. Harry Udu and Prof. Ogbuagu at the event

UNN alumni rally support for alma mater Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

he maiden homecoming of the alumni of the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has come and gone, but not without a call to all former students of the department to support the department in all spheres of its development. Declaring open the platform described as the conference of former graduates of the Department, the Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, who chaired the event, described Chemistry as the index of industrial development and the giant strides made by man in the

understanding and exploitation of nature. The provost, who added that synthesis of new materials is essential to the enhancement of the quality of life, and sustenance of economic and technological progress have benefited immensely from Chemistry. He, however, noted that the homecoming would provide the opportunity for the graduates and faculty members to meet and chat a way forward for the growth of the department. In his remarks, the Head of Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Prof. U.C Okoro, on the brief history of the department, recalled that it was established in October 1960, as Department of Chemistry in the then Faculty of Science.

Day ABSU students took medical outreach to rural communities Uchechukw Amanze

Stakeholders, experts harp on mechanised agric Emeka Onwudinjo

education

s academic activities and social life that disappeared on the campus of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), following the three-month strike embarked upon by the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) returned, the students and members of the host community have continued to count their losses. Following the strike, academic activities were put on hold as the institution was closed, while business activities also had since been put on the line. But, the suspension of the strike has been greeted with jubilation by the students and members of the university host community, including traders, artisans, commercial motorcyclists and mini-bus drivers who were said to have trooped out jubilating and heaved the sigh of relief with the expectations that commercial activities that have been

comatose since students went home would bounce back to life. The Registrar of the university, Mr. Sunday Ayeerun, in a statement had urged he students to resume immediately as lectures would commence in earnest for the remaining part of the second semester of the 2015/2016 session. A cross-section of some of the returning students and members of the host community who spoke on the development expressed joy that the impasse has finally been resolved. The President of Students’ Union, Adegbola Odunyemi, who said he was overwhelmed with joy at the news of their resumption and the suspension of the strike, said: “We are all happy that we are back on campus. Though the effects of the strike on us are unquantifiable, we thank God that we are back to complete the 2015/2016 academic session.

education

UNILORIN VC seeks support for varsities’ development Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali has pleaded with spirited and well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to rise and support government’s efforts in enhancing quality university education in the country. Ambali made the call during the award of degrees and diploma certificates to over 8,000 students, who received their scrolls at the 32nd convocation ceremony of the university. According to the vice-chancellor, the people should complement the efforts of the government through partnership in the area of infrastructural development so as to enhance the standard of the nation’s university education. He said: “Education is too important to be left in the hands of government alone.

L-R: Mr. Adegunwa Osinubi; Dr. Lawal and a fellow of the institute, Mr. Shina Bamgbose at the conference

Kayode Olanrewaju

he President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Environmental Accountants of Nigeria (IEA), Dr. Olusegun Lawal, has restated that the institute is working tirelessly on new and improved theory for best practices that will enhance more ecologically sound and sustainable environmental decisions and performance of government and organisations towards the nation’s sustainability of resources and wealth. Lawal, who lamented the poor state of environment in the country, said: “Professionally, we attach costs to environmental effects, damages and offer an exciting interdisciplinary approach to research and training, combining training in professional skills and project placement in industries and research institutions.” He spoke while addressing newsmen about the conferment of the institute’s “Environment Champion of The Year 2016 Award” and “Distinguished Fellowship, as well as conferment of the Institute’s

It is understandable that the Federal Government cannot provide all the needs of the University of Ilorin as a microcosm of other several universities. It is in this respect that I call on spirited Nigerians to come and partner the university and contribute towards making life on campus better for the teeming student populace. “We want more of such interventions as made by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) through the $2 million Engineering Research Centre commissioned in July, this year, from corporate organisations and wellmeaning Nigerians. “In essence, the university is keenly interested in expanding its facilities and increasing its capacity to cater for several thousands of Nigerian students, who knock at our gate for admission every year without adequate admission spaces to accommodate them. “Such interventions may come in the form of provi-

sion of lecture theatres, classrooms, hostels, blocks of offices, endowment of chairs and research sponsorships and grants to the members of staff and students.” While congratulating the graduating students and their parents, Ambali urged the students to uphold the tradition of excellence and be good ambassadors of the university wherever they may be, adding that they must be guided by the UNILORIN ideals and philosophy having been found worthy in character and learning as they graduate into the larger society. He said: “You will make your life better if you internalise the institution’s tradition of excellence, commit yourselves to life-long learning, make research your friend and uphold probity in dealing with people and phenomena, as well as devote yourselves to quality service. I wish you all the good life after graduation which is filled with abundant grace and great accomplishment.”

Institute restates commitment to environment-friendly society Platinum Award” on Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade on October 27 at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Lagos Hotel & Towers, Ikeja. The institute, according to the President/Chairman of Council, will also confer the institute’s awards of excellence in environmental best practices on some leading “green conscious personalities and corporate concerns.” He said the selection process by the institute’s Search and Selection Committee in nominating these notable awardees among several deserving personalities and Organisations was intense and based on their notable involvement in environmental sustainability and best practices for the common future of the country. “However, our criteria was based on recognition of their respective laudable contributions to environmental sustainability, security, diplomacy and eco-friendly ingenuities coupled with unique stride of achieving environmental

growth without sacrificing social well-being of communities remain commendable and worthy of recognition,” Lawal said. According to him, the “awards are being bestowed on them to stimulate positive interest and further encourage them to do more in order to enhance environmental consciousness in our collective aspirations and responsibilities of ensuring environmental-friendly society.” The institute, he said, is a specialised environmental accounting institution for the good purpose of promoting professionalism in environmental quality, adding that IEA is multidisciplinary in nature and expertise with membership cutting across wide spectrum of fields. “Its approach far transcends the traditional accounting method of debit and credit with involvement of team of experts in data collations and presentations towards a sustainable environment,” Lawal noted.

TUESDAY, october 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EDUPEACE

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

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Be word-wise, communicate peacefully

oday, we live in the world appreciate; don’t detract, attract; of words. More than any don’t suspect, respect; don’t maother time in history, we nipulate, cooperate; don’t discard, communicate more. As regard; don’t offend, commend; I once wrote, “…everywhere one don’t indoctrinate, illuminate; goes, words are there blasting over don’t impose, propose; don’t morradio and television sets, jarring tify, dignify; don’t humiliate, huear-drums with (un)intelligible manize; don’t resist, assist and messages, words are there as- don’t attack (verbally), question.” Besides, the memorable allitersailing one’s sight in dazzling colours in the form of headlines or ations that should be adopted are reports, with different forms and as follows: “AAA: Aim at affect and fonts in newspapers, magazines amiability; BBB: Build bridges and the computer screen. Today’s of blessings; CCC: Consider conworld solely depends on words.” troversies constructively; DDD: The world is wordy and there Develop a democratic discourse; is no escape from words. But the FFF: Foster friendship and frawords we use go a long way in ternity; HHH: Honour humanity determining who we are. For the and humaneness; III: Inculcate umpteenth time, the words of Birk integration and interdependence; and Birk in their “Using and Un- JJJ: Join justice and peace joyfulderstanding English” (1959), still ly; LLL: Lead with life-supporting come to mind. According to them, love; MMM: Multiply mediation “mere words can make and pre- and meditation and NNN: Nourvent wars, create understanding ish negotiation norms; OOO: Opt or inflame prejudice, form con- for openheartedness and openstitutions or destroy them, sell mindedness; PPP: Perceive people shoddy or superior products or as peace partners; SSS: Sustain seideas, justify man’s worst actions curity and solidarity; TTT: Treat and express his highest ideals.” others with tact and tenderness; This is a truism. UUU: Unite for ultimate universalThe advent of the internet and ity; VVV: Veto violent vocabulary the social media has given words a and WWW: Weigh your words blast. Everyone now has an opinion with wisdom.” and there is nothing as depressing Lastly, the positivisers are that as going through the comments you try always to accept, agree, of Nigerians on various blogs and acknowledge, assist, bless, bridge, websites. The tendency towards build, celebrate, commend, conviolent communication among us struct, converge, cooperate, crehas gained ascendancy especially ate, democratise, develop, dignify, since the commencement of “do or educate, empathize, encourage, die” politics. Foul language now fills enhance, entertain, forgive, foster, the cyberspace dripping with blood, help, honour, humanise, improve, hatred, prejudice and hubris. Those instruct, interact, like, love, praise, who use it think they are wise but promote, reconcile, respect, share, they are otherwise. support, thank, trust and unite, not The language otherwise. After imbibing you use is a reflection of your these strategies, you then try, it world. ThereToday’s world solely may be difficult fore, make conin the beginning scious efforts depends on words in our hostile ento communicate peacefully. vironment where If others rant, curse, shout, attack abusive and violent language is ofand destroy, don’t join them. If you ten employed, to relate and interact can’t beat them, you leave them with others affirmatively, agreein peace! As the Glorious Qur’an ably/amicably/appreciatively, be(Chapter 25: 63) puts it, “And the ser- nevolently, benignly, big-heartedly, vants of the Beneficent Allah are caringly, civic-mindedly, compasthey who walk on the earth in hum- sionately, conciliatorily, considerbleness, and when the ignorant ad- ately, cordially, constructively, dignifyingly, dutifully, empathetically, dress them, they say: Peace!” Everyone, regardless of age or empoweringly, encouragingly, eqstage, is a student in the University uitably, ethically, fairly, forgivingly, of Life. It is therefore incumbent good-heartedly, good-naturedly, on us all to be educated on peace- generously, gently, graciously, helpful communication. Based on the fully, humanely, humanitarianly, work of Gomes de Matos (2006), humanisingly, humbly, honestly, there are principles and strategies harmoniously, hopefully, imparof peaceful communication. The tially, interdependently, joyfully, four principles are simply that justly, kindly, lovingly, magnaniyou “Love Your Communicative mously, mercifully, non-judgementNeighbour; Dignify Your Daily ally, nonviolently, optimistically, Dialogues; Prioritise Positivisers openly, patiently, positively, reliIn Your Language Use and Be A ably, respectfully, responsibly, selfCommunicative Humaniser.” lessly, sensitively, supportively, After digesting the principles, sympathetically, tactfully, tenderly, you internalise the three strate- thoughtfully, trustworthily, trustgies of peaceful communication ingly, understandingly, unselfishly, which are imbibing communica- virtuously and well-meaningfully. tive contrasts, adopting memoraWhen all is said and done, you ble alliterations and using “posi- would appreciate that you can tivisers”, a generic term used for always make your point without peace-enhancing words. going ballistic, without abusing, On the communicative con- insulting, denigrating or destroytrasts, these are: “don’t denigrate, ing others. Try it!

BUSINESS |MONEY LINE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FORECAST Monthly remittances averaged $23m in 2016

Tony Chukwunyem

lthough the sale of home remittances to Bureaux De Change (BDCs) by Travelex and First Bank of Nigeria Plc has increased the supply of foreign exchange to that market segment in recent weeks, analysts at Meristem Research have said that this source of dollar supply will not be able to meet the demand of BDCs in this quarter. In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts stated that monthly remittances av-

Analysts: Remittances can’t sustain dollar supply to BDCs ment decides to, appears to be getting attention,” the analysts said. They pointed out that based on the criterion of import cover, the current level of reserves can cover 6 months vs. minimum of 3 months as suggested by the International Monetary

eraged $23million in 2016 and $13.9million in July, adding: “This does not appear adequate to match the estimated BDC demand (proposed supply of USD50,000 per week to each BDC) and the appreciation witnessed in this market segment might suggest some cushion being provided by the monetary authorities.” According to the analysts, for the dollar supply to BDCs be sustained during this quarter, some reserves would have to be released. “This is very key as the alignment of the BDC rate with the interbank rate to ensure adequate positioning for accessing the concessionary funding if the govern-

he Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) is investigating some of its members over allegations relating to unprofessional conduct and ethics violations. The President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Professor Segun Ajibola, disclosed this in the welcome address he delivered at the Institute’s 2016 Fellowship investiture, which took place in Lagos last weekend. He said: “In the bid to further entrench ethics and professionalism in the banking industry, we have since been collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that all bank staff attested to and adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct in the Nigerian Banking Industry. For instance, the conducts of some members are currently being investigated while a member who was found guilty of violation was deregistered.” He told the 150 awardees who were admitted into the Fellowship and Honorary Senior membership cadres of the Institute, that the CIBN placed a lot of emphasis in ensuring that its members

line with Access’ Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘B’. “In the agency’s view, the likelihood of default on these notes reflects the likelihood of default of the bank. Access’ IDR is driven by both potential support from the Nigerian authorities, if required, and the bank’s standalone creditworthiness as defined by a Viability Rating (VR) of ‘b’,” Fitch stated. It, however, stated that the rating on the senior unsecured notes was sensitive to a change in Access’ IDR, including a lower propensity and ability of the Nigerian sovereign to provide support, particularly in foreign currency. “The IDR is sensitive to deterioration in the bank’s regulatory capital ratios, asset quality or liquidity. Like its peers, the bank’s financial metrics are under pressure from the current challenging operating conditions in Nigeria.”

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

N19,142,526.05m

Mar, 2015

N18,579,219.49m 17.9 14 10.77 US$50.89 US$23,907,327,736

Mar, 2015 September, 2016 26/07/2016 Mar 2015 24/10/2016 21/10/2016

Source:CBN

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

FGN Bonds

TTM

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Treasury Bills

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

international reserves is very adequate at over 200 per cent.” They, however, noted that concerns with the reserves were with regard to its adequacy against the background of a prolonged period of low oil receipts, low capital importation and high import levels.

CIBN probes members over unethical conduct

Fitch Rates Access Bank’s Senior Notes ‘B’

itch Ratings has assigned Access Bank Plc’s issue of USD300million 10.5per cent senior unsecured notes due 2021 a ‘B’ rating. In a statement, the agency said that the Recovery Rating is ‘RR4’, which denotes average recovery prospects given default. According to Fitch: “The notes were issued under the bank’s USD1bn global medium term note (GMTN) programme. Part of the new notes issued were pursuant to Access’ exchange offer on its existing USD350m 7.25per cent of senior unsecured notes due 2017 issued by a special purpose vehicle, Access Finance BV.” At the same time, Fitch has assigned final long and shortterm ratings of ‘B’ to the USD1billion GMTN programme following a review of the final documentation. It explained that the senior unsecured notes were rated in

Fund (IMF) and 6 months West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) criteria. Similarly, they stated that based on the GreenspanGuidotti rule, which recommends that the reserves be at least 100 per cent of the stock of short-term debt, “the level of

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲ Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 30-Jun-16 7.92 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

upheld the ethics of the banking profession. He said: “The selection process that produced them was thorough, stringent and painstaking. This is not surprising considering the calibre of the members of the Institute’s Board of Fellows and Practice License, which has the responsibility for considering applications for Fellowship. Let me emphasise that we place a particular premium on ensuring that the awardees have not only exhibited exemplary conducts as regards ethics and professionalism but have also made significant contributions to the growth and development of the banking and finance profession.” He urged the awardees to always act as role models and mentors for others in the banking profession, adding that they

should always remember that they are ambassadors of the Institute. The CIBN boss said that the economic recession that the country is currently grappling with calls for a collective effort by the government and all relevant stakeholders to develop feasible policy interventions that would revive the economy. According to him, the Federal Government should as a matter of priority and urgency initiate policies to deepen the diversification of the Nigerian economy and attracting foreign investors. “These can be done through the provision of infrastructure, promotion of agricultural policies to drive self-reliance, the reduction of imports and redirection of attention to tapping the abundant mineral resources in the country,” he added.

‘Africa struggles as winners emerge from commodities slump’

or exporters, weaker revenue has damped growth, according Bloomberg news. Consider Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and biggest oil producer. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 2.1 per cent in the second quarter, following a 0.4 per cent slump in the first. Adjusting to this new reality will take time for energy exporters. Most African economies, though, aren’t in the oil business. For them, lower fuel costs support growth and living standards. So fortunes are set to diverge across the continent. In fact, the narrative could change from “Africa Rising” to “Africa Tilting” as commodity exporters in West, Central, and Southern Africa struggle to find new sources of growth, while East African economies develop and integrate into a more robust—and potentially huge—regional market. From 2010 to 2014, economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.2 per cent. After oil prices plunged in 2014, growth slowed to 3.4 percent in 2015. It’s likely to be weaker still in 2016, but the decline in aggregate terms largely reflects slowdowns in Nigeria, fellow oil exporter Angola, and South Africa. The three countries accounted for about 60 per cent of sub-Saharan GDP in 2015 but less than 30 per cent of its population. Kenya’s growth has helped

attract increased foreign direct investment. Kenya’s growth has helped attract increased foreign direct investment. Deeper integration, betterfunctioning markets, and improved infrastructure could all bear fruit as the continent pursues other sources of growth. East Africa is leading the way. The African Development Bank, in its inaugural Africa Regional Integration Index Report, rated the East African Community—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—as the topperforming regional economic community on the continent. The report finds that the EAC has advanced furthest in reducing cross-border barriers to trade and other economic activity and is ahead of its peers in the categories of trade and productive integration. Deeper integration should create larger markets, enabling companies to specialise more and reap economies of scale. That could support an expansion of manufacturing, which is needed to boost growth and macroeconomic stability. Some global manufacturers have lately been looking at opportunities in Kenya: Volkswagen plans to assemble cars at a plant north of Nairobi, the government announced in September. Kenya’s economy is doing well in its own right, with GDP growing 6.2 per cent in the second quarter.

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

24-Oct-16

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

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

Description 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 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 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 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

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

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15 12.4000

480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 225.59 605.31 719.99 468.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 352.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,555.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

5,905.35

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Description

Issuer

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.51 0.76 0.85 1.60 2.68 3.00 3.30 4.72 5.26 7.39 9.25 12.09 12.57 13.07 13.74 17.73 19.40

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

17.72 19.10 19.63 18.33 14.54 14.79 15.02 14.87 14.81 15.00 15.37 15.28 15.27 15.25 15.23 15.11 15.42

17.39 18.87 19.41 18.21 14.48 14.72 14.90 14.78 14.73 14.93 15.30 15.23 15.20 15.17 15.16 15.05 15.36

98.77 93.69 92.24 89.77 103.08 81.67 101.25 98.71 105.56 96.44 86.02 98.43 84.64 62.19 70.18 81.85 81.47

98.92 93.84 92.39 89.92 103.23 81.82 101.55 99.01 105.86 96.74 86.32 98.73 84.94 62.49 70.48 82.15 81.77

6510.155565

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.27

2.94

18.12

99.73

19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.48 0.44 1.18 1.23 1.24 1.20 1.20 1.38 1.80 3.08 1.76 4.09 4.18 2.42 2.44 2.99 3.21 3.23 3.35 6.46 3.32

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

18.52 22.77 22.18 20.65 20.61 23.57 23.29 22.92 19.66 16.83 18.77 16.24 18.69 17.99 16.38 16.31 18.89 15.89 17.46 16.62 17.97

96.19 96.35 91.78 93.22 93.21 91.29 91.02 91.80 94.10 94.53 94.30 92.00 89.53 93.64 97.36 98.17 94.65 101.36 100.06 101.27 97.74

0.60

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.60

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

57.00 11.33 25.00 19.37 3.49 9.45 7.01 18.70 11.14 80.00 19.40 87.50 5.00 3.74 3.76 14.37 4.17 4.30 27.10 3.00 7.34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

422.14 398.42

Corporate Bonds

Nil Nil Nil A/GCR

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 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

***LCRM

Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/GCR Nil

UBA *LA CASERA

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

*C & I LEASING #{r}

A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil

*DANA

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

UBA

*CHELLARAMS #{r}

Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR AA-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR AA-/GCR BBB/GCR

*DANA

*TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC FCMB NAHCO

UBA

BBB/GCR A/GCR

FIDELITY STANBIC IBTC

A/GCR AAA/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 LAFARGE 15-JUN-2019 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.75 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

LAFARGE AFRICA PLC *FCMB

A/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

14.75 LAFARGE 15-JUN-2021 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17

0.12 0.48 0.70 0.93

1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88

16.36 21.07 24.03 21.95

99.84 97.96 95.28 92.75

18-Oct-13 30-Nov-12

15.75 18.00

1.20 0.36

18-Oct-18 30-Nov-17

1.23 0.61

4.42 1.88

24.05 20.18

91.80 99.57

09-Apr-11

16.00

2.70

09-Apr-18

0.96

3.15

23.36

94.07

09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11

18.00 16.00

1.45 0.40

09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18

1.12 1.12

6.35 1.00

26.36 21.01

92.46 95.28

30-Sep-11 17-Feb-12

14.00 18.00

35.00 0.23

30-Sep-18 17-Feb-19

1.93 1.32

1.17 6.11

18.33 25.43

93.17 92.24

01-Apr-14

16.00

3.75

01-Apr-19

1.44

3.28

22.19

92.91

04-Dec-15 15-Jun-16

15.50 14.25

9.76 26.39

04-Dec-20 15-Jun-19

2.56 2.64

3.55 1.00

18.68 16.06

93.93 96.15

26-Oct-15

16.00

10.00

26-Oct-22

3.72

2.77

17.75

95.61

06-Nov-15

15.00

23.19

06-Nov-20

4.03

4.47

19.41

88.02

14-Nov-13

15.75

2.05

14-Nov-20

4.06

1.00

15.94

99.41

15-Jun-16 20-Nov-14

14.75 14.25

33.61 26.00

15-Jun-21 20-Nov-21

4.64 5.07

1.00 2.51

15.88 17.35

96.34 89.78

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

5.18

1.00

15.84

102.04

13-May-15 30-Sep-14

16.48 16.29

30.00 0.10

13-May-22 30-Sep-24

5.55 7.93

1.00 1.00

15.84 16.11

102.28 100.75

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

7.93

1.00

16.11

87.40

29-Jul-15

14.90

7.82

29-Jul-30

9.16

1.00

16.33

93.67

10-Oct-20

2.28

3.37

19.32

92.09

575.36

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

555.29

Sukuk *OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.30

1.00

17.64

91.64

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

2.52

1.00

14.01

94.40

Bid Price

Offer Price

BBB-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14.75

8.63

8.63 7.95

Supranational Bond

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 23.22 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.84

6.61

99.64

100.51

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.74

4.28

100.62

101.38

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.94

6.77

97.00

97.89

101.84

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,486.32

Corporate Eurobonds B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.00

4.71

100.89

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

18.55

17.37

85.00

86.38

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.50

5.73

99.07

100.51

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.37

97.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

22.06

20.73

74.88

77.00

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

13.87 11.74 14.69

13.87 11.33 14.34

83.44 90.83 77.17

83.44 92.19 78.17

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

Maturity Date

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

3,150.00 2,814.71 Description

Issuer

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

FSDH CP I 28-NOV-16

30-Aug-16

16.64

0.81

28-Nov-16

1.00

16.44

16.18

FSDH CP II 26-MAY-17

30-Aug-16

21.89

14.17

26-May-17

214

2.49

20.65

18.43

Commercial Papers A-/Agusto A-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED

14.98

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 10 24 38 45 52 66 73 87

FIXINGS Maturity 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 29-Dec-16 5-Jan-17 19-Jan-17

Bid Discount (%) 15.31 14.90 17.09 16.36 16.40 16.20 17.08 14.08

Offer Discount (%) 15.06 14.65 16.84 16.11 16.15 15.95 16.83 13.83

Bid Yield (%) 15.37 15.05 17.40 16.70 16.79 16.68 17.68 14.57

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 15.4167 17.7904 19.3298 21.1318

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.00

Tenor

Closing Rate ($/N)

O/N

10.75

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

305.00 315.62 317.37 319.69 324.01 326.61

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 12.00 13.83

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

24-Oct-16

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

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bonds

FGN Bonds

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Rating/Agency

Description

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 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 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 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

The CBN5 revised the rates on all outstanding OTC FX Futures contracts, whilst a new 12-month contract - NGUS SEP 20 2017 was introduced at $1/ N243.50. Member-Member trades stood at $1.05 billion in the Description month of September, an increase of 97.15 per cent ($0.52 billion) compared with trades recorded in August and 41.53 per cent ($0.31bn) YoY.

DEALS Activities in the Foreign Exchange (FX) market for TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the month of September accounted for 25.74 per Agency Bonds cent Rating/Agency

Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issuer

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

Stories: Chris Ugwu A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

he FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange posted 11.30 per cent growth in fixed income and currency markets (FIC) transactions in September 2016. In a report obtained by New Telegraph, turnover of transactions executed in the Fixed Income and TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUECurrency TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION (FIC) markets for the month Corporate Bonds of September 2016 amounted to N10.85 trillion; an increase of 11.30 per cent (N1.10 trillion) over the value recorded in August and a 5.45 per cent (N0.63 trillion) decline YoY. Activities in the Foreign Exchange (FX) market for the month of September accounted for 25.74 per cent (August – 23.29 per cent), while FGN2 bonds and Unsecured Placements/ Takings accounted for 7.16 per TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE cent (August – 2.92 per cent), TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION and 1.96 per cent (August – 4.06 Sukuk per cent) of the total turnover respectively . TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Treasury bills (T.bills) Supranational Bond accounted transactions for 36.85 per cent (August – 33.02 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE per cent) of the total turnover TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION while Secured Money Market (Repurchase Agreements FGN Eurobonds (Repos)/Buy-Backs] accounted for 28.24 per cent (August – 31.00 per cent). Transactions in the FX TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE market settled at $7.19 billion in TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION September, an increase of 33.10 Corporate Eurobonds per cent ($1.79 billion) compared with the value recorded in August. The third Naira-settled OTC FX Futures contract, NGUS SEP TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 28 2016, with a total outstanding TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION amount of $179.93mm, priced at $/ N296, matured and was Rating/Agency Issuer settled within Commercial Papers the month. Nil Nil Nil A/GCR

BBB-/GCR Nil

UBA *LA CASERA

*C & I LEASING #{r}

A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR

A+/Agusto; A/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil

Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR AA-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR AA-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR

*DANA *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA

*CHELLARAMS #{r} *DANA

BBB/GCR

FCMB

NAHCO LAFARGE AFRICA PLC *FCMB

STANBIC IBTC

A/GCR AAA/GCR

STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

AAA/S&P

IFC

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

FGN

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

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

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

A-/Agusto A-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

Coupon (%)

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

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15 12.4000

480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 225.59 605.31 719.99 468.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 352.00

Member-Client trades also increased by 26.08 per cent, ($1.27billion) from the previous month and 17.91 per cent 6,555.16 ($1.34billion) YoY. 5,905.35 In the month under review, the Naira appreciated by 1.46 Issue Date Coupon (%) per cent to close at $/ N311.62 in the inter-bank market, whilst it depreciated by 13.10 per cent to close at $/N475.00 in the parallel market. 03-Apr-12

17.25

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 LAFARGE 15-JUN-2019

from N336.853 billion in 2015 to N380.352 billion during the third quarter of 2016. Exotix Research in its latest report said continued strong quarterly increase in loan book indicates growth in real terms. The financial analysts noted that the bank’s gross loans increased by 22.5 per cent YTD and 6.4 per cent qoq to N2,491 billion (vs FY16f N2,447billion). “While it is hard to evaluate the impact of FX devaluation on a YTD basis (because the

16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.75 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

18-Oct-13

15.75

30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11

18.00 16.00

09-Sep-11

18.00

09-Sep-11

16.00

30-Sep-11 17-Feb-12

14.00 18.00

01-Apr-14

16.00

04-Dec-15 15-Jun-16

15.50 14.25

26-Oct-15

16.00

06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13

15.00 15.75

15-Jun-16 20-Nov-14

14.75 14.25

30-Dec-14

16.45

13-May-15

16.48

30-Sep-14

16.29

30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

13.25 14.90

Unity Bank Q3 PAT drops 63%

*TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

FIDELITY

A/GCR

enith Bank Plc third quarter 2016 profit after tax grew by 20.44 per cent to N100.074 billion from N83.087 billion recorded a year earlier. In a filing from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the group’s pre-tax profit also rose by 16.55 per cent from N104.052 billion during the previous year to N121.275 billion during the period under review. Its gross earnings equally increased by 12.91 per cent

*TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC

UBA

LAGOS 19-APR-2017 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 EDO 31-DEC-2017 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 OYO 16-FEB-2022 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

Issue Date

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.51 0.76 0.85 1.60 2.68 3.00 3.30 4.72 5.26 7.39 9.25 12.09 12.57 13.07 13.74 17.73 19.40

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

17.72 19.10 19.63 18.33 14.54 14.79 15.02 14.87 14.81 15.00 15.37 15.28 15.27 15.25 15.23 15.11 15.42

17.39 18.87 19.41 18.21 14.48 14.72 14.90 14.78 14.73 14.93 15.30 15.23 15.20 15.17 15.16 15.05 15.36

98.77 93.69 92.24 89.77 103.08 81.67 101.25 98.71 105.56 96.44 86.02 98.43 84.64 62.19 70.18 81.85 81.47

98.92 93.84 92.39 89.92 103.23 81.82 101.55 99.01 105.86 96.74 86.32 98.73 84.94 62.49 70.48 82.15 81.77

2.94

18.12

99.73

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

18.52 22.77 22.18 20.65 20.61 23.57 23.29 22.92 19.66 16.83 18.77 16.24 18.69 17.99 16.38 16.31 18.89 15.89 17.46 16.62 17.97

96.19 96.35 91.78 93.22 93.21 91.29 91.02 91.80 94.10 94.53 94.30 92.00 89.53 93.64 97.36 98.17 94.65 101.36 100.06 101.27 97.74

1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88

16.36 21.07 24.03 21.95

99.84 97.96 95.28 92.75

4.42

24.05

91.80

1.88 3.15

20.18 23.36

99.57 94.07

6.35

26.36

92.46

1.00

21.01

95.28

1.17 6.11

18.33 25.43

93.17 92.24

3.28

22.19

92.91

3.55 1.00

18.68 16.06

93.93 96.15

Turnover in the Fixed Income market for the month settled at N4.78 trillion, 6.42 per cent (N0.33 trillion) below the previous month’s value, with transactions in the T.bills Outstanding market accounting for 83.74 per Maturity Date Value (₦’bn) cent of the Fixed Income market turnover. 0.60 Outstanding T.bills at the 0.60 end of the month amounted to N7.01 trillion (August – N6.62 Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.27

57.00 11.33 25.00 19.37 3.49 9.45 7.01 18.70 11.14 80.00 19.40 87.50 5.00 3.74 3.76 14.37 4.17 4.30 27.10 3.00 7.34

0.48 0.44 1.18 1.23 1.24 1.20 1.20 1.38 1.80 3.08 1.76 4.09 4.18 2.42 2.44 2.99 3.21 3.23 3.35 6.46 3.32

112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17

0.12 0.48 0.70 0.93

1.20

18-Oct-18

1.23

0.36 2.70

30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18

0.61 0.96

1.45

09-Sep-18

1.12

trillion) whilst FGN bonds outstanding volume increased by 1.91 per cent (N0.12 trillion) to close at N6.45 trillion in the period under review. Trading intensity in the Risk Valuation Fixed Income market settled Modelled Price Premium Yield (%) at(%)0.60 and 0.12 for T.bills and FGN bonds respectively, with maturities between 6 months – 1 year being the most actively traded (N1.82 trillion). 6510.155565

Zenith Bank reports 20% growth in Q3 net earnings

***LCRM

Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR†

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

14.75 LAFARGE 15-JUN-2021 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022

nity Bank Plc has posted 63.22 per cent drop in profit after tax for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The lender in a filing with Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), said its net earnings declined to N3.425 billion from N9.313 billion the same period last year, indicating a decrease of 63.22 per cent. Similarly, profit before tax dropped to N3.806 billion from N10.346 billion a year earlier, accounting for a decrease of 63.22 per cent. Unity Bank’s pretax profit for the half-year (H1) period ended June 30, 2016 slipped by 70.2 per cent to N2.61 billion from N8.77 billion declared a year ago. Similarly, profit after tax (PAT) of the lender fell by the Description same margin of 70.2 per cent or N2.35 billion from N7.89

FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

Description

6.75 JAN 28, 2021 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 6.38 JUL 12, 2023

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

6.00 NOV 08, 2018 6.25 APR 22, 2019 8.75 May 21, 2019

Price

FMDQ reports N10.85trn September turnover Issuer

billion posted the same period of 2015. In the same vein, gross income of the lender dropped 35.1 per cent to N21.7 billion from N33.5 billion reported a year earlier. The bank posted 56.14 per cent drop in profit after tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. Its net earnings declined to N4.689 billion from N10.692 billion the same period last year, indicating a decrease of 56.14 per cent. Also, profit before tax dropped to N2.342 billion from N13.639 billion a year earlier, accounting for a decrease of 83.83 per cent. The bank’s net interest income equally dropped by 5.18 per cent to N43.092 billion as against N45.450 billion recorded inIssue same period last Date Yield @ Issue (%) year. 10-Oct-13

14.75

11-Feb-13

10.20

10-Jul-14

11.25

Issue Date

bank converted a significant and unspecified proportion of its US$ loans to NGN), we think the loan book has increased in real terms during Q3. Based on a US$-denominated loan book of 422.14 NGN664bn equivalent as at H1 398.42 16, a devaluation of 11.6 per cent would have increased its overall loans by N77 billion compared to the N150.7 billion announced by the bank. We therefore estimate real loan growth of 3.1 per cent qoq. We consider the growth in real terms both encouraging

and concerning at the same time given the negative macroenvironment,” they said. The experts added that noninterest revenue boosted by FX gains but source of the same remains opaque. According to them, non-interest revenue increased by 18.2 per cent yoy to N94.7 billion (238.6 per cent qoq to N61.3 billion and our FY16f of N84.4 billion) largely driven by a YTD FX revaluation gain of N31.0 billion, of which N28.2 billion was recorded in Q3.

0.40

09-Sep-18

1.12

35.00 0.23

30-Sep-18 17-Feb-19

1.93 1.32

3.75

01-Apr-19

1.44

9.76 26.39

04-Dec-20 15-Jun-19

2.56 2.64

10.00

26-Oct-22

3.72

2.77

17.75

95.61

23.19 2.05

06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20

4.03 4.06

4.47 1.00

19.41 15.94

88.02 99.41

33.61 26.00

15-Jun-21 20-Nov-21

4.64 5.07

1.00 2.51

15.88 17.35

96.34 89.78

30.50

30-Dec-21

5.18

1.00

15.84

102.04

30.00

13-May-22

5.55

1.00

15.84

102.28

0.10

30-Sep-24

7.93

1.00

16.11

100.75

15.44 7.82

30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

7.93 9.16

1.00 1.00

16.11 16.33

87.40 93.67

3.37

19.32

92.09

1.00

17.64

91.64

1.00

14.01

94.40

Bid Price

Offer Price

NSE is most innovative stock exchange in Africa 575.36

555.29

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has emerged 8.63 the most innovative Stock 7.95 Exchange in Africa 2016. This award, according to a statement, was presented to The 24.95 Exchange by The Business Year 23.22 magazine at the Stock Exchange House, Lagos. The Business Year Magazine Awards recognise different categories of players who have shown exemplary 1,500.00 leadership, innovation, and 1,486.32 entrepreneurship. These include stock exchanges, socially responsible companies, regulators, listed companies, investment banks, stockbroking companies, research teams and 3,150.00 fund managers. 2,814.71 According to Andrea Outstanding Bernaldo de Quiros, Country Maturity Date Value (₦’bn) Manager Nigeria, TBY

magazine, “the Most Innovative African Stock Exchange in Africa award was given in recognition of NSE’s success in enhancing investor experience and transforming Nigerian market dynamics through the deployment of advanced technologies, innovative trading capabilities, and a new trading Prices & Yields platform.” Speaking on the award, Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said: “We consider it an honour to be named the most innovative Stock Exchange in Africa. This is evidence of the reforms we have been implementing to create an environment that makes the NSE an attractive capital market for companies seeking new sources of capital and one that inspires Risk Valuation Discount Rate (%) Premium the trust and confidence of Yield (%) (%) domestic and foreign investors.

8.63

10-Oct-20

2.28

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.30

12.95

01-Feb-21

2.52

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.84

6.61

99.64

100.51

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.74

4.28

100.62

101.38

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.94

6.77

97.00

97.89

101.84

25-Jul-12

7.25

09-May-13

6.88

08-Nov-13

6.00

22-Apr-14

6.25

21-May-14

8.75

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

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.00

300.00

02-May-18

18.55

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.50

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.37

200.00

21-May-19

22.06

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

13.87 11.74 14.69

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

DTM

4.71

100.89

17.37

85.00

86.38

5.73

99.07

100.51

7.37

97.50

20.73

74.88

77.00

13.87 11.33 14.34

83.44 90.83 77.17

83.44 92.19 78.17

11.76

84.88

86.63

16.18

FSDH CP I 28-NOV-16

30-Aug-16

16.64

0.81

28-Nov-16

1.00

16.44

FSDH CP II 26-MAY-17

30-Aug-16

21.89

14.17

26-May-17

214

2.49

20.65

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

14.98

18.43

24-Oct-16

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 (theMoney “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial FIXINGS Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) or investment DTM advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate;Bid however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up toTenor date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, Maturity Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Rate (%) NIBOR 10 3-Nov-16 15.31 15.06 15.37 performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. OBB 10.00 Tenor Closing Rate ($/N)

**TREASURY BILLS^

24 38 45 52 66 73 87 101 Rating/Agency 115 122 129 136 143 150 157 164 171 178 192 199 213 220 234 248 255 262 269 276 283 290 297 304 311 325 332

17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 29-Dec-16 5-Jan-17 19-Jan-17 Issuer 2-Feb-17 16-Feb-17 23-Feb-17 2-Mar-17 9-Mar-17 16-Mar-17 23-Mar-17 30-Mar-17 6-Apr-17 13-Apr-17 20-Apr-17 4-May-17 11-May-17 25-May-17 1-Jun-17 15-Jun-17 29-Jun-17 6-Jul-17 13-Jul-17 20-Jul-17 27-Jul-17 3-Aug-17 10-Aug-17 17-Aug-17 24-Aug-17 31-Aug-17 14-Sep-17 21-Sep-17

Rating/Agency

Issuer

FGN Bonds

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14.90 17.09 16.36 16.40 16.20 17.08 14.08 Description 16.18 17.04 17.07 15.10 27-APR-2017 17.11 9.85 27-JUL-2017 17.09 9.35 31-AUG-2017 17.07 16.33 10.70 30-MAY-201817.25 ^16.00 29-JUN-201918.17 16.37 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.18 ^15.54 13-FEB-202018.19 14.50 15-JUL-2021 16.70 17.31 ^16.39 27-JAN-202217.99 17.90 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 17.88 ^12.50 22-JAN-202618.24 15.00 28-NOV-202818.02 17.81 12.49 22-MAY-202918.05 8.50 20-NOV-2029 18.30 ^10.00 23-JUL-203018.27 18.24 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 18.34 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036 18.44 18.43 18.08

14.65 16.84 16.11 16.15 15.95 16.83 13.83 15.93 Issue Date 16.79 16.82 27-Apr-12 16.86 16.84 27-Jul-07 16.82 31-Aug-07 16.08 30-May-08 17.00 17.92 29-Jun-12 16.12 23-Oct-09 15.93 17.94 13-Feb-15 16.45 13-Jul-16 17.06 27-Jan-12 17.74 17.65 14-Mar-14 17.63 22-Jan-16 17.99 17.77 28-Nov-08 17.56 22-May-09 17.80 20-Nov-09 18.05 23-Jul-10 18.02 17.99 18-Jul-14 18.09 18-Mar-16 18.19 18.18 17.83

Description

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the TTM

15.05

17.40 Bonds 16.70

16.79 16.68 17.68 14.57 16.93 (%) Coupon 18.00 18.10 15.10 18.21 18.25 9.85 18.29 9.35 17.50 10.70 18.63 19.79 16.00 17.73 7.00 17.57 20.12 15.54 18.37 14.50 19.26 16.39 20.18 20.22 14.20 20.35 12.50 20.90 20.70 15.00 20.50 12.49 20.90 8.50 21.32 10.00 21.37 21.42 12.15 21.65 12.4000 21.88 22.05 21.64

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 15.4167 17.7904 19.3298 21.1318

Outstanding Maturity Date Value (₦’bn) NITTY Tenor

Rate (%)

480.13 27-Apr-17 1M 15.9706 2M 16.4878 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 17.0531 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 20.7552 300.00 30-May-18 9M 20.8524 12M 21.2055 351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 606.43 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 225.59 15-Jul-21 Current Price ($/N) 605.31 27-Jan-22 NIFEX Rate 319.7500 719.99 14-Mar-24 468.02 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34 352.00 18-Mar-36

O/N Tenor Call 1M

10.75

REPO

TTM3M (Yrs) 6M

Rate (%) 12.00 13.83

14.33 (%) Bid Yield 14.83

0.51 17.72 17.39 NOTE: 0.76 19.10 18.87 :Benchmarks 0.85 19.63 19.41 * :Amortising Bond 1.60 Bond 18.33 18.21 µ :Convertible AMCON: 2.68 Asset Management14.54 Corporation of Nigeria 14.48 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 3.00 Mortgage Bank 14.79 14.72 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International Finance Corporation 3.30 15.02 14.90 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 4.72 14.87 14.78 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 5.26 14.81 14.73 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC 7.39Property Development 15.00 Company14.93 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 9.25 15.37 15.30 12.09 15.28 15.23 12.57 15.27 15.20 13.07 15.25 15.17 13.74 15.23 15.16 17.73 15.11 15.05 19.40 15.42 15.36

6,555.16

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

FMBN

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Modified Duration Buckets

<3 3<5 LAGOS >5 *BAYELSA Market

EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

03-Apr-12

17.25

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.27

2.94

18.12

99.73

Weighting by Outstanding Volume

Weighting by Mkt Value

Bucket Weighting

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 0.60

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn)

960.73 1,333.29 1,295.75 3,589.76

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

957.73 1,325.30 1,667.49 3,950.52

Price

98.77 98.92 93.69 93.84 NA :Not Applicable 92.24 92.39 ^ : Market Prices 89.77 Rate Bond 89.92 # : Floating ***: Deferred 103.08 coupon bonds 103.23 DTM: Days-To-Maturity 81.67 81.82 TTM: Term-To-Maturity ‡ : Bond rating under review101.55 101.25 †: Bond rating expired 98.71 99.01 N/A :Not Available 105.56 105.86 {r} :Issuer in receivership NGC: Nigeria-German Company 96.44 96.74 UBA: United Bank for Africa 86.02 86.32 98.43 98.73 84.64 84.94 62.19 62.49 70.18 70.48 81.85 82.15 81.47 81.77

6510.155565

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

Nil

Bid Price

305.00 315.62 317.37 Price 319.69 324.01 326.61 333.42Offer 348.14

5,905.35

Agency Bonds

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Offer3M Yield 6M (%) 1Y

0.60

24.24 19-Apr-10 33.55 42.21 30-Jun-10 100.00 31-Dec-10

26.76 10.00 37.14 13.75 36.10 14.00100.00

0.24 57.00 0.34 11.33 0.42 25.00 1.00

12.57 19-Apr-17 29.63 57.81 30-Jun-17 100.00 31-Dec-17

15.53 0.48 14.92 15.15 0.44 15.13 1.18

30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13

14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50

19.37 3.49 9.45 7.01 18.70 11.14 80.00 19.40 87.50 5.00 3.74

30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20

1.23 1.24 1.20 1.20 1.38 1.80 3.08 1.76 4.09 4.18 2.42

136.3871 1.00 150.3433 110.1191 5.71 129.9815 2.39

1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53

1,240.81 18.52 1,303.38 1,327.60 22.77 1,237.76 22.18

20.65 20.61 23.57 23.29 22.92 19.66 16.83 18.77 16.24 18.69 17.99

12.0014

96.19 28.7204 96.35 31.8349 91.78 17.3031 93.22 93.21 91.29 91.02 91.80 94.10 94.53 94.30 92.00 89.53 93.64

News|SOUTH-WEST

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode, Ajimobi, Aregbesola canvass women’s role in nation building Muritala Ayinla

overnors Akinwunmi Ambode, Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola of Lagos, Oyo and Osun States yesterday called on Nigerians leaders to recognise and accord a greater role for the women in building the country. They said that since women were the basis for the family, there won’t be a decent society without a family, which is the smallest unit of the society. This was even as wife of President Muhammed Buhari, Aisha and the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode vowed to continue to compliment the state and the federal governments through propeople initiatives that would not only empower women and children but also add value to the lives of Nigerians and the governance at both federal and the state levels. They spoke at the 2016 National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of the Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), saying for the nation to get it right, women, who were the bed-

rock of family and the society, must be accorded due recognition in the scheme of things. Speaking on the conference’s theme, entitled “Strong Family, Strong Nation”, Governor Ambode said that the importance of the family unit to the overall development of any nation was not in doubt, saying family remained the foundation and smallest unit of any nation as the heart and conscience of a nation was formed, to a large extent, in the family. He said: “With strong families, we can build a strong nation. But strong

families will only exist in a society where nobody is left behind, where everybody has a voice and a stake. This is one of the toughest challenges facing governments – “to build an all-inclusive society.” “Governments must continually strive to build a society where everybody, regardless of their race, gender or creed, has equal opportunities to fulfil their potential. Our women, youth, the aged and people living with disabilities must be given special attention in our quest for inclusion. Government must strive to eliminate poverty

Ibadan

astor Emmanuel Famuyide, the Superintendent, District Church Council (DCC) of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ayetoro, yesterday urged Nigerian leaders to emulate a former South African President, late Dr. Nelson Mandela’s virtue of selflessness and sincerity of purpose in order to make the nation great. Famuyide made the call at the 36th Church Anniversary and Investiture/Consecration of Deacons and Deaconesses of CAC, Orisun-Ife headquarters in Ibadan where 25 deacons and

deaconesses among them Prince Ade Adeoye of the National Pilot, were ordained. In his sermon themed: “Follow the Master”, Famuyide said that the late Mandela during his lifetime exhibited great virtues of leadership that was worthy of emulation by world leaders. “Mandela was an unparalleled world leader, who exhibited the heart of forgiveness and love. He was a great leader, who never upheld greed as a virtue. He served a 27-year prison term in the cause of fighting against oppression. After his release from prison, he became the South African President

and forgave his enemies. “The white people have the largest population and will definitely have as much in heaven due to their sense of giving and forgiving. I say this because when I was in the UK, I observed that the white people come to church to pledge their readiness to help people nurture their children unlike in this part of the world,” he said. The cleric, who stated that African leaders today were dealers and not leaders, urged them to embrace the art of giving and forgiving, stressing that “we have dealers and not leaders in our society today.”

Man arraigned for swindling businessman of N19m Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

or allegedly obtaining N19, 600, 000 from a businessman on a nonexistent contract, a middle aged man, Omolayo Kayode was yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Police Prosecutor, DSP Femi Falade, told the court that the accused commit-

Ladoja dismisses 2017 LG poll in Oyo Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ormer Oyo State Governor and leader of the Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja,has expressed doubt on the planned conduct of the local government election by the All Progressives Congress-led government in the State contrary to last week’s announcement by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC). Ladoja, who spoke during the state congress of the Accord Party held at the Green Springs Hotel in Ibadan, where a new

L-R: Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the opening ceremony of the eighth National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) in Abeokuta... yesterday

Cleric urges leaders to emulate Mandela’s virtues Sola Adeyemo

and illiteracy by creating employment opportunities and providing universal basic education. “ On his part, Governor Ajimobi said that women must be everywhere for a society to succeed, adding that there is no way one can build a society without a family just as the family cannot exist with a woman. Aregbesola, while speaking on the sure ways to build a decent society, said for the nation to overcome all its challenges, women must not be seen as unimportant stakeholders or actors, saying that if the family must be strengthened, the women who werre saddled with the responsibility of building the home front must be encouraged and celebrated.

ted the alleged offence between August and September 2012 in Ado-Ekiti. According to charge sheet No FHC/ AD/27c/2016, Omolayo Kayode some times between August and September, 2012 in AdoEkiti, defrauded a Forex trader, Eric Chechet, of N19,600,000. Kayode pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge. According to the prosecutor, the offence commit-

ted was punishable under Sections 1(3) and 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. Falade informed the court that he had three witnesses to prove his case, praying for an adjournment to enable him prepare for further hearing. He however opposed Rotimi Adabembe, who stood in for the accused person on his motion for application for bail.

executive was announced, explained that his scepticism about the February 2017 date was rooted in the previous failure of promises made by the government throughout the last five years. He said: “The APC government in the state had promised and reneged on several occasions regarding conduct of local government election in the state. Throughout its first term, the electorate’s hopes were dashed by the government each time the election was expected to be held; that was why caretaker Chairmen were being used for the whole term. The practice is not good for democracy and good governance.” Elected at the wellattended congress, which was witnessed by four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, are: Alhaji Wahab Oyelade (state chairman); Dr Nureni Adeniran, who was immediate past publicity secretary, was elected state Secretary; Mrs Yetunde Ajibola (Women leader); Akeem Olatunji (Publicity Secretary); Youth leader, Mr Adekola Adeoye; Organising Secretary, Nasiru Adeniyi; Treasurer, Pastor Oladimejo Orolade, and others.

Recession: Obasanjo seeks stronger intra-African trade Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said Nigeria must actively

-13.15%

The percentage by which the total equities market capitalization of the NSE dropped from Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2014) Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

25.43%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bhutan in 2012. Source: Itu.int

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

here was a sharp disagreement between the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Musbau Adeyemi and the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (a.k.a. Fele) over an alleged abduction of the latter. While Adeyemi claimed that he was kidnapped on Sunday afternoon in Iwo Road area of Ibadan by members of the NURTW

engage and strengthen both internal and external trading for the country to get out of the current economic recession. Obasanjo also stressed the need for the National Assembly to enact laws that would increase the nation’s level of productivity and trading. He spoke while receiving a delegation of the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, which paid him a courtesy visit at his Presidential Hilltop Estate residence in Abeokuta. The delegation, led by the Minister of Industry,

Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enalamah, included the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar and members of relevant committees of the National Assembly. According to Obasanjo, African countries must exploit trading opportunities on the continent as part of efforts to stimulate their respective economies. The ex-president expressed concern that the share of intra-African trade over the past decade was only about 12 per cent compared to 65 per cent for Asia.

Oyo TOAN, NURTW trade words over member’ s abduction on the orders of the chair- some policemen saved man, Oyerinde, denied saying that Adeyemi was trying to forcefully take over a park and when he came to his house, policemen were called and he was arrested and taken away to the Eleyele Police Headquarters. Adeyemi told a congress of the Trade Union Congress in Ibadan that he was taken away to the NURTW chairman’s house in a bus at gun point and was beaten to a pulp by his abductors before

him. Defending the allegation, Oyerinde said that Adeyemi was a chairman of an arm of the union before he broke away to team up with tricycle owners union. He accused Adeyemi of making attempt to forcefully take over some parks in Ibadan. Recounting his ordeal, Adeyemi however said that “I demanded why I was being kidnapped but my abductors brandished guns and threatened to kill me.”

News|SOUTH-EAST

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

body of professionals and stakeholders in Imo state under the platform of Concerned Imo Citizens’ Group has put the federal government on notice over what it described as unbridled act of impunity by Governor Rochas Okorocha. The group was particularly worned that that governance in Imo state was relentlessly heading towards fascism and anarchy. In a 13-page petition dated October 14, 2016 and addressed to President Muhammud Buhari, the group drew the president’s attention to the agonizing plights of the citizens of the state under Okorocha,

Stakeholders petition Buhari over Okorocha’s alleged impunity noting that, “Imo citizens are living in a state of unimaginable terror and tyranny imposed by the government of Okorocha”. The document, which was signed by eminent persons from the three senatorial zones of the state, namely Barr. Maxwell Onyeukwu (Owerri zone), Prof. Obioma Iheduru (Okigwe zone), Barr. Ikechukwu Ikeji (Orlu zone) and Barr. Sylvester Amadi-Obi (Owerri zone), informed the president of the inevitability of mass action and civil disobedience by Imo citizens to stop Okorocha’s ‘rampaging tyranny’ if nothing is done to

restrain him. “We are aware that the hands of the Federal Government are full in trying to deal with various security flashpoints in the country. To add mass insurrection in Imo State to it, when it could be avoided, by the timely intervention of Mr. President would be ignoring the imperatives of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the group stated. The group also noted that there was a destruction of the Constitutional order in the state whereby the Imo State House of Assembly had been rendered puerile and impotent by the

governor having ‘ceded’ her oversight powers to the governor. They decried a situation whereby the Assembly was hoodwinked in 2011 to pass obnoxious ‘rolling budget’ that ran for four years, indicating that the governor was given a ‘blank check’ to act as he wanted and the Assembly went on a holiday. “In 2011 and 2015, it passed what is called a ‘rolling budget’ (covering four years) approving a block sum of money and empowering the governor to operate the finances of the state without any further reference to the State House of Assembly.”

L-R: Deputy Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Alphonsus Ude; state women leader, APC, Mrs Ngozi Nwafor; and Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, at the APC Caucus meeting in Enugu … yesterday

Protests as over 200 Fulani herdsmen, families settle in Enugu community Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

he people of Agu Obodo, Obeagwu Ozalla in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state yesterday protested the arrival and settlement of over 200 Fulani herdsmen and their cows in their community. The protesting community said they were overwhelmed by over five trucks that off-loaded the herdsmen, their families and cows in the commu-

nity. They demanded that the herdsmen leave their land within three days as their people can no longer go to their farms. President General of Ozalla Development Union, ODU, Chief Afam Ani, who lead the protesting women, youths and traditional rulers, said that the arrival of the herdsmen during the weekend caused considerable anxiety and panic in the town. Ani said that his people leaving nearest to the farmland have abandoned their farms and dwellings

and are currently taking refuge in other parts of the town in droves. He told journalists that upon being accosted, the herdsmen claimed they were evicted from their previous settlement at Maryland in Enugu South local government and decided to resettle in Ozalla. According to him, they have informed the security agencies, the local and state governments to help them evict the herdsmen, citing an ugly experience the community had with the herdsmen in

2012 when the hersmen attacked, raped and destroyed properties of the community. “There should be no doubt whatsoever that what we are faced with is the forcible invasion of our homeland by fulani herdsmen who are likely armed with dangerous weapons. We consider this act to be extremely provocative and totally unaccepted to our people,” said Ani. The President General disclosed that the herdsmen agreed to vacate the community within three days but that he is pleading with the security agencies to help and enforce the agreement which the herdsmen entered into by themselves.

Ex-Anambra SSG charges architects to protect professional integrity Pamela Eboh AWKA

he immediate past Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has challenged Nigerian architects to protect the integrity of their profession by imbibing the ‘do it well attitude’, be proactive in the development of national infrastructure as well as being bold to condemn any structure built below standard no matter who

owns it. Obaze stated this yesterday in Awka at a two-day conference organized by the Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, in collaboration with the Anambra Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA). He said that though government had a role to play in regulating and preserving national property, individuals and professionals also had a vital role to play. He regretted the situation where some structures

were done below quality under the watchful eyes of the professionals while those indicted for collapsed buildings in Anambra State in 2014, were yet to be sanctioned. The former SSG, who is also the MD/CEO of Selonnes Consult Ltd., in an hour-long address on the topic, ‘Infrastructural Development, A Panacea For Economic and Social Well Being’, said that regardless of the tall dreams by governments in power to transform the nation to a

Dubai of Africa, that such dream can never be realized if we continue to have leaders who lack vision a commitment. His words: “If we have leaders who lack vision and commitment, we remain at risk of underperforming and underdevelopment. “We cannot therefore speak of infrastructural development without first grasping sectoral priorities and sectoral niches affordability, and areas where we must strive for comparative advantage.”

Enugu partners DfID on development Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

nugu state government in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DfID) South-East\ South-South and start-up Hub has concluded plans to organise a one-day roundtable conference for development partners in the state. The Executive Secretary, Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, Nnanyelugo Dan Onyishi, in a statement issued yesterday, said the partnership initiative which is the first in the state and South-East zone, is scheduled to hold at Nike Lake Resort on the 25th October. Onyishi stated that the successful outing would mobilise technical and funding support to compliment the developmental efforts of the

state government, saying that their strategy was to provide the space to seek additional support from development partners. He added that the recent economic downturn facing the state and the country has made it necessary for government to think outside the box and explore ways of increasing the resources to be able to deliver social services to the people. According to him, the donor conference would be an interactive session that will assist to showcase the main policy thrusts of the state government on a sectorial basis and areas where government intends to partner with development partners. “It will also help to identified and align partners’ mandates in order to build strong partnership for achieving the sustainable Development Goals.”

Tension in Awka as confusion trails emergence of new leadership Pamela Eboh AWKA

ncertainty has taken over Awka community following an emergence of a new executive members to pilot the affairs of Awka Development Union, as the two opposing camps disagree on the new leadership. The issue as at press time was already getting to boiling point hence, the police was alerted to ensure that peace reigned. It would be recalled that the caretaker committee for Awka announced the election of 19-member executive with Chief Amobi Nwokafor as the new President General the incumbent President General, Chief Tony Okechukwu, insisted yesterday that election did

not take place. However, the group that produced Chief Nwokafor as the new President General had, at a ceremony that took security operatives unawares announced the election of members of the new executive that included Mr. Alexander Nwankwo (Deputy President General), Mr. Obie Onyedika (Secretary General), Mr. Ifeanyi Onyeka (Treasurer), Dr. Collins Ejikeme (Financial Secretary), Mr. Philip Ekwempu (Legal Adviser) among others. Though security operatives and the government officials had tried to stop the election, members of the caretaker committee, it was gathered, outsmarted them and conducted the exercise in a remote area of the Anambra State capital at night.

Abia PDP inaugurates ward election panel Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

o give opportunity for aggrieved members to properly channel their grievance and protest arising from the just concluded ward election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State yesterday inaugurated a seven-man committe. This is even as PDP members from Okpulo Umuobo, Ward 10 in Osisioma Ngwa local government area, thronged the party secretariat to protest the cancellation of result from the area on the allegation of misconduct. The placard carrying members alleged that the election was peaceful and the councillorship candidates emerged without

rancour, and wondered what informed the cancellation. They called on the party leadership to allow the result stand. But speaking at the inauguration, the chairman of PDP Abia State, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, said that though there were no cases of violence or snatching of materials during the election, the possibility of grievances could not be foreclosed. He maintained that Osisioma result stood cancelled, saying that a new date would be announced later for another election. He also said that the election in Osisioma, the only one in the 292 wards where there was incident, were reports that the election was not transparent.

News|SOUTH-SOUTH

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Bayelsa is paying workers 50% salaries, by lawmaker Chris Ejim Yenagoa

member representing Ogbia Constituency Three in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Ogbara, yesterday gave reasons why lawmakers in the state are silent over payment of only 50 per cent salaries to civil servants in the state. Ogbara, while speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said every citizen of the state was aware of what accrued to the state on monthly basis, and that the recession facing the country was the reason why the state government decided to pay its workers only half of their salaries.

He said the state Assembly was aware of the realities on ground, and would not advice the government to pay full salaries when they were aware at the allocation coming into the state was small. According to the lawmaker, “we all know there is recession in the country, and it has greatly affected Bayelsa and some other states, we have a problem in Bayelsa because even the sharing from the FAAC is not favourable to the state.” He said this was due to the fact that Bayelsa State had only eight local government areas and without enough from the Federation Account. “We cannot say the state government should pay full salaries because if we

do that, some people will be left out because the money won’t be enough.” “There are no industries in Bayelsa State, everybody depends on the state government, and whatever comes from the Federation Account is what is used to run the state. “The Assembly can only advice the government to pay full salaries when there is increase in the allocation coming into the state’s coffers,” he added. Ogbara, however, advised Governor Seriake Dickson to give more attention to internal roads and power supply when the allocation from the Federation Account increases. According to him, the present government had

contributed a lot to the development of the state in terms of infrastructure; but maintained that more was needed, as he expressed belief that the present economic recession had negatively affected the state government in its quest of moving the state forward. He also advised the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to focus on diversifying the nation’s economy; adding that the country’s dependence on crude oil and corruption were the reasons for the recession facing the nation. He also lent his voice to the call for the prosecution of the judges arrested by the men of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the ground of corruption, adding that nobody was above the law.

Bayelsa to evict 2012 flood victims Chris Ejim Yenagoa

ayelsa State government yesterday threatened to arrest and prosecute 2012 flood victims from the site of Bishop Dimeari Grammar School (BDGS), Yenagoa, should they fail to comply with its vacation order. The victims have sever-

ally lamented their plight as the flood intervention funds in excess of N600 million and donations from different sources collected by the Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration were allegedly diverted leaving the victims to their fate. It will be recalled that Chief Mike Adenuga also presented a cheque of N500 million to Dickson

during the period. On the allegation of diverting the billions of naira meant to tackle the flood crisis, the Flood Management Committee, headed by Chief Francis Doukpola, denied any involvement in the alleged fraud, saying it received a paltry sum of N10 million which included its running cost. The committee, which was supposed to be a per-

manent committee given the fact that Bayelsa was situated within the flood plains, lamented that it was compelled to close shop because Dickson starved them of funds to operate. Some communities in the state were recently reported to be submerged in the middle of September while residents are cut off in Ogbia council area.

$531.75m 2.11m The total amount of the Conglomerates sector of the Nigeria Stock Exchange for 2015 Q4. Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

Delta, firm to fight food scarcity in 2017 Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State government and the management of a multi-national agricultural firm, Reshaping Agriculture in Africa, have agreed on modalities to reshape various sectors of the state’s economy come next year. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who met with the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Dick Hanekom, said his administration was committed to partnering with any credible private sector to improve agro-business in the state. The move, the governor maintained, would improve food security and provide job opportunity for the people. Receiving the CEO in his office in Asaba, Governor Okowa specifically said the state government would sign a pact with the

firm on the establishment of commercial agricultural venture. He said: “l appreciate this initiative, my administration is committed towards growing the agricultural sector to create jobs for our youths and feed our people; and l will provide an enabling environment for any investor that is ready to help the state grow.” While he promised to provide the enabling environment, including land for the project and mandated the newly set up Land Acquisition Committee chaired by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Dan Okenyi, to work with them, he said: “The state government has signed different MoUs with investors in the housing, infrastructure, health and agricultural sectors in the past to help grow the economy of the state, some of these projects have started and we are attracting more reliable investors.”

We’ll flush out criminals from Delta –ACP Muhammed Ola James Warri

T Edo State Governor/ Visitor to Ambrose Alli University, Adams Oshiomhole (right), with Etsu Nupe/ Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, HRH Yahaya Abubakar, at the 20th Convocation of the University, Ekpoma…yesterday.

The total number of active mobile (CDMA) lines of Nigeria in January 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

he Police Area Commander, Warri, Delta State, ACP Mauzu Muhammed, yesterday warned hoodlums in his jurisdiction to stay clear as the command will make it hot for them during and after the ember months. According to him, all strategic locations in the area have been fortified by his men, adding also that criminals will not be given any opportunity to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens of the state. Muhammed, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), however, remarked that scores of hoodlums who were hitherto causing problems in

the area have been flushed out. He also warned that any one found causing a breach of the peace will not be spared. “We are 100 per cent ready to ensure that the prevailing peace being enjoyed for a long time now is sustained, we are always on top of any matter that tends to disrupt the peace process.” He cited the example of the arrest and killing of various gangsters who robbed people of their belongings, especially people who patromised the banks to withdraw money. We will adhere strictly to the Inspector General of Police (ICP’s) zero tolerance stance on criminality and also ensure that innocent people sleep with their eyes closed,” the police boss said.

A’Ibom deputy speaker calls for objective reportage Rivers APC goes spiritual over allegations against Amaechi Tony Anichebe Uyo

he Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Felicia Bassey, has called on the media to be objective in their news reports, saying they were stakeholders in the collective mission of building the nation. Bassey, who is a member representing Okobo State constituency in the

state Assembly, stated this yesterday when the 2016 NUJ Press Week Committee paid her a courtesy visit to intimate her of the programmes for this year’s edition of the annual event. The deputy speaker, who noted that the way the media projected the state would determine the perception people from outside formed about it, said the task of state and nation building

relied heavily on the activities of the media. She implored journalists to project the state in good light so as to open it up for investors and make it possible for the governor’s dream of industrialising the state. Bassey expressed confidence that this year’s press week will be a huge success, having intelligent and experienced people as committee members.

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has gone spiritual over the many allegations leveled by two Supreme Court Justices against the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that he attempted to influence the outcome of some governorship election petitions, handing Amaechi’s

fate to God. Ikanya dismissed the allegations against Amaechi, because according to him; he is ‘clean,’ adding that God would fight for the former governor. “We are convinced that God, who has always fought for Amaechi, will continue to protect and strengthen him and will once again vindicate him,” Ikanya said. He accused the PDP of unjustifiably spearheading the call for Amaechi’s resignation, but that they won’t

succeed, just like they did before he was screened as a minister, just as he also cited what transpired in 2007, when the party failed to deny him his gubernatorial ticket. He added: “These calls being championed by the PDP are just the latest manifestation of the party’s frustration and fight against Amaechi in retaliation for his role in dislodging the PDP government at the centre during the 2015 presidential elections.”

News|NORTH

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rotary immunises 2,000 children against polio Musa Pam Jos

etermined to completely rid Plateau State and the country of polio, the Rotary Club International District 9125, consists of seven clubs in the state has immunised over 2,000 children from ages zero to five years. The immunisation exercise was carried out yesterday at the palace of the Emir of Kanam in Kanam Local Government Area of the state as part of activities marking the World Polio Day. The children, who were assembled at the Emir’s palace were administered the immunisation by the Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Mu’azu with the assistance of the workers of the Primary Health Care and members of the Nigeria

Polio Plus Committee of the Rotary International. Meanwhile, a representative of the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Mrs. Gloria Thomas, said as volunteers and advocates, members of Rotary play crucial role in the fight to end polio in the country. According to her, Emir’s palace was used for the exercise in order to ensure total commitment and compliance on the part of parents to bring their children for immunisation and to also know the importance of the exercise. While saying Kanam and Wase were among the Local government Areas that the Rotary Polio Plus focused to create the awareness about the disease in view of the resistance of most of the parents not to immunise their children, or at least to know the importance of immunisation.

Sokoto to administer 3.6m doses of anti-malaria drugs F ollowing reported outbreak of malaria in some parts of Sokoto metropolis which led to the death of five persons within a month, the state government has unfolded plans to administer 3.6 million doses of antimalaria drugs on the people in the next four weeks. Already, the government had procured and kept the required doses of the drugs at various medical stores and facilities across the state. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, who disclosed this when he led a delegation of some government and health officials on a visit to some selected health facilities in the

state capital, said the drugs would be administered in four phases with 900,000 doses to be administered in each phase. He said adequate arrangements had been put in place for a smooth exercise, even as the Commissioner appealed to the residents to support government’s efforts in order to rid the state of malaria. Balarabe said: “As you are aware, we recently undertook massive fumigation of mosquitoes’ breeding areas across the state. We recorded overwhelming success in that direction, but we are appealing to people to help the government and themselves by keeping their environments clean.”

Peace Corps train 2,100 cadets in Plateau Musa Pam Jos

he National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, has appealed to the Senate to immediately pass the Bill of the Act to establish the Peace Corps of Nigeria, which is before the National Assembly. The Commandant made the called in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during the inauguration of 2,100 new cadet officers of the corps from Plateau, Benue and Taraba states at the end of their initial mandatory onemonth training, which took place at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Mangu Local Government Area of the state. According to him, the Peace Corps of Nigeria,

which came into existence in 1998, was an organisation committed to national security, peace and youth development. Apart from ensuring peace in the country, Akoh said it would provide alternative employment for the youths, community development services and nation building. “We want to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and especially the Senate to ensure that the Bill for an Act establishing the Peace Corps that has been consented to by the House of Representatives is passed in the Red Chambers, and we hope that the Senate will immediately take the right step because of their passionate advocacy that youths should be meaningfully engaged in productive ventures,” he added.

Baro Port: Niger, contractor blame FG over N17.5bn project Dan Atori MINNA

fter 21 months of total neglect, the Niger State Government has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency revisit all dilapidated federal roads across the state, especially the N17.5 billion Agaie, Katcha Baro Road project, which was re-awarded last year. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa made the call yesterday shortly after a tour of dilapidated federal roads across the state to have a firsthand assessment of the projects.

According to him, the over 30-kilometer road, which costs the Federal Government about N17.5 billion with a 12-month completion period was expected to be completed by January 16, 2016 as the contract was awarded in January 2015. Vatsa said: “The road has been abandoned and neglected; we want the Federal Government as a matter of urgent consideration to visit Niger State because currently no federal road

that is motorable across the state. We cannot allow further delay in putting these facilities, especially the Baro Port into use. The government’s idea is to open up the economy of the north through the Port. The road, when completed will be the gateway from Baro Inland Port and open the economy of the north to other parts of the country.” However, the State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, had earlier this year called on the Federal

$0.20m 184.78m

The capital importation of the Weaving sector of Nigeria in Q3 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

The total number of connected mobile lines (GSM) of Nigeria in December 2014. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Government to ensure the immediate take off of the Baro Inland Port project after an assessment visit to the port, saying that “any further delay in putting the port into full use would be counterproductive.” The N17.5 billion earmarked for the projects was part of the N470 billion approved by the Federal Executive Council in December 2014 for various contracts for the construction and rehabilitation projects of 17 roads and bridges across the country. The Indian firm handling the contract, in a chat with New Telegraph, however, said that the government should be blamed for the suspension of the construction project, adding that if the contractor had been mobilised upfront of about 30 per cent, the project would have gone beyond 50 per cent stage it is presently.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Kano State Scholarship Board, Prof. Fatima Umar; Head, Corporate Communications, Hajia Lami Tumaka and Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Gambo Ahmed, during a courtesy visit to the Agency to further the partnership under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) … recently

Ortom seeks FG’s support to tackle flood Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, is seeking the support of the Federal Government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals towards tackling the increasing level of devastating flood, erosion and herdsmen’s attacks have inflicted on residents of the state. He made the call yesterday when a delegation of the Indices and Disbursement Committee

of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Sokoto, visited him at the Government House, Makurdi, the state capital. Ortom said the impact of the devastation caused by flood in 2012 across the state, as well as erosion in several parts of the state particularly the Benue North West and South Senatorial Districts and the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks in 10 Local Government Areas were so massive and far beyond the capacity of

the state to tackle. The committee, the governor noted, required at least one week to move round the affected communities in order to fully appreciate the magnitude of the devastation, adding that the state also required financial assistance and project support that would facilitate the resettlement of those affected, reclamation and prevention of further occurrence as the case may be. The governor noted that the state government had reduced the menace of herdsmen and farmers

Borno gov’s wife lauds Buhari over freed 21 Chibok girls on the earth. role model to others in the Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

he wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima has expressed happiness over the rescue of the 21 Chibok schoolgirls, abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents. She, however, commended President Muhammad Buhari and security operatives for their unflinching efforts in rescuing the girls, saying she was the happiest woman

Hajiya Shettima, who disclosed this when she led a delegation from the state to pay a visit to the 21 schoolgirls, who were in the custody of security agencies in Abuja, said their release had put to shame critics of President Buhari. Hajiya Shettima advised the girls, including those rescued previously should use education as a weapon to fight back all forms of terrorism and violence, so that they will serve as a

society despite their bitter experience. She said: “We are here to express our gratitude to God Almighty for sparing your lives up to this moment, you have tested the bitter experience of life, but I can assure you that the government will do everything possible to turn your misfortune to better the society. “Apart from your biological parents, who are happy, myself and my husband, Governor Kashim Shettima

incessant clashes through intervention by security agencies and encouragement of dialogue between the parties, but added that the permanent solution remained ranching. Ortom said the State House of Assembly would pass a bill prohibiting free grazing, but its implementation would be different from that of a South West governor. Sokoto explained that the committee was in the state in response to several letters from the state government requesting for the augmentation of the state’s statutory allocation from the stabilisation fund. are the most happiest. I can recall the bitter experience we went through together with my husband after the abduction took place at your school in Chibok, some critics and oppositions took up the sad development as an opportunity to say all sorts of accusations and counter accusations against the APC-led government in the state. But thank God now that the effort in rescuing some of you has go a long way in exonerating us from all sorts of accusations and allegations, as it has also shamed our critics.”

NEWS

WORLD \ NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria may copy US in direct party Cameroon appeals for blood donation after deadly train crash primaries, says Ekweremadu Chukwu David Abuja

eputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, indicated that Nigeria might emulate the United States of America (USA) in the use of direct primaries for the emergence of candidates of political parties. he said that was in the effort to strengthen the nation’s electoral system. Ekweremadu gave the indication in Abuja when he received on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, a delegation of the House Partnership for Democracy, United States House of Representatives, which was on a working visit to the Senate.

He said that direct primaries by political parties had conferred enormous transparency and credibility on the American electoral system, while also ensuring that the people remained the true owners of the various political parties. The lawmaker, therefore, noted that it was a key ingredient of the U.S democracy that could be explored by Nigeria to improve her electoral system in the nearest future. Ekweremadu observed that deep inter-parliamentary ties between both countries were imperative for closer bilateral relations and the growth of Nigeria’s democracy, which he said was inspired by that of the United States. He said: “I commend the

House Democracy Partnership as a bipartisan effort at deepening responsive, effective government and also strengthening democratic institutions through assistance to legislatures in emerging democracies around the world. We are willing to partner with you because it will not only enrich our democracy, but also that of the entire West Africa sub-region and Africa as a whole. “I believe both countries have a lot to benefit from shared parliamentary ties. Nigeria, in particular, stands to benefit from you in the area of electoral reforms, such as direct primaries, which has conferred a lot of transparency and credibility on the U.S electoral system.

fficials in Cameroon have called on the public to donate blood to assist with the treatment of 600 people wounded in Friday's train crash. Eleven more bodies were recovered on Sunday, taking the death toll to 80. France's ambassador in the country was one high-profile donor who donated blood and urged others to follow suit. The passenger train was travelling from Yaounde, the capital, to the port city of Douala when carriages flipped over at high speed. President Paul Biya told state TV that victims'

[medical] costs would be paid for by the state. He said an "in-depth inquiry" into the causes of the accident had been ordered. A day of mourning is being observed in the country with flags flying at halfmast, the BBC Richard Onanena in Yaounde says. Efforts are still underway at the central hospital of Yaounde to identify some of the dead, our correspondent adds. The wounded are being treated in hospitals in Yaounde and Douala, the two main cities in the country. To cope with the emergency, at least 20,000 sachets of blood are needed,

which officials hope to secure through the appeal. "This is unprecedented and it came suddenly. Treating the wounded involves a considerable number of physicians," Tetani Ekwe, vice-chairman of the National Order of Physicians, told BBC Afrique. "We can't afford to pay for the blood we need, so citizens have to donate their blood," Mr Ekwe added. The National Order of Physicians has called on all medical professionals to go and offer their help at the hospitals where the wounded have been taken.

BUA explains divestment programme … as Rabiu emerges 2016 West African Industrialist of the year Taiwo Hassan

enowned industrialist and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has reaffirmed that the Group’s strategic focus remains to diversify to business areas with greater potential for export where most of the materials needed for production can be sourced locally, creating jobs, and cutting costs to ensure rapid growth of

the conglomerate company. Rabiu made this assertion while receiving award as winner of this year’s West African Industrialist of the Year at the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA) held in Lagos recently. He said that the Group’s target was in line with Federal Government’s diversification agenda to ensure that indigenous compa-

nies take leading role in their quest to fast track the return of the country’s economy at this period of economic downturn. He said the ongoing divestment programme in BUA was strategic and well coordinated, adding that it was aimed at repositioning the firm as a ‘truly Nigerian pride.’ “Our people and continent remain the chief beneficiaries in our business, whether they are our workers or consumers.

NITEL creditors, assets liquidator at war  Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

reditors of the defunct NITEL/ MTel and Liquidator of the firm, Otunba Olutonla O. Senbore are locked in a battle over the amount realized from the sale of assets.  Consequently, the creditors have petitioned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) alleging default payment by the appointed liqui-

dator.   In a petition, signed by a representative of the creditors, Mr. Sebagen Henry Noboh and dated October 20, 2016, the complainants decried what they considered lack of accountability in the payment of their claims.  According to them, the Liquidator has paid only 16.5 per cent of the amount stated in his offer letters to individual creditors, leaving a balance of 83.5 unaccounted for. The offer letters, dated May 12, 2015 were personally signed by the Liqui-

dator. They added that the 16.5 per cent was paid to them in two installments of 15 per cent in May 2015; and 1.5 per cent in July 2016, an interval of 14 months.    The total receipt for core asset was put at N51.6 billion. Speaking on the telephone with New Telegraph from his Lagos base yesterday , the Liquidator, Otunba Olutonla O. Senbore, described the allegation as false. He said creditors of NITEL/ Mtel were being paid as funds were realized from sale of core assets.

Nnokwa Professionals set for community support Mojeed Alabi

rofessionals across various fields, who are from a fast growing community in Anambra State, Nnokwa, will on Saturday, October 29, gather in Lagos to launch a group aimed at contributing to the

growth and development of the town. In a statement issued by the group, known as Association of Nnokwa Professionals, and signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Simon Akachukwu-Ukpaka and Mr. Emeka Maduabuchi respectively, it said the launch is to formalise the association’s activities

and carry along more men and women of note who are from the community. According to the statement, the objectives also include building support in the pursuit and achievement of excellence in the affairs of Nnokwa town, saying its values include integrity, patriotism and focus.

Voters at the polling station in Florida

US election: Polling stations open in must-win state of Florida

olling stations have opened for early voting in the key battleground state of Florida, where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump remain in a tight race. Mr. Trump is blitzing the state with five rallies while Mrs. Clinton is also swinging through the Sunshine State. Early voting by mail began in Florida weeks ago, with over a million people having already cast their votes. Mrs. Clinton holds a narrow three-point lead over Mr. Trump in Florida, according to a new CBS/ YouGov poll. The former

secretary of state had 46 percent of the vote compared with Mr. Trump's 43 percent, the poll found. Mr. Trump, who spent the weekend in Florida, was slated to appear at more campaign stops across the state before heading to North Carolina on Tuesday. "We are going to win the great state of Florida and we are going to win back the White House," Mr. Trump said at a rally on Sunday in Naples. But recent polls have put Mrs. Clinton well ahead of her Republican rival both nationally and in several battleground states.

Polling in Republican strongholds including Arizona, Georgia and Utah have also shown closerthan-expected races. President Barack Obama was quick to point out Mr. Trump's flailing support among Republicans when he lashed out at Rep Darrel Issa at a fundraiser in La Jolla, California, for his Democratic opponent Doug Appelgate late on Sunday. The president rebuked Mr Issa for fanning the flames that led to Mr Trump's nomination, calling him "Trump before Trump".

Calais migrants: Hundreds moved from 'jungle' camp

bout 1,600 migrants have been bussed away from the "Jungle" in Calais as French authorities clear the camp. At least 7,000 people have been living there in squalid conditions. Migrants queued peacefully to be processed, but there are concerns some will refuse to go because they still want to get to the UK. Almost 200 children from the camp have been brought to the UK, some of them under the "Dubs"

arrangement, according to UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd. The number includes 60 girls who were at high risk of sexual exploitation, she said. But process of transferring some of the estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children from the camp was halted on Monday at the request of the French. The dismantling of the camp is expected to start on Tuesday. Long queues formed earlier outside reception centres in the camp as the

French authorities worked to determine whether individual migrants were with family members or travelling alone, and whether they were deemed to be vulnerable. After processing, they boarded buses to different parts of France where they will be given the opportunity to claim asylum, or face deportation. At least 40 of the 60 coaches planned to transport them have now left, according to BBC correspondents at the scene.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport

That the 4-0 defeat of Manchester United by Chelsea on Sunday at the Stamford Bridge was the biggest to be suffered by Manager Jose Mourinho in his EPL career.

Sport News Iheanacho: We must remain focused against Man United

International Chelsea can challenge for title – Pedro

46 47

World Cup ouster: Oshonaike blasts Sports Ministry ...says she’s lost hope in Nigerian sport Ajibade Olusesan

igeria’s foremost table tennis player Funke Oshonaike has lambasted the ministry of sports for its insensitivity to development of the game in the country after the female team failed to make it to the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation African Senior Championship taking place in Agadir, Morocco. The women team was on Monday walked over by South Africa. The women were also absent at the 2016 World Championship in Malaysia when only the male squad made it to the competition with their personal funds which was later refunded by the Sports Ministry,. Oshonaike is the only female player competing at the championship in Morocco as Nigeria’s women team was walked over on Monday which means it has lost a chance of featuring at the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. Oshonaike’s miffed by the development and lambasted the sports authorities for paying lip service to sports development. She said the ministry had relegated every other sport to the background in favour of football, a development that had ‘killed the lesser sports’. “They were able to make money available for the Super Eagles who are not even ranked number one in Africa to play World Cup qualifiers while we could not

attend a competition that serves as qualifiers for 2017 and 2018 World Championships. This is very discouraging for me particularly looking at what table tennis did at Rio Olympic Games,” The Germany-based star lamented. “Aruna Quadri has been sponsoring himself to major competitions in readiness for Tokyo 2020 without any support and this for me is very discouraging for the athlete. I think I have lost hope in Nigerian sports particularly those in charge of the sector who have continued to pay lip service to development of other sports apart from football.” “How can players continue to use their money to Minister of Sports, represent their Solomon Dalung country? This is not too good at all. That I was able to sponsor myself to the championship does not mean I have the money to throw away. For me, I am only doing it to encourage the young ones and the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation Wahid Oshodi who has tried his best in the last three years, and I think he needs the encouragement of those in the Ministry of Sports. For me, I don’t believe in Nigerian sports again because those in charge seem not to understand what they are supposed to do and it is just painful that it is the athletes that will continue to suffer this,” she added.

Oshonaike

Messi,Ronaldo lead Ballon d’Or list

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

ionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to resume their annual battle for the Ballon d’Or after both were named in the list of 30 nominees for the 2016 award on Monday. France Football, the magazine that founded most prestigious individual honour in football, released the list in which Real Madrid man Ronaldo, 31, and Barcelona’s Messi, 29, both featured. The pair have finished first and second in each of the past five years with Messi edging out his great rival three wins to two, including his triumph last year. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi again shone as Barca won the 2015-16 La Liga title, but the Argentina international could be upstaged this year by Ronaldo, who

is favoured to claim the prize for a fourth time. Though the Madrid man has struggled by his own stratospheric standards in the early stages of the current campaign, it is unlikely to overshadow the fact he contributed significantly as he picked up both

Messi (left) and Ronaldo

the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid and Euro 2016 with Portugal in a stunning year. Ronaldo is joined in the list by Madrid teammates Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, meaning the European champions have the most nominees of any club with six -despite the absence of Karim Benzema -- while the inclusion of Messi’s Blaugrana colleagues Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and Neymar means the Catalan side have two fewer than their great rivals. Germany’s double winners Bayern Munich also have four nominations in Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Arturo Vidal, who helped Chile retain the Copa America last summer.

Ighalo’s agent reveals Napoli interest

Page 46

SPORT NEWS

Iheanacho: We must remain focused against Man United Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has urged his Manchester City teammates to remain focused as they battle local rivals Manchester United in the fourth round of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Manchester City started the season with 10 straight wins under new manager Pep Guardiola and have now gone five games without a victory but Iheanacho said they must step up their game in a bid to end a run of frustrating results. “Teams drop points in the English Premier League, we dropped as well,” said Iheanacho, who came off the bench to score the equaliser against Southampton on Sunday. “That is a football game, you don’t know what is going to happen when you play. “Everyone expects so much from our team but we are human beings as well. We are footballers, we can make mistakes and we can lose games. We just keep moving, keep our heads straight and focus on the next games starting with the match against Manchester United,” the former junior international added. By drawing with Southampton, Manchester City have avoided two successive defeats after their midweek 4-0 loss away to Barcelona, the club where Guardiola made his name as both player and a manager, in the Champions League. “It wasn’t our best but I still think we played well and deserved to win,” said Iheanacho of Sunday’s match. “But it is a game of football. We can lose, win or draw because the opponents are good players as well.”

Ighalo’sagentreveals Napoliinterest Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles and Watford striker Odion Ighalo, is being courted by Italian giants Napoli for a January swoop according to his agent, Patrick Bastianelli. The Serie A club are searching for a replacement for summer signing Arkadiusz Milik who is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Bastianelli said that while Napoli were interested in his client, it might prove to be a difficult operation in January. “Over the past two years he has been on a great run with a total of 36 goals. “In January it may be difficult to go away, Watford and the Pozzo family has excellent relationship with Napoli, but it will be difficult to sell in the winter market,” he told stadium Radio Marte. “The last year he has also been wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United, but Watford had not even sat down to deal with them. “We’re talking about a player who is part of the Nigerian national team. In football anything can happen, we’ll see.”

he Inter national Table Tennis Federation has lamented Nigeria female team’s absence from the ongoing ITTF African Senior Championship taking place in Agadir, Morocco. The failure of the Ministry of Sports to provide funds for the trip prevented the team from making it to the competition with Olufunke Oshonaike being the only female player competing at the championship. This development has seemingly ruled out the female team from the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. For the ITTF Competition Manager, Algeria’s Mounir Bessah, the absence of top team

Charles Ogundiya

Iheanacho (middle)

Charles Ogundiya

Ighalo

ITTFruesNigeria’s absenceinMorocco like Nigeria has indeed taken shine off the competition giving Egypt the chance to dominate the event. “It is not too good that Nigeria female team is not here because we had expected that their presence would have added some glamour to the competition and also attract more people to the venue. But with their absence it is clear that Eg ypt will dominate and this is not too good for such tour nament. I most times wondered why Nigeria has continually failed to attend such competitions because some countries that are not as endowed are all here in Morocco,” he said.

Nigerian coach leads team to Somalia FA Cup semis

Atete seeks fair officiating against ABS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

he proprietor of J.Atete Football Club, Julius Atete, has called for fair officiating when his club faces ABS FC in a rescheduled Nigeria National League game on Wednesday in Abuja. The Matchday 13 game was earlier played on September 24, and was stopped at 79th minutes after it was alleged that fans of the home team (J.Atete), attacked the match official. The NNL had earlier awarded the three points to ABS but the decision was overruled by the Nigeria Football Federation Appeals Committee, who ordered the replay of the remaining 11 minutes of the game this Wednesday, October 26, at the FIFA Goal Project Pitch, Package B, National Stadium, Abuja.

While applauding the decision of the Appeal Committee, Atete, who is also the captain of the team wants the game monitored properly. ‘’Surely the Appeals Committee has brought sanity into our football by not accepting outright forfeiture of points or punishment of any club after the 1-1 stalemate,” he said. “They indeed proved to be out to end sentiments, godfatherism or favoritism in our football. Let the NFF and management of the NNL appoint God-fearing and credible referees to complete eradication of injustice that bedeviled the last outing.” He added that he wasn’t going to blame the Organising and Disciplinary committee that recommended their losing all three(3) points after the controversial game as he wants the match to be fully monitored by the NFF and other stakeholders.

igeria-born coach, Felix Nwosu, is currently making waves in war-torn Somalia after leading his club, Heegan FC, to the semifinal of the country’s FA Cup. Heegan defeated Mogadishu FC 3-1 in the quarterfinal on Monday and will be up against Somalia Seria A league defending champions, Banadir FC, on Thursday, October 27. To get to the semifinal, the club started with a goalless draw against Elman before a 4-0 bashing of Somfruits. The final group game match was a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the defending champions of the FA, Horseed FC. Speaking with New Telegraph, Nwosu said, “My target is to win everything available. The fans are desperate for

success especially in the FA Cup, because it is the biggest cup in the land and they have not won it in recent years.” He added that all attention was on him as a foreign coach as he puts his players in good shape ahead of the start of the season.

Nwosu

OgunjobiCup:Femodino emergechampions F

emodino Football Club of Ilesha, on Sunday won the maiden edition of Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi Cup decided at Methodist High School, Ilesha. The tour nament which was organised for grassroots teams in Ilesha was hailed by many as one of the best so far in Ijeshaland. A lot of emphasis was on Ogunjobi (left) receiving an award at the final of Taiwo Ogunjobi Cup at Meth- the quality of football played by the teams and the level of odist High School, Ilesha, Osun State at the weekend competitiveness that came

along with it. Femodino beat Ijesha Golden Warriors FC 2-0 to win the trophy in a pulsating final. Migty Jet defeated Lekan Salami Eagle 5-3 on penalties after the regulation time ended goalless. Award of Excellence was presented to Ogunjobi who hails from Itakogun Area of Ilesha by Ijesha Football council for his role in football development in Ijeshaland.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NLO Super 8: Enyimba Feeders not under pressure – Ukaegbu

Chelsea can challenge for title – Pedro

helsea forward Pedro has claimed that his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United on Sunday proves that they can challenge for the Premier League title this season. The Spaniard opened the scoring after less than a minute on Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge, before further goals from Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante completed the rout. Pedro revealed that the confidence shown in him by manager

Antonio Conte has helped his own game, and believes that the manner of their win over United sends a message to other teams in the league. “It’s the way to show we can fight for the title,” Pedro told Chelsea TV. “For me it’s perfect that Conte is confident with me. The work is perfect. The same work continues.” The win saw Chelsea climb into the top four, now just one point behind the leading pack of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

s hostilities begin on Tuesday at the Bet9ja NLO Super 8 at the Agege Township Stadium, exinternational, Lawrence Ukaegbu, has assured that his Enyimba Feeders FC are not under pressure ahead of their confrontation with FRSC FC. The Enyimba Feeders technical director said he expects a good game when his players file out against the Road Marshals. “We are not under any pressure at all. My players are in good condition for the game and despite not knowing much about FRSC, we will play our normal football and expect to win the game,” Ukaegbu said. He further affirmed that the standard of the game in the Nationwide League One is very high and it was very difficult

tugal at Euro 2016. Sanches beat off strong competition from United’s rising star Rashford and France winger Coman for the prestigious Golden Boy prize, which was established by Tuttosport in 2003 and is voted for by journalists from 30 European newspapers. All nominees must be under 21, play in the top tier of a European league and can only be included if they have not already won it. After picking up an injury at Euro 2016, Sanches is yet to play a full 90 minutes or provide a goal or assist

T Pedro

for the German champions, but he did enough to convince the judges to award him the prize.

Sanches

Giggs blasts United for swapping shirts

yan Giggs has criticised Manchester United players for “swapping shirts and laughing” after their 4-0 hammering by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. United legend Giggs hit out after

Giggs

to gain promotion to the Nigeria National League. He added: “We will use the Super 8 to prepare our players very well for the challenges of the NNL. Six of my players in the Feeders team have been promoted to the main team of Enyimba FC ahead of the 2016/17 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League. “It was very difficult to gain promotion to the Nigeria National League due to the fact that the standard of the game is very high in the NLO and there is a great improvement in the organisation of the League. “We are happy that the Super 8 tournament is here and it is a great opportunity to prepare the team very well as we want to excel in the Nigeria National League.”

Tottenham accept Sissoko’s violent conduct charge

Sanches beats Rashford to Golden Boy prize SPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno and Ross Dyer ponder where Renato Sanches’ career will go after winning the Golden Boy Award. Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches has won the 2016 Golden Boy award ahead of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Bayern Munich teammate Kingsley Coman. Bayern signed Sanches on a five-year deal from Benfica in May for €35 million plus add-ons before the 19-year-old caught the eye with a series of scintillating performances for Por-

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata were pictured smiling and Anthony Martial was seen hugging France teammate N’Golo Kante at the final whistle. The former Old Trafford assistant manager, speaking on the Premier League TV channel, said: “You can get beat in a football match, but then when you’re getting beat and you’re swapping shirts, that is something I don’t like. “If you get beat 4-0, you congratulate the opposition, you thank the supporters and then you get off the pitch. “You don’t stand around on the pitch swapping shirts and laughing with the team that’s just beat you.” Pedro, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante scored as Antonio Conte’s Chelsea made it a miserable return to Stamford Bridge for former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

ottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that the club will accept the FA’s charge of violent conduct against Moussa Sissoko. Sissoko was charged retrospectively following an incident which saw him appear to elbow Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter during Saturday’s 0-0 draw between the two sides at the Vitality Stadium. Pochettino is confident that the contact was accidental, but acknowledged that he would be unlikely to succeed with an appeal and is now resigned to losing the summer signing for the next three games. “We accept that. We have reviewed the video. We accept the charge and now we move forward,” he told reporters. “After the game it was difficult when I was asked

about the action. It was true that it was difficult for me to appreciate the situation of what happened. “But when I saw it on TV I need to say there was no intention but the elbow was in the face of Arter, that’s clear. We accept the charge, and now we need to move forward, and expect a three-match ban.” Spurs have until 6pm on Tuesday to officially respond to the charge.

Sissoko

No evidence of Ed Warner’s claims - IAAF C

laims that the 2017 World Athletics Championships bidding process was corrupt will not be investigated further, the IAAF has said. London will stage the event but in January UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said a “senior person with the IAAF” had told him about Qatari bribes being offered during the bid process in 2011. Warner told athletics’ world governing body that Lord Coe was the source.

Coe denies the claims and the IAAF says there is not “sufficient evidence”. Coe - now IAAF president - says he has no recollection of hearing a rumour - or communicating one that representatives of the Doha bid were offering “brown envelopes” of cash to IAAF council members in return for Qatari support, on the night before the bid. Warner headed the bid team that won the 2017 vote in November 2011.

Qatari capital Doha was subsequently named as host for the 2019 event in November 2014. Qatar has denied any wrongdoing in either bid. Following Warner’s claims to BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme, he gave the IAAF the names of three people he claimed were present when Coe told him of Qatari wrongdoing and the body’s ethics board made contact with those named and all members of the IAAF Council at the time.

On Marble “Don’t live your life with anger and hate in your heart as you will only be hurting yourself more than the people you hate.”

Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

Aisha Buhari on my mind

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Robert Tew

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

}14

N150

A hater of women from the dark ages "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"–Psalm 23.

Crossfire

recited this scripture three times and waited on the Lord quietly and calmly when I heard that my wife and son had been unlawfully apprehended and detained in a bank in far away Ado Ekiti on the orders of the EFCC whilst I was in Lagos. Somebody should tell President Muhammadu Buhari to stop sending his goons to abduct other peoples wives and eight month old infant babies and to stop trying to traumatise them, lock them up and destroy their lives simply because they are married to or fathered by opposition politicians and those he hates. He should leave my wife Precious Chikwendu, my eight month old son Aragorn and other members of my family alone, face me directly and be a man. Even in war the wives and children of the enemy are out of bounds. I give thanks to the Living God, the fearless lion that is known as Governor Ayo Fayose and the good people of Ado Ekiti for saving the lives of my loved ones and protecting them from the barbaric and illegal actions and tyranny of the fascists of the EFCC. I have nothing but contempt for these people. They are the scum of the earth and by the time this is all over they will know that I serve a mighty God. Despite the threats, persecution, violence and intimidation that my family and I have been subjected to over the last one year my opposition to the Buhari government remains implacable and unrelenting and I refuse to be silenced. I said that Buhari right from the outset would prove to be an incompetent and disastrous President if elected into office and I have been proved right. If he and his security forces are not killing Shiite Muslims, marginalising Christians, silencing and intimidating critics, locking up members of the opposition, storming the homes of judges or threatening bloggers and journalists they are sponsoring Fulani militants and herdsmen to commit acts of barbarity and terror against their fellow Nigerians. If they are not impoverishing Nigerians, decimating the economy or freezing the bank accounts of innocent men and women and their family members they are tormenting, abducting and locking up the wives, infants and babies of opposition figures. If they are not intimidating and charging leaders of the Senate and other senior legislators to court on trumped up charges, murdering IPOB youths, butchering Niger Deltans, humiliating and cheating their own party leaders or discrediting and jailing dissenters they are denigrating women and confining them to the kitchen and bedroom. Buhari has divided our country along ethnic, religious and regional lines as never before and he has subjected the Nigerian people to levels of starvation, deprivation, poverty and suffering that were hitherto unkown. And it is not just Southerners and Christians that are feeling the pinch and

FEMI FANI-KAYODE

ffk2011@aol.com

EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu

suffering the pain and affliction. Millions of Northern Muslims are feeling it as well. If anyone doubts that I challenge Buhari to walk the streets of Kano today and see what happens. One wonders how things got so bad? One wonders what engendered this terrible affliction and what attracted this deep-rooted curse of a government? One wonders how a country of 180 million resilient, hard-working, educated, enterprising, adventurous, courageous, cheerful, charitable, forgiving, kind, Godloving, God-fearing and strong-willed people ended up with a President from the dark ages like this? Even members of the President's own constituency in the core North, his leading party members from all over the country, his greatest allies and erstwhile friends and now his beautiful young wife are complaining bitterly and openly. They are all wailing as loudly and as frantically as the traditional wailers of the wailing opposition. The response of the President is to dismiss their concerns with contempt and to describe his young wife as nothing more than something akin to a kitchen maid, a glorified cook and a slavish bed wench before a shocked German audience and an utterly dumbfounded world. His media aides and apologists tried to spin the whole thing by suggesting that he was just joking but this did not go down well with the President. The very next day he told yet another group of foreign journalists that he meant every word of what he had said earlier and that as far as he was concerned "women had no place in politics" and they belonged to the "kitchen and the bedroom". Now the question is this? How can any

man describe his wife as only being fit for the kitchen and the bedroom let alone the President of the largest and most densly populated black nation on earth? What does that tell the world about us as a people? How is that supposed to make our women feel? Does the President know the damage he has done to us by that single statement which he made in distant Germany at the very heart of the European Union? One of his media aides has already told us that he cannot read newspapers and that he can only manage to comprehend the cartoon section of any paper but even at that his latest comments go beyond the pale. By his asserions about women in Germany, Buhari has confirmed the fact that he has no respect for himself, for his people, for his continent, for his women or even for his host, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is a woman and her German people. Not only did he say those things about his wife and women but he also said it in Merkel's presence and on German soil. No wonder there was deep outrage in Germany and indeed throughout Europe and the world and no wonder leading feminist and human rights organisations and respected members of the German community were demanding for his expulsion from that country. It is only in Nigeria that some ignorant, sorry and hapless opportunists and hungry government apologists, freeloaders and beggars tried to play the whole thing down by claiming that the President was "just joking". Shameless are those who say so. The bitter truth is as follows: Nigeria is being run by a small cabal of hardened, violent, merciless, incompetent, relentless, cow-loving religious bigots. Such people are happy to marry nineyear -old brides and to confine their wives to the kitchen and bedroom for the rest of their lives. Such people hate criticism or opposition in any shape or form because they believe that being in power confers some degree of divinity and deification upon them. Such people believe that to to challenge their authority is to challenge God and they see themselves not as elected servants of the people but as divinely ordained representatives of God on earth. Such people believe in crushing, destroying, humiliating, killing and jailing their perceived enemies and political adversaries for no just cause the moment they feel threatened or intimidated. Yet the truth is as follows: no matter how many Sambo Dasukis, Nnamdi Kanus, El Zak Zakys, Olisa Metuhs, Justice Niyi Ademolas, Warimpo Dudafas, Patience Jonathans, Ayo Fayoses, Nyesome Wikes, Seriake Dicksons, Iyiola Omisores, Segun Mimikos, Robert Azi-

bolas, Bukola Sarakis, Bola Tinubus, Ike Ekweremadus, Femi Fani-Kayodes, Goodluck Jonathans, Cletus Ibetos, Ayo Adeseuns, Precious Chikwendus, Bintu Dasukis, Patrick Akpobolokemis, Kime Engozus or any of the thousands of others that you constantly malign, harass, falsely accuse, lock up, terrorise, intimidate, charge, traumatise, demonise, malign, misrepresent, beat, spit upon, insult or humiliate, your time is running out and you cannot escape God's judgement. The truth is that the fear has gone and no-one is intimidated by you, your goons, your henchmen and your security agencies any longer. The worse you can do is to kill us all in order to remain in power and even if you do that others will rise up against you in our stead. As the great American freedom fighter, founding father and patriot Thomas Jefferson said, "the tree of liberty is watered by the blood of patriots and tyrants". Again as another great American patriot by the name of Patrick Henry once said "give me liberty or give me death". This is a wake up call and your final warning. Desist from troubling the Nigerian people Mr. President and stop trying to destroy the lives of innocent men and women. If you do not God will not only bring you to your knees and humiliate you to a point of ridicule and contempt but he will also sweep away your government. In your desperate attempt to silence me, the Lord of Hosts and the Ancient of Days will silence you. Thus sayest the Spirit of the Most High God and His zeal shall surely perform it. Sooner than later He will deliver us from this evil and wicked President who hails from the Dark Ages. Sooner than later He will rescue us from the cruel and unrelenting claws of the Dark Angel that presides over the affairs of our land. Blessed be His name forever.

Solution to B. Teaser 9

• This piece was written by Fani-Kayode before he was arrested by EFCC.

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