Wednesday, june 17, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

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Vol. 2 No. 483

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Lagos killer squad names Bode George as sponsor }10 NEW TELEGR

Why corruption thrives in NNPC, by Saraki Chukwu David Abuja

enate President Bukola Saraki yesterday identified lack of defined operational budget as the cause of the

alleged corruption rocking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Saraki, while receiving a delegation of civil society groups, under the aegis of Civil Society Situation Room, led by Mr. Clement Nwankwo, that visited

him in Abuja, expressed concern about the non-provision of operational budget for most agencies, especially incomegenerating ones. Such a situation, he added, led to serious leakages in the oil corporation.

He, however, assured the delegation that with the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his leadership of the Senate, the era of deliberate non-provision of operational budget for agencies CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

APH WEDNES

The Mega DAY, JUNE 17,

2015

...EXCLU SIVE LAG OS MAG AZINE

City

LIFE IN THE CITY NCF Lekki: A natural relaxation spot 23

MY CITY, MY WORLD Lagos, land of opportuniti great es, says Aremu 25

}21 For a La For agLagos os without flood without flood Residents

of Isheri North

left strande

d during a recent

downpour

Lagos state governmen t believes that the state. As drainages andthe rains set in, the statechanging the attitude of resid desilting of is determine canals. But d to ensuring ents to waste mana it requires agos is, undou the cooperatio that flood-prone areas gement is key to stopp btedly, Africa largest city ing flood in n of residents are ’s 6 per cent estimated with a population as MURITAL taken care of, throu growth rate. at of Lagos gh cearing The city A AYINLA write though this 21 million, even is of number has status of a fast approaching found to be s the mega city been unreli

Buhari: There's limit to what I can do at 72 the volum and no doubt e of waste ated is expect being ed to rise. genermanaging Hence the waste the reside generated , nts appear by s the major challenges to be one of the state. confronting In ment in the spite of the impro vement practi solid waste manag ece in Lagos, pecially within most esthe forma operators), l (PSP faced with the state is constantly menac e of ers, group of inform cart pushal private tor involv seced waste collectin the house-to-hou se ion at a fee. The state is also with the problem confronted of impro waste manag per dents, who ement by some residump refuse canals, draina into the water collect ge channels and ment, accord ors. This develo pis responsible ing to the expert s, for the usual floods

seen in some parts of the whenever state it rains.

able and disput ed by some agenci the U.N estima es. According to the 3rd larges tion, Lagos will be t mega world by year 2015, city in the going by the

OLUWATOSI N OMONIYI CITY EDITOR

tosin.omoniyi@ne wtelegraphonline

.com © Daily Telegrap h Publishin g Company Limited

The government is taking steps in ensuring a floodfree mega city

state

government, While the and other state government to aggressive campain addition environmen improper ign see the activit waste managagainst talists has also ies of cart ement ers as the major factor push- of majorembarked on dredgi , ing agains ng militatcanals and t channels accusing safer environment across the drainage the cart state. Speaking pushers , dumping of refuse indisc dredging of while inspecting the ly on road the canals medians, riminate- ing of and desilton water paths some major or directl y drains the and state, the canals, some sections of Permanent across Secreexpansion the residents call for tary, Office of Drainage and dredgi in the drains across ng of the state Ministry of way for the the state to give ment, Engineer the EnvironAyodeji Adenwater, whichfree flow of flood ekan, said the comm encem dredging they said, sponsible of major canals ent of is re- the for 57 Local across experienced the floods usuall y cal Counc Government and in some parts state. Loil Development of the would Areas address To addres s the proble Although, the problem. flooding which m he frown rate some is fast becom of ed at the an eyesor residents ing e dump refuse governmentin the state, the state in the canals and major is embarking channels holistic approa in the state, drainage on a ing a flood-f ch towards ensur- nent Secretary said the Permaree mega the drains city. The in CONTIN UED

ON PAGE 26

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Nigeria's Consul General in South Africa, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke and others, at the inauguration of the Immigration Service Centre at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa…on Monday. PHOTO-NAN

64 Imo monarchs in trouble for supporting Jonathan lTo face disciplinary panel

Quick Read

EFCC grills ex-Gov Elechi Fresh war in Benue

20 houses razed, residents flee

Security operatives rescue Ondo regent

} } }

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lekki Gardens Investment Forum 2015 (LGIF2015) On Tuesday, June 9th, 2015, the Lekki Gardens Investment Forum (LGIF2015) took place at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos. The lecture which was tagged "Unlocking the Opportunities in the Nigerian Real Estate Market", had top dignataries and notable speakers among whom are Mr. Richard Nyong, MD/CEO Lekki Gardens, Mr. Rilwan Belo-Osagie, Managing Director, FSDH Merchant Bank, Mr Kunle Oyinloye, Managing Director, The Infrastructure Bank among others. Below are some images of the event:

Richard Nyong MD-CEO Lekki Gardens

Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, MD, The Infrastructure Bank and a speaker at the event

L-R: Wole Famurewa, Hamdah Ambah, Kunle Oyinloye, Prince Abimbola Olashore and Prof. Charles Iyangete

Mr. Frank Aigbogun CEO/Publisher, Business Day Newspaper

L-R: Mrs. Olusola Nyong, Mr. Richard Nyong and Mrs. Christianah Amida

L-R: Prince Abimbola Olashore and Prince Taiwo Olashore of Lead Capital Plc

Mrs. Christianah Amida, Executive Director, Operations, Lekki Gardens

Ms. Stella-Marie Omogbai giving the opening address

Mr. Adeniyi Falade, MD, Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited and a speaker at the event

Mrs. Bukky George, CEO, Healthplus

L-R: Iyabo Soji-Okusanya and Mr. Niyi Akinlusi, MD of Trust Bond Mortgage Bank Limited

L-R: Mr. John Darlington, Executive Director Ascot Holdings, Mrs. Tinuke Olashore and Prince Abimbola Olashore

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Buhari: There's limit to what I can do at 72

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to be patient with his administration as it battles to rebuild the nation. He told a cross-section of Nigerians living in South Africa during an interaction session on the sideline of the just-concluded African Union (AU) summit in Johannesburg yesterday that there was so much work to be done and how he had wished that he had become the president at a much younger age. According to him, there is a limit to what he can do as Nigeria's leader at the age of 72. Nigerians currently have high expectations from the new president whose campaign slogan was anchored on change. Buhari, in the build-up

to the March 28 presidential election, was criticised for being too old to rule Nigeria considering the enormous developmental challenges ahead of the country. "How I wish I became the head of state when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do," he added. Buhari explained that his emergence on the political stage and decision to govern Nigeria was due to his love for the country. He said: "But what brought me here, I think, mainly is because I love this country. I was in the war front for 30 months during our civil war. I lost a lot of people loyal to me; I lost a relative, a lot of Nigerians did too. "We lost about two million Nigerians just to keep Nigeria one. So nobody should come now and tell us rubbish! We are going

to remain one country. God has given us another opportunity to reorganise this country. Those who work hard, the society will pay them back." While blaming the PDP for the rot in the nation's oil industry, Buhari said Nigerians voted for him to clean up the system. He added that it was during his time as oil minister that contracts were signed for the building of both the Kaduna and the Warri refineries, which today are non-productive. "It was during my time that I signed the contracts for the Warri refinery, the Kaduna refinery, laying of more than 3,500 pipelines and building of more than 20 depots. We got the tankers off the road; we saved lives, we saved fuel, we saved the road itself. But from 1999 till date, PDP has mess it up. That is why Nigerians decided to vote for me," he stated.

The president expressed regrets that people remember his tenure as chairman of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) more than his tenure as head of state between 1984 and 1985. He said: "The most irritating thing was that of all the positions I have held before, people only remember my days at PTF because I bought bed sheets and put in hospitals and some x-ray machines and some buses for the schools. They remember me more as chairman of PTF than as a former head of state, governor or Minister of Petroleum. "I will tell you what happened when I went back home after being a governor of (old Borno State) now six states - Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe. I was the governor, then Petroleum Minister under Obasanjo for three-and-a-

half years, then head of state, then chairman of PTF. "In April 2002, when I decided to join partisan politics, I said it in my ward in Daura. I didn't know the number of Nigerians that came to Daura from all over the country, but I know I invited a few and I told them that those who knew me in the military if they said I would join partisan politics, I would say no. But now I found myself in it. "In spite of the fact that they say that you cannot win election without spending so much money, it was not so with me. From primaries to my election is a proof that Nigerians know what they want once they make up their minds. You can give them the money, some will refuse to take it; some would take it, saying it is our money and they would do exactly what they wanted to do.

L-R: Chairman, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board, Clare Short; Chairman, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Ledum Mitee and Executive Secretary, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, during a meeting with the delegation from EITI in Abuja â&#x20AC;Śyesterday

64 Imo monarchs in trouble for supporting Jonathan Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

o fewer than 64 traditional rulers in Imo State are facing disciplinary action for their alleged support for former President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential election, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. Already, four first class traditional rulers have been suspended while 60 other monarchs of various grades have been summoned to appear before a disciplinary panel over their divided loyalty to the State Council of

Traditional Rulers, insubordination and purported involvement in politics. The suspended traditional rulers were accused of defying the directive of the state government by receiving Jonathan in March when he visited Owerri, the state capital, for a parley with traditional rulers in Imo State ahead of the March 28 presidential election. The four traditional rulers suspended are Eze Emmanuel Njemanze of Owerri Nchi Ise; Eze Desmond Ogugua of Umuore Obizi in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government; Eze Edmund Njoku of Umuenyi community in Isiala

Mbano Local Government and Eze Sunday Okoro of Emii Community in Owerri North Local Government. The attempt to punish the monarchs, it was gathered, has pitted both the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Obi Orodo, Eze Samuel Ohiri, against the 64 traditional rulers. The suspension of the traditional rulers has sparked off crisis in the state with indigenes of Owerri Municipal Local Government spoiling for war unless the suspension of their monarch is

lifted. Also, those from Umuore community in Ezinihitte Mbaise have resolved to protect their octogenarian monarch, whom they described as a thoroughbred traditional ruler. However, the state government has denied any involvement in the suspension and letters of invitation sent to the traditional rulers by the panel. But it said it would abide by any recommendation presented to it by the state Council of Traditional Rulers under Ohiri. The governor, in a statement by his Chief

Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, had accused Eze Cletus Ilomuanya of parading himself as chairman of the council despite the fact he has been dethroned. But based on a Supreme Court ruling, some traditional rulers in the state decided to pay their loyalty to Eze Ilomuanya, an action that has attracted the wrath of the state government, which appointed Ohiri as the chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers. Jonathan, during the last visit to the state had recognised Ilomuanya as the authentic chairman of the council.

"So, why did I join partisan politics in spite of that? When I went home, people knew that I had no money. I thought they would leave me alone, but they didn't. They were coming to me asking me to do this and do that. And I found that the only way I could do it is by joining partisan politics. And maybe if I speak, even if I'm not a member at any level, people will listen to me. "But then I joined the opposition; I joined the APP (All Peoples Party). I didn't want any political office at first; if I wanted that, I would have joined the PDP then and maybe I would have gotten to where I am much earlier. But then, I wanted to go with the opposition." However, Buhari explained that what finally propelled him into joining politics was the development in the then Soviet Union. "The second thing that happened that finally convinced me to join partisan politics was what happened to the Soviet Union. "You know the Soviet Union was an empire in the 20th Century that collapsed without a shot being fired. Everybody went home, there was confusion. Now there are 18 countries out of the old Soviet Union. They were more advanced than the Western countries in science because they wanted to go to space specifically in 1957, and they had more nuclear war heads and delivering system than Warsaw. And they had organised their societies and they had much less crimes and they got jobs for people. When people had no jobs, they got one for them," the president said. He enjoined Nigerians in South Africa to support his government and continue to serve as good ambassadors of the country. He added that within the shortest possible time and with the assistance of the international community, his government would end the insurgency in the North-East and give Nigerians the needed peace they desire. He also restated his commitment to tame corruption in Nigeria and restore the sanity needed for development of the country. "I can assure you that the three cardinal points of securing Nigeria, efficiently managing it by trying to build the economy again, generating employment and then dealing with corruption, God willing, we are going to do them and we will succeed," the president said.

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NGF meets today, to decide on bailout for states Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will meet today to consider critical issues affecting most states, especially the inability of the states to pay salary of their workers. The meeting, which was convened at the instance of the new Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, is expected to deliberate on the proposal for bailout to the states as well as their revenue enhancement scheme. Most states in the country are owing backlog of salaries to their workers, the worst hit being Ebonyi, Benue and Osun states. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum, had, before the inauguration of the new administration, met with President Muhammadu Buhari requesting for bailout to enable the states meet their financial obligations. The governors are also expected to receive an update on the Federation Account Allocation

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

ENUGU

IBADAN

CALABAR

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

31o C 24oC Thunder Storms

31oC 23oC Partially Cloudy

24oC 13oC Partially Cloudy

38oC 24oC Mostly Sunny

31o C 23oC Thunder Storms

29oC 23oC Storm

21oC 15oC Rain Storm

41oC 27oC Sunny

22o C 12oC Very Cloudy

Committee (FAAC) meetings as well as accruals from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to their states before the handover. When the governors

met on May 18, they issued a communiqué calling on former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to account for the money that accrued to the ECA since

2013. “There is the need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to provide explanation for

accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $20 billion,” the communique added. In her defence, Okonjo-Iweala said the money

has since been shared by FAAC. Today's meeting will, however, give true picture of what happened to the $20 billion ECA in the past two years.

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited, Isa Mohammed Inuwa; Managing Director, Babs Omotowa and Chairman, Badagry Ship-Repair Marine Engineering Consortium (BSMEC), Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, during the signing of $1.7 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a dockyard facility in West Africa, in Abuja… yesterday

PDP hits Kwankwaso, says ex-gov frivolous Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, against incendiary utterances capable of destabilising the National Assembly and rubbishing the prevailing political tranquillity in the country. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday expressed shock at the hate statement credited to Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso had stated that the alliance between

Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP was to place hurdle ahead of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The former governor also said his former party, the PDP, is dead. But the PDP said it was “taken aback by the venom and bitterness in the statement, especially coming from a former governor, an elected senator, a highly respected former member of the PDP, who also benefitted hugely from the party as minister and two-time state governor." The party said it would have wished not to join issues with politicians who grew their political pro-

file in the party no matter where they are at the moment, but regretted that “Senator Kwankwaso went too far in declaring the party dead just because he is aggrieved that the Senate Presidency did not go his way.” According to the statement, it was “indecorous, mischievous and misleading for anybody to declare a party with an enviable history as the PDP, with 13 state governors, 49 senators and hundreds of members in the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly dead.” It wondered where Kwankwaso was when a party he claimed was dead defeated his choice can-

didate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, in the race for the Senate Presidency. It described as baffling that such unguarded statement came from a person who contested for the high office of the president of Nigeria. The party advised politicians to be decorous, statesmanly and focused on the national interest instead of promoting acrimony and division in the polity. "This unfortunate outburst is well below Senator Kwankwaso’s character and status and we urge him to desist from such," the statement added. It dismissed as frivolous, Kwakwaso's unfounded and unsubstan-

tiated claim that PDP's agenda's is to irritate President Buhari and put hurdles before him. Metuh noted that the party had repeatedly assured that it would help the government by providing robust and constructive opposition that would help Buhari's government, unlike APC's hate opposition. PDP noted with delight the statesmanly stance of President Buhari at the just-concluded African Union (AU) summit in Johannesburg, South Africa where he eulogised former President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the unique action that brought calm to the country.

Customs boss tasks FG on resuscitation of textile industry Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abudullahi, has called on the Federal Government to render necessary support that would lead to the resuscitation of the textile industry in Nigeria. Also, he renewed the pledge to fight smugglers to a standstill as Customs’

way of protecting the sector against smugglers’ activities. The customs boss said that a revamped textile sector will address the challenge of youth umemployment in the country. Abdullahi spoke yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ forum. He said the service in conjunction with other ministries and agencies have scheduled a meeting

with a view to amending some of the tariffs. “There is total failure of some government agencies and unless we put ourselves together, there is nothing we can do since 98 per cent of the work is done through information strategy,” he said. The chairman of the forum, Alhaji Salisu Umar, described textile sector as one of the basic industries for most devel-

oping countries. He recalled that 20 years ago Nigeria had a flourishing textile industry which was second only to government in providing employment to the citizens. He attributed the sudden fall of the textile sector to hostile operating environment, high cost of doing business and influx of cheap textiles mainly from China. “With its linkage to

cotton directly and indirectly, the sector employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians as Made in Nigeria textiles were exported to ECOWAS and European markets, earning foreign exchange for the country,” he said. In his remark, Chairman, Textile Association of Nigeria, Senator Walid Jibrin, commended the Customs boss for his effort at ensuring the sector is revived.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Alleged misappropriation: EFCC grills Elechi Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC) yesterday in Abuja, quizzed a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi. According to a highlyplaced source at the commission's headquarters

in Abuja, operatives of the Commission interrogated Elechi, in a case of alleged misappropriation of local government funds during his tenure as governor.

The source, who craved anonymity, said the former governor's appearance followed an invitation by the commission shortly after he lost immunity on May 29.

I won't resign as deputy speaker, Lasun vows lSays N120bn N’Assembly budget not bogus

Philip Nyam Abuja

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sulaiman Yusuf Lasun, yesterday vowed not to step down amidst allegations of mounting pressure on him to quit his position. He described the insinuations as mere speculation. "It's not correct, that is speculation. Why will I resign when I went through an election on the mandate of the Speaker?" he asked. Lasun, who made the declaration while fielding questions from journalists shortly after inaugurating the 36-member welfare committee appointed by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, reiterated that the current mandate of the present leadership of the House is genuine. He also defended the alleged huge budgetary allocations to the National Assembly, saying the money is not as huge as Nigerians are being made to believe. According to him, the current leadership of the House was not selected by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lasun insisted that their mandate was given by the members of the parliament in a free and fair election, and as such, no one or any group of persons, irrespective of their grouse can force him out of office of the Deputy Speaker. On the N120 billion allocated to the National Assembly in this year's budget, the deputy speaker insisted that the total sum allocated parliament is a pittance, considering the huge task and financial needs of the parliamentary arm of government which, he said, is very huge. He urged Nigerians to see the enormity of task the parliament undertake with its "lean budget" and therefore should not believe those who think the parliament is taking too much money from the budget. He insisted that the impression that lawmakers are taking jumbo pay is not correct. According to him, "People should not forget

that the National Assembly is the third arm of government and it should be treated as such. We are not just people voted for the sake of election; that is the third arm of government. "All over the world, it is the beginning of democracy. I think the legislature is the most important because that is the interface between the public and the government. "Let me tell you this; for

the last three years with the exception of 2015, the budget of National Assembly has been N150 billion and that is exactly 2.67 per cent of the total budget of the federation. So, I don't know where people see this when they said it was 25 per cent of the budget of the federation. "The budget of the National Assembly is 2.67 per cent of the budget of the federation and so it is not overblown.

"People have suddenly forgotten that we have 469 members in the National Assembly with each one having five aides, paid from the N150 billion with their technocrats; we have National Assembly Commission all of them draw their salaries and allowances from the N150 billion. "But they forget that in the 2015 budget, the money has been reduced to N120 billion."

It will be recalled that while Elechi still enjoyed immunity, his Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Timothy Odaa, his counterpart at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Celestine Nwali, and the state's Accountant General, Mr. Igbele, were quizzed for several hours in January. According to the source, "Operatives are demanding detailed explanations from the former governor on his administration's directive to 13 local government councils to establish asphalt project at their headquarters. "The commission wants him to explain why money was deducted at source from the affected councils' accounts, even when seven of the councils reportedly did

not comply with the directive," he told New Telegraph. It was further gathered that Elechi is being questioned on the alleged deductions of N1 million from each of the councils' accounts, purportedly for the funding of production of T-shirts, for the past centenary celebrations. The commission confirmed Elechi's interrogation to New Telegraph yesterday. Elechi's interrogation brings to three the number of former state's chief executives that have been guests at the EFCC's headquarters in Abuja, as ex- governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), had earlier visited on same grounds of alleged misappropriation of public funds.

L-R: Group Head, Propositions and Products, Sterling Bank Plc., Mr. Adewale Akinrinde; Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman and Head, Consumer Banking Unit, Mr. Gbenga Adegoke, during the presentation of the bank’s new product in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Why corruption thrives in NNPC, by Saraki CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of government to function was over. He also said the 1999 Constitution Amendment Bill, the 2011 Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which were either passed by the National Assembly or refused assent by former President Goodluck Jonathan, would be given priority on the resumption of the Senate for plenary next week. “The budget process which you talked about, I want to tell you that some of us have strong views that issue of budget must be transparent particularly. Days are gone where agencies like the NNPC would be able to function without operational budget. We must move away

from that because one of the key issues that we have now is the issue of revenue leakages because of lack of transparency. “I think we must move away from that, especially agencies that have revenue coming in," he stated. Responding to the group’s request that the National Assembly must, as soon as possible, revisit some people-oriented bills, which were passed and refused assent by Jonathan, Saraki said some of the bills were critical to the current reform project of the Federal Government and so would be given accelerated attention. “You have raised a number of bills, one of which is the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which is key to deepening the electoral process. More impor-

tantly, is the Constitution Amendment Bill, which was unfortunate that after all the work that was done on it, it could not be assented to. “I can assure you that as soon as we resume, we will begin discussion on how to go about bringing all those bills that are people-oriented back with a view to fast tracking their passage,” he added. According to the Senate President, the legislature will work hard towards ensuring transparency in governance. “On the issue of transparency of oversight, which you raised here, we will work very hard to see the areas where there can be improvement on our part. "As duly elected representatives of the people,

we will work closely with every stakeholder in our onerous task of building a prosperous, secured and egalitarian society, where the dividends of democracy will be felt by the people," Saraki said. He urged the CSOs to be more proactive and constructive in their approach to issues. He said: "I recognise the importance of Civil Society Organisations in a nascent democracy. You have done creditably well so far. "On our part as legislators, we will be open, transparent and accept to work together as a team in order to transform our abundant resources to the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians." Besides, he said the Senate under his leader-

ship would be steadfast as well as improve on oversight functions. "The budget processes will be transparent, we will continue to prevent revenue leakages and enact laws that are relevant to the welfare of the people," he said. Earlier, Nwankwo had commended the successes recorded in the election of the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, saying that the independence of the legislature will expedite growth and development in every sphere of governance. He solicited the support and partnership of the National Assembly in the passage of the PIB, Constitutional Amendment Bill and People Living with Disability Bill.

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

NERC orders Abuja DISCO to refund overbilling Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on Monday ordered that refunds should be made to overbilled customers of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). This is following earlier Notice of Enforcement and subsequent investigation of instances of overbilling perpetrated by the electricity distribution company. According to an Order Number NERC/139, which copy was obtained by journalists, the commission directed: “AEDC

shall with immediate effect from the date of this Order commence refund through energy credit of all excess charges billed its customers as a direct consequence of the adjustments” in estimated methodology in some of the company’s business units. The Commission further ordered AEDC to within five days notify the affected customers of the overbilling in writing in line with Regulation 9 (7) of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Meter Reading, Billing, Cash Collections and Credit Management for Electricity Suppliers Regulation 2007. AEDC is also expected

to publish in a newspaper with wide circulation within its franchise area, an apology to affected customers stating their business units and the amount of excess charges billed them during the period under review. The electricity distribution company is expected to report back within two months beginning from June 15, 2015, to the Commission over its compliance with the sanctions meted on it. The Commission had earlier issued on AEDC Notice of Enforcement Action over what it described as ‘manifest and flagrant breaches’ of approved methodology for estimated

billing of electricity consumers. The company was given seven days to explain why enforcement action should not be taken against it for non-compliance with the terms and conditions of its licence, the Methodology for Estimated Billing 2012 and was directed to submit a comprehensive data used for the billing of unmetered customers for the period under review. That notice was a follow up action to previous investigations and forensic observations of electricity distribution companies’ operations through which an unusual increase in estimated billings of electricity consumers were observed

within the last quarter of 2014 by NERC. The company, which had then requested the Commission for an extension of period, later forwarded its written submission and investigation was conducted by a team of experts after which this sanction is pronounced by NERC. AEDC was investigated for arbitrary imposition of random figures on clusters of its customers ranging from 18 to 28 per cent between October and December 2014 and in some cases 1,100 per cent increase, which resulted in spike in customers’ bills as against the provisions of the Methodology for Estimated Billing Regulations 2012.

Tinubu didn’t impose Lawan, Gbajabiamila, says Boroffice Chukwu David Abuja

he Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Senator Robert Boroffice, yesterday refuted the allegation that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, imposed Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as concensus candidates of the party for the National Assembly leadership positions. Boroffice was reacting to the general outcry among some federal legislators on the roles played by Tinubu, towards the inauguration of the Fifth National Assembly and the emergence of the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is believed that some APC federal lawmakers, who are loyalists of Senator Bukola Saraki, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, believed that Lawan and Gbajabiamila were single-handedly picked by the former Governor of Lagos State for purported personal interests. But Boroffice, in an interview in Abuja, said Tinubu had preferred Senator George Akume and Gbajabiamila as the party’s candidate.

L-R: Managing Director, SNEPCO, Mr. Tony Attah; Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), Mr. Anthony Arabome and Country Chairman/Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation Limited, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, at the Investiture of Arabome as CIPMN’s 17th President/Chairman of Council in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Abuja

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has said that the payment of over N900 million legal fees for winding up of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) including recruitment of 60 new staff, two exercises carried

wenty seven policemen missing after terrorists attacked Gwoza in Borno in August, 2014, are yet to be declared dead, InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, said yesterday. Arase disclosed this while responding to questions from newsmen after inaugurating the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Police Property Development and Construction Company Ltd. (NIPPDCC). The IGP explained that the police would follow its tradition of declaring officers that got missing in battle dead after the lapse of a period of time which he declined to give. “About our colleagues, who are missing in Gwoza, there is a tradition in the police force. “When officers are missing in battle, we do not declare them dead or missing until after a period has lapsed. “So, we are still waiting for that period to lapse, and if we cannot find them after that time, then, we will formally declare them either dead or missing,’’ Arase said. It would be recalled that 35 policemen were declared missing on Aug. 20, 2014 after insurgents attacked Gwoza, where one of the police training schools is located. However, on 26, 2014, the Police spokesman, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, told newsmen that eight of them were found, leaving 27 still missing.

Abdulsalami, Kukah, condemn N’Assembly leadership tussle Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

hairman of the National Peace Committee for 2015 Elections and former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, yesterday condemned the apparent desperation for power exhibited by some political actors in last week’s election of principal officers of the National Assembly. This came just as the

National Peace Committee applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for upholding his philosophy of being for all and belonging to none as manifested in his principled decision not to interfere in the election of presiding officers of the parliament. In a statement jointly issued by him and the Convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the former military ruler lamented that what was

meant to be a routine process of inauguration of the parliament was gradually turned into “a vicious internecine duel” that is threatening the moral authority of the National Assembly. They applauded the process of electing the presiding officers of the House of Representatives but took exception to what transpired in the Senate, describing it as “an ugly and selfish dogfight” which neither dignified the upper

We’re right to spend N900m on PHCN legal fees, says BPE Abdulwahab Isa

27 missing policemen yet to be declared dead, says IGP

out at the twilight of last administration received due process and necessary approvals from authorized authorities. Stating its position yesterday in a statement by its spokesperson, Alex Okoh, , BPE said both the payment and recruitment of 60 staff said to be hurriedly concluded at the twilight of last administration of former

President Goodluck Jonathan followed due process and all necessary approvals were obtained before embarking the exercises . In respect to N929, 613,188.94 legal fees allegedly paid to Messrs J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN Plc, it said the National Council on Privatisa-

tion (NCP) gave its nod. It stated that, the Council at its meeting on Thursday May 9, 2013, considered and approved the award of a contract for the winding up of PHCN Plc in the sum of Nine hundred and twenty nine million, six hundred and thirteen thousand, one hundred and eighty –eight naira, ninety-nine kobo (N929, 613,188.94) only.

chamber of the parliament nor represents the yearning and aspiration of Nigerians. According to the duo, the events of last week in the National Assembly have become a drawback on the gains of the peaceful general elections and the successful transition of power from the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to the All Progressives Congress ( APC) last month. They urged the leaders of the APC and their legisla-

tors in the Senate to treat the fallout of the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as a family quarrel that should not be allowed to overheat the polity. “ The challenge now is for the APC to justify the confidence that Nigerians placed on them when they bought into their mantra of change. We expect this change to e marked by personal and institutional acts of patriotism, altruism, discipline, decorum, maturity, sacrifice and decency.”

Dogara sets up agenda drafting committee PhilipNyam Abuja

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has set up a committee that will re-draft his legislative agenda for the 8th Assembly. Dogara had, few days to the speakership election, unveiled his legislative agenda for the House, promising to

have it reviewed by a select committee of members, international donor agencies and civil society organisations. Dogara said; “The expectation of House Members and Nigerians alike is very high as the election was very keenly contested and we also made promises during our campaignsforSpeakership.It isnowtimetodeliveronthose promises.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

News

NATIONAL

Military not deterred by criticisms of war against insurgency –Badeh

he Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Tuesday said the Nigerian military would not be deterred by any criticisms on its ongoing war against insurgency in the North-East. Badeh said this in Abuja when the Coalition of Civil Society Groups paid a solidarity visit to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. He said the Nigerian Armed Forces had fought before in the 1960s and fin-

ished in 1970s, and that the country had remained one, adding that the current war against insurgency was not different. ``One thing that the armed forces are doing is that we are not deterred by criticisms, in war nothing is equal and people behave differently under pressure. ``And war is the worst form of pressure any normal human being can ever face, so if there are one or two infractions out there at the venue of war, it is normal,

``It happens in every army, the most developed armies had committed worst crimes. Badeh said the Federal Government had said it would investigate the Amnesty International Report indicting some military officers of war crimes, adding that the military would wait for the investigation. He said the armed forces were very busy fighting the war that would keep Nigeria united. The CDS said in the military’s onerous task

several communities had been restored to where they were, adding that it was what the armed forces wanted to achieve. ``Our duty and obligation is to make sure that we return this country to normalcy, that is our pledge. ``And civil society groups, you know that you are the conscience of the nation and we urge you not rest on your oars. `` We know we have been hit by you before, when we do what is not right you hit us; it is expected and when

we do what is right, you commend us and we want to thank you for being a check and balance. ``We can guarantee you that there is no amount of distraction that can stop us from having a secure Nigeria. Earlier, the President of the group, Etuk Williams, said they were at the defence headquarters to pay a solidarity visit and also to appreciate the good work of the military in the fight against terrorism. Williams said the group, after critical and painstaking analysis of the report of the Amnesty International based on available facts arising from on-thespot assessment in the war against terrorism, unequivocally declared that the report was devoid of truth.

Unity Bank commends Egbemode’s appointment Temitope Ogunbanke

he management and Staff of Unity Bank Plc, has hailed the appointment of Mrs. Funke Egbemode as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited. The bank, in a congratulatory letter signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Theodora Amaechi and UH, Internal/External and Digital Communications, Ogechi Umez-Eronini, respectively, urged Egbemode to use her new office to contribute to the development of Nigeria. “Your wealth of experience and pursuit of excellence has earned you this appointment and we applaud this confirmation and your success.”

El-Rufai berates PDP for neglecting health sector Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

L-R: Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, during a courtesy visit by Atiku to President Buhari in Abuja …yesterday

Ahamba, others back IBA over Al-Basheer’s arrest Foluso Ogunmodede and Tunde Oyesina

lthough he escaped arrest on Monday, lawyers were unanimous yesterday that South Africa has an obligation to arrest the President of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir and send him to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution. Al-Bashir, who allegedly committed crimes against humanity, was billed for arraignment at the ICC. He was in South Africa for this year’s African Union (AU) meeting. Following his alleged in-

volvement in war crimes, the executive director of the International Bar Association (IBA), Dr. Mark Ellis called for his arrest and the immediate transfer of the Sudanese President to the ICC as his presence in South Africa was an opportunity for his arrest since the country was a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute. Ellis said, “As a State, party to the ICC’s Rome Statue, South Africa has an irrefutable legal obligation to arrest and transfer Al Bashir to the ICC. Too often, State parties have refused to take action against Al Bashir,

allowing him to remain at liberty for over six years since first being indicted by the ICC. “South Africa now has an opportunity to reverse this trend and to prove to the world its unequivocal support for justice and accountability.” Ellis, an international law expert and on the list of Assistants to Counsel of the International Criminal Court, said South Africa must assure the world that its support for justice and accountability remains intact. Ellis’s view was echoed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ahamba

who said AI Bashir’s arrest would be determined by the treaty. He said: “If South Africa is in a treaty to arrest such criminal or such alleged criminal, then, they have such competence to do so. It is a question of International co-operation against crime. “It is just like extradition, if South Africa is a signatory to that policy of ICC, then they have the competence to do something, but if it is not, then it cannot be caught by the law for whatever action it takes and as such cannot be compelled to take any action.”

Don’t cloak Buhari in partisan toga, youths warn Temitope Ogunbanke

ouths for Change Nigeria, an umbrella group of Nigerian youths, has warned Nigerians against cloaking President Muhammadu Buhari in a partisan toga, saying the president is the leader of Nigeria, not just of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The organisation in a statement issued yesterday by its National Leader, Mr. Seun Bobade, said Nigerians did not vote for change so that they can be inundated with issues that do not further the cause of change and therefore President Buhari should be allowed to settle down and chart a new path for Nigeria rather than distracting him.

“We have been following the controversy over the comment purportedly made by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that President Buhari is not the leader of the APC. We watched the interview in which Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the comments, and we can say without equivocating that his com-

ments have been taken out of context. “What we believe Alhaji Lai Mohammed said in that interview is that while President Buhari is a loyal party man and the product of his party’s primaries, it will be wrong for anyone to pigeon hole him as just the leader of the APC, because as President, he is the leader of Nigeria.

overnor Nasir ElRufai of Kaduna state has berated past Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)-led administrations for building a N10 billion office complex at the Government House when such huge amounts could have been channelled to the health and other sectors. Addressing participants at Kaduna State healthcare summit yesterday, El-Rufai regretted that his administration will be moving into the new edifice. He also said that his administration will improve the healthcare in the state as the present situation is unacceptable. According to him, Ka-

duna state has the second highest HIV prevalence in the country and only 36 per cent of mothers have the benefit of being attended by skilled birth attendants. The governor promised to deliver better health and longer life expectancy for the people of the state. While reeling out the statistics, El Rufai noted that the “current coverage of measles vaccine is 56%, reflecting a dismal immunisation coverage for 12-23 month-olds of only 35%. Latest available date suggests that only a paltry two per cent of under-fives with malaria are treated with ACTs” “In addition, there are about 100,000 avoidable deaths every year which translates to a life lost every three days.”

Ramadan: Muslims urged to watch out for moon today

he League of Imams and Alfas comprising clerics from the SouthWest, Edo and Delta states have urged Muslims in the country to look out for moon from today so as to commence Ramadan, a period where they are expected to fast for either 29 or 30 days. This was part of the communiqué the group issued after its meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the weekend. In the communiqué signed by its SecretaryGeneral, Sheik A. O. Aladesawe and the Publicity Secretary, Sheik Habeebullahi Adam AlIlory, on Tuesday, the clerics said their posi-

tion was in line with the teaching of Prophet Mohammed. Besides, the group also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and subsequent inauguration. Although the clerics acknowledged that going by the track record of the president as a former head of state, they had no doubt that he would perform, they however urged him to fulfil his electioneering promises. The group said, “As a worthy and an exemplary Muslim, we urge our president to live up to his campaign promises as we are ready to support him with prayers.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Killer squad names Bode George as sponsor

lIt’s a lie, says aide Taiwo Jimoh

“C

hief Bode George bought our operational bus for us and stocked the vehicle with arms and ammunition whenever we were going on operation to confront our opponents.” This was the claim of one of the suspected thugs arrested by the police for the killing of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otun Azeez, in Isale-Eko area of Lagos Island last year. The suspect, Adebayo Dipo, 30, and two others - Alade Ogbulu, 30, and Kofi Olumede, 21 – were paraded yesterday by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja. Aderanti said the suspects were apprehended by a Crack Squad led by Joel Oguwe. Dipo, who police described as a sharp shooter, was said to be the one who shot Azeez on the chest. At press time, George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was said to be out of the country. But a very close aide, who craved anonymity, said it was a ploy to tarnish George’s name. He said: “Since Baba (George) started his political career, he has not bought gun or ammunition for any political thug to kill for him.

“Baba has not come across anybody with the name Adebayo Dipo who claimed he (George) bought their operational vehicle and ammunition for them.” The late Azeez was in his house that fateful morning, when someone alerted him that one Abija, a chieftain of PDP and his ‘boys,’ were fomenting trouble in the area. Immediately he heard the news, he rushed to the scene, to check if his boys were among the fighters. He reportedly tried to pacify Abija and his boys who were returning from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s rally at Tafawa Balewa Square. When the late APC chieftain got to Adeniji Adele Plaza junction, he was hit twice in the chest by gunshots from the PDP thugs. He fell down. Olumede, who hails from Ghana, said he came to Nigeria in 2007. He said: “I was into confectionery when I arrived in the country. When the money I was making was not enough, I went to join the PDP gang through a friend. “I was not the one who shot the late Azeez that fateful day. We were coming from the PDP rally at TBS when some boys confronted us. It was in the process of exchanging fire that gunshots hit him. “Three of our members were also killed that day. To avenge their death, we regrouped and went to Isale-Eko the following day, which was on Sunday, and

The suspects

shot five people to death at Enuowa area of the Island.” On his part, Ogbulu said his duty was to drive the gang whenever it was going out during the campaign period. He said: “I have not killed anybody in my life. All I did was to drive the gang’s vehicle whenever its members were going on operation. Those of us

who were with Abija were not earning salary. All he gave us in return was to fix us at motor parks to collect tolls.” Ogbulu said it was Olumede, Dipo and other members of the gang who went to Isale-Eko a day after Azeez was killed and shot dead five followers of the late APC chieftain. Dipo said Abija was per-

suaded by top PDP leaders in Lagos to come to their fold. He added: “Our defection to the party did not go down well with some leaders of APC; that was what led to our fight.” Items recovered from the suspects included one singlebarrelled rifle, four rounds of cartridges, two cutlasses and one axe.

Stop Ogun cult killings, Rep tells police Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

House of Representatives member, Hon. Segun Adekoya, yesterday expressed concern over the spate of killings by rival cult groups in Ago-Iwoye and

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Ijebu axis of Ogun State. Adekoya, who represents Ijebu North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, disclosed that two persons were murdered on Sunday and Monday evening in the area. He regretted that despite the arrest of some suspected cult members by the police, clashes between rival groups had continued unabated. The lawmaker described the development as worrisome, adding that people of his constituency were living in fear. He disclosed that he had informed the Commissioner of Police, Mr Val Ntomchukwu, and the Area Commander of Ago-Iwoye about the two incidents. Adekoya charged the police and other security agencies to brace up and arrest any cult

member disturbing the peace of the area in particular and the state in general. He said: “The activities of rival cult groups in AgoIwoye in recent times are heart-rending. A suspected member of a particular cult group was cut down on Sunday while another one’s life was equally cut short in retaliation for the previous day’s incident. “These killings are worrisome. The people of AgoIwoye and the Ijebu axis are living in fear on a daily basis. We appeal to the police and other security agencies in the state to urgently come to the aid of the people of AgoIwoye and the Ijebu axis and protect us from the menace of these cult and murderous groups.” The police had said on Sunday that it arrested about 30

File picture of suspected cult members

suspects and recovered weapons from them in connection with cult-related violence in Ijebu-Ode and its environs. The police added that the arrest followed the deployment of more than 10 police teams, including Special

Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Robbery of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Mobile Police Force and State Intelligence Bureau in Ijebu axis to contain the spate of cult clashes.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Corps member raped to death Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

51-year old man has been arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrates’ Court for his alleged role in the death of Miss Yetunde Shukurat Idowu, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. Until her tragic death, Idowu was serving with Radio Kwara. The suspect, identified as Abdullahi Tanko, was alleged to have conspired with others now at large to rape the deceased before killing her. The police prosecutor, Inspector Matthew Ologbon, told the court that on May 23, about 12pm, the police received a distress call that they should go to Simeon Okedi Street located in the GRA in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Ologbon said when the police got to the place they found the late corps member

The late Idowu

on the ground in a pool of her blood. He added that investigation by the police revealed that Tanko and his collabora-

tors, now at large, conspired to trick the deceased from her residence at Saw-Mill area to Shoprite area, where she was killed on that fateful day.

According to him, the suspects had raped the late corps member at Tanko’s residence and thereafter carried her body to a nearby junction while her blood was still flowing along with them. He added that the police traced the blood to Tanko’s house and arrested the suspect. Besides, the prosecutor also told the court that the mobile phone of the deceased, with phone number 08132188661, was found in Tanko’s possession at the time he was arrested. Ologbon said efforts were still going on to arrest Tanko’s fleeing gang members and asked the court to remand the suspect in prison custody until other suspects were arrested and completion of the police investigation. In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, K. A. Yahaya, ordered the accused to be remanded in Mandala Federal Prison until August 10, when the matter would resume for further hearing.

One killed as security operatives rescue Akungba regent Babatope Okeowo Akure

olice in Ondo State yesterday shot dead a notorious kidnapper popularly called ‘Federal’ while rescuing Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, the regent of Akunngba-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area. Also, the security operatives arrested two persons, David Ikpen, 52, and Lucky Smart, 30, during the shootout between the hoodlums and the combined team of military and Department of State Services (DSS). Omosowon and four others - a youth corps member, Azuibike Ijeoma, an Indian, T. J. Alex, a police officer, Obafe Sunday and Aliu Abdujeli - were rescued by security agents at Igbonla village in Owo Local Government Area of the state. The regent and three of her aides were abducted penultimate Tuesday evening on Ikare-Owo Expressway in Akoko SouthWest Local Government

Area on her way to Akure to attend 69th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), delivered by the Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun. Narrating her ordeal, Omosowon said she was on her way to Akure when the hoodlums who had been laying ambush on the Oba Akoko-Owo Road stopped her entourage and took them hostage. She said: “They took us into the bush and we had to trek for hours before they took us to another location on Akure-Owo Road in the middle of the night. They hit my head with an object and blood started gushing out. They asked us to lie on the floor. “We were taken from there to another forest where they released my secretary and one security official. The kidnappers instructed them to go home and inform people about my abduction and brought another car which

City Briefs We swallowed cocaine for $10,000 –Suspects Juliana Francis

wo suspected drug peddlers have told interrogators they swallowed 132 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.7kg to get reward of $5,000 each. The suspects, Patrick Otaka, 48, and Ikechukwu David, 32, were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano while returning from Kenya. They both tested positive for drug ingestion during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The NDLEA Commander at the Kano airport, Mr Ambrose Umoru, said Otaka ingested 72 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.450kg while David ingested 60 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.250kg. According to him, Otaka, who hails from Ohafia, Abia State, is a trader while David is an apprentice at Alaba market. He said: “The suspects were nabbed on their way from Kenya. Interim investigation revealed that they were recruited by one source and were promised the sum of $5,000 each.” Otaka, who resides in Aba, told investigators that he smuggled drugs to pay his children school fees. He said: “I sell clothes in Aba but my business has suffered serious setbacks.”

Hospital offers residents free treatment Mary Okpalume Sapele

Princess Omosowon

took us away from the place. “We were tortured and had to walk into a swampy place and river before getting to where we were kept. They demanded N200 million ransom. They told me that I have been delaying the process of selecting another king for the town and I should contact Governor Segun Mimiko to pay the ransom. “Many other victims were brought to the forest while some were either

released or taken away to another place. I fasted for days praying to God to touch their heart. Thank God the security operatives rescued us before they could carry out their threats.” The corps member, who also narrated her ordeal, said she boarded the vehicle from Abuja to Lagos, after Orientation Camp. Unknown to her, it was a kidnappers’ vehicle.

kparavero Memorial Hospital, Sapele, Delta State, has commenced a five-day free medical treatment for women and children in Sapele metropolis. The free treatment is in remembrance of the founder of the hospital, Dr Godwin Okparavero. The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Eseoghene Agbatutu, who briefed journalists yesterday, said it was to mark the sixth anniversary of the death of the founder who died on June 17, 2009, as a means of giving back to the society. According to her, this year’s event is targeted at women and children. She said: “This is the fourth year and we have a target for each year. Last year, we focused on women and children and this year again we are focusing on women and children. “The aim is to keep his memory alive because he was a giver and as a family we intend to do that. Okparavero Memorial Hospital is giving back to Sapele and its environs the best way we know how, by giving free medical treatment to women and children.”

Abductors free Ekiti Catholic priest Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

Akingbade

fter a week in captivity, a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, was yesterday freed by his abductors. He was kidnapped by three gunmen about 8pm on June 9 in the Mission House of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Akingbade is the priest in charge of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido-Ekiti and also the assistant director of the Legal Department of the diocese’s Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI). The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Alberto Adeyemi, could not be reached for comment on the release of the priest. The Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Felix

Ajakaye, who confirmed Akingbade’s release to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, said the abductors demanded a ransom of N200 million. He, however, said that nothing was paid before the priest regained his freedom. But the bishop was silent on how the priest regained his freedom. He said: “This morning (yesterday), we thank God we saw him. God did it and I thank

everybody for their prayers because we rely on God. We believe in God and God can do anything. “But we told our people not to abuse the abductors because we would not want the abductors to be cursed and we want things to change for the better in our state, the state of honour, and Nigeria as a whole. “What happened to Fr. Akingbade happened to every member of the church, so all over the world people were praying.

News

SOUTH-WEST

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’ve not received any salary as governor –Aregbesola

lSays CBN statistics has vindicated him against Omisore’s claim lYou are economical with the truth –Activist

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Governor , Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday declared that, he shares the plight of the civil servants in the state over the non- payment of their salaries, saying, he has not also not received any salary since he became the governor of the state. The governor was quot-

ed to have said this while receiving the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Jonathan Richardson, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Osogbo. In a statement issued by the Head, Bereau of Communication, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said “We are with them in their pains, we are not immune to any of their pains. I have not received any salary ever since I became the

Governor of the state”. Aregbesola said, as the head of the state’s administration, he is with workers and that he feels their pain. According to Aregbesola, “I want to appeal to workers in the state to be calm as their period of hardship caused by the delay in the payment of salaries will, in a matter of weeks, be a thing of the past. Whie addresing the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia,the governor

stressed that the state is eager to partner with Australia for the benefit that will come to the state and Australia as a country. He noted that apart from gold and other resources, the state has a large deposit of gemstones. Speaking earlier, the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Jonathan Richardson held that his country is ready to offer necessary assistance to develop the economy of Osun.

Meanwhile, a leading human rights activist in Nigeria and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ),Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, has accused the state governor Aregbesola of being economical with the truth on the loan incurred by his administration. Similarly, Governor Aregbesola yesterday said that, the Central Bank of Nigeria has through the release of its statistics of

the nation’s revenue, rubbished claims by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who on Monday accused Aregbesola of financial recklessness. Aregbesola said: “the CBN has with its statistics of the nation’s revenue, rubbished claims by the governorship candidate of the PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who on Monday accused me of financial recklessness.”

Police warn gas vendors against shady deals Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he police in Ekiti State have warned dealers in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) against selling gas or gas cylinders to persons of shady characters, saying such people could use them for sinister purposes. The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Etop James, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti yesterday at the opening of a one day sensitisation workshop organised by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), for retailers of gas and gas cylinders in the state. Represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP), Mr. Godwin Osochukwu, the CP said the warning became necessary in view of the rising cases of terrorism and kidnapping in some parts of the country. He said people of questionable characters fronting for terrorists or other criminals were known to

be devising means of staying afloat in their nefarious businesses by playing on the intelligence of unsuspecting members of the public to perpetrate their acts. According to him, such criminals use devices such as gas and gas cylinders to prepare bombs, with which to cause havoc or mayhem in the society. Also, a director in the Ekiti State Fire Service, Mr. Adeleye Sunday, who spoke on the topic, “Fire Safety and Prevention in Liquefied Gas Distribution and Sales”, attributed most fire outbreaks in the country to sheer carelessness of people in the handling of fire agents such as petrol, gas, kerosene as well as electric gadgets among others. He said for fire outbreaks to be reduced or eradicated, people must learn to be extra careful by not storing flammable commodities at home, while those using gas for domestic cooking must observe all known safety precautions on daily basis.

Residents protest demolition of 1, 500 buildings in Badagry Muritala Ayinla

lmost two years after hundreds of armed policemen invaded their community and demolished buildings, scores of displaced residents of Atinporome in Badagry yesterday protested to the Lagos Governor’s Office over ‘the unlawful’ demolition of their houses. The residents accused the administration of the former state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola and the police authority of conniving to chase them out of their properties, through the claim that the police own the expanse of the land on which their buildings were located. It can be recalled that the police authority had on December 16th, 2013,

demolished structures erected on 65 hectares of land in the community, accusing the owners of trespassing on its land. While the residents claimed they purchased the land from the traditional rulers in the community and that they have the genuine document on their lands on which their buildings were erected, the police authority, disagreed, claiming it has the certificate of occupancy on the land. They defied the scotching sun were armed with placards with inscriptions which read: “The Lagos police command is not above the law. Police should publish their Certificate of Ownership, C of O, Police should vacate our land and others.”

L-R: Chairman, Ondo City Vision 2015, Chief C.F.G. Akinwolemiwa; member, Ondo City Vision 2015 Publicity Committee, Chief Sandoye Fadojutimi; Jomu of Ondo Kingdom, Chief Ambrose Akinsade; Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, Chief Simeon Oguntimehin and the Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, during the Vision’s planting of trees at the Osemawe’s palace in Ondo

Don expresses worry over rampant child rape Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abiola Odejide, yesterday deplored the high rate child rape in the society, describing the trend as a manifestation of height abuse and the bastardisation of societal value that must be stamped out. Speaking as a researcher and keynote speaker at a programme organised by the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health,

University of Ibadan where the day of the African child was observed, Odejide, called for legislation against child marriage, to halt the attendant mental trauma on the young victims, as well as deterrent measures against children rape. The lecture which held at the University College Hospital, was organised in conjunction with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCH. The leading African researcher placed emphasis on the plight of girl child in Nigeria, noting that every

day, there was a report of a minor being raped and sexually assaulted by an older person and relatives. She said it was an evidence of depravity and lack of security for the young victims. Her words, “A cursory look at our newspaper headlines does not give much cause for celebration. Rather, it shows the extent of depravity that people seem to be exhibiting in our society in this era; rape of young girls by neighbours, fathers, friends of the family, acquaintances, relations and so on.”

Tribunal grants MPPP’s prayer to inspect poll materials Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ustice Henry Olusiyi of the Ogun State election petitions tribunal yesterday granted the request of the Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP) in the state to inspect election materials used for the April 11, 2015 governorship election. Olusiyi who is the chairman of the tribunal, ruled at the sitting of the panel in Abeokuta, following an application by

counsel to the MPPP governor candidate, Kayode Akinsola. The MPPP had filed a petition, seeking the nullification of the gubernatorial election, which was won by the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The petitioner claimed that the party’s governorship candidate, Mrs. Iyabode Ogunmefun, was unlawfully excluded from the governorship election and therefore prayed for an order of the tribunal

directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a re-run election. At the tribunal sitting yesterday, the MPPP counsel, Akinsola, drew the attention of the court to a motion on notice seeking to examine the electoral materials used for the gubernatorial election in the state. But counsel to Amosun and his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, who are third and fourth respondents in the matter, Dr Olumide Ayeni, opposed the application.

Osun APC calls for understanding at Ramadan Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday appealed to the people of the state to disregard what it called the evil machinations being peddled in the state to incite the people against the government over the unpaid civil servants salaries in the state. The party Director of Publicity and Strategy, Barrister kunle Oyatomi who made the appeal in a statement in Osogbo,charged them to exercise maximum restraint, perseverance and understanding in the face of the financial adversity, which is leading the state into the Holly month of Ramadan. He said“In times like this, when we face a collective challenge approaching the Ramadan,” the APC pleaded, “our faith must not waver, our restraint must not snap and our perseverance should hold firm so that we can triumph over this tragedy within the fasting period.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Corruption

How far can Buhari go?

Dictatorship

Africa’s sit-tight leaders

Senate Presidency

Leadership

16, 17

Intrigues, drama and furore

Tinubu and first supper

Politics PHILIP NYAM gives a graphic account of the intrigues that denied the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from producing the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on June 9

The coup against PDP

ot a few Nigerians were surprised when Senator Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively in the election of presiding officers of the eighth National Assembly. Ekweremadu’s election particularly was a bitter pill for the ruling APC to swallow. His emergence suddenly affected the political calculation in the House of Representatives creating a momentary confusion in the camp of the PDP and the Consolidation Group, which midwifed the victory of Hon. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State as Speaker over APC’s anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State. In its quest to ensure that Dogara emerged as speaker in defiance to his party’s position, the Consolidation Group struck an unwritten agreement with the PDP to concede the deputy speaker slot to it in return for block votes for its candidate. Consequently, the former Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) was unanimously adopted as the candidate of the Consolidation Group for the deputy speaker slot. Ogor, a very outspoken and gregarious ranking member, who has been in the lower chamber since 2003, is not new to intrigues that characterised the election of presiding officers. However, as experienced and exposed as Ogor is, he had his political fingers burnt in his aspiration to outsmart the

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Dogara

Ogor

APC leadership’s insistence on deciding who emerged as presiding officer. How it happened In the build up to the inauguration of the House on June 9th, APC with 213 members conducted a ‘controversial’ straw election to select its candidates for the position of speaker and deputy speaker. But this took place after the party had earlier adopted Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Tahir Monguno from Borno, for the exalted positions. The refusal of Dogara and his deputy, Sulaiman Yusuf Lasun (APC, Osun) to submit to the party’s directive made the mock election inevitable. Although, Gbajabiamila had thrashed Dogara by 153 to 3 votes, Dogara cleverly courted the PDP, knowing very well that with 140 votes from the opposition PDP in his kitty, he needed just 40 votes from the APC’s 213 to upstage the party’s candidate. On his part, Gbajabiamila was very confident that come rain, come sunshine, he would garner 180 votes out of the possible 213 APC votes. Hence, Gbajabiamila was not keen on soliciting for the PDP votes. The House is made up of 360 members but a memberelect from Katsina State died before the inauguration. Naturally,

Ogor was confused and unsettled. He immediately waved his hands in disapproval

the PDP members had sympathy for Dogara since he was rejected by his own platform. Therefore, Dogara, who had already chosen Lasun as his ‘running made’ decided to trade him off with Ogor. This was an attractive package, which the PDP House caucus bought wholesale. Although, Dogara had set out to disobey his party, he was conscious of the fact that he was still a member of the APC and in fact, a member of its national executive committee (NEC). So, the Bauchi-born lawyer entered into the gentleman agreement with caution. His desire to clinch the number four position also drove him into accepting to play ball with the PDP. However, it appears he was very watchful and still had the interest of his party at heart. The U-turn It is often said that “in politics, the more you see, the less you understand.” This was the misfortune that befell the PDP and its supposed candidate for deputy speaker, Ogor, on June 9. Before the election of speaker, the possibility of Ogor becoming deputy speaker was intact. It began with the roll call, which was conducted by the clerk of the House, Hon. Mohammed SaniOmolori. During the roll call,

the Consolidation Group and its allies hailed Dogara and Ogor but was silent at the mention of Lasun’s name. Hence, when news of Ekweremadu emerging as Deputy Senate President for the third time frittered into the chambers, Ogor joined other PDP members and the Dogara camp in celebrating oblivious of the fact that his agreement was been endangered. The signs that the game had changed became obvious during the voting period as Dogara was hailed by his supporters but Ogor was no longer given a similar patronage. Instead, Lasun was hailed when he stood up to cast his vote. As soon as Dogara was sworn in, Ogor was expecting that the time was ripe for the agreement to be consummated; and since Dogara won, he was confident to come out victorious. After Dogara took oath of office, the immediate past leader of the House, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola who was observing the proceedings from the VIP corner walked up to the new speaker and had a lengthy discussion with him and at the end of the tete-a-tete, PDP members were seeing jubilating, signifying that Dogara had given his words that the deal was still intact. But they were only been naïve because the aftermath of the Senate elections had totally changed the events in the House. Shortly after their jubilant disposition, the clerk of National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, called for nominations for the position of deputy speaker. Hon. Jones Onyeyeri (PDP, Imo) who was to nominate Ogor had raised his hand to perform his assigned role but was quickly interrupted by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano), the spokesman for the Consolidation Group, who it was gathered persuaded Onyereri to allow Hon. Ibrahim Babangida Mahuta (APC, Niger) to do the nomination. Conversely, when Mahuta was recognised by the clerk, he instead nominated Lasun. Ogor was confused and unsettled. He immediately waved his hands in disapproval and started saying “this is unacceptable; no this was not our agreement; this cannot stand.” Dogara noticed the protest from Ogor and reportedly sent Onyereri to call him. Ogor had a discussion with the speaker, who it was gathered appealed to Ogor to accept the new dimenCONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Politics

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Corruption: How far can Buhari go? President Muhammadu Buhari re-echoed recently that the high level of indiscipline and corruption in government and other social places are the main reasons he has pledged to fight graft. IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN examines the bumpy road the president needs to pass through to succeed

uddenly, the two well-known anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), have found their voices and teeth: Telling those who care to listen to them, in the last few days, that they can bark and as well bite. For instance, unlike the tail-end of former President Goodluck Jonathan administration when the anti-corruption agencies were only interested in arresting and prosecuting those involved in minor corruption cases, they have in the last few weeks dragged prominent politicians and businessmen to court for alleged fraud-related offences. In other instances, they have filed fresh cases against those powerful politicians and businessmen cleared before now. While the agencies have predicated their actions on their renewed efforts to fight corruption in the country, political and economic watchers say the EFCC and the ICPC’s current moves are triggered and designed to thrill President Muhammadu Buhari, who has consistently pleaded to fight all forms of corruption in the country. The president re-echoed recently that the high level of indiscipline and corruption in government and other social places are the main reasons why he has pledged to fight corruption, insecurity and unemployment headon. And prominent Nigerians have reminded Buhari in the last few days about those promises, especially his determination to fight corruption. Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, recently advised the president to beware of sycophants if he is actually ready to right the wrongs of the past. He said now that the euphoria of electoral victory is over, Buhari should get to work and hit the ground running without further delay. The cleric added that before the elections, Buhari during his campaign promised to fight corruption, provide security and deliver on the economy, saying these are key areas that he must address with immediate alacrity. “If he keeps to his words and pur-

Buhari

sue these three pillars of his manifesto to their logical conclusion, Nigeria will surely witness a tremendous growth and development in its national life,” Okogie stated. Perhaps, with a no-nonsense man, Buhari, taking over power from the most “abused, clueless and corrupt” former President Jonathan – about few weeks ago, it is now fashionable hearing people talk about corruption everywhere in Nigeria. Indeed, Buhari’s campaign was deliberately predicated on two issues: Corruption and insecurity – rightly so, because there was huge perception that the Jonathan-led government was very corrupt. To be sure, apart from wellmeaning Nigerians, some members of the international community have continued to talk about the massive socio-economic potential of the country - with a diplomat emotionally saying recently, “Imagine a Nigeria without corruption!” By their suggestions, they have blamed corruption for the present-day state of Nigeria and appear to be telling Nigerians bluntly: Tackle corruption and every other thing shall be added unto you. Every extreme critic of Nigeria today sees every Nigerian as a thief. In their estimation, Nigeria spits out and rejects almost every notion of what constitutes the word “normal”. And, based on this impression, some foreigners fussily bite their fingernails whenever they step their foot into the country or whenever Nigeria is mentioned. But, can anybody really blame these critics who believe that all Nigerians are corrupt? They do not want to hear that there are still some decent and incorruptible Nigerians in spite of a few dubious ones who have by their messy deals damaged the country’s reputation both at home and abroad.

Corruption will blossom when the social and governmental enforcement mechanisms are very weak

However, the perception that Nigeria and Nigerians are very corrupt is huge. The vexed matter has become a subject of much discussion within and outside the country. Indeed, several seminars and workshops have been held on the subject with prominent Nigerians, including many of those who have cornered the nation’s commonwealth in the past, mounting the podium and speaking in a classy and fashionable manner of how corruption has tumble-down the foundation of the country. Like somebody said recently: “Just imagine former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some shameless serving and former governors consistently talking about corruption in our country! That is how bad corrupt practices have become in our nation today.” However, the popular view remains that because of the dubious activities of some of the political elite, businessmen and women, the so-called social and anticorruption crusaders, ordinary people, corruption has become a seemingly pandemic in Nigeria. Many government officials now openly ask for bribe to do the job they are employed to do. Police and traffic wardens collect bribe from traffic offenders in broad daylight and let them go free. Politicians have looted and are still looting the nation’s treasury in billions to the extent that many of the state governors are unable to pay workers’ salaries. These corrupt leaders drive expensive cars on the streets; they own private jets and pompously display their ill-acquired wealth. A few of them have been exposed in the past but nothing has happened to them; they have graduated from being governors to senators. Why corruption thrives Experts and anti-corruption

crusaders have robustly discussed the issue of corruption. And, in their estimation, the fundamental factors that are engendering and promoting corruption, which some people have described as “the most lucrative and flourishing business” in the nation today, are many. According to them, there will be corruption when political offices at all levels of governance have become primary sources of acquiring huge dubious wealth in the nation. Corruption will blossom when the social and governmental enforcement mechanisms are very weak. The country will continue to celebrate corrupt practices when there is swelling conflict between changing moral codes and very notable lack of strong sense of national community. Yes, corruption is not peculiar or restricted to Nigeria but it is fast and obviously becoming a viable business in the nation. The dividends of corruption can be seen everywhere: Many political office holders have acquired huge wealth and properties within and outside the country. In Abuja, Lagos, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Africa, Dubai and other countries – some of the big and expensive mansions are owned by Nigerian politicians and businessmen, especially serving and past governors who have today become anti-corruption crusaders. And like many troubled people have asked: When did Nigeria get to this stage? How can it tackle the problems? How far can Buhari go? The huge perception out there is that President Buhari has the magic key to switch off the problem of corruption, going by his manifesto during his campaign and his public utterances in the last few months. Cardinal Okogie believes Buhari will succeed if he remains focused and keeps to his promises. But there are other voices who strongly believe that Buhari cannot go far in his determination to fight corruption. And their reasons are predicated on the assumption that many of his political and business associates and those currently surrounding him are the same people, who the president must fight if he wants to succeed in fighting corruption. Those who know have said that the conspiracies that led to the recent election of the National Assembly leadership were triggered by the calculation that Buhari cannot be trusted to protect his party’s members when it comes to fighting corruption and agreed there was need to elect a leadership that can call the president to order when he crosses the red light. Perhaps, this is what Prof. Pat Utomi referred to recently when he said “our change has been hijacked.” The composition of the Buhari’s cabinet and the restructuring of the anti-corruption agencies will give direction to the determination of the president to fight graft.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Al-bashir

Despotic and sit-tight leaders have continued to hold Africa hostage, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

he warrant of arrest, which was about to be issued by a South African court on Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, before his escape from Johannesburg on Monday, tends to overshadow the 2015 summit of Heads of State and Government of member countries of the African Union (AU). al-Bashir had to sneak out of the country and returned to Khartoum to avoid being arrested for trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands for war crimes and crimes against humanity he allegedly committed against his people. The ICC in 2009 and 2010, issued warrants of arrest on the Sudanese leader for allegedly masterminding genocide and other atrocities during the Darfur crisis. About 300,000 people were believed to have be killed by Sudanese soldiers at the instance of al-Bashir. The drama in South Africa explains why only few African past leaders were able to win the Mo Ibrahim Foundation multi-milliondollar award since it was instituted in 2007. Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British mobile communications entrepreneur and billionaire who is owner of Celtel, instituted the award to promote good governance and democracy in Africa. The award goes only to former democratically-elected head of state who served only constitutionally mandated term and has demonstrated exceptional leadership. The winner goes home with $5 million over the first 10 years and a yearly stipend of $200, 000 for life. Since it was instituted, only Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008), Pedro Pires of Cape Verde (2011) and Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), qualified for the award apart from former South African President Nelson Mandela, who was named the inaugural honorary laureate in 2007. By implication, the Mo Ibrahim award was not won, since it was instituted, for a period of four years – 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. The reason was simple: bad governance and sit-tight leadership. The prize committee who chose Pohamba as 2014 winner said he left office, “not only because he didn’t hold to power, but because

Mugabe

Biya

Compraore

Africa’s sit-tight leaders he welcomed political opposition, invested massively in the fight against AIDS and abolished school fees to make education free for Namibian children.” Unless the criteria for selection of winners for the award are changed, al-Bashir, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Blaise Compraore of Burkina Faso, Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea and King Mswati III of Swaziland are some African leaders already ruled out for the multi-million dollar prize. Africa is home for sit-tight leaders. Though, the Arab spring sacked three of such leaders – Hosni Mubarak of Egypt (who was recently sentenced to death); Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya (killed during the spring), Africa still holds the record as a continent with the highest number of longest serving heads of government. President Omar Bongo of Gabon died in 2009 after 42 years in power while Gnassingbe Eyadema who died some years ago after ruling Togo for 39 years, was succeeded by his son in a country not known to have a history of monarchical leadership. Mugabe, now AU Chairman, has been in power for 35 years; Mbasogo has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 36 years, the same number of years with Eduardo dos Santos of Angola. Biya of Cameroon, Compraore of Burkina Faso (before his recent ouster) and Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea have ruled their countries for a period of 32, 27 and 22 years respectively while Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and King Mswati III of Swaziland have been in power for 29 years each. At 91, Mugabe holds the record as the world’s oldest serving president, and there is no indication that he is ready to step down; he is presently in his seventh term in office as president of Zimbabwe. Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Mugabe has been at the helm of affairs in that Southern African country. He came to power as Prime Minister in 1980, and in 1987, he became Zimbabwe’s first (and so far the only) executive president. He is also leader of Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the ruling politi-

Country

Name

Years in office

Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe

Equatorial Guinea

Teodoro Mbasogo

Angola

Eduardo dos Santos

Cameroon

Paul Biya

Uganda

Yoweri Museveni

Burkina Faso

Blaise Compraore

Eritrea

Isaias Afewerki

Swaziland

King Mswati III

Gabon

Omar Bongo (Late)

Togo

Gnassingbe Eyadema (Late)

Africa’s sittight leaders... are corrupt, despotic, and they infringe on the human rights of the people with impunity

cal party in Zimbabwe, since 1975. Mugabe makes no pretence of his despotism. Africa’s sit-tight leaders have many things in common: they lack democratic credentials, they break any opposition to their government, they are corrupt, despotic, and they infringe on the human rights of the people with impunity. Mugabe was said to have bought his friend, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania’s idea that democracy was a distraction, which colonialists would use to destabilise newly independent countries. And since Nyerere was of the opinion that the most effective way to progress post-colonial Africa was to embark on one-party politics, the Zimbabwean president has tried to steer the country to one-party state, though with limited success. He has used his Fifth Brigade, a North Korean-trained security force, to crush an armed rebellion by fighters loyal to his rival Joshua Nkomo who was leader of the minority Ndebele tribe in Matabeleland. In 1982, he instigated a genocide in Matabeleland in which over 20,000 deaths among the civilian population were recorded on an excuse that Nkomo’s ZAPU party was planning a rebellion. And for Mbasogo, a former lieutenant in Equatorial Guinean army who overthrew Francisco Macias Nguema, his uncle and the country’s first president in an August 1979 military coup, his government was described as “one of the most corrupt, ethnocentric, oppressive and undemocratic states in the world.” Even though opposition political parties were legalised in 1992, Equatorial Guinea is a one-party state ruled by Obiang’s Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). At 73, Obiang holds the double record as Africa’s worst dictator and one of the world’s wealthiest

heads of state. The Forbes magazine said Obiang is worth over $600 million. This wealth he acquired through corrupt enrichment of self at the expense of the poor and sufferings masses of his country. Al-Bashir is not only the African leader under travel ban. Other most sit-tight leaders in the continent are not welcomed outside Africa due to their poor human rights record and undemocratic principles. King Mswati III’s presence at May 2012 Sovereign Monarchs lunch, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, caused some controversy due to poor human rights record of his government. Of course, President Mugabe knows he has no reason to visit Britain or America under any circumstance. Also donor agencies and international monetary organisations have since closed their books against these countries for over staying in office and violation of the rights of their citizens. Norway, the United Kingdom and Ireland, in 2005 cut back their foreign aid to Uganda due to bad leadership of Museveni’s government. Norwegian Ambassador Tore Gjos cited “the changing of the constitution to lift term limits, and problems with opening the political space, human rights and corruption,” as reasons why the country could no longer grant foreign assistance to Uganda. The World Bank on the other hand, observed that “the Government has largely failed to integrate the country’s diverse peoples into a single political process that is viable over the long term... Perhaps most significant, the political trend-lines, as a result of the President’s apparent determination to press for a third term, point downward.” This happened after Museveni altered the constitution to allow his stand for re-election for third term in 2006. This is a pointer to the fact that Africa’s under development is as a result of bad leadership. Despite the many gains associated with multi-party democracy and good governance, some other African leaders prefer dying in office rather than handing over power. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who was elected into office in 2005 has already amended the country’s constitution to allow him run for third term as president. This is unfortunate.

16 Politics

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate Presidency: Intrigues, CHUKWU DAVID examines the intrigues and drama that preceded the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate and the resultant furore that ensued in the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

he intrigues and horse trading that preceded the election of the President and the Deputy President of the Senate of the Eighth National Assembly on June 9 began as soon as the National Assembly elections were conducted on March 28, 2015, and results declared. The Senators-elect from the All Progressives Congress (APC), who considered themselves qualified for the office, by virtue of being ranking members of the Red Chamber, started lobbying immediately. As at that time, no zoning formula had been put in place. But analysts continued to make speculations about the possible zoning arrangement that might come up. Initially, there were five senators elected on the platform of the APC, who jostled for the office of the President of the Senate. They include Senators Ali Ndume (APC-Borno), Bukola Saraki (APC-Kwara), George Akume (APC-Benue), Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe), and Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe). They are ranking members of the Senate and therefore were all qualified to contest. Initially, the speculation was that APC would zone the office of the President of the Senate to the South-East but after the elections, it became obvious that the region did not produce a single senator who could be elected to occupy the office. Similarly, the South-South, which was supposed to take the slot after it eluded the South-East, also did not produce a qualified candidate for the position. The only senator they produced happens to be a first timer in the Senate, and therefore, not qualified by ranking rule. Consequently, the situation created the gap and opportunity for the North Central and the North-East geo-political zones to start jostling for the post. Earlier, the speculation was that the party leadership wanted the position to be retained in the North Central, which has occupied the office since 2007 under Senator David Mark. But sentiments and emotions started rising from public domain against the speculation, even though there was no official position to confirm or refute the rumour. But there were indications that qualified senators from these two zones were angling to contest the position. Some people felt that the North Central had held the position for too long, and therefore, argued that it should go to another zone. As this argument was going on in the court of public opinion unofficially, the national leader of the party, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, reportedly declared his support for the candidacy of Senator Akume while President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly backed Senator

Lawan. However, the partisan support of these two leaders for the aspirants was never made public. They always claimed in their public statements to be more interested in merit and competence than other considerations such as zoning. When the issue wanted to degenerate into serious division in the party, Tinubu reportedly decided to surrender the choice of who becomes the President of the Senate to President Buhari while holding on to his choice of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the Eighth House of Representatives. At this point, the other contenders, in the persons of Senators Akume and Ndume resolved to rescind their ambitions and aligned with Ahmad Lawan and Bukola Saraki respectively. Akume queued behind Lawan to become his deputy and Ndume went with Saraki, also seeking to deputise if he wins. But unlike in the presidential and governorship elections, in parliament, a person seeking to be Deputy President of the Senate or Deputy Speaker of the House has to stand for independent election into the office. Meanwhile, Senator Saraki defied and resisted party’s zoning arrangement and insisted that every qualified APC senator should be given equal opportunity to contest. This pitched him against the leadership of the party, which accused him of rebelling against what they described as the principles of party supremacy, discipline and the wishes of the party. APC’s gamble Seeing that Saraki was moving like a heavy truck descending a hill without control and ready to collide with and crush any obstacle, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the deeply agitated APC, resolved to draw up criteria to be used to determine the most qualified candidate for the post of the President of the Senate. Accordingly, the NWC, at its meeting held with President Buhari, on Tuesday night June 2, listed certain conditions which the contender to the number one office of the Senate must possess to be elected to preside over the Eighth Senate. The meeting agreed that the party’s candidate for the post must come from the geo-political zone with the second highest number of votes after the North-West, during the presidential election held on March 28. The party leadership also agreed that the next Senate President must not have any corruption charges hanging on his neck and should be one of the most ranking senators in the current Fourth Republic. Sequel to these resolutions, it was gathered that the leadership of the party was mandated to pres-

Saraki

Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left) taking his oath of office as Deputy Senate President.

They preferred to support Saraki, whom they adjudged to be more independentminded

ent the most eligible aspirant, going by the criteria enlisted above, as consensus candidate for the highly coveted office. When the leadership of the APC came up with these criteria, it became obvious that the party had taken a firm position to frustrate Saraki and cause Lawan to succeed Mark at all cost. This is because it was the North-East that scored the second to the highest number of votes at the presidential election. It is also on record that Lawan is the most ranking amongst the contenders; he has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1999 and a member of the Senate since 2007. Saraki joined the Senate in 2011. However, the two groups, the “Like Minds Senators” and the “Senate Unity Forum” who were supporting the candidature of Saraki and Lawan respectively, had claimed to have secured the endorsement of enough numbers of senators to win the race. The Saraki camp earlier compiled a list containing names of 34 APC senators-elect, and later claimed that the number had risen to 65 senators-elect, cutting across party lines. The Lawan loyalists on their part initially claimed that 37 senators-elect were on their side and also, just like the Like Minds Senators, later claimed that their list

had increased to 40 APC senatorselect, who had endorsed Lawan as their own consensus candidate. This development, undoubtedly, created serious confusion in public domain because as at then, there were just 59 APC senators-elect expected to be inaugurated in the Eighth Senate following the death of Ahmed Zannah ( Borno North ), on May 19, 2015. Some Senators who were worried by the situation expressed fears that the decision of the APC to use such undemocratic conditions, considered strange to the rules of the Senate and constitution of the country, could be counter-productive in the party’s aspiration to produce the Senate leadership. It was gathered that the APC had planned to announce its preferred candidate between Lawan and Saraki, during a meeting with the senators-elect on Thursday June 4, in Abuja but some ‘wise men’ in the party advised the leadership of the party to allow the most popular candidate to emerge through a due process that would be free, fair, credible and generally acceptable to all the people across party lines and amongst the Nigerian electorate. PDP smart move As the scheming was going on, came a speculation that Senator Saraki was being heavily sup-

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

drama and furore

L-R: Senators Barnabas Gemade, George Akume and Lawan Shuaibu at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, while the election of Senate Presidency was going on.

Saraki and Tinubu

ported in the race by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, who were elected to the Senate in the March 28 National Assembly election. New Telegraph was reliably informed that Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, was leading a campaign, lobbying the former PDP governors elected to the Senate to massively support Saraki’s candidacy. Sources said that the PDP Senators-elect resolved to support Saraki as a former strong member of the party, because it would be better for them to lend their support to their former colleague instead of Lawan that has been in opposition from 1999 to date. A source close to the office of the former President of the Senate, had told New Telegraph that former Governor Godswill Akpabio had told Mark to support the move by the PDP Senators to elect Saraki. But Mark, according to the source, said that he had decided not to involve himself with the politics of supporting any of the contenders as earlier speculated. In fact, it was rumoured that some of the senators who kicked against Lawan did so because they believe that he would be a puppet to Mark, and they preferred to support Saraki, whom they adjudged to be more

independent-minded. Controversial mock election While this was happening, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC organised what people described as a kangaroo mock election at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on June 6, during which Lawan was adopted as its sole candidate for the post of President of the Senate. The party also adopted the former Minority Leader of the Senate in the Seventh Assembly, Senator Akume as the Deputy President of the Senate. According to the party’s leadership, the essence of the mock election was to ensure that it did not go into the election with a fractionalised house. At the end of the voting, 32 voted for Lawan out of 33, while 31 voted for Akume for deputy out of 33, with one voided vote for the Senate Presidency and two voided votes for the Deputy Senate Presidency. However, Senator Saraki rejected the consensus arrangement of the party the following day and vowed to go ahead with his ambition to stand for the election. He claimed in a press statement that he already had the backing of 65 senators across party lines, who would vote for him in the election. He said that out of the 65 senators claimed to be in his support, 39 were of the PDP, which has a total

The situation created the gap and opportunity for the North Central and the North-East geo-political zones to start jostling for the post

of 49 senators elected to the current Senate. A source revealed to New Telegraph that some Senators from Saraki’s camp made a last-minute defection to Lawan’s camp when they thought that Saraki was losing grip in the race. Some of the senators who were said to have defected to Lawan’s camp were Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), Usman Bayero Nafada (Gombe Central), Abdullahi Adamu ( Nasarawa West) and a few others. Saraki, in his press statement signed by coordinators of the ‘Like Minds Senators’, Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and Sani Yerima (Zamfara West) said that the outcome of the APC primary election had no binding force on his aspiration, stressing that he would contest against Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the Senate to where they would test their popularity. The drama On the D-day, which was Tuesday June 9, the whole scenario played out like a melodrama. The day was officially scheduled for the inauguration of the National Assembly. But the intense crisis in the APC over who would emerge the President of the Senate pushed the Lawan’s group to go to the International Conference Centre, for a purported meeting with President Buhari. As they reportedly waited for the President, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa read President Buhari’s letter, proclaiming the Eighth National Assembly. Thereafter, he called for nominations of interested candidates in the Senate Presidency contest, during which only Saraki was nominated and declared the President of the Senate. Saraki’s victory, which was a shock to many watchers of the events that preceded the election, was actually facilitated by the lastminute adoption of his candidacy by the PDP which traded off their support to gain the position of the Deputy President of the Senate. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, had in a three-paragraph statement issued in the early hours of the Election Day, explained that it was the decision of the party to adopt Senator Saraki and Rep Yakubu Dogara as their choice candidates for the offices of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively. By the time the members of the Senate Unity Forum heard what had happened in the hallowed Chamber of the Senate, there was great confusion in their camp. They were literally scampering and gasping. When they got to the National Assembly complex, many of them did not know what to do other than to be lamenting and wandering about the complex in utter perplexity. PDP’s gains The irreconcilable crisis in the APC brought an unprecedented opportunity for the PDP to join the ruling party to form the leadership of the Senate. Some people call it nemesis.

Those who share this view argue that, in 2011, the APC was allegedly instrumental to the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Governor of Sokoto State. The PDP had zoned speakership to the SouthWest but Tambuwal, with the full support of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties of the APC, through their members in the House, thwarted the party arrangement, contested and won the election. Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi, snubs Saraki On Wednesday, which was the following day to the Election Day, the new President of the Senate, Saraki, administered oath of office and allegiance on 28 APC senators who were absent during the inauguration of the Eighth Senate the previous day, including his main challenger, Lawan. The protocol required that every Senator sworn in would shake hand with the President of the Senate and also brandish the certificate to him and take a bow. This protocol was however, duly followed by all the Senators except Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central ), who refused to shake hands with Saraki but merely showed him her certificate and walked out on the Senate boss. This actually betrayed her animosity against Saraki for defying party’s attempts to stop him. The furore However, shortly after the swearing-in of the new senators, the President of the Senate called for a closed-door meeting with his colleagues which lasted for an hour at the end of which the Senate continued its plenary. At the resumed sitting at about 12 noon, the disgruntled senators started protesting what they considered their exclusion from the previous day’s election. Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) raised a point of Order citing Orders 15 and 43 of Senate Rules, stressing that his rights and privileges had been breached for their non-participation in the inauguration and election of the presiding officers of the Senate. His words: “Mr. President I come under Orders 15 and 43 on matters of privileges. Yesterday the 9th of June 2015, which was for the inauguration of 8th National Assembly, I and all the members of APC were summoned to a meeting which Mr. President summoned us through our party but while I was away and a lot of other members of this Senate under the platform of APC attending the meeting with Mr. President, this Senate went ahead to commence the process of inauguration, thereby infringing on my right and privileges as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria and thereby, disenfranchising me and my colleagues from participating in the election of the presiding officers of this Senate. Our privileges were breached. “More reasons for this Order, Mr. President, is the news item that the Senate was inaugurated with 57 members and 51 Senatorselect absent. The word absent there portrayed me and many of my colleagues as irresponsible members CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The NASS leadership crisis Adewale Kupoluyi

he legislative palace coup that took place in the National Assembly a few days ago, which led to the election of its leadership would remain controversial in the nation’s political landscape. We recall that while some All Progressive Congress (APC) senators were waiting to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, to resolve the contending issues over the election of NASS leadership, Senator Bukola Saraki was quickly elected as the President of Senate, mostly by senators elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The proposed meeting with President Buhari was meant to take a decisive stance on the earlier position of the APC to elect its preferred candidates, Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate presidency and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The elections, which were conducted at variance with the party’s instruction, saw Senator Saraki (APC, Kwara Central) being sworn-in as President of the 8th Senate, while Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) was sworn-in as Deputy Senate President by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa. Saraki was elected unopposed by 57 out of the 108 senators-elect. Ekweremadu, on his part, polled 54 votes to beat Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who scored 20 votes, while one vote was declared invalid. In all, fifty-one senators, including Senator Lawan (APC, Yobe North), were absent when Saraki was elected. George Akume, who was the party’s preferred candidate for the position of Deputy Senate President, also lost out to PDP’s Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu. Initially, the APC rejected the elections of Saraki as Senate President as well as that of Hon. Yakubu Dogora, who emerged as the Speaker, House of Representatives and vowed to punish its members that were involved in what could be described as a grand conspiracy and inordinate ambition to undermine the party’s desire to

pick candidates of its choice for the National Assembly topmost positions. The APC vowed that those that worked against the interest of the party risked being suspended or given outright expulsion for disregarding the directive not to stand for the elections in line with Article 9.1 SubSection 2 of its constitution. The APC later changed its mind that it had accepted the outcome of the elections. Though unfortunate, the development is an abysmal failure on the part of the APC to meet the very basic requirements of a strong party with unity of thought, and discipline. This is shown by the fact that the succession crisis was engineered purely by greed and ambition of affected lawmakers, who refused to submit to the decision of the party on whose platform they were elected in the first instance. What has just played-out is nothing but a betrayal of trust and disrespect to the tenets of party supremacy. Many people are certainly not comfortable with the failure of the APC leadership to exercise full control over the party’s caucus in executing its decisions. It is a pity that Saraki and Dogara, propelled by over-ambition, decided to violate party’s directives. Following the unfolding drama, there seems to be two dimensions to the way and manner of how the leadership of the National Assembly emerged. While some feel that the election of Saraki as Senate President and Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives, was a welcome development, others view the circumstance in which they emerged as a brazen insult and assault on our polity. Those in first position argue that though the action may not be politically right, but it is parliamentary and legally okay hinging their argument on Section 50 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which states that the process of electing leaders of the National Assembly should be carried out inside the two chambers among the members themselves without an outside interference. This second group believes that a quorum was not formed before the election (or selection) and therefore, there was no valid election. This group further contends that at least 75 senators ought to have participated in the process instead of the 57 that actually took part in it. For me,

the elections smack short of morality and credibility. Already, members of Senate Unity Forum (SUF), a group of Senators in the APC, who were in support of the failed bid of Senator Lawan to become the Senate President, have vowed to go to seek legal redress. A similar parliamentary coup took place in 2011, before the inauguration of the 7th National Assembly, when the ruling PDP, which then had the majority in the two chambers had concluded arrangements to zone the leadership positions. For the Upper Chamber, the senators had already planned to maintain the party’s status quo but the scenario was different in the Lower Chamber as the party leadership had zoned the speakership to the South-West with the South-South, North-West and North-Central occupying the first, second and third positions, respectively. At the end, the game-plan changed as the opposition members in the House alongside some PDP lawmakers upturned the PDP zoning arrangement. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, then Sokoto-PDP, emerged the Speaker against the PDP’s chosen candidate from the South-West, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola. As we await to see how events unfold, the way and manner that APC handles this issue would determine the fate of the party under the current dispensation. While the members of the legislature should be encouraged and allowed to choose their leaders, the position of the political parties of the members that constitute the legislature should also not be shoved aside. This would help to manage avoidable frictions that could ensure when there are challenges in carrying out legislative duties. The ruling party should learn from the mistakes of the PDP, which led to its eventual disintegration and defeat in the last general elections because the PDP behaved like an umpire that could do it all alone by boasting to even rule for 60 years. The APC, though still controls a majority of members in the National Assembly, should always remember that it cannot always have its way at all times. •Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, @AdewaleKupoluyi, adewalekupoluyi. blogspot.com

Ekweremadu: The bond of bipartisanship “The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.” ---John Caldwell

Nwobodo Chidiebere

he above statesman-like quote, exemplified political matrix, horse trading and permutation that led to the historic emergence of bipartisan leadership of the 8th National Assembly—especially the Red Chamber, where the unalloyed support of the opposition party, PDP, led to the enthronement of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki of the APC as Senate President, against all odds installed on his way by the leadership of the ruling party, APC. For seasons to come, political analysts and social commentators will dispense a lot of intellectual energy and political wizardry introspecting on the political tsunami that led to the formation of a bipartisan Senate in the 8th National Assembly. The covalent bond that cemented thebipartisan nature of the 8th National Assembly is no other person than distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of ECOWAS parliament. Senator Ekweremadu got 54 out of the 74 votes cast to emerge as Deputy Senate President for

the unprecedented three consecutive terms in the nation’s political history, not as a result of party affiliation or ethnic stock but bipartisan tendency that characterized the activities of the “legislative Michelangelo” in the upper chamber since his political voyage began in the Red Chamber in 2003. This dexterity manifested in the stability of the Senate witnessed since 2007 as a result of impeccable synergy that coexisted between the honorary leader of the Senate and longest serving Senator in the nation’s history; immediate past Senate President David Mark and his erstwhile deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The emergence of the bipartisan leadership of the Senate has entrenched independence of Legislature in the polity; it will also ensure effective checks and balances between the Executive arm of government and Legislature, which is the hallmark of true democracy. The momentous return of Senator Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President should not be seen as a ploy by the opposition PDP to hijack the 8th National Assembly, but the required synergy between the two leading political parties in the upper chamber to legislate effectively without rancour. The experience and bipartisan character of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu will help the newly elected Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to sustain David Mark’s legacy of stability in the Senate, at the same time promote bipartisan and

pro-masses bills that will assist in annihilating myriad of challenges facing the Nigerian nation. Having served for eighty years as Deputy Senate President and three years as Speaker of ECOWAS parliament, Senator Ekweremadu’s irrefutable record of performance both as Deputy Senate President and Speaker of ECOWAS parliament will rub off on the current Senate President, to enable him skip all the banana peels that will be thrown into the red chamber by his adversaries—taken into consideration the horse trading and intrigues that led to his emergence as Senate President. With heroic comeback of the legislative guru and the proverbial cat with nine lives like Senator Ekweremadu as his deputy, Senate President, Bukola Saraki can surely sleep with his two his eyes closed—it will take a miracle for the current leadership of the 8th National Assembly not to succeed and outperform its predecessors. Geo-political balancing The third coming of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president did not occur as a result of his state of origin and geo-political consideration, but was made possible by the spirit of diligence and excellence, legislative prowess, political sagacity, sportsmanship and bipartisan traits he exhibited on the floor of red chamber when discharging his legislative duties. His election as deputy senate president with 54

votes, which is more than the total number of senators produced by his party, PDP attests to my humble assertion that he is indisputably the bipartisan bond binding the 8th National Assembly together. His emergence has balanced the hitherto lopsided political geometrics in powering sharing amongst the geo-political zones that constitute the nation’s political topography, which was a fallout of the outcome of the last general elections—where the now opposition party, PDP cleared all the National Assembly seats that were available during the general elections in the zone. The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), as a result of the excruciating defeat suffered by the party in the zones during the just concluded general elections, intended to scheme out the South-South and SouthEast geo-political zones, but the recent positive development in the National Assembly which transcended into the emergence of bipartisan leadership of 8th Senate has started correcting this abnormal zoning formula displayed by the APC—which did not consider the heterogeneous configuration of Nigeria. The 8th National Assembly will be one of the most interesting seasons in the history of Nigerian democracy. The bipartisan nature of this Assembly will be displayed in day-day functions of legislators. • Chidiebere (Chidieberenwobodo@yahoo.com) wrote in from Abuja.

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Empowering emergency agencies

n the last couple of days, several lives, property and goods have been lost to disasters in different parts of the country. For instance, in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, over 70 people lost their lives when a tanker carrying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise called diesel lost control and crashed into the Asaba Motor Park at the Upper Iweka area. The tanker was descending the Army Barracks axis of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway when the driver lost control of the vehicle and exploded into the crowded park. At least, 11 commuter buses, the 40-foot fuel tanker and two motorcycles inside the park went up in flames. That was May 31. Two days later, precisely on June 2, another explosion ripped through Iyana-Ipaja in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State when a fuel tanker fell off the bridge at about 1am. The fire, which followed the explosion, spread to more than five streets such as Bakare Jafojo, Abule Oki, Oremeji, Adebayo and Lawal. About 14 persons were injured while fleeing from the raging inferno, while scores of others were rendered homeless. Several houses, shops and over 20 vehicles were destroyed. One of the vehicles was said

to have been bought two days earlier. Four days later, another fuel tanker crashed and exploded at Idimu, also in Alimosho Local Government where over 34 houses, 70 shops and a tricycle were burnt. What would have been the third major fire disaster in a row was averted on June 7 when another fuel-laden tanker crashed at Lekki area of the Lagos metropolis. Fire erupted from ruptured pipeline at Ijedodo community in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State on the night of Monday June 8. Also on June 14, three children of the same parents, aged three, seven and nine years, died when fire gutted their house at Akowonjo, Egbeda area of the Lagos metropolis. Their parents left the children at home with a burning candle which eventually caused the fire outbreak. The mother of the kids was at the hospital where she delivered the fourth child the previous night while the father was with her at the hospital. But by midnight, fire broke out and killed the children – two girls and a boy. The fire spread to other adjacent houses. The children - Ufoma, 9, Emeka, 7, (a boy) and Udoma, 3 - were all sleeping when their father left them at home to attend to the needs of their mother.

But before he left, their father lit the candle stick. In all the instances cited, the emergency agencies – the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Agencies (SEMAs) – were almost hopelessly helpless. The fact that no life was reportedly lost in the two major tanker explosions was more of providence than the swift response of emergency responders. In many cases, NEMA has become more of a relief-donating agency than an emergencyresponding agency. Donation of relief materials to victims of disasters is a secondary function of the agency. Part II, Section 6, sub-section 1 (a) of the National Emergency Management Agency (Establishment, Etc.) Act stipulates that NEMA shall “formulate policy on all activities relating to disaster management in Nigeria and co-ordinate the plans and programmes for efficient and effective response to disasters at national level.” Whereas sub-section 1(k) of the same section says NEMA shall “liaise with State Emergency Management Committees established under section 8 of this Act to assess and monitor, where necessary, the distribution of relief materials to disaster victims.” But for NEMA and other emergency agencies to effectively and efficiently carry out their

primary duty of saving lives and property during disasters, they must be adequately funded, staffed and equipped with search and rescue tools. A few days after the Ijedodo explosion, NEMA said the emergency agencies were unable to get to the point of the inferno because of terrain. This is untenable in modern age. Also, SEMA must be established in each state of the federation in accordance with the Section 8 of the Act establishing NEMA. As it were today, SEMA only exists on paper in several states. Many states have no offices of SEMA, so no agency to respond to emergency situations in those states aside NEMA. Also, the unnecessary rivalry between NEMA and SEMA in states where it exists must immediately be nipped in the bud. There are reports that SEMA usually hinders NEMA from performing its constitutionallymandated duty by claiming that certain sites of disasters were under its jurisdiction. To start with, Nigerians belong to Nigeria and vice versa. Safety of lives and property of Nigerians and foreigners in Nigeria must be a priority. More so, Section 6, sub-section 1 (c) of the Act says NEMA shall “monitor the state of preparedness of all organisations or agencies which may contribute to disaster management in Nigeria.”

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

Book Review

Emergence of artistic modernism in Nigeria

minent professor for African Art at Princeton University, US, Chika Okeke-Agulu will tomorrow Thursday June 18, 2015, present his new book Postcolonial Modernism: Art and Decolonization in Twentieth-Century Nigeria, at Goethe-Institut Lagos, between 3pm – 6pm. Expected as chairman of the event is Alhaji Abdulaziz Ude, while renowned artist, El Anatsui is the Guest of Honour, and the book reviewer is Toyin Akinosho.: Written by one of the foremost scholars of African art and featuring 129 color images, “Postcolonial Modernism: Art and Decolonization in Twentieth-Century Nigeria”, published by Duke University Press, chronicles the emergence of artistic modernism in Nigeria in the heady years surrounding political independence in 1960, before the outbreak of civil war in 1967. In this book, Okeke-Agulu traces the artistic, intellec-

Book title: Postcolonial Modernism: Art & Decolonization In Twentieth-Century Nigeria Editors: Chika Okeke-Agulu Publisher: Duke University Press Number of pages: 376 tual, and critical networks in several Nigerian cities. Zaria is particularly important, because it was there, at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, that a group of students formed the Art Society and inaugurated postcolonial modernism in Nigeria. As the author explains, their works show both a deep connection with local artistic traditions and the stylistic sophistication that we have come to associate with twentiethcentury modernist practices. He explores how these young Nigerian artists were inspired by the rhetoric and ideologies of decolonization and nationalism in the early- and mid-

twentieth century and, later, by advocates of negritude and pan-Africanism. They translated the experiences of decolonization into a distinctive “postcolonial modernism” that has continued to inform the work of major Nigerian artists. Okeke-Agulu is an artist, curator, and Associate Professor in the Department of Art & Archaeology and the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. He is a coauthor of Contemporary African Art since 1980 and coeditor (with Okwui Enwezor and Salah M. Hassan) of Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art, also published by Duke University Press.

Celebrating Günter Grass in Lagos with screening of The Tin Drum Want in the land of plenty

ward-winning German author and Nobel laureate Günter Grass died on April 13, 2015, aged 87. The poet, playwright and novelist is renowned for works including What Must Be Said and The Tin Drum, which was adapted for screen in 1979, winning the Palme d’Or, and Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film in the same year. Goethe-Institut Nigeria is organising an afternoon of readings and a screening of The Tin Drum in Grass’ honour. This event which will hold on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at Goethe-Institut Lagos, from 2pm – 6pm, is in collaboration with Lagos Film Society and

Grass

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Independent Communication Networks Ltd. “To celebrate his life and works, we will be joined by acclaimed poet Jumoke Verissimo; writer and journalist Kunle Ajibade, and publisher Toyin Akinosho”, the organisers stated. A German novelist, poet, playwright, illustrator, graph-

ic artist, sculptor, and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature, Grass, who identified as Kashubian, was born in the Free City of Danzig (now Gdask, Poland). As a teenager, he served as a drafted soldier since late 1944 in the Waffen SS, and was taken prisoner of war by U.S. forces at the end of the war in May 1945. He was released in April 1946. Trained as a stonemason and sculptor, Grass began writing in the 1950s. In his fiction, he frequently returned to the Danzig of his childhood. Grass is best known for his first novel, The Tin Drum (1959), a key text in European magic realism. It was the first book of his Danzig Trilogy, the other two being Cat and Mouse and Dog Years. His works are frequently considered to have a left-wing political dimension, and Grass was an active supporter of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The Tin Drum was adapted as a film of the same name, which won both the 1979 Palme d’Or and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 1999, the Swedish Academy awarded him the Nobel Prize in Literature, praising him as a writer “whose frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history”

Title: River people (Short story) Author: Peter Ukwa Publisher: The Mariner, Issue No. 5, January 2015 Reviewer: Mike Adewale

oining the instructive but by no means exhaustive literature on pollution and its impact on the way of life in the Niger Delta is Peter Ukwa’s River People, a short story that explores the volatile mix of oil spill, land degradation and angst in the oil-rich region. Set in the rustic, riverine town of Obir, the 3,700-word story published in the January issue of The Mariner, the journal of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Bayelsa State Chapter, connects the dots between oil exploration and environmental disaster. With a simple, narrative style laced with proverbs and cultural interjection reminiscent of the late literary legend Chinua Achebe, the author succeeds in transplanting the dense mangrove of the South-south to the reader’s backyard. Through the hero, Godstime, and his sidekick, Sangha, the writer exposes the fragile structure of a Niger Delta described by insensitive oil

firms, careless government and an agitated people. Confronted by alarming odds in the climate of natural abundance, the people react with all the civility they can muster. Inspired by the resistance of hot-blooded war hero and landowner, Tuesday (‘Old Soldier’) to maddening exploitation, and galvanised by American returnee Mark’s leadership of a mass protest, the people make sure that the efforts of the ill-fated Old Soldier are not in vain. Godstime ends up a passionate witness to the tragic events of the 70s. Prodded by providence, the holidaying schoolboy goes from sampling the fruit of the land to brandishing a placard in protest against the fouling of abundant resources by foreign firms. Scholarships are awarded in compensation, but survival in the despoiled region remains topical as an older Godstime contemplates his people’s fate on the approach of the 21st century.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

The Mega City ...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

LIFE IN THE CITY

MY CITY, MY WORLD

NCF Lekki: A natural relaxation spot

Lagos, land of great opportunities, says Aremu 25

Residents of Isheri North left stranded during a recent downpour

For a Lagos without flood Lagos state government believes that changing the attitude of residents to waste management is key to stopping flood in the state. As the rains set in, the state is determined to ensuring that flood-prone areas are taken care of, through cearing of drainages and desilting of canals. But it requires the cooperation of residents as MURITALA AYINLA writes

agos is, undoubtedly, Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest city with a population estimated at 21 million, even though this number has been found to be unreliable and disputed by some agencies. According to the U.N estimation, Lagos will be the 3rd largest mega city in the world by year 2015, going by the

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

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6 per cent growth rate. The city of Lagos is fast approaching the status of a mega city and no doubt the volume of waste being generated is expected to rise. Hence, managing the waste generated by the residents appears to be one of the major challenges confronting the state. In spite of the improvement in the solid waste management practice in Lagos, most especially within the formal (PSP operators), the state is constantly faced with menace of cart pushers, group of informal private sector involved in the house-to-house waste collection at a fee. The state is also confronted with the problem of improper waste management by some residents, who dump refuse into the canals, drainage channels and water collectors. This development, according to the experts, is responsible for the usual floods

The government is taking steps in ensuring a floodfree mega city

seen in some parts of the state whenever it rains. While the state government and other environmentalists see the activities of cart pushers as the major factor militating against safer environment, accusing the cart pushers of dumping refuse indiscriminately on road medians, or directly on water paths and canals, some sections of the residents call for expansion and dredging of the drains across the state to give way for the free flow of flood water, which they said, is responsible for the floods usually experienced in some parts of the state. To address the problem of flooding which is fast becoming an eyesore in the state, the state government is embarking on a holistic approach towards ensuring a flood-free mega city. The

state government, in addition to aggressive campaign against improper waste management, has also embarked on dredging of major canals and drainage channels across the state. Speaking while inspecting the dredging of the canals and desilting of some major drains across the state, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage in the state Ministry of the Environment, Engineer Ayodeji Adenekan, said the commencement of dredging of major canals across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas would address the problem. Although, he frowned at the rate some residents dump refuse in the canals and major drainage channels in the state, the Permanent Secretary said the drains in CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

“A

re you off your senses? What have you done for me that will attract N2, 000? Did you buy tyres for me? I’m giving you N300 per tyre (which translates to N1,200) I can’t give you N500 per tyre. If you like take me to Panti police station. If not this snarling acts you have been exhibiting, its N200 that I’m supposed to give you,” insisted the motorist. The vulcanizer replied, “The man I finished his before you came, paid me N1,000 without arguing. I wonder why a gorgeously dressed and obviously rich man like you should be arguing over what is known to everyone in Lagos. I changed only two tyres for the man he paid and I changed four tyres for you, and you don’t want to pay me my money. I will not collect anything less than N2,000. N1,999 I will not collect. Go to any vulcanizer in Lagos to change tyre is N500 for every small car while to add air is N100. What I charged you is what the union approved of us.” The vulcanizer concluded. The above is an altercation that ensued between a motorist, who changed his old worn-out tyres recently to new tyres in a vulcanizer’s workshop at Awolowo way Ikeja. Recently also, at Seliat street by Egbeda/Idimu road at a vulcanizer workshop, a man who identified himself as Morgan Henry, was caught in a serious altercation with the vulcanizer at that junction, when the vulcanizer insisted on collecting N1, 000 from him for changing two tyres. The above incidences are few of many other sceneries that play out in many parts of Lagos and at different vulcanizers’ workshops daily. Before January, 2012 when the Federal Government announced the withdrawal of subsidy from the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, petrol, a situation that brought the nation to economic and social comatose, pumping of vehicle tyres in Lagos then was between N40 and N50 depending on how you bargain. While changing of a new tyre to a new realm was between N100 and N200. In Nigeria, price of goods and services don’t ever come down whenever it’s hiked, even after the cause of such a hike may have been brought to status quo. The cost of vulcanizing tyres in Lagos never came down to where it was after the impasse was resolved with little addition to fuel made. The more than 100 per cent hike in all vulcanizing works in Lagos never reverted or reduced thereafter. Since then till now, many Lagosians have been swallowing this greed while many have refused to let go. They are at daggers-drawn with vulcanizers all the time to pump or change tyre(s). Tunde Olofintina is a commercial bus driver from CMS to Ejigbo. He is short of words on how vulcanizers have ganged up to add to the many woes of motorists, how they have become lords. “The one that baffles me most is the reason behind the collection of N500, N700 and more to change a vehicle tyre. I see no reason why pumping of tyres should be more than N50 and replacing of tyre more than N200. It’s always paining to pay such an amount.” To Bartholomew Ajose, a motorist and a federal civil servant, he is happy that vulcanizing, which before now was one of the looked

A vulcanizer attending to a customer

When vulcanisers are lords In Nigeria particularly, prices of goods and services never come down even when the factors that may have influenced and triggered the price rise have been reversed. Reasons upon reasons are often given to justify such a fraudulent act. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU writes that vulcanizers are now the new kings on the block down professions has today become a money spinning job that young men and women do, and have hope of placing food on their tables daily. He however, frowns at the manner with which the costs of their services go up arbitrarily. “I don’t know whether there is an agency at all that regulates the way these people increase their prices. Most of these vulcanizers have not even put reasonable time, commitment and material resources into the job. Some spent less than three months to learn the job. “There is no vulcanizer in Lagos that does not change an average of 15 tyres and add air to over 30 tyres in a day. This is Nigeria where everybody is lord; where people point one finger at their seeming enemies forgetting that four fingers are at them.” He said. Agbo Yawo, an auto painter said that vulcanizers are one of the highest earning artisans in Lagos today. It baffles him how they increase their prices regardless of what pernicious effect it may have on the populace. “Well, their charges are arbitrary. Most of them don’t have shops, and they don’t incur much cost in putting a tyre in order. They have become so greedy that they say it with audacity and impunity. One stirred me to rage at Agege/Pencinema last time when he insisted that I will pay N150 for adding air to my tyre.” There are many Lagosians who think that though vulcanizers are not alone in this faceless increment of service fees. Many other

Most of them, out of their incompetence, spoil tyres

artisans are in the practice. One unsettling dimension to this action is that unlike other artisans that could collect lesser fees in less expensive locations, in Lagos, all vulcanizers collect same fare regardless of their location. A situation they will always attribute to a standing order from their umbrella union; Lagos State Vulcanizers Association (LSA). James Ukaegbu aligns to the inclination that there is nothing to justify such huge charges. “Very soon, everybody will have his own pressure pump to pump their vehicles. Such agencies like consumers right should look into this and other similar exploitations. Let them acquire modern technologies. Then, we will have cause to pay high. Most of them, out of their incompetence, spoil tyres and in most occasions, over pump tyres. Majority of them don’t even have good pressure gauge to gauge tyres. Some defects that take motorists to the mechanics often times are caused by vaucanizers; some problems of either not fixing tyres well, over gauged or under gauge are from them. How many of them have the expertise to handle complex tyres like bullet proof tyres?” He said. A vulcanizer, Avonse Sunday, said he feels satisfied in the job. “The union asked us to collect N300 or N400 for 14 and 15 realm cars,while jeeps should go for between N500 and N700 because jeeps are bigger tyres and are more difficult to put and remove.

If anybody collects lower than what the union has directed, the person will be sanctioned by the union. “He said. A vulcanizer at Ojota said he pumps not less than 30 tyres a day while he changes at least 18 tyres a day. He said that he is able to meet up with his obligations as a father and that all he looks up to now is acquiring modern equipment. One of the Zonal chairmen of the Lagos State Vulcanizers Association in Ikeja, Wale Akin, said that their members are from time to time trained. “We conduct workshops from time to time where we bring in experts to lecture us on the best ways to handle tyres and the best advice to customers. I am one of the resource persons, I have been privileged to attend many courses. I have my trade test certificate. We are aware that some of our members are not aware that tyres have the face that should be outside and the side that needs to aligned inside. We also encourage them to contact their colleagues when they are confronted with difficulty in handling any job. It’s only few of us that can handle bullet proof tyres. Moreover, that’s where you make meaningful money. The union approved the cost of changing tyres at N500 for small tyres while jeeps cost N700. Adding pressure to tyres is N100”, he said. He went further to say that for one to be a competent vulcanizer, he has to be in apprenticeship for at least three years.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

NCF Lekki: A natural relaxation spot

Animals and wood bridges inside the conservation centre

Ruth Okocha and Ifeoluwa Idowu

itting in a cool, beautiful, green and serene environment, is the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, NCF also called Lekki conservation centre. It is a place where wide life and nature conservation is encouraged. It gives a calm and welcoming aura right from the entry way. It is one of Lagos’ most beautified and relaxing spot, a place which has lured tourists across the border to visit, a place were different wonders of the world are discovered. The Lekki conservation centre is indeed a beautiful place, a must visit for any one in Lagos State. Walking across the suspended bridge is very thrilling and interesting. From the entrance, monkeys hang from practically every tree while lovely peacocks with their young ones welcome the curious visitors, leaving them wondering what could be inside the thick wood which makes them eager to embark on the adventure of exploration. The surrounding is adorned with small bushes and flowers. The conservation centre which is located on the Lekki-Epe express way covers 78 hectares of land space. The groove serves as home to several wild monkeys, who seemed so accustomed to the environment. They pay no attention to passers-by as they hop agilely from one tree to the other, even when people passing scream and point, some in excitement, others in fear. There were also a handful of female, male and baby peacocks roaming the artificial forest, the oldest among three tortoises is 92 years old which roam out of the forest into the centre, according to the tourist guard. The gate opens to a spacious car park, a conference hall, which doubles as the wall of fame as its walls are decorated with the pic-

tures of the previous and current Director-Generals of the foundation. Beside the hall is the information centre. Inside the compound is a conference hall with pictures of animals hanging round about the building to the excitement of the children as they could be heard giggling happily trying to identify each animal. Disappointedly, there are no plenty and variety of animals at the centre. The place obviously is a relaxing place mostly for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Lagos State. Going round the woods in the reserve with the tour guard, he said that it is called endurance trek, because, it takes only the patient to walk through the wood. Accompanied by the tour guard, tourists and nature lovers ventured into the reserve in anticipation of seeing more beautiful sight and animals. They chanted away excitedly while looking out for animals as they walk through the wooden bridge with water underneath and benches on it for resting during the trek. The wood is made up of trees of all kinds, covering the sky and giving the environment a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. In the wood is the famous canopy walk way which has become the major attraction of the reserve. It is 401 meters long, 0.6 meters wide, 22. 5 at highest point. The canopy walkway, which was officially opened and handed over to NCF May 5th is the longest in Africa and second largest in the world. It has seven stairways with a platform at interval for resting and ascends at each level but descends at the last stairway. It is made up of steel, rope and cables, to ensure safety. Tourists are advised to climb the walkway, five people at a time and they are to wait at each platform for another five while wait for safety. Children from age 15 upwards are allowed to

Walking across the suspended bridge is very thrilling and interesting

take a walk through the walk way into the reserve centre instead of going through the wooden bridge. The fifth stairway overlooks the top of the trees leaving only the sky as shelter. Out of the wood is the reserve, where there are outdoor games such as Ludo, chess, jungle gym amongst others. There are two ponds with beautiful tilapia fishes of various designs and colours. Aside that, there are shelters fashioned from wood all over the reserve with names on them for easy identification by tourists. According to the tourist guard, the reserve also serves as picnics, parties, and relaxation ground for Lagosians and other Nigerians. Speaking to one of the tourists, Akinyemi Babatunde, who has come on a tour with his family, he said, “This is really a good place to be. Though not my first time, I come here alone especially when

I want to escape the stress of work or I need a place to meditate on some issues. But each time I visit here, I expect to see more animals. Unfortunately, I get disappointed often times, especially when the officials here give flimsy excuse that that the animals only come out in the morning before sunrise and after sunset which I believe should not. Apart from the monkeys, the peacock and turtle which I saw on the outside, I have not seen another,” he said. Rita Anene, a mother with three kids working with a financial institution, said she is a regular visitor to the place; she comes there regularly with her children for relaxation and for lovely pictures. “Though we don’t see much animals,” she said. Excitedly, Biodun Ariyo, another tourist narrated his experience while walking CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Unlocking opportunities in real estate A vailability, accessibility and affordability to decent housing have continued to be a prime subject of consideration among prospective population of home seekers. At the just concluded Lekki Gardens Investment Forum which held in Lagos, efforts were made at opening the eyes of the public to the world of opportunities which could be appropriated towards achieving home ownership in the megacity and anywhere. According to the report of a research carried out by the body of town planning and estate experts, apart from Nigeria’s housing deficit hovering between 16 – 17 million, about 85 per cent of the population is said to need rented accommodation. Therefore, it is in a bid to shore up the deficit in the housing sector and provide decent and affordable houses that the state government had embarked on a benevolent effort to provide several housing projects scattered across the state. Apparently, government alone will not be able to provide the needed number of units required to make up in the housing sector. To close the housing gap therefore, large-scale housing projects, targeting all level of income strata of the population (low-income, middle-income and high-income) are springing up all over the place. This is because the number of prospective home owners far outstrips affordable supply. The situation is even more compounded by scarce resources to make provision for the housing shortage. Thus, several estate developers have come on board and contributed their quota to complement the laudable mission to provide decent accommodation for the citizenry under different arrangements. Lekki Gardens Estate is one of such that has taken interventionist dive into the nation’s estate deep. For a firm that is so committed to a mission of property investment and development, with core competence in providing quality and luxury homes within a very affordable budget, Lekki Gardens Estate Limited’s zest for providing opportunity to average income earners knows no bound. This, perhaps, explains its recorded landmark achievements within its three years of existence. As a brand, Lekki Gardens’ avowed dedication to the delivery of over 2,000 units of affordable and luxurious houses in less than three years, under different 14 real estate projects, gives further credence to the possibility of anything when a right approach complements right idea in a right atmosphere. With its entrance into the band of estate providers, whose products’ prices most of the times are beyond the reach of prospective clients, one would be tended to wonder what difference and positive impact Lekki Gardens intend to make. Nene Oiwoh, a business manager in the estate firm, while responding to enquiries from New Telegraph, disclosed that the reasonable prices that make

Housing is one of the essential needs of man on earth. Surely, it is most increasingly sought as it occupies the prominence of man’s socio-economic life, providing shelter, work places and shelter for commerce and leisure, ELIJAH SAMUEL reports.

Some of the finished houses in Lekki, Lagos

ownership of houses with exceptional estate facilities in areas that were hitherto considered the exclusive preserve of the rich possible, is what confers great difference on the brand. “We provide luxury homes at affordable range. In the time past, living in Ikoyi or Lekki took a lot of money to attempt. Now, Lekki Gardens brings an opportunity such that you can actually live in Lekki and other areas without having to pay through your nose; you can actually get these same houses the rich live in and pay in instalments. They are not as expensive as what is perceived to be out there. In essence, we have been able to provide homes that cut across different levels of income so that everybody can partake in it. Our target customers for now are the middle-income and high-income earners. Whatever area you want, whatever sphere or sector you are, the most important thing is that everyone can actually own a home.” She added: “In just few years that we’ve been around Lekki Gardens has done excellently well and we are not about stopping. There are other estate developers around but they’ve come into the market and taken every opportunity.” But in the midst of the seemingly beneficial offers, the interest of those below the middle-income belt and other artisans’ hope of owning their own homes seem not to be reckoned with. “They will be taken care of; everything is in phases; everything takes a process and we would only get there. We’ve started and have not stopped. All sections of the society will be touched. It’s

This will enhance the unlocking and appropriation of hidden opportunities

just a matter of time. Let it just sively untapped opportunities. be their desire, desire is not a Opportunities in the growing wish,”Ohiwo quipped. population, the expanding economy and the bourgeoning 2015 LKGIF highlights middle class give rise to high To promote a laudable goal demand in the real estate, but of the delivery and accessibil- meeting up with effective deity of affordable houses, and mand is quite challenging.” the intent to expand the citiHe, however, added that Conzenry’s frontier of awareness struction finance, land cost, about the hidden real estate building cost and government opportunities, Lekki Gardens approval cost constitute great organized its premiere edition challenges to real estate sector. of Lekki Gardens Investment However, coordinated efforts Forum. The event, themed must be made by all stakehold“Unlocking Sizable Investment ers in the real estate sector to Opportunities in the Nigerian enhance availability, accessibilReal Estate Market”, which ity and affordability of housing held at The Civic Centre, La- developments. It is also imperagos had the complement of tive that the task of housing deseasoned professionals across velopments must be conducted various related sectors. While in a manner that it will contaking turns to expose the hid- tinue to have high economic den opportunities embbeded value and produce financial in real estate market, they benefits for residents, estate did not fail to also reveal the developers, and the country as challenges which need to be a whole. Yet, the state governaddressed if the vision of af- ment must engage in a truly fordable housing and the ac- beneficial interventionist policompanying socio-economic cy to ameliorate the challenges value and benefits are to be militating against the success attained. The forum afforded and development of truly afthat most of the attendees fordable housing in the state. were exposed to the previously Apart from the need to adunknown benefits, and how to dress the inherent bureaucraappropriate them. cies in land registration and Adekunle Oyinloye, the the controversial Land Use Managing Director of The In- Act in the state, the governfrastructure Bank, one of the ment has an obligation to enspeakers at the investment sure the socio-political stabilforum pointed to the state’s ity of all the areas within its steady population growth as jurisdiction. This, undoubtedly, a catalyst for development of will enhance the unlocking and the real estate sector. “A com- full appropriation of yet hidden mon feature of the real estate opportunities in the real estate in Nigeria is the inherent mas- realm.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Our Expectations Lagos, land of great opportunities, says Aremu Stories by Omolara Giwa on life exBis ased pectancy, Lagos the best place

indiscriminate trading activities on the road side

Trading and running from KAI Ifeoluwa Idowu

t is a common sight in Lagos to see traders display their wares on the roadsides, barely leaving room for motorists and passers-by to pass through. Mostly places like Berger, Ogba, Ipodo market in Ikeja, Mushin, Ojulegba, among many other areas of Lagos, it is always tug of war between motorists, passers-by and the traders for clear way. This is an everyday sight at the Berger market area of Lagos. At Berger for instance, bike men who park and beckon to passers-by have also contributed to the rowdiness of the area. Some streets in this area have been turned to a one-way route because of how narrow the road has come to be. The Berger market shops and complexes that were built on both sides of the road have been extended even into the roads, thereby making the road narrower. The bus stops have also been overtaken by traders, who have set up their wares on flat plastics on a piece of cloth on the floor. This, no doubt, makes it pretty difficult for commercial bus drivers dropping off their passengers. On the other hand, young and vibrant jobless youths also have their portion of the narrow road to hand out their flyers and handbills of various programmes or trainings they got online. They are always seen at very points of the roads. Beggars are not left out. From their strategic sitting points, they stick out their heads from the thick crowd drawing onto to the

clothes of passers-by for alms. In a bid to create sanity and a conducive environment in most areas like this, the Lagos State government made it compulsory for Lagosians to observe sanitation every Thursday morning, a regular exercise observed in Lagos. Despite that, traders defy the rules and set up their wares for sales. The law enforcement unit, Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade (KAI) precisely, prevent environmental displeasures like these and therefore patrol the market areas during the sanitation hours in order to apprehend law offenders Mrs. Flora Adeneye, who owns a bookshop in the Isheri area of OjoduBerger, complained that, “those people who sell on the side of the road hinder those of us that have shops inside. This is because they easily reach people that are rushing home. It is easy for people to stop, purchase what they want and continue with their journey. Why would people bother coming into the shops in the markets when what they need is by the side of the road? KAI cannot solve this matter because they collect bribe from them. The KAI officials assigned to this market only scare them and threaten them, but all of that is just a surface thing. They still end up collecting money from the traders, either weekly or monthly. It is only when the Alausa arm of KAI officials come here that things are taken seriously. Two weeks ago, the KAI agents came with LAWMA officials, during the sanitation hours. It

was very serious. They confiscated several goods, and they pushed a lot of road side traders away. As bad as it was, it serves those traders right,” she said. Chike Nwanadi, who sells female footwear at Iyana/Ipaja BRT bus stop explained that he only brings out his wares during the rush hour. “It is not that the shops are very expensive. In fact, I know that there are many empty shops for rent in the market, but it is easier to make sales here. People that are tired from their journeys or work can easily stop by to purchase what they want. All we have to do is properly display our wares and persuade them. Those KAI people usually come to disturb us. At first when I started, I used to display my wares in morning and evening, but when I noticed that KAI officials disturb us only in the morning, I started coming out only in the evening. In fact, it’s not only KAI that disturbs us, Policemen come too, and we have to ‘drop something’ for them. It is not easy selling out here, but it is more profitable than staying inside the market. After the KAI officials seize our goods, we give them some money and they release the goods. It is just painful that they throw away our goods, and for those that sell perishable goods like pepper and fish, sometimes they even beat us. They don’t come only during the Saturday sanitation exercise; they come almost every day, especially whenever they feel like exploiting us,” Nwanadi narrated.

NCF Lekki: A natural relaxation spot CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 23

through the canopy walkway. He said, “ I was scared initially when I embarked on the walk, because the bridge was shaky which I got accustomed to later on. I enjoyed every experience and I believe if I keep coming here every weekend I will loss ten pound in one month.” The information centre officer, Tosin Adebowale told New Telegraph that, the animals live in their natural habitat which is why they are hardly seen. He said the centre is a non-

governmental organization supported by Chevron and other organizations. Adebowale explained that the main reason for establishing the place is to encourage wide life conservation which also includes afforestation.

to be in Nigeria, says David Aremu, a Youth Participation activist. The attraction for him is that Lagos has Aremu the greatest percentage of Industries in Nigeria, and that makes job opportunities abound in the state. He said business is much easier to do in Lagos and very available due to the large population in the state. To him, innovation begins in Lagos. “When you talk of technology, expo, trade fairs, educative seminars, summits, conferences etc, you cannot help but talk about Lagos.” According to him, Lagos is a land of great opportunities and anyone that digs into it will get great outcome. He described Lagos as a lively and wonderful place for anybody to be. He continued that Lagos designed a very good transportation system with the BRT system, but there has been no proper maintenance of the buses and even the system, such that most of the BRT buses have turned into ‘molue.’ Most of the roads constructed in Lagos especially the demarcated BRT lanes could not stand the test of time. Even some of the policies, such as the ban of motorcycles on major express roads, lack continuity and sustenance of discipline. The education sector is one area Aremu, wants this new government to look into. Lagos State University, LASU, state owned University, for instance is in a state of mockery due to its high level of inconsistency. “It’s shameful for a state like Lagos; the commercial city of the nation not to have a University with good reference. Lagos State has been under the influence of a strong godfather although the last administration tried to manage it. However, Lagos is truly a great place to be,” he said.

Lagos is very receptive – Oluwashina Dr. Ilejimi OluFcalorwashina, a mediDoctor at Ifako

/Ijaye General Hospital, Ogba, area of Lagos State, (surgery department) Lagos is very receptive. Living in Lagos, Oluwashina he noted, has been the survival of the fittest and only the fittest and the best become successful in the state. Oluwashina, who said he has been living in Lagos since 1982, said he has a strong tie with the state. For him, to be successful in Lagos, one has to be determined and focused. With this new government, Oluwashina said he would like to see changes in terms of power supply, water supply and unemployment in the state. “It’s disheartening to see youths roam about the streets aimlessly, and in some cases, turn in thugs or politicians’ tools of violence. It is also very pathetic to be living in darkness in the name of no power supply. Oluwashina, however, wishes for total eradication of tricycles, popularly called keke Marwa in the state because they constitute a major problem. He says they are both dangerous to the roads and as a means of transportation. As a medical doctor, he has seen large amounts of patients brought into the hospital due to tricycle accident. He said that Lagos State will be the third largest mega city in the world after Tokyo in Japan and Bombay in India.

Life | Mega City

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

the state are adequate, urging the resident to take ownership of them by ensuring that they are not littered by refuse. Adenekan explained that what is usually experienced in some parts of the state whenever it rains is flash flood, which would subside after sometime. He appealed to the residents, motorists to be patient as government was doing everything possible to address the problem. Harping on the perennial flooding on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island and other flood-prone areas in the state, Adenekan‎ said the drains on the road are adequate, saying the intensity of rainfall experienced was responsible for flooding. He, however, noted that such flood was a flash one as it subsided few minutes after the rain. Adenekan reiterated the need for residents of low line areas to temporarily relocate to avert flood related disaster, adding that government might be forced to deploy Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, officers to the major canals and drainage channels across the state to monitor and ensure that nobody dumps refuse in the drainage channels. “When there is need to draft KAI to the area, we will draft them there. We are going to construct fence around them. Normally, for any drainage channel, there is a right of way which serves as distance from the canal that one can develop. So, we are going to put up barricade in some of those canals. But as you know, all these things will cost money. As soon as we have fund, we will barricade them as necessary.” He explained that those living in the flood-prone areas would need to temporarily vacate their premises to avert flood related disaster. “As a state, we can’t house everyone. But we urged them to temporarily move away from their areas which are prone to flooding,” he said. Speaking on proper waste management, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, urged the residents to patronise the public sector participation, PSP, programme which is the registered and organised waste carting and disposing firm. He described the PSP as one of LAWMA’s creative programmes of getting people involved in waste management for enhanced effec-

Bulldozer dredging a canal

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Flood-free Lagos possible

Another flooded community in Lagos

tiveness and efficiency in the sector, saying that the cart pushers block the drains with refuse, thereby hindering the free flow of water. According to him, there are more than 400 domestic PSP operators and 20 medical PSP in Lagos State at present. Oresanya said the PSP or Public-Private Participation, PPP, is increasingly becoming Universal Practice of waste carting and disposal and the basic instrument of evolving Best Practice in Managements and Administrations, saying that is the only way to go in a Mega City as Lagos. “PSP is the only way to go, for a comprehensive and sustainable waste management that will guarantee the level of clean and healthy environment as obtained among the best in the world. Yet, many of our people still believe that patronising cart pushers is more convenient and more cost effective than patronising PSP; this is like biting off our noses to spite our faces.” He added, “to rationalize why they are patronising cart pushers, some said PSP trucks are always not there whenever residents

Dumping refuse in the drains block the drainage channels

Blocked drainage channels

needed to dispose their waste; that cart pushers charge far less than PSP; that PSP increase charges arbitrarily without prior notice; that PSP do not forward bills on schedule, but allow it to accumulate to the amount that could not be easily offset; that PSP operators are not always available; that whenever the PSP operators keep appointments, they are always in a hurry to drive away and in the process, they fail to provide satisfactory services; and so on and so forth. While they reel out these allegations, they gloat over the many hazards of patronising cart pushers and fail to appreciate huge benefits associated with PSP operations. They are also ignorant of Laws governing waste management operation in the state.” Oresanya, however, said patronising cart pushers is more expensive and pose serious hazards than what most residents think. He added apart from dumping the refuse in the drains which block the drainage channels and result to flooding of the environment, cart pushers indirectly contribute to the expenses incurred in the treatment of the avoidable diseases. He stressed that patronage of cart pushers

also poses great security risk for the residents, who patronise them. “These cart pushers are of great security risk. Some are scouts or sentry for armed robbers and provide the information about our homes and itineraries; some hide guns and other dangerous weapons beneath the waste in their carts; some, especially in the North, had been apprehended with bomb and bomb making materials; some are in fact, suicide bombers. Patronising cart pushers encourage much impunity in waste disposal,” he added. Noting that it is more ideal to use the registered and safe waste manager, Oresanya said the task of managing Lagos waste and achieving environment friendly Lagos is a collective responsibility of everyone. The LAWMA boss advised: “What is cheap causes destruction; stop patronising cart pushers; patronise only LAWMA accredited Operators (PSP). Cart pushers may seem effective, reliable and convenient but they are the enemies of development. Be informed that they are not authorised to dump at the landfill; so stop and think, where do they dispose that waste?”

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

lsewhere, relations between Abuja and the states have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally, there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government cannot interfere in the details of its operations, it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me, I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.” The excerpt above is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaugural speech on his swearingin day. If the speech is anything to go by, it indicates one thing, good times probably at sight for suffocating challenges facing local government governance in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos. Presumably, the president’s point on the local governments operations might have been stimulated by the myriad of problems and difficulties confronting local government administration in discharging effective service to the people at the grassroots. This, therefore, brought to the fore, once more, the debate on the local government autonomy. As the third tier of government, it is desirably expected for local governments to assume and exercise freedom and independence, in all ramifications, within the dictates of the laws of the federation. But that is not the case, as the local governments across the country are tied to the apron strings of the state governments. Hence, they have not been impressive. While the president acknowledged corruption as the bane of local government administration, he made reference to the issue of “operations of the Local Government Joint Account”. This is what the states have perpetrated to hold the local governments to ransom. The low provision and maintenance of infrastructure have, amidst the denial of autonomy to run its affairs, been blamed on the insufficiency of statutory allocations from the federation accounts. Local government administrators are quick to refer to the status quo as what is responsible for their abysmal performances. In a recent interview with New Telegraph, while disclosing reason for the lacklustre performance of local governments in the state, Kamar Ayinde Bayewu, a former chairman of Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government, identified inadequate funds and denial of autonomy as factors inhibiting local government effectiveness in the discharge of its statutory functions. He said: “Before you criticize any local government, look at what is coming or available to that local government. Within the funds they are being given, that’s where they pay the teachers that they are not empowered to employ. The teachers are being employed by another body entirely which doesn’t consider the number, including resources, but the local government is made to pay the teachers, pay their pensions and other allowances. Those are first line charge

Praying for local government autonomy They are the third tier of government by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. But they have been short-changed by state governments, who use their funds to thrive. Now, local governments across the country are labouring to separate themselves from their mother states. That is believed to be the breather that will ginger them into performing their roles. ELIJAH SAMUEL reports that Lagos is no exception

Buhari

on the local government.” He explained that the local governments do not recruit, nor do they have the power to determine the number of its staff. Yet, he said the people would be paid directly from the local government’s purse. He further said that out of the federation account that comes to the local government, 60 per cent of that goes into the settlement of first line charges. Meaning that little would be left to take care of the infrastructure that are expected of a local government. According to him, people have failed to sit down and review if what is being given to local government is really enough to do its statutory functions. Speaking on local government autonomy, Bayewu expressed optimism. “It will be good if full autonomy is granted, in the sense that local government can hire and fire, and determine the number of its staff. Under it, there is nothing like unified local government system or commission. There must be administrative and financial autonomy. And the local government will in turn give some certain percentage of the income generated to the state or Federal Government as may be agreed.” But hope for local governments’ autonomy may be kindled after all, as it has been indicated that there are likelihood some governors will pull support for the autonomy proposal. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is one of such. During his first day in office, just as his second term in office commenced, the governor declared support for the president and also demonstrated his readiness to facilitate

Bayewu

Local governments across the country are tied to the apron strings of the states

Ambode

its implementation. “I support President Muhammed Buhari on this local government autonomy. We are creating Local Council Development Authority, LCDA, and we are waiting for the new State House of Assembly to be inaugurated because these outgoing Assembly members could not have completed it, if they had opened discussion on it. “By July, all local government council Chairmen will be completing their three-year tenure in office and we are going to conduct local government elections and creation of the LCDAs. That is what we want to do,” he said. While berating those who may not be in support, Amosun also showed the relief that granting autonomy to local government will confer on the state government. “The autonomy issue is in my interest. Some governors said that granting autonomy to local governments is not going to favour them. Those governors that say the autonomy thing will not favour them are those governors that deduct from local governments allocation which they receive from the federal allocation. “For me, this development will even put more challenge on the local governments and local council development authority. If they want the autonomy, let them take their autonomy. If they can’t pay salaries, they won’t come back to me. If they can’t pay teachers or embark on developmental projects, they know that they are the ones that cannot pay and not the state.” A lawyer, Tunde Kolawole, also supported the granting and enthronement of autonomy for governments at the grassroots level. Citing the enormous responsibilities that rest on the

shoulders of local governments, he lamented that withholding or tampering with statutory allocations will continue to hamper delivery of basic services to the people. “When you look at the country generally, it will be discovered that 70 per cent of the roads, health institutions and schools and other amenities that will make life comfortable for ordinary citizens are under the local governments. If you want to bring development to the people and make them to enjoy the dividends of democracy, you must pay good attention to local governments and ensure the prompt remittance of their statutory funds. If it doesn’t get there, the local government won’t be able to perform its responsibilities to the people.” Kolawole expatiated that the governors who have been denying the local governments of their allocations have not fared better in the management of these resources. What the governors do, he revealed, is to pocket both the state and local allocations, and mismanage these funds. They don’t have the right to keep the resources that should go to the local government. “Under the Nigerian constitution, all the tiers of government are supposed to be independent of one another, and work as a team in the development of the country. If the Federal Government does not deny the states their statutory allocations, the same thing should apply to the local government from the state government. And accountability for the development must be demanded from all the tiers. If we want to enforce the separation of power among the tiers, then, Nigerians should support financial autonomy for the local government,” he said.

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

MEGA CITY EVENTS The 4th IOD Presidential Biennial Lecture was recently held in Lagos

L-R: President/Chairman of Council, Institute of Directors Nigeria (IOD), Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi; Guest Speaker, Mr. Tony Elumelu and First Vice-President, IOD, Mr. Yemi Akeju, at the lecture

L-R: Member, Governing Council, Institute of Directors Nigeria (IOD), Prince Ben Onwora; former President, IOD, Mr. Femi Ekundayo and Yeye Oge, Opral Benson, at the 4th IOD Presidential Biennial lecture in Lagos PHOTOS: GODWIN IREKHE

Custodian and Allied Plc recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in Lagos

L-R: Director, Custodian and Allied Plc, Mr Gboyega Asabia; Chairman, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo; Managing Director/CEO, Mr Wole Oshin; Directors, Mrs. Margaret Rufus-Giwa and Mr Ravi Sharma, at the event held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, C $ T Leasing, Mr. Emeka Ndu; Chief Executive Officer, SCIB, Mr. Shola Tinubu; Managing Director, Custodian Life Assurance Limited, Mr. Larry Ademeso and Managing Director/ CEO, Healthcare International, Mr. Tosin Awosika,at the event PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

UPCOMING EVENTS

Scepters Global CEO IConference 2015

Organiser: Scepters Date: July 22, 2015 From: 8:00 AM -July 24, 2015 at 12:00 PM Venue: Intercontinental Hotel Kofo Abayomi St Lagos, Lagos 10001 Nigeria

International Conference on Disabilities Lagos 2015 Organiser: IABC Nigeria Date: June 22, 2015 From: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Venue: The Civic Center Ozumba Mbadiwe Ave Lagos, Nigeria

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

FCT Watch

Buhari: Imminent cut in remunerations stirs public

29 Money

Banks step up deposit mobilisation

The Investor

Maritime

Disquiet over spending of bond proceeds

FG intervenes in council, customs agents’ crisis

Business What's news

Shareholders lose N390bn in banking, oil and gas stocks Investors in the companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a loss of about N389.6 billion between April and June 15, 2015, in banking and oil & gas sectors following sell pressure that had persisted in the equity market.

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Twitter hits $23.5bn market value, 300m users Global micro-blogging site, Twitter, says its current market value has reached $23.5 billion, even as the user base hit over 300 million.

p.30

L-R: Head, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, FirstBank, Ismail Omamegbe; Centre Manager, FirstBank Sustainability Centre, Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu; Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh, Dr. Kenneth Amaeshi and Group Head, FirstBank, Timothy Arowoogun, at the ‘Leading a sustainable business’ executive programme sponsored by the FirstBank Sustainability Centre.

Extortion: Lagos Port indicts Customs, NIMASA officials SLEAZE

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

report by the management of the Lagos Port Complex has indicted some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Head of Port Health Service (PHS) in Apapa. These officers were alleged to have been extorting money from foreign crew on board

ships. The report accused the security operatives of demanding foreign currencies and other valuables during their duty on board vessels from ship captains and their crew members. The management of the port explained that the officials of the agencies cited non-existing regulations as a basis to threaten the crew with a fine ranging from $5,000 and above. It was learnt that checks on ships at berths are being grossly abused and fraught with corruption on a daily basis with impunity at Nigerian seaports. Miffed by this development,

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

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

Port security operatives adopt all manners of tricks to fine ship crew

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

the management of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, complained to the various agencies that have representatives at the port on the excesses of their operatives. In a letter dated June 4, 2015 and referenced LPC/PM/ OP/087and titled: “Reported acts of extortion by some security agents/government officials boarding vessels in Lagos Port Complex,” the management of the port frowned at

$5,000 Illegal fines ranging from $5,000 and above squeezed from foreign crew on board ships

the activities of recalcitrant security operatives and vowed to put a stop to the practice. The management alleged that gross abuse of their responsibilities at the port was responsible for the high cost of doing business at the port and creating a bad image for the country. The letter, which was signed by its Port Manager, Mallam Nasir Anas Mohammed, was addressed to the Controllers of Nigeria Customs Service, NIMASA, Nigeria Immigration Service and Head of Port Health Service in Apapa. It reads: “The port has received intelligence report on CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Jun 12)

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

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

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Jun 12)

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

Business | News

DUMPING

Foreign investors continue to offload Nigerian stocks Chris Ugwu

nvestors in the companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a loss of about N389.6 billion between April and June 15, 2015, in banking and oil & gas sectors following sell pressure that had persisted in the equity market. As at the time of filing this report, the market capitalisation of the Exchange, which gauges the value of listed stocks, stood at N11.510 trillion as against the opening figure of N12.135 trillion recorded at the close of trading on April 2, 2015. This translates to a loss of N625 billion or 5.62 per cent. Checks by New Telegraph showed that the banking sub-sector recorded a drop of N311 billion during the period

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Shareholders lose N390bn in banking, oil and gas stocks under review, while the oil and gas sub-sector accounted for a loss of N78.6 billion. Foreign investors have continued to offload Nigerian stocks as the price of crude dropped into a bear market and on concern that measures the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) put in place to stem capital outflows would hinder their ability to sell holdings in Africa’s top oil producer. Data from the Ex-

change showed that these investors increased exiting the market towards the last quarter of 2014, selling out of the relatively liquid banking, consumer and oil sectors, as the price of Brent crude, the benchmark against which Nigeria’s oil is priced, dropped. The plunge in the oil price has put Nigeria’s currency under pressure and dampened appetite for assets in Africa’s biggest economy and chief

oil exporter, prompting the apex bank to intervene repeatedly to try to prop up the local currency. The naira, which has been devalued twice in the last seven months, exchanged at the interbank market (official window) at N196.90 per dollar and N221 to a dollar at the parallel market (unofficial market) yesterday. The local currency, which has fallen by over 18 per cent against the

dollar, has stabilised, but only thanks to a 17 separate new measures and policies, he points out. Nigeria’s foreign reserves, fell to $29.1 27 billion by June 11, down 1.7 per cent from last month, as the apex bank burned cash to defend the local currency. The fall in the price of crude oil in the international market is still sending economic and political shocks around the world.

The hardest hit has been countries whose economies depend largely on oil for appreciable percentage of their foreign exchange earnings. According to experts, crude oil accounts for about 95 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange receipts. The reality of possible crippling budget shortfalls also stares many oil exporting countries in the face as the priced commodity has hit its lowest price level in four years. Crude oil prices started dropping at the international market from as high as $110 per barrel in January to the current level of $58 per barrel.

Lagos Port indicts Customs, NIMASA officials CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

the activities of some unscrupulous operatives/ personnel of some security/government agencies bordering on extortion of ship captains and their crew members that call at the port, including demanding for dollars, pounds and other valuables during their duty on board vessels. “It has further been revealed that such operatives adopt all professional tricks to fault the crew documents and or operations, citing non-existing regulations to threaten the crew with a fine ranging from $5,000 and above. “In all cases, such threats are used to negotiate. Some operatives also violate the privacy of the crew members and have been reported carting away canned food and drink items from the vessels. Vessel Captains have often expressed displeasure and anger over such shameful and disgraceful acts.” Last year, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) had written to demand an investigation over complaint of alleged extortion during boarding by some health, Immigration, Customs and port officials filed by the captain of MV “Kotor” with IMO No. 9575981 that berthed at ENL between August 24 and 28, 2014.

L-R: Executive Vice Chairman, Proton Energy Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi; Chief Executive Officer, Pan Africa Solar Limited, Mr. Marcus Heal; Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Sam Amadi; Managing Director, Nigerian Solar Capital Partners, Mr. Joel Abrams, during the commission’s presentation of electricity generation licenses to four companies in Abuja.

CHALLENGE

The social media site faces challenge of managing its galloping user base Kunle Azeez

With agency reports

lobal micro-blogging site, Twitter, says its current market value has reached $23.5 billion, even as the user base hit over 300 million. It also said that its current market value suggests that the company could be pitched at around $30 billion in case of plans to sell it. This is coming as the Chief Executive Officer of Twitter, Mr. Dick Costolo, is set to exit as the CEO of the company on July 1. However, experts say that the company faces a big challenge of how it will tackle its biggest problem of user growth. In Nigeria and other countries, Twitter has continued to record increasing growths.

Twitter hits $23.5bn market value, 300m users According Reuters, Twitter’s shares were down 0.6 per cent in early afternoon trading last Friday, after rising much as 3.9 per cent just after the opening, as investors assessed the company’s prospects. Analysts said that Twitter has an uncertain future unless it can reverse slowing user growth by introducing new features that will help it win a bigger chunk of the digital advertising market from rivals such as Facebook. Some also wondered whether Twitter, with its 300 million users, could be takeover target. “Prospective buyers have been interested in purchasing Twitter in the past and during the interim (CEO) search period, we believe that the opportunity for acquisition is heightened,” Jefferies analysts wrote in a client note.

Google Inc is often mooted as the most likely suitor. However, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst, Robert Peck, said that a deal was unlikely in the near term as that would have been an attractive alternative to a CEO change. For now, the main issue for investors is the lack of clarity on the company’s prospects, Macquarie Research analysts wrote. “We believe that there is limited visibility into Twitter’s potential, limited understanding of catalysts to drive fundamental improvements, no expectations of a change in strategy, little reason to think financials will reaccelerate (near term) and limited valuation support,” the analysts wrote in a client note. “We certainly agree that Twitter has unmet potential and that a new CEO could

help, but it is unclear if the company can reach its potential based on its current strategy and trajectory.” Twitter had a 1.6 per cent share of the $50.7 billion United States digital advertising market in 2014, compared with Facebook’s 10.4 per cent, according to research firm, eMarketer. Analysts said that the new CEO and co-founder, Mr. Jack Dorsey, who will take over on an interim basis, will need to put monetisation of the product on the backburner to focus on user growth. “We believe that a replacement CEO may be able to better define Twitter as an event-driven platform, attract larger branded advertisers and respond more rapidly to changes in the marketplace,” Brean Capital analyst, Sarah Hindlian, wrote.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

FCT Business Watch Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he attraction to political and elective offices by those jostling for them across all levels is predominantly motivated by personal gain and less zeal for general development. The reason Nigeria’s political space is crowded with political actors, especially those that see democracy as lucrative venture and unrestrained opportunity for wealth accumulation, is understood. The monetary benefits attached to public offices rank Nigerian democracy one of the most expensive in the world. With heavily monetised benefits for occupiers of political and public offices, the processes for selecting candidates for public offices are always carried out in treacherous manner. With sizeable portion of its revenue earnings going into the welfare and upkeep of political office holders, Nigeria’s infrastructural development and other key sectors of the economy have been abandoned to decay. This has been an enduring scenario since 1999 when the subsisting democracy journey commenced. Remuneration package The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of providing monetary package for political, public and judicial office holders. The Commission’s monetary package (February 2007 - June 2009) spells out the amount due to each office. However, it is believed that occupants of these offices devise other means outside of the statutory remuneration package approved for them. For instance, the Nigerian president is entitled to an annual salary of N3. 5 million translating to a monthly salary of N 292,892, hardship allowance, N 1.7 million per annum; annual consistency allowance of N8.7 million, making a grand total of N14 million. The amount is outside of severance gratuity of N10.5 million to be paid after successful completion of tenure, annual leave bonus of N351,000 and a Motor Vehicle Loan of N14 million to be repaid before expiration of tenure. The vice-president has annual income of N3.1 million and every other allowances totaling N12.1 million that accrue to his office. For the minister, secretary to the government of the federation, head of service, chairmen of constitutional bodies, they each have an annual income of N 7. 8 million. This is aside of other allowances, while a minister of state has annual income of N7.5 million aside other allowances. For Special Advisers including other categories like speech writers, their annual income, according to data obtained from Revenue Commission, is N7

Buhari: Imminent cut in remunerations stirs public attention

Buhari

milion, aside of other allowances totaling N7.7 million. For the speaker of House of Representatives, he is entitled to an annual income of N2.9 million and other annual allowances totaling N9.9 million while the deputy speaker is entitled to annual income of N4.5 million and other allowances totaling N9.1 million. A member of the House of Representatives is entitled to an annual income of N9.5 million and other annual allowances of N7.9 million. Senate President has an annual income of N8.6 million and other annual allowances totaling N9.9 million, while the Deputy earns annual income of N8.082 million and other allowances totaling N9.2 million. A senator has an annual income of N12.7 million and other annual allowances of N8.1 million. State governor earns an annual income of N7.7 million and other annual allowances of N8.8 million and his deputy earns an annual income of N7.3 million and other allowances totaling N8.4 million. Speakers of state Houses of Assembly earn an annual income of N2.049 million and other allowances of N6.5 million, while Deputy Speakers earn N1.8 million and other allowances amounting to N5.7 million; and a member earns N2.4 million with other allowances, totalling N5.3 million. The annual income of a local government chairman is pegged at N 3.5 million and other allowances at N3.6 million, while the vice chairman is on N3.3 million and other allowances in the sum of N3.4 million. In the same vein, a supervisory counselor/secretary of local government earns an annual income of N2.9 million and N3 milion total annual allowances

Mbam

respectively. In the category of DirectorGeneral/Auditor-General/Permanent Secretary/AccountantGeneral/Executive Secretaries /Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and government / INEC Residential Electoral Commissioners, they earn an annual income of N7.4 million and other allowances of N7.7 million. The Chief Justice of Nigeria is entitled to an annual income of N6.7 million and other allowances totaling N13.4 million. The Justice of the Supreme Court/president, Court of Appeal are entitled to annual income of N10.8 million and other allowances of N9.9 million. For Judges of Court of Appeal/ Chief Judge, Federal High Court/ Chief Judge, FCT /President, National Industrial court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal/President, FCT Customary Court of Appeal. Chief Judge of State/Grand Khadi, State Sharia Court of Appeal/President, state customary court of appeal, they are allocated an annual income of N8.7 million and other allowances totaling N7.9 million,

Monetary benefits attached to public offices rank Nigerian democracy one of the most expensive in the world

Imminent slash under Buhari Over the years, there have been strident calls for slash in the monetary package across board of all political office holders. The calls became reinforced following the drastic fall in the nation’s main source of revenue, oil, at the international market. Though, he is yet to make public pronouncement, the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration suggests that he would endorse a cut in his pay and that of his officers. The Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir ElRufai, has already announced a 50

per cent cut in his emoluments and that of other cabinet members. Taking a cue from this, the Revenue Commission announced recently plans to begin a review of the existing Remuneration Act of 2008, which prescribes salaries and allowances for political, public and judicial office holders in line with its constitutional mandate. Though the commission is not categorical whether expected review is upward or downward, the move is tied to shrink in revenue sources available to government. Inaugurating the committee recently, Revenue Commission Chairman, Elias Mbam, charged the Committee, chaired by Abdullahi Lawal Inde, a Federal Commissioner and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of the Commission, to be conscious of the prevailing economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance so as to free more funds for development. Mbam charged the Committee to undertake wide consultations with all critical stakeholders, including all arms of government of the federation, the national and state assemblies, states and local governments, professional economic bodies, organised labour, the academia, the media and Nigerian public in general so as to enrich the process. The chairman reminds them of the need to ensure that the review effectively minimises wastages and abuses and ensure prudent management of resources as well. The Committee is expected to holistically review the existing Remuneration Act, identify areas of wastages and abuse, examine the implementation of the monetisation policy by MDAs and advise on appropriate remuneration for political, public and judicial officers commensurate with the work they do. Experts’ opinion Speaking with New Telegraph recently on plans by Revenue Commission to review Remuneration Act of 2008, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, said that it would be a good step in the right direction if Revenue Commission could come out with cut in emoluments for political and public office holders. He said that such action would free large funds hitherto voted for overheads to be channeled to building of infrastructures. “Nigerians will be very happy if the commission can carry out downward review, but the chances are very remote. The powers that be will do everything to scuttle it. But if the Presidency agrees to cut down, followed by National Assembly and it trickles down the ladder, I think it should be commended.”

Business |Money

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Banks step up deposit mobilisation Following last month’s harmonisation of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public and private sector deposits by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the popular belief was that the decision would help inject some liquidity back into the banking system and curb banks’ hunger for funds. But Tony Chukwunyem reports that the move has not slowed down lenders’ deposit drive

utive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, to qualify for the promo, fans are required to open any of the bank’s Sterling-Arsenal Savings products accounts such as the Arsenal Kick-Off (low income segment), Arsenal Premium (mass market) or the current account (zero commission on turnover) product called Arsenal Platinum, which is meant for individuals or businesses.

Emefiele

MD, First Bank of Nig, Bisi Onasanya

MD, Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola

MD,Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa

ven at the best of times in the industry, banks constantly seek to attract deposits. However, they seem to have significantly increased such efforts since July 2013 when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), citing the need to protect the naira and check inflation, hiked the CRR on public sector deposits to 50 per cent from 12 per cent. The CRR is a specified percentage of customers’ total deposits that banks have to hold as reserves with the CBN at zero interest rates. For instance, raising the CRR on public sector deposits to 50 per cent meant that lenders had to warehouse 50 per cent (about N1 trillion) of deposits from government agencies with the apex bank thereby depriving them of a huge chunk of loanable funds. However, the banking watchdog also went on to raise the CRR on public sector deposits to 75 per cent in January last year in addition to increasing the CRR on private sector deposits first from 12 per cent to 15 per cent in March 2014 and subsequently from 15 per cent to 20 per cent last November. The CRR hikes clearly hurt banks’ bottom line with FBN Holdings Group, for example, declaring at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently that it lost N68 billion revenue in 2014 to the CRR alone. Quest for deposits Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that with so much of their deposits quarantined by the banking watchdog, banks have devised various strategies to attract more deposits, especially from the private sector. For instance, a journalist with one of the national newspapers told our correspondent about his recent experience at the branch of a first tier bank at Isolo, Lagos, where he had gone to deposit a substantial amount into the account of one of the societies in his Church. According to him, as he was about stepping out of the banking hall, a staff informed him that the branch manager wanted to see him. Apprehen-

sive that there was an issue with the transaction that required his attention, he hurried to the manager’s office, but was taken aback when she (manager) sought to know if he could assist in getting other societies in the church to also open accounts at the branch. “She was very polite and apologised for taking my time, but she also really tried to find out how I could help her reach leaders of some of the major societies. It was obvious that she was under pressure to attract deposit for her branch,’’ he stated. Indeed, this newspaper learnt that most banks now deploy more personnel to marketing and give staff increased targets for the number of new customers they can persuade to open bank accounts. An assistant manager with a new generation bank said: “These days, most new employees are specifically hired as marketers and they are given achievement targets, which they must meet within a specified period or they risk losing their jobs.” He further revealed that in some cases banks tie staff ’s total emolument to the achievement of the set target. New Telegraph also gathered that the managing director of a tier 2 bank recently sent out a memo in which every member of staff was directed to get new customers that would open 500 accounts within a six-month period. A top official of a first tier new

In some cases banks tie staff’s total emolument to the achievement of the set target

generation bank told our correspondent that competition for deposits in the industry today was the fiercest in recent memory. He cited visits by some bank CEOs to the new governors of some key states as part of efforts to ensure that the lenders capture the states’ accounts. Similarly, a source in the aviation sector revealed that lenders have been holding series of meetings with foreign airlines with a view to convincing the carriers to do more business with them. Promos and road shows In addition, investigations revealed that the quest for deposits has led to some banks embarking on road shows to market savings accounts packages/products while others are either launching fresh savings promos or continuing with existing ones. Notably, through its savings promo tagged: “Sterling Gunners promo” leading tier 2 lender, Sterling Bank, last year, sponsored 30 of its customers who are fans of Arsenal Football Club, to watch home matches at the Emirates Stadium, during the 2014/2015 European Premier League season. The lender, which is the official bank partner of Arsenal Football Club in Nigeria, says it is committed to supporting over 60,000 of its customer who are fans of the famous English football club. According to the bank’s Exec-

Analysts’ views Interestingly, reacting to the CBN’s decision to increase the CRR on public sector deposits to 50 per cent in July 2013, then Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, (before his appointment as CBN Governor) had told journalists that the move would open an avenue for lenders to step up their deposit mobilisation efforts. He said that the banks were left with no other choice, but to mobilise deposits from the private sector, especially the informal sub-sector. Emefiele said: “The banks are now left with the option of devising new strategies of mopping up deposits from the private sector, particularly the retail channels and from households that keep cash at homes. “For that reason, we are all aware of the cash-less policy that was introduced to ensure that they are encouraged; the costs of keeping those costs in the banks are being reduced or the banks are bearing those costs themselves, and we think this will actually help the banks to mop up deposits. However, a management consultant, Chief Augustine Agu, blamed the CBN for banks’ renewed drive for deposits. He said: “The proper thing is that the CBN ought to consider the impact its policies have on the economy. The real purpose of banking is lending and not deposit mobilisation. CRR hikes further compound the woes of operators in the real sector who will have to contend with increased cost of funding to run their businesses.” Conclusion However, a top official of a new generation bank told our correspondent that banks appear to be caught in a vicious circle, arguing that if the lender are very successful in their deposit drive, the CBN would respond by increasing the CRR. He said: “The CBN’s reasons for increasing the CRR is that banks are not lending to the real sector and are instead lending to people whose activities hurt the naira. But the fact is that banks are business organisations set up to make profit. Lending to the real sector is still quite risky in this country. Until the issues of infrastructure and power are addressed, it will not be fair to blame banks for not lending to manufacturers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As it is, any bank that wants to remain competitive will have to focus on deposit mobilisation.”

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Counsel

Most businesses don’t pay VAT Tony Chukwunyem

former President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, has called on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to urgently take steps to ensure that more businesses in the country are registered to pay Value Added Tax (VAT). He told the New Telegraph that only a negligible percentage of businesses currently pay VAT, adding that this is due more to weaknesses on the part of the FIRS than the inability of the companies to pay. Nzekwe said: “FIRS has not been able to bring all vatable persons into the VAT net. What they do is that they wait in their offices for those who voluntarily come in to pay tax or for those who have been asked to bring some official document from the Service. “Before they attend to such demands, they insist that you pay VAT. But that is not how they should go about it. Instead of waiting in their offices, they should go out and register more businesses to pay VAT.” The former ANAN boss contended that government would realise a lot

Expert tasks FIRS on VAT collection of money in revenue if the FIRS were strengthened in such a way that it is able to register more businesses to pay VAT as well as monitor such payments. He said: “Some people deduct VAT without remitting. How are they monitoring that? If government is able to effectively administer that system, the revenue it will generate from

that will even be enough to make it reduce other taxes. There is big money in the VAT system, but the FIRS has not done enough. For example, at Alaba market and other major markets across the country, you will find that maybe out of 30 shop owners, only one is registered to pay VAT, the rest are not registered.” Nzekwe urged the FIRS

to carry out enlightenment campaigns on VAT, pointing out that many people still don’t realise that it is the end user that pays the tax. He said: “If you sell, you collect the VAT and remit to government; its as simple as that. Also, the FIRS has to review their system for penalising VAT default-

ers. Sometimes, the penalties they apply is so much that they end up liquidating the company. What people do in such circumstances is to abandon the company and register a new one. So, the rules they are making should have a human face; they are too theoretical in some of these things.”

VAT is a consumption tax payable on goods and services consumed by individuals, government agencies and business organisations. According to FIRS figures, VAT is the third highest contributor to the nation’s tax revenue in the past eight years, accounting for 16 per cent of total collection in the period.

L-R: Head, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACA), Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ademola; Country Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pa Lamin Beyai; Executive Director, Markets, ACCA, Mr. Stephen Heathcote; Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations, Nigeria, Daouda Toure; Deputy Country Director, Operations, UNDP Nigeria, Ms Debab Asrat Ynessu and Executive, International Labour Organisation, Kesiena Okorho, during ACCA’s meeting with UN in Abuja.

MfB grants N77m loans n Abuja-based Microfinance Bank, Hasal MfB has granted N77 million loans to over 400 clients in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In a statement, the bank said that the loans were part of the fund it accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF). At the disbursement ceremony, which took place at the bank’s head office in Abuja recently, eight groups and four individual customers received various amounts as credit, even as thousands others finalised their loan applications. Correct Women Multipurpose Corporative Society, Glory Clouds Multipurpose Corporative Society, Sylsol Plant & Harvest Multipurpose Corporative Society, amongst others, were some of the groups that benefited from the loan

scheme. Other beneficiaries include Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) such as Upward Waters Nigeria Limited, Toprange Bakery Limited, Amomaja Global Services Limited and Chizel International Limited. These customers received N5 million loan each from the fund to enable them grow their businesses. Speaking on the development, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Hasal Microfinance Bank, Mr Rogers Nwoke, commended the apex bank on the MSMEDF, pointing out that the CBN initiative is targeted at providing credit access to MSMEs in the country. He said: “We at HASAL believe in touching people’s lives for good, so, this is a great opportunity to help small, micro business owners grow their business and become party to development of the economy.”

Nwoke, who sensitised beneficiaries on how to repay the loan, stated that the fund was not government grant or subsidy, but, fund for the development of businesses, adding that, the money must be paid back to CBN as at when due. He promised that the bank would continue to create access to credit to its customers on a sustainable basis to enable them grow their businesses. By doing so, he said that the bank is impacting lives, hence contributing its own quota to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. One of the beneficiaries, Mr. David Ejiofor Amadi, who is also the group leader of Kugbo II Furniture Corporative Society, commended Hasal MfB for championing the cause of its customers at all times, saying that the credit secured through the MSME development fund will go a long way in helping their entities to grow.

Finance key to growth of Africa’s agric sector –AU

he African Union (AU) is working hard to ensure that maximum support is given to small-scale farmers in the continent, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, has said. Speaking in South Africa last week, she stressed the need for banks to understand the crucial role played by small farmers in food production.

“There has been limited financing for agriculture especially for the small-scale farmers. It is very costly for the small farmers to get loans from the banks due to the type of collateral demanded by the banks and the high interests charged on those loans,” Tumusiime said. She said there is need for the banks to create conditions that support such farmers.

IMF adopts report on quota, governance reform

he Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has adopted a report to the Board of Governors—the IMF’s highest decision-making body—on interim steps on quota and governance reform. In a press release, the IMF stated that in the report, the Executive Board noted that, while progress had been made, it had concluded that more time was needed to build the necessary consensus among the membership to complete its work on interim steps. According to the statement, “The report further notes that the Execu-

tive Board reiterates its deep disappointment with the continued delay in the effectiveness of the 2010 Reforms, and urges the United States to ratify them as soon as possible. The report indicates that, if the 2010 Reforms are not ratified by September 15, 2015, the Executive Board will consider prior to endSeptember which interim solution to pursue and will, building on its ongoing discussions, complete its work on steps that represent meaningful progress towards the objectives of the 2010 Reforms as early as possible and no later than midDecember 2015.”

Business | The Investor

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chris Ugwu

onds are regarded world over as instruments used by the federal or state governments as well as corporate organisations to raise funds from the stock market for developmental projects or settling of debts as the case may be. The significance of a strong and viable domestic corporate bonds market as an alternative source of finance in emerging economies has been affirmed by the success it enjoyed in countries like Brazil, India and China. In Nigeria, the dearth of infrastructure has been attributed to various factors such as lack of political will, corruption, bad maintenance culture and paucity of requisite funds. With regards to the scarcity of funds, dwindling allocations from the federal government through the federation account due to drop in oil price, coupled with an ineffective internal revenue collection mechanism, have led many state governments to depend on alternative financing arrangements to fund their yearon-year budget deficit. Despite high interest rates, bank loans have contributed immensely to funding the deficits, but bonds have offered a better option to reducing the deficit and investing in numerous long-term capital projects at lower cost. With government’s economic reforms running at full throttle, prospects are high for the sustained development of the Nigerian bonds market as a viable tool for financing Nigeria’s infrastructure development. Hence, many states have raised large sums of funds from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) through bond market to finance infrastructural developments in recent times. Influx of lenders For instance, the government of Edo State, in 2000, opened the bond door for other states to rush to the market to create an alternative and cheaper window to augment their receipts from the federation account when it successfully raised N1 billion through bonds from the Nigerian capital market. Delta State followed suit in the same year to raise N5 billion in two tranches. In 2001 and 2002 Yobe and Ekiti States governments floated N2.5 billion and N4 billion bonds respectively. Lagos State government, in 2002, also floated the largest subnational debt issue with N15 billion in two tranches. The success of these issues attracted others - Cross River (2003), Akwa Ibom (2004) and Kebbi (2006). Each of these states raised N4 billion, N6 billion and N3.5 billion respectively. Regulator’s wake-up call Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) renewed call for federal and state governments to take advantage of the numerous benefits inherent in the capital market to fund infrastructural development in the country. SEC said that Nigeria’s capital market is liquid enough to provide long-term funds to handle

Nigerian Stock Exchange building

Disquiet over spending of bond proceeds infrastructure challenges confronting the nation. Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo, represented by Head, Kano Zonal office of SEC, Malam Adamu Sambo, at the SEC Day during the 18th Katsina State Trade Fair, urged state governments to take advantage of the numerous benefits inherent in the capital market to bring about the desired development to Nigerians. Gwarzo noted that such advantages could be accessed through equities, bonds or mortgage bond securities. He said that the capital market has the capacity to provide long-term funds needed to solve the infrastructural challenges in the country and act as a springboard that would fast-track development of the states. Gwarzo disclosed that the Commission was attending the fair in order to manifest one of its broad functions, which is to carry out enlightenment on the activities in the market. “We are here to enlighten the Katsina State government and its people on the need for them to take activities in the market as a means for development. We have a new government in place and we hope that they will access the capital market to raise floating funds to meet their development needs. “The president has already said that he is keen on development of the country and we therefore urge the state governments to use the capital market as a channel to raise funds. States have a lot of potentials and we believe that they can use the capital market as one of the means of achieving their potentials,” he said. The SEC boss noted that both the federal and state governments, in the last dispensation tasted the potential of the market as over N500 billion was raised from the nation’s bourse through bonds by various states for infra-

structure development between 1999 and 2013. Gwarzo expressed dismay at the attitude of some state governments who claim that they do not want to borrow funds for development in order not to leave the states with huge debts, saying that such attitude is counter-productive as it is better to borrow to meet infrastructural needs than to be contented with just paying salaries. He said: “Indebtedness is not bad, what is bad is a situation where such funds are used for consumption. If there is commensurate infrastructural development on ground, there is no regret in borrowing. Even abroad, states borrow for development.” Gwarzo urged state governments to embrace the capital market in their economic strategy in other to meet the needs and aspirations of their people.

Indebtedness is not bad, what is bad is a situation where such funds are used for consumption

Operators’ worries The fear in many quarters is that much of the funds being raised in the bond market always end up being used by the governors and political office holders to finance their re-election or in financing the political campaign of their parties or favourite candidates where they are not due for re-election. These are worrisome scenarios that put to question the rush by states to the bond market. Market watchers also believe the SEC has not done much in monitoring how states deploy such funds. They noted that though the Commission is supposed to guide against irresponsible bond issuance, some states still go ahead to raise funds just to offset recurrent expenses. For instance, the Senate Committee on Capital Market had rejected the 2015 budget proposal of the SEC, accusing it of indulging in financial recklessness in the operation of its 2014 fiscal year. The committee, particularly in the course of perusing the financial records of the commis-

sion, discovered that it issued N20 billion bonds to the government of Gombe State that was not accounted for and still went ahead to grant another N10 billion bond. But a source at SEC, who pleaded not to be quoted because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said that SEC has the responsibility to ensure that states use the funds judiciously, adding that the commission conducts monitoring exercise and on-thespot assessment. “If there are issues, we advice the state accordingly, without necessarily having to make it public. The fact that we have not made such findings public does not mean that SEC is sleeping. We are always alive to our responsibility,” he said. Shareholders’ perspective Against the background of the recent call by SEC for governments to access bonds in the market, market watchers have called for restrain in allowing state governments to access bonds unless there is convincing reasons to do so. Shareholders under the aegis of Progressive Shareholders Association said that the group doubts the sincerity of states asking for bond, as investment in the state bond is tantamount to gambling. Chairman of the association, Mr. Boniface Okezie, said that the idea to raise funds through bonds may be well intentioned to either initiate or conclude people oriented projects, but that it is obvious that most governments divert the proceeds of the bond to fund electioneering campaigns and other selfish interests. He called on the SEC to always be careful in giving approval to the application because those bonds would be at risk due to lack of continuity in the Nigerian governing system. Conclusion Entities that raise funds from the bond market are expected to deploy the proceeds for that which they promised it would be used. Hence, the SEC and the NSE have the primary responsibilities of monitoring and ensuring that those who come to the markets (corporations, states, and, indeed, the Federal Government) to raise money, use such funds for the purposes stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

AP Moeller-Maersk to build N400bn port in Badagry p.36

Maritime

Textiles smuggling to Nigeria from Benin hits N440bn – World Bank p.37

FG intervenes in council, customs agents’ crisis The Federal Ministry of Transport has intervened in the ongoing crisis rocking the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and customs agents over the controversial professional fees collection at the ports and borders, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

eaders of the various freight forwarding associations - chairmen, board of trustees and secretaries - were invited to a meeting in Abuja last week, to find solution to the crisis rocking their business. The problem The crisis started when the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) introduced fees to be collected on containers and bulk cargoes. In the arrangement, every 20ft container being cleared at the port will pay N1,000 while a 40ft container will pay N2,000. Also, every car will pay N500; truck, N1,000 and N30 per ton for bulk cargoes. The rate on wet cargo was indicated as ‘negotiable’. The association leaders were invited by the Deputy Director (ICD), Mr. Patrick Ekawu, on behalf of the minister, to the meeting through a letter referenced T. 4604/S.2/T2 and titled: ‘Invitation for stakeholders meeting on issues affecting smooth operation of freight forwarding in Nigeria.’ The concerned associations are: the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and the National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC). Opposition Miffed by the sharing formula, the National Executive Council (NEC) of ANLCA has ordered its members to shun the directive by the council over payment of practitioner’s fee. It noted that the association would resist attempt by CRFFN to introduce levy that would increase cost of clearing goods at the ports. The spokesman of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto noted: “NEC has constituted a committee to interface with the management

. Container stacked at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa

of CRFFN to come up with recommendation towards further engagement. “The committee is empowered by NEC to discuss, negotiate and take all appropriate steps towards ANLCA professional interest.” The association said that it would advise its principals to divert their cargoes from NAHCO to other warehouses at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport should NAHCO proceed with the 30 per cent increase in its cargo handling charges. CRFFN target It was learnt that the collection of practicing fees was expected to net at least N2 billion per annum and is expected to be shared between CRFFN and the associations in the ratio of 60 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, while the remaining five per cent will be shared to registered freight forwarders. However, ANLCA decided to back out because of the sharing of the 35 per cent accruing to the freight forwarding associations. This led to a conflict of interest among the freight forwarders operating in the port industry and its regulator, the CRFFN. In exercising the powers conferred on it under Section 4 (d) and 6 (2) (C) of the CRFFN Act No 16 of 2007, the council said that the collection would commence in June, 2015. Conflict However, other freight forwarding group moved against ANLCA’s decision. They petitioned the Federal Ministry of Transport, over action bordering on rebellion and disloyalty of ANLCA members to the constituted authority of the CRFFN officials . In a letter jointly signed by the

We must emphasise that ANLCA has no monopoly of violence and cannot stand in the way of government

leaders of other associations, the freight forwarders said that the despicable action by ANLCA was nothing but an affront on the constituted authority of the Federal Government. They said: “It is also a deliberate act to deny the Federal Government of its rightful revenue due to the council administration and management and the economy. The present thinking of the Federal Government is to build capacity in all sectors of the economy and thereby create employment for our teeming youths and young freight forwarders in particular. “We must emphasise that ANLCA has no monopoly of violence and cannot stand in the way of government and the freight forwarders in this regard. We must at this point tell ANLCA that enough is enough. If they pretend not to know, they should be told in clear terms that their action at Seme Border on the 19th of May, 2015, is capable of destabilising the economic entry points of the federation. “The situation where ANLCA is now dictating to the regulator cannot be tolerated. Those who are fixated in the past where they got their way by thinking that might is right should be told in no uncertain terms that the era is gone for good. Enough should be enough.” The group also threatened to seal ANLCA’s offices as well as deregister it in order to put a stop to its impunity and disobedience to lawful orders. They told CRFFN to commence the collection of the practitioners’ operating fees as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Minister of Transport and as duly gazetted.

The meeting At the meeting hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transport a few days ago, it was learnt that the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mallam Mohammed Bashar, had threatened to sanction ANLCA if it failed to submit itself to the directive and regulation of CRFFN. He noted that CRFFN is an agency of government and the Attorney General had advised that even though the Council is not sitting, the minister can give directive as to the operation of the agency till the board is in place. However, Farinto denied the move by the ministry to sanction the association. He explained that the Permanent Secretary listened to all the parties present and postponed the meeting to a later date to rule on the dispute. “At the meeting, every one stated their side. After that, the other group brought out a letter from the Ministry of Justice where they said that the Attorney General advised that the council can operate without a Governing Council, but we told them we are not a party to that, letter hence it cannot be binding on us. “The conclusion is that the permanent secretary will study the letters and reconvene the meeting as soon as possible, but we don’t know when.” Violence It would be recalled that attempts by the CRFFN to commence collection of the professional operating fee at Seme Border a few days ago ignited tension as some ANLCA memCONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Business | Maritime

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

AP Moeller-Maersk to build N400bn port in Badagry SHIPMENT More electronic and consumer goods are being imported into the country Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

P MoellerMaersk has said that its Badagry new port project will gulp over N4000 billion ($2 billion) in terms of in-

vestment. The company will use the new port for containers, oil, break-bulk and offshore. It said that it was waiting for a final sign-off on the contract by the Federal Government. According to the company’s Senior Vice President for Africa, Mr. Lars Reno Jakobsen, the company may likely embark on the project this year. He explained: “Hopefully, we can start sometime this year. It will pro-

vide capacity, not only for containers, but also for oil, break-bulk and offshore. “Maersk is awaiting a final sign-off on a contract to help build a new port in Badagry in Nigeria’s southern Lagos State.” Jakobsen explained that the company was seeking to win contracts to build and upgrade ports in Nigeria and Kenya in order to expand its African operations. Currently, Maersk employs almost 10,000

people in over 40 African countries and generates about 10 per cent of its sales in and around the continent. Besides its shipping business, the company is involved in oil-and gas-related services. The company’s APM Terminals unit operates 10 ports in West Africa. Jakobsen noted that there was ongoing tender process for the port of Mombasa, where APM Terminals had shown interest in building two new berths in the

Kenyan. Also, he stressed that the company was working on a $1 billion expansion to Tema Port in Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA). He said that the project would include the construction of four new berths and would quadruple the port’s capacity. In 2013, Maersk partnered with Bollore SA and Bouygues SA to win a 450 million-euro ($500

million) contract to build a second container terminal in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial capital. The terminal should start operating next year as planned, Jakobsen said. According to Bloomberg, Jakobsen noted that the Maersk sales from Africa had been growing at between five and six per cent a year, tracking the continent’s economic growth. He said: “Shipments of agricultural products, textiles and clothing are rising as the continent diversifies its trade away from raw materials, while more electronic and consumer goods are being imported as household incomes rise. “Africa is moving up in the value chain. People can now probably afford things they couldn’t earlier on. Underlying sentiment is positive. You are still seeing quite healthy growth.”

FG intervenes in council, customs agents’ crisis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

bers attacked some CRFFN officials. It was revealed that the CRFFN Deputy Registrar, Enforcement, was taken hostage, but was rescued by the combine efforts of NAGAFF chairman and his team and the police. The Chairman, Seme chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Ekene Ajunwa, blamed the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) for the crisis that greeted the collection. However, the President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwora Shittu, explained that a committee made up of the former President of the association, Sir Ernest Elochukwu; the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto, and others had been set up to come up with a recommendation on the issue. He noted that the committee would report to NEC, which would take final decision on the matter. Also, the CRFFN Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe, said that the Council would issue a statement on the matter.

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

TRADE Chinese textiles dominate Nigerian fabric markets Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he World Bank has estimated that textiles smuggled into Nigeria through Benin is worth N440 billion ($2.2 billion) yearly. It said that the local Nige-

Textiles smuggling to Nigeria from Benin hits N440bn – World Bank rian production, had dropped to $40 million annually. The report noted that effective checks to keep out illegal imports would provide a major boon to local textile industries.” The report added that the

illegally imported Chinesemade fabrics imitating Nigeria’s signature prints was a big threat to the industry. The report explained that the illegal imports comprise 85 per cent of the market. The World Bank report

stressed that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, including textile and clothing firms, were facing several challenges in the areas of finance, rickety infrastructure and patchy energy supplies.

To boost formal financing, the report advised that SMEs must improve their book-keeping and corporate structures and banks need to hire more SME business experts to inform lending decisions.

‘Nigeria loses N100bn annually to foreign ship repair yards’ N

igeria is losing about $500 million yearly to foreign ship yards due to lack of functional ship repair yards in the country. Chairman of Starzs Investments Co. limited, Greg Ogbeifun, who spoke at the seventh Practical Maritime Dispute Resolution Seminar organised by Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, explained that 80 per cent of vessels operating in Nigerian waters leave the country to carry out their dry docking repairs in other countries. Ogbeifun lamented that there was no shipyard in Nigeria that could accommodate a 3,000 tons oil tanker. He noted that the few ship

repair yards in the country were characterised by obsolete facilities, poor maintenance, insufficient funds and inadequate capacities. Ogbeifun, the President of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), identified other factors militating against the development of ship repair industry in Nigeria. They include lack of adequate infrastructure -power, roads and a viable steel production industry. The chairman stressed: “Existing facilities are not big enough and clients are demanding for greater capabilities. But for this inadequacy, the sector ought to be making substantial contribution to the

country’s income; the loss to the industry is estimated at $500 million per annum.” He said that ship repair was an expensive operation, noting that most ship owners prefer to dry dock their vessels within the confines of the routes they operate. Ogbeifun explained: “Looking at the entire scenario with regards to the first pillar of the

Cabotage Law that says that all cabotage vessels must be built in Nigeria, the country has no shipbuilding industry.” According to a report by Transat, in the past, West Atlantic Shipyard (WAS) had attempted to build crew vessels using Complete Knock-Down (CKD), but poor infrastructure, lack of steel plants, lack of skilled labour and power

supply and unfavourable tax regimes meant that the construction of these vessels cost up to 40 per cent more than if they were built outside Nigeria. Ogbeifun said that in order to meet the requirements of the first pillar of Cabotage, government must develop policies that encourage ship building in Nigeria.

Chemical shipping fortunes lifted by swing ships G lobal shipping analyst, Drewry, has said that chemical shipping may face another tough year. The firm estimated that seaborne trade in chemicals, including vegetable oils and fats, had been stagnant in 2014 and is forecast to grow at less than 2.5 per cent per annum over the next few years. It was learnt that large numbers of ships continue to lose International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Certificates of Fitness to carry chemicals and related products. In the first four months of 2015 alone, Drewry recorded 60 tankers either losing or not renewing IMO Certificates of Fitness, compared to just 11 vessels that was moved from the feet through demolition, conversion and total loss. It stated: “However, this year, the fleet is expected to grow by as much as nine per cent to reach 101 million dead weight (dwt) by the end of 2015, placing at risk operator’s vessel utilisation and earnings. “But the relative strength of the product tanker sector is likely to attract more swing ships out of chemicals shipping, so checking effective fleet growth. Drewry’s Lead Analyst for Chemical, Mr. ShippingHu Qing, explained: “Given the strength of the product sector, we expect more ships to enter this segment than chemicals. So the growth in the fleet actually trading in chemicals and

related products is expected to be lower at just under seven per cent this year. This is below our earlier estimates and hence we are more optimistic about the short-term market prospects.” The firm estimated that less than 40 per cent of the total chemical capable shipping fleet was presently trading in chemicals and related products. It noted that the proportion was expected to remain below the threshold over the next few years. Qing added: “Only three years ago, over 46 per cent of the fleet was trading in chemicals, representing a notable decline. “The gap between tonnage carrying chemicals and tonnage carrying petroleum products is widening because of the number of larger ships entering the trades. The trend will continue over the next few years. Lookingthe firm noted that , other factors have the potential to curtail vessel supply growth, including shipyards failing to meet scheduled delivery dates and one particular case of bankruptcy. Qing said: “As such, slippage and outright cancellations through bankruptcy point to lower fleet growth than the headline numbers suggest,” observed Qing. “As a result, fleet growth is expected moderate over the medium term which bodes well for chemical shipping operators.”

L-R: Pro Chancellor, Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Prof. (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri; Delta State Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro; Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi and the Vice-Chancellor, NMU Prof. (Mrs.) Maureen Etebu, during a visit to the governor by the governing board of the university in Asaba recently.

NIMASA DG, 38 others get Uniport doctoral degree

he Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, and 38 others have been conferred with the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degrees by the University of Port Harcourt. The degrees were awarded at its 30th convocation ceremony held at the weekend. Akpobolokemi earned his doctorate degree in Strategic Marketing Initiatives and Business Performance of Nigerian maritime sub -sector from the Management Sciences Faculty of the university. In a statement by the agency’s Deputy Director, Mr. Isichie Osamgbi, Akpo-

bolokemi thanked the university for providing a conducive environment for him to continue his academic quest in order to strengthen his capacity to provide service to the maritime sector. He explained that his area of speciality provided him valuable insights as his research documented the best practices in strategic Marketing Performance Management (MPM) based on the survey results of various firms and institutions in the Maritime sector locally and globally. The convocation ceremony also witnessed the installation of the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar, who is a retired major general, as the Chancellor of the uni-

versity. The Visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), promised that education would receive the needed budgetary allocation under his administration. While describing the education sector as key to national development, President Buhari noted that the goal of his administration is to provide new facilities, rehabilitate and upgrade existing ones in order to ensure that learning, teaching and research facilities are constantly upgraded and updated to compete with other global institutions.

WEDNESday, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Zone 7, Abuja, Mr. Ede Ayuba and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transport, Oluseyi Coker, at a national summit to address the safety of haulage operators in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Doctors, Ebony Oketunmbi; Samson Bello and Olumide Adedeji, at the 4th Postgraduate Convocation ceremony at Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

L-R: (1st left back row), Relationship Officer, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Chinelo Opara; Head, Regulatory Affairs (Abuja and North), Mr. Orlando Umoren; Retail Cluster Head, FCT 2, Mrs. Omowunmi Ajisafe and others with pupils of Starville School, Gwarinpa, Abuja, during an excursion by the students to the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Headquarters in Abuja.

A corps member, Dr. Omanudhowho Kennedy, with some beneficiaries of the 55 wheelchairs he donated to the physically-challenged persons, at the inauguration of the second phase of his community health project held at Kuchingoro in Abuja. PHOTO: NAN

Clerk of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Jafar (left), swearing-in the newly elected Speaker, Alhaji Kauwa Damina, during the inauguration of the 8th Bauchi State House of Assembly.

PHOTO: NAN

Chairman/CEO, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Dr. Franklin Erepamo Osaisai (left), receiving some publications from the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, during a courtesy visit to the NOA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Prof. Lawrence Dim; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Taye Haruna and representative of the Director-General of NEMA, Dr. Zanna Mohammed, at the International Atomic Energy Agency Emergency Preparedness and Response Review service mission to Nigeria in Abuja.

L-R: Participant, Miss Julia Sule; Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Tope Ojo; Dr. Owa Dumebi; Dr. Okon Ime and Head of Business Unit, Tyonex Nigeria Limited, Julius Nwauku, at the NMA and Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) World Blood Donor Day in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

40 Politics

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Intrigues over Senate Presidency CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

of this hallowed chamber. To absent ourselves from an event that was well announced, well publicised that everybody was expected to attend with his spouse and well-wishers. That singular act also caused an unwarranted embarrassment for me and a lot of other members here, our families that felt embarrassed that I was absent from the inauguration of this National Assembly.” Responding, Senator Saraki, who presided over

the plenary said: “Let me rule on the motion, Distinguished Senator Marafa, you came under Orders 15 and 43 and I am sure you read both Rules and in reading them you noted that Orders 15 and 43 came out clearly stating categorically that you must have had a previous discussion with the President of the Senate before making your presentation, and I think, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, this did not happen. So based on that I have to rule you out of order.”

At this point, Senator Danjuma Goje (APCGombe) raised a constitutional point of order, citing Section 64(3), stressing that the provision stated that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is empowered to order for the proclamation of this Senate and that what happened on Tuesday June 9 was in compliance with that constitutional provision and not only that, the Clerk of the National Assembly received a letter written and signed

by Mr. President himself. “So, for anybody to say that this hallowed chamber should ignore that constitutional provision which is backed up by a letter from Mr. President, I think it is wrong for any person to say that we should disobey the constitution of the country and disobey Mr. President. I want to say that whoever decided to go for a meeting elsewhere is on his own.” Ruling on the point of order, Saraki welcomed Goje’s submission as correct saying, “you came

under the constitutional provision and which is in line with what is in the constitution, so the Order is sustained.” Again, Senator Barnabas Gemade (APCBenue) cited Order 15 on matter of privileges, stressing that his privileges were breached by his absence from the inauguration of the 8th Senate on Tuesday, saying “Mr. President I am rising on this Order and to speak further on the subject of the privileges of many Senators that

were breached yesterday and I like to point out a very silent point. “In the 7th Senate we fostered a very united Senate and the unity of Senate is very vital to the progress of government and unity of Senate does not arise only by intricacies of people’s desire to have their way by one way or the other without caring for what happens to another. Yesterday we were requested to be at a meeting by Mr. President who also gave the proclamation and why we as senators wanted to know what will happen with the proclamation Mr. President had offered, we were told that in no clear tunes that, the Clerk had been approached to give a reasonable delay to the proclamation. “It would not be good for the Senate as a whole body, it would not be good for the nation, so it beholds on you to note that due consideration must be given to all concerned. For this reason, I conclude that your ruling on this matter by the wave of the hand on the issue of privilege raised earlier was rather too brash and too casual and therefore, you must give reasonable reconsideration of that motion,” he explained. Also, Saraki ruled him out of Order saying, “thank you my highly respected Senator from Benue. As you all know, we all took an oath which some of us also took today to be guided by the constitution and by this Rule and that is why I will refer you again to Rule 53 sub-section 6 which I am sure it says it shall be out of Order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during a current section. I think what you have brought out has already gone to conclusion and we have debated on it. As much as it may be, we must be guided by the oath we have taken and about these rules that we have. So, unfortunately, I would have to rule you out of order.” Frustration and the threat Frustrated by the messy situation they found themselves, some members of the Senate Unity Forum, left the Chamber to brief the press, threatening to go to court to challenge the Saraki’s election. Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Like Minds Senators (LMS), Senator Dino Melaye, reacting to the claims by the Unity Forum that Buhari called them for a meeting, warned that Buhari is a responsible, transparent and honest Nigerian, whose name should not be dropped to achieve a negative purpose.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Cephas Iorhemen writes on the renaming of Benue Government House to Benue People’s House by Governor Samuel Ortom

From Govt House to ‘Benue People’s House’

ince Benue State was carved out of the then Benue-Plateau State in 1976, the state has so far been governed by 19 military and civilian administrations. All of these operated from the gigantic edifice christened “Government House”, which was before the coming of Governor Aper Aku, the State Assembly complex. It was Aku who converted the structure into what is today referred to as Government House where all military and civilian governments operated from. All these leaders did not change the name of the seat of government. But what is popularly known even by the local people in the villages as ‘Government House’ has now been changed by Governor Samuel Ortom to the ‘Benue People’s House’. The gigantic edifice was built in 1972 and occupied since 1983 during the Aku’s administration had not been renovated until the coming of the Gabriel Suswam’s administration which completely changed the face of the place by renovating it at the cost of N600 million. Political analysts have linked the change of name to the wind of change that blew across the political landscape of the country in the just-concluded general elections. The feeling in Benue State is that the gesture is a symbol of dedication of the mandate to the people who supported change at the polls, and should not be insulated from the seat of power, but be encouraged to come close to it. New Telegraph observed during the swearing-in of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff, the Head of Service, and Media Adviser by Ortom at the new banquet hall at the “People’s House” that thousands of youths gained free access to the place unhindered. The gates leading to the hall was almost damaged by the youth who wanted to gain access by all means. Governor Ortom had on his inauguration at the Ibrahim Babangida Square in Makurdi, the state capital, on May 29, 2015 said his decision to change the name ‘Government House’ to People’s House was to “eliminate the distance between the government and the people.” “We have resolved to strive to reform our politics such that power and privilege would no longer shut down the voice of the people. If we must run a government in which everybody is involved; a people’s government, we must put aside personal advantage so that we can feel the

Benue People’s House

Ortom

pains and see the promise of Benue. It is in this regard that I wish to drop my titles preferring to be addressed as Samuel Ortom. “We must give the seat of government back to the people to whom it belongs. To eliminate that distance between the government and the people, the seat

of government in Benue State will no longer be called “Government House”, but “Benue People’s House”. This, we believe will serve as a constant reminder that we hold our positions of authority in trust for the people and that, the people are more important than anything else in a democracy,” Ortom stated. Reacting to the development, the state chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Engr. Aondohemba Baba Agan, described the renaming of Government House to ‘Benue People’s House’ as a welcome development. Agan said Ortom was elected by the people of the state in a democratic style and they have demonstrated that they are ready to work with him. The CNPP helmsman, however, warned the government to restrict unwarranted entry into the place as it is a place where important decisions and policies of government are taken for the development of the state. “It is a welcome development for the governor to rename the place ‘Benue People’s House’ because it was the people that voted him and so if he wants to devise a

How APC outsmarted PDP, Ogor C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

sion because it will not be politically justifiable to have both Christians as presiding officers in the House, while the Senate had taken care of the religious balance. Dogara is a Christian while Lasun is a Muslim. Ogor was said to have argued that the Senate had a Christian-Christian ticket under Mark and Ekweremadu and nothing happened. But Dogara stood his grounds saying such an arrangement would create some problems for his leadership. It was at this point that Ogor stormed out of

the chambers and returned some minutes later. He was later calmed down by some PDP members including Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP, Abia), a frontline supporter of Dogara. A second nomination was subsequently called by the clerk and Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) nominated Hon. Mohammed Monguno. This nomination was not welcome by some members even from the Gbajabiamila camp because, Monguno hails from North-East as Speaker Dogara. The lawmakers were therefore sceptical of having both presiding officers from the

same geopolitical zone. It was therefore clear that the coup against Ogor and PDP was successful as some lawmakers that voted for Gbajabiamila also changed their allegiance to the Dogara camp to make Lasun, a Moslem from South-West deputy speaker in order to assuage the geopolitical zone, which had on two successive occasions (2011 and 2015) lost in its bid to produce the speaker of the House. It was indeed a painful loss to the PDP, having contributed immensely to the emergence of Dogara as speaker. But in politics, you Lasun win some and lose some.

way of bridging the gap between the government and the people, there is no problem about that,” said Agan. Also reacting, the Administrative Secretary of APC in the state, Mr. Mark Hanmation, applauded the idea. Hanmation said when the party was celebrating its victory at the polls, it described the victory as the people’s victory on the basis that it was the good people of the state that gave victory to the governor. “So, renaming the Government House as Benue People’s House is indeed a welcome development,” he said. Alluding to the ‘mad struggle’ by the youth to gain access to the place during scheduled functions, Hanmation stated that the leadership of the party would carry out proper consultations on how to check the ugly trend and tell the people on what is expected of them. The question however is: Does access to the seat of power grant the people access to the government? The people of Benue may attend functions at the Benue People’s House but that does not give them access to the government.

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tinubu and first supper Mohammed Adamu, a public affairs analyst, examines the travails of former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, in the supremacy battle in the All Progressives Congress (APC)

hen I wrote the piece: ‘Tribute to Tinubu: A Parody of Shakespeare’ a few friends and colleagues said I was uncharacteristically ‘patronising’. Some wondered if I too had not fallen for the Bola Tinubu ‘cult of the personality’; or as one of them put it ‘cult of the insatiable powerseeker’. And to quite a few of those friends and colleagues whose opinion about my professional integrity I do give a damn about, I did vouchsafe some cogent explanation: first I said that even as I was sure they knew me not to ‘advocate for the devil’, yet they should not forget that I was not one either not to ‘give the devil his due’. I should say, for the records, that I believed – and I still do – that Tinubu deserved that tribute which I paid to him; that I still think him worthy of all the sentiments contained therein and that I still feel proud that I wrote that piece. Tinubu has fathered a peaceful political revolution in Nigeria which has not only moved our democracy beyond a notch by its shattering of the myth of the invincibility of incumbency, but it has saved the nation from the malignance of a ruinous era of political impunity which was bent on balkanisng our country. But come to think of it, if you ask me whether I think Tinubu is ‘evil’ –politically, I should answer as much with the affirmative ‘Yes’ as with the negative ‘no’. For as ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’, logically-speaking I think, so should ‘ugliness’ be also ‘in the eyes of the beholder’. And so to a bitter Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose defeat the Asiwaju’s deft, adept and adroit politics had caused, Tinubu is most definitely ‘evil’; and thus in the subjective eyes of members of PDP Tinubu is uglier than the mythical Gorgon. But to the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose political fortunes Tinubu’s (even if) neoMachiavellic master-tactic has now raised from ‘nothing’ to ‘everything’, the Jagaban is most definitely no ‘evil’ but ‘good’. And thus in the objective eyes of sincere members of APC, Tinubu should be the personification of beauty itself –politically that is. Alas, as we see presently in the treacherous hustle and jostle for political positions, this is not so with the hawks and vultures in the APC who now masquerade as altruistic progressive change-agents of the Buhari government. To these neo-conservative opportunists, all of a sudden ‘Asiwaju’ ‘The Leader’ is now simply Tinubu ‘The meddlesome interloper’! He is as they now claim ‘unnecessari-

ly interfering with our democratic processes’ and must thus be cut to size. And on this you cannot but have a sense of the poignantly disgusting and the de ja vu: especially if you recall what the then Rhodesia’s oppressive head Colonist Ian Smith said to the anti-colonial world of the 70s about Zimbabweans: “These blacks are spoiling my democracy!” ‘my democracy indeed!’ Or maybe if you have some appreciable knowledge of the UPN’s Second Republic politics when the then ‘Adedibu’ of that era’s Ibadan politics, Adelabu Adegoke, after a resounding UPN victory achieved through the instrumentation of Adelabu’s political enfant terrible, was told plainly by Awo that since he had no western education, he could not be a Commissioner! Though academics is not the basis of this comparison, Adelabu’s reply aptly typifies, today, the mentality of those who have contributed next to nothing to the birth and ascendancy of APC, but whose hubris is now questioning the leadership of the man who almost singlehandedly formed, midwifed and nurtured it to power. Adelabu was said to have asked rhetorically in Yoruba: “adiye da lori iresi, sugbon ko da n kpalo?”, meaning: ‘so cooked chicken is good sitting atop a bowl of rice, but a live one is not good to grace the hallow of the parlour?’ They said that the Asiwaju wants to install surrogate leaders for the legislature so he can remote-control them. And I say: ‘assuming, without conceding, that this is true, to what end, if we may ask, would Tinubu want to remotecontrol the National Assembly?’ Is it to prevent it from passing good progressive bills that will give effect to the promise of ‘change’ by Buhari? Or is it to egg the NASS on to anti-Buhari tantrums so that the General’s government cannot effectively function? I really don’t get it! And I even wonder more: did they not invest Tinubu with all the sobriquets and appellations of a ‘Leader’? Did they not say that he was the courageous ‘Jagaban’; the one who led from the front? And did Tinubu not lead them from the front? Selflessly giving his time, his energy and his resources? Did he not put his life on the line of a hysterically dangerous incumbency desperately angling to keep power by hook or crook? Did they not say that Tinubu’s was a goaloriented and decisively go-getting ‘Leadership’? And need one also ask: did we not, to the occasional rousing applause of Nigerians, see them severally winning one political battle after another under the

Tinubu

Now that the political dinner table is set... they are telling us that although Tinubu is an excellent political cook, he is not as good in the culinary art of dishing

leadership of the Jagaban? From when Tinubu fought to win series of judicial victories to restore the political control of the South-West into the hands of the progressives; a feat which gave the earliest fillip to the initiative for the formation of a formidable coalition of opposition political parties? Did we not see the series of political mutations afterwards initiated and set in motion from the pre-natal stages, the singular efforts of one man to corral several ideological eggs into one political embryo, so as to give life to a new all-embracing political party around which both progressives and even repentant fascists could congregate to make practicable what was thought well-nigh impossible, namely enacting the parting of the political Red Sea to say to the behemoth PDP ‘let my people go!’ But maybe what we were seeing from aloof was different from what exactly was happening within! But I thought that we all saw Tinubu burning the political candle through nights and nights of vigils to disprove all the known theories of war which posit that more than one battle cannot be fought at a time; I thought we saw the Asiwaju take on both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and government in a proxy war with surrogate usurpers of the baptismal of the new political ideology, the A-P-C! -and which he won! We thought that we saw Tinubu walk the miles from the NorthWest to the North-East; from North Central to the South-East and from the South-West to the South-South to build strong bridges of geo-ethnic and geo-political consensus; planning and strategising to form alliances, to create leagues of political amity and to search out for men and women of weight and of mettle; political and

non-political actors with diverse gifts and varying competences, to man the many points of the opposition’s political rudder. These efforts were rewarded with successes in the creation of the first ever successful merger, the formation of the first ever people’s party, the conduct of one of the most transparent party primaries, the emergence of the most popular presidential candidate, the running of the most competitive presidential election campaigns, and the first ever defeat of incumbency by an opposition party in one of the most transparent presidential elections. But now that the political dinner table is set, surrounded, unfortunately, by opportunistic political vultures and hyenas, they are telling us that although Tinubu is an excellent political cook, he is not as good in the culinary art of dishing. That the party leader must stay away from the party’s First Political Supper! In fact, like Caesar they accused the Asiwaju of ambition. The same Tinubu who had publicly announced that Buhari had offered him a chance to be on the presidential ticket – an offer which he said he politely declined. Tinubu does not deserve this kind of treatment. The Asiwaju as the party leader and the party are the veritable taproots of Mr. President. If they who care about Mr. President’s success are left at the mercy of the party’s vultures and hyenas who only care about the spoils of politics, sooner or later the shrub of the Presidency and its blooming foliage will feel the wilt. It is both morally and politically expedient that Buhari steps in to restore rank discipline and to assure the Asiwaju and the party hierarchy that he has ‘got their back’; just like they, through thick and thin, had always had Mr. President’s back.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Congratulations!

His Excellency, Kashim Shettima, Executive Governor, Borno State

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

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, MON Chairman,

Slok Shipping

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tony Chukwunyem

BDC suspension: Naira falls at parallel market

he suspension of 437 Bureaux De Change (BDCs) from the interbank foreign exchange market by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week has contributed to the depreciation of Naira against the dollar at the parallel market, investigations by New Telegraph have revealed.

The Naira, which had been relatively stable in the parallel market in recent weeks hovering around N214/$, fell to N217/$ last Friday, as reports began to emerge of the BDCs suspension. By Monday, the local currency had declined further to N221/$ with dealers predicted that it would

FALLOUT

CBN suspended 437 operators last week

Tony Chukwunyem

terling Bank Plc has introduced a new account product“New SterlingPlus Account” into the market in continuation of its strategy of taking banking services closer to the people. According to the lender, the new product, which is targeted at the mass market, is an, “affordable hybrid offering with the promise of many goodies and freebies such as free Lenovo smart phones preloaded with cool financial and entertainment apps and cash rewards amongst others for its individual customers.” Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, yesterday, the bank’s Executive

decline to N225/$ by the end of the week. A BDC operator told the New Telegraph that the suspension of the BDCs led to a scarcity of dollars in the parallel market thus shooting up rates. He said, “The BDCs were suspended and also barred from the foreign

exchange market. This resulted in a scarcity of forex in the parallel market thus causing the naira to depreciate.” He disclosed that the CBN’s action took BDC operators by surprise, as they were not expecting it. According to him, the CBN’s hammer fell on 200 Lagos-based BDCs while

Sterling Bank launches hybrid account for mass market Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, explained that the choice of the rewards for customers was due to the increasing demand and use of mobile platforms in the Nigerian market. He said: “We are consistently looking for ways of bringing banking services to where the people are. There is increasing demand and use of mobile devices in the country, so the bank decided to introduce a product that will allow financial and entertainment apps to be contained in a hand held device.”

Also speaking at the event, the Head, Consumer Banking Unit, Mr. Gbenga Adegoke, said that the new product is available at all the bank’s branches through out the country. He explained that customers who use the new product will have the opportunity of enjoying the benefits of apps such as the Sterling Mobile Banking, solo music, which gives access to over 20 million songs from local and foreign artistes; solo movies which gives access to the latest movies both local and international and “The Billionaire Club”( a

financial and investment literacy tool pre installed in it). Other benefits included in the new account product are cash reward scheme that will see 20 people winning N50,000 each every week, 10 people winning N100,000 monthly, two people winning N500,000 quarterly and a lucky customer winning N1million on public holidays declared by the Federal Government. He also explained that customers can open the new product account with a minimum opening balance of N5,000.

Economic Indicators As at M2*

N19,142,526.05m

Mar, 2015

CPS*

N18,579,219.49m

Mar, 2015

INF

8.7

May, 2015

MPR

4/6/2015

US$64.03

5/6/2015

US$29,038,180,412

15/6/2015

Bonny Light Ext Res**

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM 1.17 1.86 4.04 6.62 8.74 15.10 19.09

Price 99.01 101.96 105.73 110.27 101.49 68.00 86.85

NIBOR

Rate (%) 14.2917 15.7796 16.8401 17.7776

Bid Yield 13.95 13.84 14.08 13.95 13.89 15.55 14.15

Change (%) 0.75 ▲ 0.48 ▲ 0.19 ▲ 0.11 ▲

Change (%) -0.01 ▼ 0.00↔ 0.06 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ 0.03 ↔

Price 99.16 102.11 106.03 110.57 101.79 68.30 87.15

Offer Yield 13.80 13.75 13.99 13.89 13.83 15.48 14.10

NITTY

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 11.0206 12.0315 12.3624 13.4662 13.7144 14.4880

Treasury Bills

Change (%) -0.01▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.06 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ 0.03 ↔ Change (%) 0.43 ▲ 0.12 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.84 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.34 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 11.31 11.62 0.08▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 13.83 10-Sep-15 11.56 11.88 0.08▲ 11.92 12.68 0.44 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 14.58 17-Dec-15 12.17 12.96 0.44 ▲ Bid Offer Spot ($/N) 197.23 197.33 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Change (%) -0.48 ▼

MasterCard, lender partner on payments’ adoption

an-African banking group, Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) has signed a multicountry agreement with global payments technology company,MasterCard to bring MasterCard’s payment solutions to more than 32 sub-Saharan African markets. It is a move that is expected to increase the acceptance and adoption of electronic payments in Africa. The deal according to a statement, is a culmination of the multi-country licensing agreement signed by MasterCard and Ecobank in January 2014, and it will result in Ecobank issuing MasterCard debit, prepaid, and credit cards to millions of its customers over the next 10 years. The lender will also roll out innovative MasterCard acceptance solutions designed to expand the number of merchant locations that accept MasterCard payment cards on

the continent. Commenting on the deal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank, Albert Essien, said, “This collaboration with MasterCard will enable us to achieve our vision of contributing to the economic and financial integration and development of the African continent by rolling out convenient, accessible and reliable financial products and services to our customers. Specifically, the initiative enables us to extend our MasterCard acquiring capabilities at thousands of merchants across Africa, grow our e-commerce acquiring business, and expand our service offerings to retail and commercial customers in Africa.” Also, President, Middle East and Africa at MasterCard, Michael Miebach, stated, “Bringing the benefits of electronic payments to markets across Africa and creating a world beyond cash is a primary focus for MasterCard.

ACCA inks 90 partnership deals on capacity building

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

237 operators in other parts of the country were affected by it. Citing non-rendition of their monthly returns, the apex bank had last week suspended 437 BDC operators from accessing its weekly dollars sales from the foreign exchange market, thereby denying

them access to the $30,000 weekly allocations that they used to get from the regulator. It also slammed a N2 million fine on each of the affected BDCs. They were said to have defaulted in providing detailed reports on how previous dollars sourced from the CBN were utilised. The CBN has consistently urged banks, BDCs and Other Financial Institutions (OFIS) on the importance of rendition of returns and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 198.9000

Offer 199.0000

Change (%) 1.88▲ 2.08▲ Change (%) 0.00 ↔ Source: FMDQ

Kunle Azeez

he Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants, said it has entered into 90 accountancy partnerships in Nigeria and around the world as part of its plan to build capacity for different economies. The Executive Director, Markets, ACCA, Mr. Stephen Heathcote, disclosed this during the presentation of the Approved Employer Certificate to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of United Nations in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure in Abuja. Heathcote explained ACCA is committed to the economic development of nations, stressing that the body has an

illustrious history of working with the UN to achieve the broad objective. According to him, “With more than one million professional accountants working in positions of strategic or functional leadership for businesses and governments worldwide, accountants and their professional bodies have a central role in protecting the public interest and delivering public value. “Also, public value is at the heart of this joint working with the UN. For ACCA, public value means acting in the public interest, promoting ethical business and helping grow economies. That is what the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and its agencies are doing here in Nigeria.”

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

16-Jun-15

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

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

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

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

1.17 1.86 2.11 2.21 2.95 4.04 4.35 4.66 6.62 8.74 13.45 13.93 14.43 15.10 19.09

13.95 13.84 13.89 13.90 13.99 14.08 14.11 14.09 13.95 13.89 16.90 17.37 17.91 15.55 14.15

13.80 13.75 13.80 13.81 13.93 13.99 14.00 14.00 13.89 13.83 16.83 17.30 17.81 15.48 14.10

99.01 101.96 92.79 91.56 92.23 105.73 77.43 104.79 110.27 101.49 90.01 74.64 51.86 68.00 86.85

99.16 102.11 92.94 91.71 92.38 106.03 77.73 105.09 110.57 101.79 90.31 74.94 52.16 68.30 87.15

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,404.98

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.80 1.48 1.84 2.06

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85

15.68 14.92 16.56 16.73

101.17 101.38 102.45 98.74

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

301.10

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.21

4.44

16.52

99.09

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.29

3.23

15.49

99.24

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.54

4.46

17.47

98.31

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.56

3.48

16.53

99.46

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.84

1.00

14.89

92.33

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.11

1.00

14.77

99.01

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.54

1.79

15.73

96.47

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.92

1.80

15.68

97.32

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.94

1.00

14.88

98.53

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.12

1.00

14.89

99.32

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.12

4.78

18.67

92.37

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.11

1.00

14.89

100.97

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

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

2.54 4.44 2.61

2.02 1.00 1.00

15.96 15.10 14.95

99.01 98.07 99.59

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.05

1.82

15.83

97.55

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.45

1.00

15.02

94.44

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.54

1.00

15.02

99.92

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.20

1.00

15.02

98.75

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.23

1.00

15.03

99.91

99.47

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

448.65 434.47

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.17

1.00

13.04

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.48

1.00

13.89

99.14

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.31

2.63

14.96

99.75

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.29

1.00

14.84

97.86

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.36

1.34

15.21

98.81

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.29

1.00

14.91

96.35

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.52

1.88

15.81

103.57

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.57

3.84

17.76

97.70

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.73

1.00

14.90

104.34 101.50

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.73

1.00

14.90

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.29

3.00

17.04

92.52

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.84

2.29

16.18

99.27

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.92

6.11

19.99

97.08

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.54

2.16

16.10

99.72

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.41

2.76

16.79

94.63

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.43

1.80

15.75

94.05

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.54

2.63

16.57

99.51

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.29

1.00

15.11

105.74

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.29

1.00

15.11

90.83

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

178.07

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

171.00

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.66

1.00

14.96

89.85

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

15.08

83.97

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.66

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.05

5.83

103.30

104.33

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.07

4.71

100.15

101.16

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.28

6.12

100.57

101.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,520.07

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.35

4.26

101.00

102.88

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.51

99.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.08

9.61

89.83

93.22

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.51

7.07

95.56

96.82

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.94

97.70

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.11

9.62

95.66

97.20

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

9.01 10.31 9.73

9.01 10.21 9.73

96.35 95.59 91.50

96.35 96.05 91.50

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.26

9.77

92.51

94.64

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,499.23

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 9 16 23 30 37 44 51 58

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

Bid Discount (%) 13.25 13.19 10.95 11.54 11.16 11.97 12.00 12.04

Offer Discount (%) 13.00 12.94 10.70 11.29 10.91 11.72 11.75 11.79

Bid Yield (%) 13.29 13.26 11.02 11.65 11.28 12.14 12.20 12.27

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 14.2917 15.7796 16.8401 17.7776

Rate (%)

OBB

13.83

O/N

14.58

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 14.00 15.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.23 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.33 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

10.00 12.1493

591.57 299.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,404.98

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

15.10 19.09

15.55 14.15

15.48 14.10

68.00 86.85

68.30 87.15

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

2.27

15.68

101.17

2.67 2.85

16.56 16.73

102.45 98.74

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.80 1.48 1.84 2.06

Agency Bonds FMBN

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

Business | Financial Market News

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

NEGATIVE Sub-National Bonds

Investors step up A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto profit ‡ /Agusto taking A/Agusto

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO

Stock market down by N40bn 301.10

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.21

4.44

16.52

99.09

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.29

3.23

15.49

99.24

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.54

4.46

17.47

98.31

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.56

3.48

16.53

99.46

19-Apr-10 as lieve speculators made 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 at N11.470 trillion 30-Jun-10 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA a retreat to 13.75 take advan- against N11.510 trillion. 30-Dec-10 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 ‡ /Agusto EDO rally Meanwhile, a 30-Sep-11 turn14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA tage of the bullish 04-Oct-11 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER recorded some days ago over of 240.6 billion Stories by Chris Ugwu 09-Dec-11 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 to take profits. shares worth N6.6 billion 12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Consequently, the Allctivities of in 3,957 deals was record14-Feb-12 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 shares of blue Share Index14.50 shed 116.78 ed in the day’s trading. Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 chip compaThe banking services basis points or 0.34 per 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agustonies yesterday *OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 sector of the financial cent to close14.75 at OSUN 33,602.67 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 slowed momentumKOGI- index points, the as against services sector was 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 leading 33,719.45 recorded the most active (measured 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto to a loss of N40 *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 while by turnover volume) billion after investors*NASARAWA re- previous day, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE corded significant gains market capitalisation with 142.8 million shares MARKET CAPITALISATION forTOTAL three consecutive of equities depreciated worth N2.4 billion exCorporate Bonds by N40 billion or 0.34 changed by investors in days. UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC per cent to 10.00 close lower 1,352 deals. Market watchers be12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

10.00 57.00 Volume in the sub-sec13.75 25.73 tor was largely driven by 14.00 25.00 activities in the 30.81 shares 14.00 14.00Plc and UBA 9.00 Plc. of GTB 14.50 12.40 Also, other finan14.00 9.21 cial services sub-sector, 15.50 27.00 15.50 by activities 15.09 boosted in 14.50 80.00 the shares of FCMB 14.75 24.74 Plc, 14.75 with a turnover 10.78 followed 13.50 87.50 of 27.3 million shares 15.00 5.00 valued at N112.09 million 14.50 4.55 4.56 in 59415.00 deals. 448.65 Further analysis of the day’s trading 434.47 showed that Ikeja Hotels Plc 10.00 2.50 topped the day’s gainers’ 12.00 9.38

LAGOS

A BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

Union Bank lists priorities for 2015

1.00 JUNE 17, 2015 14.92 NEW TELEGRAPH 101.38 WEDNESDAY,

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc end ofMPR+5.25 the year. TOWER 9-SEP-2018 *TOWER at its GenAddressing shareholders at 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 A+/Agusto; A/GCR46th Annual UBA 15.75 LAthe CASERA 18-OCT-2018 of the BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA eral Meeting (AGM) held the AGM, Chairman MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS in Nil Abuja yesterday highlighted Board of Directors, Senator 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 *DANA theA+/Agusto; lender’s priorities for 2015. Udoma Udo Udoma, highlight15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A-/GCR NAHCO 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 BBB/GCR FCMBDirecThe Group Managing ed significant achievements of 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR UBA tor,A/GCR Mr. Emeka Emuwa, while the bank in 2014, which includ182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 STANBIC IBTC 13.25 STANBIC IB addressing shareholders atIBTC the ed embedding a30-SEP-2024 new business A/GCR STANBIC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE meeting, listed the urgencies to model focused on retail, comTOTAL proactive MARKET CAPITALISATION include risk manage- mercial and corporate banking, ment; driving low cost depos- strengthening organisation’s Supranational Bond itsAAA/S&P by leveraging new IFC business capabilities through a culture 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P cost AfDB model; effective manage- enhancement programme and TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEcapital up-skilling of employees. Also ment and proactive TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION management to ensure regula- included is the establishment tory compliance and effective of a central processing center. Description Rating/Agency Issuer utilisation of capital. Udoma said: “These achieveFGN line Eurobonds In with its efforts to ments have positioned us on build a simpler, smarter bank, the right trajectory to2021 ensure 6.75 JAN 28, BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P theBB-/Fitch; management and direcsustained revenue and profit FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P tors of the bank also launched growth, which will ultimately BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 and a new smarter banking center grow shareholder value, BB-/S&P at TOTAL the Silverbird in thus adequately position UBN OUTSTANDING Galleria VALUE to regain its position as one of Abuja. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The smarter banking cen- the leading banks in Nigeria.” Corporate Eurobonds terB+/Fitch; is designed for technology Emuwa, while reviewing 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I performance, savvy customers who want the bank’s 20147.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC quick, banking. experienced 28 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch;easy, B/S&P on-the-go FIDELITY BANK PLC said: “The bank6.88 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK The bank is expected to rollPLC out per cent growth6.00inNOVnet operat6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P BANK PLC three more centres inZENITH Lagos in ing income from N60.9 billion 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC June and more than 10 others in 2013 to N77.9 billion, while 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC USD LIBOR+7.677 34 JUN 24, 2021 around the country before thePLC IIthe group9.25/6M experienced per B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK #

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

31-Dec-20

3.20

1.00

15.02

98.75

06-Jan-21

3.23

1.00

15.03

99.91

17-Aug-15

1.00 13.04 99.47 s part of0.17 activities African children. 0.48 1.00 13.89 99.14 Addressing school 06-Jan-16marking 0.31 the Day 2.63 14.96 99.75 29-Sep-16of African 1.29 1.00 14.84 on the 97.86 children floor of Child, 25-Oct-16 1.34 15.21 98.81 the Nigerian 1.36 Stock Exthe Exchange, Head, Ac30-Sep-17 2.29 1.00 14.91 96.35 change (NSE) yesterday tion 2015 campaign 30-Nov-17 1.52 1.88 15.81 103.57 coali09-Apr-18 1.57 3.84 17.76Ojugo Onyeluka97.70 partnered Action 2015 tion, Mr. 09-Sep-18 1.73 1.00 14.90 104.34 Campaign Coalition to chukwu, said Action2015 09-Sep-18 1.73 1.00 14.90 101.50 enlighten and is a worldwide coalition 30-Sep-18 3.29 mentor 3.00 17.04 92.52 18-Oct-18 children 1.84on finan2.29 16.18 99.27 united by the idea that school 17-Feb-19 1.92 6.11 19.99 97.08 2015 presents a real opcial literacy and dangers 01-Apr-19 2.54 2.16 16.10 99.72 of14-Nov-20 early marriages. portunity to change the 5.41 2.76 16.79 94.63 20-Nov-21 1.80 15.75 94.05 Action 20156.43 Campaign future. 30-Dec-21 6.54 2.63 16.57 99.51 Onyelukachukwu said Group is a coalition of 30-Sep-24 9.29 1.00 15.11 105.74 over 1600 organisations the initiative was 30-Sep-24 9.29 1.00 15.11 90.83in recaround the world who ognition of the strategic are committed to fight- role of qualitative educaing for a better future by tion in stimulating sociomaximising pressure on economic of 11-Feb-18 2.66 1.00 14.96 development 89.85 01-Feb-21leaders4.75 1.00 15.08 83.97 world to ensure society . that 2015 truly is a year The enlightenment of action and change. touched on topics like importance of education for International DayOfferofYield (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price the African Child takes African child, how to start & Yieldsbenefits of saving, saving, place on June 16, 2015.Prices The Day of the knowledge and104.33 planning 28-Jan-21 6.05 African 5.83 103.30 Child has been celebrat- skills. It is believed that the 12-Jul-18 5.07 4.71 100.15 101.16 ed every year since 1991, training would go a long 12-Jul-23 6.28initiated 6.12 100.57 101.60 when it was first way in preparing the stuby the Organisation of Af- dents for life after school. rican Unity (now African “We see ourselves as Union). a catalyst for progressive It honours 6.35 those who change. Everything we 19-May-16 4.26 101.00 102.88 do as 99.50 an organisation is participated in7.51 the Soweto 25-Jul-17 7.51 99.50 uprising in 1976 tailored making 02-May-18 11.08 on that 9.61 89.83towards 93.22 08-Nov-18 7.51 7.07 95.56 from where 96.82 day . It also raises awareyou move you 22-Apr-19 6.94 6.94 97.70 ness of the continuing are to97.70 the next level. This 21-May-19 10.11 9.62 95.66 97.20 is evident in our need for improvement of9.01 mission 07-Aug-20 9.01 96.35 96.35 line,” he96.05 said. the education provided to 24-Jun-21 10.31 10.21 pay-off 95.59 09-Dec-15

23-Jul-21

9.73

91.50

14-Aug-21

10.26

9.77

92.51

94.64

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

92.33 Union On14.89 the flip side, 14.77 99.01 Homes Plc led the losers 15.73 96.47 with 15.68 a drop of97.32 9.69 per 14.88 cent to close at 98.53 N5.78 per 99.32 share14.89 while Okomu Oil 18.67 92.37 Plc shed cent to 14.89 4.86 per 100.97 99.01 share. close 15.96 at N31.55 per 15.10 98.07 Wema Bank Plc trailed 14.95 99.59 15.83 per cent 97.55 with 4.81 to close 15.02 94.44 at 99 kobo per share. 15.02 99.92

Financial literacy: NSE partners Action 2015 Coalition

2.54 cent growth from N63.9 billion 0.70 09-Sep-11 16.00 in 2013 to N85.7 billion 30-Sep-11 14.00 in 2014 35.00 18-Oct-13 15.75 events.” 2.10 largely due to one-time 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.36 He 01-Apr-14 noted that the lender 4.50 16.00 grew 14-Nov-13 profit before 15.25 tax by N16 2.05 20-Nov-14 billion, closing the14.25 year with 26.00 30-Dec-14 16.45 30.50 N20.7 30-Sep-14 billion, up from N4.2 bil- 0.10 16.29 lion in 2013, while13.25 the group 15.44 30-Sep-14 closed at N27.7 billion, up from 178.07 171.00 N3.8 billion in 2013. He said: “While one-off gains 11-Feb-13 of N6.3 billion from sale 12.00 10.20 10-Jul-14 11.25 signifi- 12.95 of subsidiaries added cant boost to profits, we were 24.95 able to grow profitability from 21.66 our core operations combined Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) with our effective cost man- ($mm) agement initiatives, which stabilised 07-Oct-11our costs, 6.75and kept 500.00 expenses flat year-on-year. 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 “This led to a cost-to-income 12-Jul-13 6.38 ratio improvement from 74 per 500.00 cent in 2013 to 68 per cent in 20141,500.00 for the Bank, and from 75 per1,520.07 cent to 63 per cent for the group (net of restructuring costs).” 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 Emuwa noted further that 350.00 25-Jul-12 7.25 the bank’s sheet re- 300.00 09-May-13 balance 6.88 6.00 mains08-Nov-13 strong with total assets 400.00 6.25 of the22-Apr-14 bank and group closing 500.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 the year at N920.9 billion and N1, 300.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 009 billion respectively 24-Jun-14 9.25. 400.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

19-Apr-17 1.00 table with 6.671.84 per cent to 30-Jun-17 1.11 1.00 close at N4.00 per share, 31-Dec-17 2.54 1.79 while Insur30-Sep-18 Mansard 1.92 1.80 04-Oct-18 1.94 1.00 ance Plc followed with 09-Dec-18 1.00 4.95 per cent 2.12 to close at 12-Dec-18 2.12 4.78 N2.97 per share. Fidson 14-Feb-19 2.11 1.00 02-Oct-19 2.54 2.02 Healthcare Plc with 1.00 a 22-Nov-19 4.44 gain of 4.942.61per cent 12-Dec-19 1.00 10-Oct-20 to close 3.05 at N3.40 1.82 trailed 27-Nov-20 5.45 1.00 per share. 31-Dec-20 5.54 1.00

16-Jun-15

3,499.23

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ Money Market professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount Bid Yield (%) Tenor (%)of the Information. the accuracy,DTM timeliness, completeness,Maturity 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 theRate basis NIBOR

9 16 23 FGN Bonds 30 37 44 Rating/Agency 51 58 72 79 86 100 107 121 135 149 NA 163 170 177 184 205 212 219 226 233 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 240 247 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 254 261 275

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

Rating/Agency 282

Issuer 24-Mar-16

296

7-Apr-16

310 Agency Bonds 324

13.25 13.19 10.95 11.54 11.16 11.97 Description 12.00 12.04 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.71 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 11.90 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.56 11.91 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.87 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.67 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.61 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.54 15.54 13-FEB-2020 13.66 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.17 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.69 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.17 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.44 13.58 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.41 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.55 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.41 13.52 13.47 13.56 13.41 13.11 13.16

13.00 12.94 10.70 11.29 10.91 11.72 Issue Date 11.75 11.79 16-Aug-13 11.46 27-Apr-12 11.65 27-Jul-07 11.31 11.66 31-Aug-07 12.62 30-May-08 13.42 29-Jun-12 13.36 23-Oct-09 13.29 13-Feb-15 13.41 27-Jan-12 11.92 14-Mar-14 13.44 28-Nov-08 11.92 22-May-09 12.19 13.33 20-Nov-09 13.16 23-Jul-10 13.30 18-Jul-14 13.16 13.27 13.22 13.31 13.16

Description

12.86 12.88

21-Apr-16

13.12

12.87

5-May-16

17.25 FMB12.45 II 03-APR-2017

12.20

FMBN

352 2-Jun-16 0.00/16.0012.42 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

***LCRM

Bonds

14.55

Issue 14.64Date

12.91

13.13

13.29 13.26 11.02 11.65 11.28 12.14 Coupon (%) 12.20 12.27 13.05 11.99 15.10 12.21 9.85 11.88 12.31 9.35 13.37 10.70 14.31 16.00 14.33 7.00 14.33 15.54 14.55 16.39 12.90 14.20 14.67 15.00 12.96 12.49 13.37 14.74 8.50 14.58 10.00 14.78 12.1493 14.67 14.83 14.82 14.97 14.83

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

(N'bn)

Value

4,746.32

13.99

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

<3 3<5 >5 Market

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 1,433.21 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA1,243.27 30-JUN-2017

662.37 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 3,338.84 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

UBA: United Bank for Africa

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.80 1.48 1.84 2.06

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85

15.68 14.92 16.56 16.73

101.17 101.38 102.45 98.74

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

31-Aug-10

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

92.79 92.94 91.56 91.71 92.23 92.38 NA :Not 105.73 Applicable 106.03 ^ : Market Prices 77.43 77.73 # : Floating Rate Bond 104.79 105.09 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 110.27 110.57 101.79 ‡ : Bond101.49 rating under review 90.01 expired 90.31 †: Bond rating 74.94 N/A :Not 74.64 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 52.16 51.86 68.00 68.30 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 86.85 87.15

Maturity Date

301.10

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

2.11 13.89 13.80 2.21 13.90 13.81 2.95 13.99 13.93 :Benchmarks 4.04 14.08 13.99 * :Amortising 4.35Bond 14.11 14.00 µ :Convertible Bond 4.66 14.09 14.00 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 6.62 13.95 13.89 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 8.74 Mortgage Bank13.89 13.83 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 13.45 Finance Corporation 16.90 16.83 IFC: International 13.93 17.37 Management 17.30 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.43 Aviation Handling 17.91 Company 17.81 O/N: Overnight 15.10 15.55 15.48 UPDC: UAC Property Development 19.09 14.15Company 14.10

NOTE:

Offer ($/N)

197.23 197.33 Price 201.93 201.81 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 Bid Price Offer Price 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21 99.01 99.16 206.28 213.47 101.96 102.11 220.29 226.27

14.77

03-Apr-12 14.11 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

12.17

Sub-National Bonds Modified Duration Buckets

Rate (%) 14.00 15.00 13.95 16.00 13.84 17.00

Bid Yield (%)

Bid ($/N)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

297.52

*EBONYI

TTM (Yrs)

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1M Yield 2M (%) 3M 13.80 6M 13.75 1Y

Coupon (%)

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A-/Agusto

Tenor Call 1M 1.17 3M 1.86 6M

14.58

REPO

Tenor

4,404.98

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

KADUNA

13.83

O/N

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 476.80 NITTY 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 11.0206 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 12.0315 300.00 30-May-18 3M 12.3624 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 13.4662 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 13.7144 193.73 13-Feb-20 12M 14.4880 600.00 27-Jan-22 573.14 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 591.57 198.9000 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 199.0000 299.50 18-Jul-34

14.69

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

A/Agusto

OBB

Rate (%) 14.2917 15.7796 16.8401 17.7776

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

1,409.48 1,173.14 891.07 3,473.69

30-Sep-10 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 40.58 19-Apr-10

33.77 30-Jun-10 25.65 30-Dec-10

100.00 30-Sep-11

12.50

13.00 Weighting by Mkt Value 14.00 15.50

10.00 42.93

13.75 37.24 14.00 19.84

100.00 14.00

8.50

31-Aug-15

2.16

30-Sep-15 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 30-Jun-16

Bucket Weighting

3.90 5.73

57.00 0.41 25.73 0.34 25.00 0.26 30.81 1.00

0.21 0.29

Implied Yield

0.54

30-Jun-16 18.18 19-Apr-17

0.56 13.97 1.84

100.00 30-Sep-18

14.38 1.92

39.59 30-Jun-17 42.23 31-Dec-17

13.92 1.11 14.98 2.54

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.94

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.12

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.12

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.11

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

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

2.54 4.44 2.61

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.05

4.44 3.23 Implied Portfolio Price 4.46 3.48 106.0550 1.00 111.0685 1.00 78.7162 1.79 100.7353 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 2.02 1.00 1.00 1.82

16.52

99.09

15.49

99.24 YTD Return (%) 98.31

INDEX

17.47 16.53 1,188.23 14.89 1,108.25 14.77 1,106.36 15.73 1,138.30 15.68 14.88 14.89 18.67 14.89 15.96 15.10 14.95 15.83

99.46 7.2560 92.33 9.4493 99.01

9.8655 96.47 7.8770 97.32 98.53 99.32 92.37 100.97 99.01 98.07 99.59 97.55

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, june 17, 2015

News 47

south - east

Ebonyi suspends medical director, stops salaries Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Government yesterday announced the suspension of the medical director in charge of Odomoke General Hospital, Dr. Hycinth Ebenyi in the Ebonyi local government area of the state over poor performance. The Head of service Dr. Chamberlin Nwele, who announced the suspension of Ebenyi during an inspection tour of the hospital, said the medical director was suspended for the inability to perform his official duty. Nwele, who noted that the suspension will serve as a deterrent to other doctors who were not serious with their jobs, also ordered Ebenyi's salary to be stopped. He expressed dismay that no patient was found in the hospital and that the management failed to generate funds for the state and urged doctors in the government hospitals to sit-up or lose their jobs. He said ‘’the management of Odomoke General Hospital only generated N4, 800 in the month of May. The worst is that no single patient was seen there while the doctor in charge of the hospital was absent’’, he said. Nwele maintained that government seriously frowned at negligence of duties and absenteeism by workers and called for a change of attitude by the workers.

L-R: President, World Bank Children Forum, Miss Peace Chiejine; President, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa, Mr. Joseph Yaba and Chief Executive Officer, Connected Development, Mr. Hamzat Lawal, at the Day of the African Child celebration in Abuja …yesterday.

Ebonyi Assembly indicts three LGAs over mismanagement Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he Ebonyi State House of Assembly, yesterday indicted three local government caretaker committee Chairmen appointed by the former Governor Martin Elechi's administration over misappropriation of funds allocated to them. Chairmen of three local government areas: Afikpo South,Ezza South and Ohaozara, had re-

fused to appear before the committee set up to investigate their finances under the immediate past regime. Chairman of the Committee and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Odefa obasi Odefa, representing Onicha East constituency, said funds for councils were paid into private accounts. He further briefed the House that investigation revealed that between the month of January and April this year, the

sum of N14m were withdrawn according to the report which alleged that some of the funds were spent on court cases which they could not defend as revealed by their findings. He added that a warrant of arrest be issued for the arrest of the three local government caretaker chairmen who have failed to appear to defend themselves. The House was later adjourned to enable the committees continue their oversight functions.

Otti urges N’Assembly to put Avoid Theodore Orji’s pitfalls, ex-speaker tells Ikpeazu leadership tussle behind Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 gubernatorial poll in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has advised members of the National Assembly to put the issue of the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara, as Speaker of the House of Representatives behind them and forge ahead with salient issues for the good of the country. Otti gave the advice in a statement in Umuahia, saying that whatever misgivings anybody may have against the development should be assuaged by the fact that they were both intelligent, experienced and visionary leaders who have graduated

to the pinnacle of the nation’s political leadership. He expressed confidence in the ability of the two leaders to steer the ship of the National Assembly to a successful tenure, even as he expressed hope that they would deploy their wealth of experience and maturity garnered over the years to deepen democracy in Nigeria He specifically extolled the virtues of the senate president, who he described as a chip of the old block, having successfully and progressively sustained the legacy of his legendry politician-father, Alhaji Olusola Saraki. The former bank boss commended the maturity exhibited by the law makers during the election, and appealed to them to sink their differences and work together for the common good of the people.

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he former member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Sir Stanley Ohajuruka, has advised Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, to avoid the pitfalls of former governor, Theodore Orji, which he blamed on being in bondage for years, saying that Abia people would not take any excuse for non-performance this time. Speaking to select journalists yesterday in his country home in Afara, Umuahia, Ohajuruka who was also the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, said the people were yearning for sustainable development,

not the fire brigade approach of awarding a few road contracts without a budgetary backing and due process. “My advice to the governor is to be his own man and take responsibility for his actions because, at the end of the day, it’s him that will be held responsible, Abians will not want to hear liberation again, every appointment he makes is his own. “T A Orji claimed after four years that he did not perform because he was in bondage, he (Ikpeazu) should weigh every decision he takes, even if someone made him governor, he should now assert himself and not pander to the whims of an individual. From day one, he should extricate himself from bondage,” he said.

Be patient with Buhari, APC chief tells Nigerians Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Comrade Chinedu Ogah has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari over appointment of key officials into his cabinet. He said rather than blame the president for not making the appointments, Nigerians should support him through ideas that will contribute to the development of the nation. He stated this in Abakaliki, in a chat with New Telegraph. He noted that Nigerians are always in a

hurry in anything they do, adding that the president should not listen to them by rushing to make the appointment to avoid making mistake. "Appointing people into key positions of authority is not the issue. Buhari should be allowed to carefully select people of honour and intergrity; people that can help him pilot the affairs of this country. "If he fails on the expectations from the people, the same people condemning him for being too slow will blame him. So, he should carefully select those that can assist him to succeed, he should not rush the appointments’’, he said.

Ugwuanyi orders seized vehicles released by Enugu Transport company

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has ordered the General Manager of Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO), Mr. Okey Mba, to release all confiscated vehicles belonging to contractors who are owners of vehicle operating under the company. The directive was sequel to a protest lodged by drivers attached to the state owned transport company over alleged ill- treatment by the management of the company. Apart from ordering the release of their vehicles confiscated, the governor urged both parties to meet within two weeks with a view to resolving their differences. In a related development, Governor Ugwuanyi also yesterday intervened in the dispute between the management of San Carlos Pineapple

Farm in Amoli, Awgu council area and a cluster adjoining host communities in the area over the expected corporate social responsibility of the company to the people of the area. He told the Chairman of Awgu local government council, Mr. Mathanus Nnanna Nze, to continue with the effective interface with the leaders of the aggrieved communities, pending the time all the stakeholders would meet at a round table to agree on a lasting solution. On the seizure of vehicles, Ugwuanyi, had received a delegation of the ENTRACO Drivers’ Association, led by Mr. Angus Amujiri, on a peaceful protest to the Government House, over alleged “illegal fees” being levied on them by the management of the company.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Navy destroys 500 tonnes of stolen crude Joe Obende Warri

he Nigerian Navy yesterday said it has destroyed over 500 tonnes of substances suspected to be stolen crude oil in the creeks of Warri, Delta State. Report said yesterday’s exercise is in continuation of the navy’s anti-oil theft operation in Otegele community, Warri South-West

Council Area of the state. The report also said there were other products, which could not be immediately identified, that were destroyed by officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta from Warri, Delta State. The operation, which covered some seven illegal oil refineries, stretched across three kilometres of swampland, also saw the destruction of some equipment used by oil thieves in

their operations, including huge tanks, length of pipes and hoses, generators, food stuffs and improvised shelters. Addressing newsmen at the base of the NNS Delta after the operation, Commander of the base, Commodore Aliyu Sule, said the oil thieves were becoming innovative in the evil act, but assured the people that his command would match them up as his team had also

upped its game to beat the hoodlums to their game. Sule, who attributed the persistence of the crime to both lack of jobs for youths of the area as well as the prevalence of the wrong notion by some individuals that they had the right to tamper with pipelines passing through their communities ‘to take their share’ of products. “In continuation of the drive to stamp out crude oil theft, we carried out

the destruction of some illegal refineries in Otegele in Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State and about seven of such were destroyed. “What we destroyed is estimated to be about 500 metric tonnes of substances suspected to be either crude oil or cooked products with seven illegal refineries destroyed. “This is just to send a warning signal, because since I assumed office

people had thought there was a lull in the operations, but there won’t be any vacuum, we just have to be sure of our sources before we go out to carry out any operation. “The number one problem why this menace has persisted is lack of employment; there are a lot of youths going around without jobs, some of them skillful, they have gone to school, but can’t find jobs. We also have a group of people who believe it is their right to go about tampering with pipelines that traverse their communities.”

‘Saraki, Dogara’s emergence’ll entrench democracy’ Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (left), with Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Clay Neff, during a courtesy call on the governor by the management of the company…yesterday.

Okowa asks Chevron to key Kidnapping: IGP reads riot act into Delta’s employment agenda to Zone 6 officers Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday charged the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to seal up their age-long relationship with the state by opening up more job opportunities for its indigenes. The governor, who said thousands of youths in the state have been on the waiting list of the company for employment, not on contract basis, maintained that this was the only way peaceful co-existence with their host communities could be sustained. Speaking when the Chairman/Managing Director of the company, Mr. Clay Neff, led the management of the company to visit the governor in Asaba yesterday, Governor Okowa, who insisted on beneficial working condition for his people, urged the company to key into the wealth creation/em-

ployment opportunities’ agenda of his administration, nicknamed SMART. According to him, it is in the interest of the state to get unemployed youths engaged so that the working environment of oil companies could be conducive. He said: “It is impossible for the multi-national companies to operate successfully in a restive setting, hence the need for government to provide enabling environment for peace to thrive. “We will do all within our reach to provide good business environment for you and your expansion programmes and any area you think we can be of service to you as a government. We advise that between you and other service companies, you should engage more Delta indigenes, not only on contract jobs, but on permanent basis, because this will seal your relationship with the host communities.”

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

orried by the rising cases of kidnapping in Cross River, Rivers and other states, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has warned officers and men under the Zone 6 Command of the Nigeria Police, against allowing the crime to continue. Akwa-Iibom and Ebonyi are the other states under the Zone 6 Police Command, which has its Headquarters in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. A statement conveying the IGP’s warning, was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Commissioner of Police. It reads: “The...IGP... is miffed that despite several directives on anti-crime activities, there are reports of increasing trend of kidnapping

and violent crimes in Zone Six (6) Police Command. He has therefore issued stern warning to Police officers and men under Zone Six (6) Police Command, comprising Cross-River, Rivers, Ebonyi and Akwa-Ibom States to put all hands on deck, at stemming the tide. “With a view to further ensuring that the order is complied forthwith, the IGP has also put an embargo on all forms of leave, either casual or annual for officers and men in these Commands. “The Police High Command equally reaffirmed its commitment at leaving no stone unturned to ensure that peace prevails and people go about their lawful businesses in all parts of the country. Members of the public are further enjoined to continue to collaborate with the Police by reporting any suspicious person.

current affairs analyst, Jackson Olalekan Ojo, has described the emergence of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as a bold move that would entrench democracy in the country, stressing that the two lawmakers would be in better position to conduct their affairs without inhibition. Ojo, who spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, said the election of the duo would reduce the domineering influence of ruling parties in legislative matters. He expressed surprise that “the APC which benefited copiously from the mistake of the PDP, which in the past 16 years reveled in unbridled arrogance, party indiscipline, imposition of

candidates demonstrated by utter disregard for internal party democracy, is doing the same thing that turned the electorate away from the PDP.” He said the people of the country stand to gain from a situation where the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives are independent and without the influence of the executive and the ruling party. He explained: “What transpired on the floor of the National Assembly is a rebellion against party domination. It is a remarkable revolution against the imposition of candidates by powerful individuals against the overall interest of the greatest majority. “The emergence of Saraki and Dogara as president of Senate and Speaker of the eighth National Assembly signals the new dawn of legislative democracy in Nigeria and it is a worthwhile lesson for political parties in the country,” he said.

Nigeria’s democratic process maturing, says Rep Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 28 House of Representatives election for Akoko Edo federal constituency in Edo State, Oladele-Bankole Balogun, yesterday said that the current unfolding political events in the nation’s democratic process is a testimony of her gradual and steady maturity. He asked Nigerians to exercise restraint and join forces towards building a stronger nation, where all would live happily as one indivisible entity, stressing that “a time is going to come in this country when politics will truly be of the people, by the people and for the people.” Balogun, who spoke

on the emergence of the new leadership in the National Assembly in an interview with newsmen in Benin, described the development as “a fantastic blow to god-fatherism and this business of one or two people being supreme in the party.” He also called for renewed faith in who becomes the next successor of the outgoing chair man of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), advising that such steps must be taken in an atmosphere of “equity, justice, fair play, honesty, transparency.”

change of name

AKINTOBI

I formerly known and called Cecilia Bolanle Morakinyo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cecilia Bolanle Akintobi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, june 17, 2015

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

t least 20 houses have been reportedly razed and thousands of people rendered homeless in an outbreak of communal clash between the people of Mbaigyo and Mbazuzu in Mbaapakaa area of Vandeikya Local Government of Benue State. Reports said victims of the crisis are now taking refuge in nearby villages, including Mbaigbe, Branch Atser, Mbaingbianatsor, parts of Tse-Mker, as well as

News 49

south north - south

20 houses razed in fresh communal clash in Benue the General Hospital in Vandeikya, among other neighbouring communities, without food and shelter. The communities attacked include Tse Kumbur, Tse Gur and Nomiyugh Koko, all farming communities. Most business transactions in the affected areas have now been

grounded as the crisis escalates on a daily basis, just as most schools have also been closed down forcing wards and children to stay with their parents in camps. New Telegraph gathered that although no casualty has been reported, several persons, who are seriously injured, are receiving treatment

in various hospitals and clinics in nearby towns. Eyewitnesses, however, said trouble started when one of the members of the aggrieved community died and was arranged to be buried on a disputed parcel of land. The other community protested the plan and the situation resulted into a serious

crisis. It was learnt that efforts by traditional rulers on both sides to settle the crisis led to more flexing of nerves and yielded no result. Many farmlands, economic trees and churches have been torched in the clash. New Telegraph gathered that dozens of po-

licemen and other security agencies in the local government were yesterday drafted to the area to help maintain peace and ensure the safe return of the displaced people. Mr. Ben Koko, an indigene of the area, who escaped attack, told journalists that many of the houses and farmlands have been destroyed, adding that “our people have fled the area and are taking refuge at the General Hospital, Vandeikya and in other neighbouring communities,” and solicited the intervention of the state government.

NAFDAC moves to clamp down on illicit drug dealers Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Benue State yesterday said it is poised to clampdown on dealers of fake and expired drugs as well as the sale and consumption of the locally brewed gin popularly known as ‘Ogogoro’ in its continued efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation. Benue State Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Anikoh Musa Ibrahim, disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen at the agency's branch office in Makurdi. Ibrahim, who expressed worry over the high rate of consumption of the liquor, said the agency is to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in the state and other relevant bodies like the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to carry out the exercise.

A cross-section of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during the distribution of food items by the Jamatu Nasir Islam at the Emir’s Palace in Gombe …yesterday

I’ve not withdrawn my suit, says APC's Alhassan Ibrahim Abdul Yola

he Taraba State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan, yesterday denied ever withdrawing her

Adamawa IPMAN raises the alarm over illegal faction Ibrahim Abdul Yola

damawa State Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Yola Depot, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Butu, has raised concern over some petroleum marketers led by one Alhaji Buba Kaburiye, who he said are parading themselves as members of the state executive of the union. Butu said the action of the group was an attempt to extend the national crisis facing the union to

the state level. He said the union had dragged the group to court and had already written to the Manager of Yola NNPC Depot to beware of the group. The chairman said the statement being bandied by Kaburiye was false, diversionary and deceitful and was meant to obfuscate the good people of Adamawa and Taraba States, noting that Kaburiye was basing his leadership on a purported paper he was bandying around, which could not, in any way, defend him as the issue is in court.

petition before the state election petition tribunal challenging the election of Governor Darius Isiyaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She said the speculation that she has jettisoned her petition before the tribunal for a ministerial slot from the Presidency was untrue, alleging how-

ever, that her mandate was forcefully taken from her by the PDP. Alhassan spoke in Yola yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after she led a highpowered APC delegates to a meeting with Adamawa State governor, Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla, in Yola.

90 communities protest non-payment of compensation Dan Atori MINNA

o fewer than 90 communities affected by the Zungeru Hydroelectric Dam in Niger State have vowed to stop the ongoing construction of the dam until they are compensated for the use of their land. A representative of the communities, Zubairu Umar, from Jiko community yesterday said they were told when the project was inaugurated that the construction work would not begin until all compensa-

tions were paid. He added that “to our surprise, three years after the take-off of the project, we have not been compensated. “The recent commencement of rocks blasting in the area has subjected us to untold hardship as whenever such blast takes place, we will be asked to leave our houses and take cover in the bush of a distance of about 500 metres away.” “We will go to any length to ensure that our compensation is paid even if it means to force work on the construction site to stop."

She said: “I never contemplate withdrawing my case for any post, I heard many stories that I had withdrew for a ministerial slot.” Alhassan said “her life and that of her teeming supporters came under serious threats following the zeal to reclaim the stolen mandate from the PDP,

which led to the transfer of the tribunal to Abuja.” She said had the election not been rigged, “she would have been the governor of Taraba State today, adding that the people of the state had massively cast their votes for the APC, but that the ruling party in the state, the PDP, stole our mandate.”

Kano Assembly screens 13 commissioners-designate Muhammad Kabir Kano

ano State House of Assembly yesterday screened 13 commissioners-designate selected by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, warning them against corrupt practices and acts of indecency. Among those screened was the outgoing National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Muhammad Garba, who said that as

a journalist, he will fit into any office given to him to run, adding that ‘right now what states governments need is alternative away from oil, whose market has fallen drastically.’ Speaking shortly before the screening exercise, the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhassan Kabiru Rirum, said they have carefully examined the credentials of the candidates and have come to the conclusion that they are men of probing integrity.

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NAFDAC bans poultry products over dangerous preservatives Appolonia Adeyemi

ollowing results from a recent study that imported turkey and chicken in the Nigerian markets are unfit for human consumption, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has threatened to deal ruthlessly with smugglers and dealers found with the banned products. A report from a study conducted by Prof. Olumide Tewe, a Nutritional Toxicologist, University

of Ibadan and his colleagues, had raised concern over the economic and health implications of consumption of imported poultry products due to the presence of potentially toxic metals, food borne diseases and high formalin levels in the meats. At a press conference/ presentation of the study on “Prevalence, Quality and Acceptability of Frozen Poultry Meat in Major Cities in Nigeria”, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who explained the implication of consuming such meat

products, said these products are preserved with hazardous chemicals. Orhii, who noted that imported products would no longer be tolerated to the detriments of the health of Nigerians, said NAFDAC will begin strict enforcement of the ban on imported poultry products. Citing the study carried out in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Oyo and Lagos states, Orhii noted that improperly imported poultry products pose grave dangers to consumers, handlers and environment.

CLO faults call for Ekweremadu’s resignation Chukwu David Abuja

he Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, yesterday described the call for the immediate resignation of Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by some aggrieved All Progressives Congress, APC senators, as unnecessary. The senators, through their spokesper-

son, Kabiru Marafa, had claimed that Ekweremadu’s election was not valid because he was elected by 54 out of 109 senators to emerge victorious, and should therefore, resign from the office. The aggrieved legislators had argued that Ekweremadu ought to have scored 55 out of the total votes cast to be returned as deputy senate president.  However, the CLO, in a statement issued in Abuja, by its Executive

Director, Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi, stated that Ekweremadu’s election was valid because the National Assembly followed the necessary constitutional provisions in the conduct of the election. The group argued that the election was in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the presidential Proclamation and rules guiding the conduct of National Assembly businesses.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

White House confirms Al Qaeda deputy leader killed in Yemen

he White House yesterday confirmed that the deputy leader of al Qaeda, Nasser alWuhayshi, has been killed in Yemen and called the death a “major blow” to the organization. “The president has been clear that terrorists who threaten the United States will not find safe haven in any corner of the globe,” the White

House said in a statement. “While AQAP, al Qaeda, and their affiliates will remain persistent in their efforts to threaten the United States, our partners, and our interests, (his) death removes from the battlefield an experienced terrorist leader and brings us closer to degrading and ultimately defeating these groups,” it said.

al-Wuhayshi

International court unwelcome in Africa, says Mugabe

imbabwean leader and African Union chairman Robert Mugabe on yesterday harshly criticized the International Criminal Court after Sudan’s president dodged an international arrest order by leaving early from a meeting of the continent’s leaders in South Africa, a news agency reported. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Khartoum, Sudan, on Monday from South Africa, where a court instructed that he be arrested, but

after his plane had left with him aboard. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes allegations linked to the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The African News Agency, which is based in South Africa, quoted Mugabe as saying at the late night close of an African Union summit in Johannesburg that the International Criminal Court is not wanted in Africa. “This is not the headquarters of the ICC; we don’t want it in this region

at all,” said Mugabe, who is chairing the 54 member African Union for one year. South Africa is a signatory to the statute that set up the international court. But some African leaders say the court has unfairly targeted African heads of state and the African Union said delegates to the summit in Johannesburg had immunity. According to Mugabe, South African President Jacob Zuma said “he would not allow” police to arrest al-Bashir, the African News Agency reported.

EITI tells Buhari to make oil industry work

he Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make oil and other extractive industries to work for Nigerians, rather than for a few people. International Chair of EITI, Clare Short, made the call at a press conference in Abuja yesterday. Clare said that implementing significant reforms, Buhari could reverse the curse that oil has brought to the people of the country and make it a blessing to them.

She said that several reports and analysis done by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Initiative that had not been fully implemented provide a basis for implementing reforms that could change fortunes of the country in the extractive industry. Clare said, “We hope and expect that the new government will pick up the analysis, work with the people, work with the agencies and really drive forward significant reforms that will turn the rich oil and mining resources in Nigeria to blessing to the people rather than the

curse that it has been for some of the people. We are very optimistic that Nigeria is going to make a great leap forward. “The analysis that has been done is of good quality. It shows what needs to be done to reform the sector. Recommendations for reforms have not been carried through in the past. The new government says that it wants to reform the sector. NEITI has done the analysis. It is a real opportunity to pick up the recommendations and drive reform forward and it is a real chance.

Group wants Frank sanctioned over comments on Oyegun    Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

g roup, Fresh Hope for Nigeria (FHN) has lambasted the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress,APC, Timi Frank for calling for the resignation of the chairman, Chief John Oyegun. The group is calling for strong sanctions against

him.  Frank had on Tuesday called for the resignation of the APC national chairman for the poor handling of the National Assembly leadership crisis. But the group believes that Frank could not have ordinarily come out bold to do such thing if not that he has allowed himself to be used by some interest within and outside the party.  A statement signed yesterday in Abuja by the

national coordinator of the group, Comrade Tamuno Banigo, said Timi acted in error to have attacked the leadership of his party on the pages of newspapers.  Banigo said: “He has even gone ahead to call himself a member of the National Working Committee. That is a lie. Timi Frank should not continue to confuse the members of the public. He is not known as a member of NWC.”

Zimbabwe President and chair of the African Union, Robert Mugabe, addressing delegates at the end of the 25th AU Summit in Johannesburg.

Egypt court confirms Morsi’s death sentence

n Egyptian court yesterday confirmed the death sentence of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi over the mass 2011 prison break that eventually brought him to power, making him the first leader in Egypt’s modern history to potentially face execution. While this is the first death sentence for Morsi, courts have handed out hundreds of similar sentences against Islamists in mass trials since his 2013 overthrow and a mass crackdown on dissent in Egypt. The ruling, which will be automatically re-

viewed by Egypt’s highest appeals court, brought no immediate outcry on the streets as thousands remain imprisoned, though the country faces threats from Islamic extremists, including an affiliate of the Islamic State group. It is not clear if Morsi will be executed. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the military’s ouster of Morsi, repeatedly has defended the independence of the judiciary, though their mass rulings have faced international criticism. Meanwhile, former autocrat Hosni Mubarak, overthrown in Egypt’s 2011 revolt and detained

since, has seen a number of the cases against him dropped. Mubarak now only faces a November retrial on charges over the killings of protesters after initially receiving a life sentence. Morsi, who served a year as Egypt’s first freely elected president, appeared in court Tuesday in a blue prison uniform, enclosed in a cage separate from other defendants held in a glasscovered cage covered in mesh wire. He first raised his arms to cameras and those in the courtroom. He listened to the verdict with a slight smile, but said nothing.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

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$10,000 at stake in FIBA Africa Tour

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Aguero eyes Ballon d’Or at City

Women’s World Cup Nigeria targets Sweden coach for Falcons

Clubs move to new homes after LMC ban

Sport Adekunle Salami

he ‘cold war’ between the Nigeria Football Federation and the Super Eagles Skipper, Vincent Enyeama, has ignited a fresh crisis between the players and the football ruling body. France-based Enyeama told the media that he was not satisfied with Kaduna as venue for the 2017 Nations Cup qualifier against Chad which Nigeria won 2-0 on Saturday. The goalie cited security as his reason for faulting the venue but the NFF frowned at his comments. A query was issued the goalie but he reportedly tore the letter before he eventually responded. New Telegraph can however reveal authoritatively that the players were not happy about the decision of the NFF to issue a query to the Eagles skipper. “Vincent (Enyeama) is not an employee of the federation. He is a Nigerian on national duty, if there is an issue it should be resolved verbally and amicably. Why query?” one of the players asked. Another prominent player who featured in the 2-0 win of the Eagles on Saturday noted that Enyeama was not a civil servant and should not have been issued a query. “How can you query somebody who is not working under you? It is wrong. We are national team players and we are not earning monthly salaries from the NFF. We deserve more respect. He is entitled to

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Did you know? That the Pentathlon and Decathlon events were introduced for the first time at the Olympic Games at the 1912 Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

Eagles, NFF at war over Enyeama his views and as skipper he spoke on our behalf and he meant well,” the player noted. Investigations however revealed that the last has not been heard about the incident as the soccer ruling body might ban the goalie for a number of games or even longer. “Enyeama is expected to show example to others. His comments were too sensitive and we can only deal with the situation in our own way,” a member of the NFF board said. Another member of the board Felix Anyansi-Agwu, said the issue was being overflogged unnecessarily. “Enyeama was never indicted. Query is an administrative procedure and it was meant for him to explain and give clarification. It is not a big deal,” he said. NFF image maker, Ademola Olajire, also said the Enyeama situation had not affected the relationship of the body with the Super Eagles. “It is purely administrative and we have sorted it out,” he said.

• Query is admninistrative – Anyansi • He is not NFF staff – Eagles

Enyeama

AFN laments athletes’ inability to win prize money Charles Ogundiya

The Sport Team

Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Some of the prize winners Divine Oduduru (left) and Nicholas Imhoaperamhe at the 1st Golden League in Oba

he president of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, has lamented the inability of Nigerian athletes to win the prize money at the first Golden League inside the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, last week. He however called on the coaches to work more on the athletes ahead of the 2nd leg scheduled for Kaduna next Wednesday. “The time returned by our athletes at the Rojenny Stadium and the mark achieved in field events show there is a lot of work to be done,” the president said. “I would have been happier if our athletes had won all the prize money on offer and even put the federation in a situation where we have to source for more funds to pay

them. “The difference between a world champion and others is not the speed or physical strength but paying attention to little details. “Our coaches are good when it comes to the general coaching, but that will not take their athletes to the next level, teaching their athletes to pay attention to little details, otherwise called competition management, is what they need to learn.” The AFN boss added that the way an athlete react to crowd, how he takes off from the block, his running form, his state of mind, reaction to opponents antics are as important as the pre-season build-up and the general coaching tutorials. The next leg of the AFN Golden League will take place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Wednesday June 24.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

$10,000 at stake in FIBA Africa Tour Ifeanyi Ibeh

total of ten thousand dollars (US) will be doled out in prize money at the inaugural edition of the FIBA Africa (Zone-Three) Three-on-Three Tour which gets underway on June 18, at the National Stadium, Lagos. Making this known to reporters on Tuesday was FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (rtd), who also disclosed that trophies

would be given to outstanding teams in the various categories to be contested for at the end of the championship on Sunday, June 21. The categories are Senior Men and Senior Women, for players between the ages of 19 and 40, as well as U-18 Men and U-18 Women, for basketball players between the ages 16 and 18. Over 240 players and 40 coaches drawn from the eight countries that make up FIBA Africa Zone-Three (Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote

d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger and Togo), as well 50 officials drawn from across Africa, will be participating at the championship which will take place on specially constructed synthetic courts to be situated at the National Stadium’s car park. And should the heavens unexpectedly open up, an additional court has been set up at the facility’s indoor sports hall. Accommodation will be provided for senior players and officials at selected hotels in Lagos, while U-18 players will

be accommodated at the Teslim Balogun Stadium hostels. In addition, the four-day Three-on-Three Tour will also feature other side attractions such as a Three-point Shootout and a Slam Dunk contest, as well as music by some of the country’s top musical acts such as Sound Sultan and Dare Art-Alade, who will also take part in the Celebrity All Star contest against a team of retired Nigerian basketball legends and icons. The Three-on-Three Tour will be the first official event of

the Colonel Ahmedu-led FIBA Africa (Zone-Three) board, following their inauguration at last year’s congress in Burkina Faso, and Ahmedu said: “I want to assure you of the board’s commitment to take the game to greater heights in our areas of influence. “In this regard, I want to assure you also that our resolve is to strengthen the national federations in our jurisdiction to be self sufficient and more proactive, in line with the new FIBA direction of new governance.”

Cuper plays down Nigeria threat Ajibade Olusesan

gypt head coach, Hector Cuper, has played down the Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Chad in their opening 2017 African Nations Cup qualifier, saying the victory was no threat to his team’s ambition to make the cut for the biennial tournament. The North Africans currently lead Group E after beating Tanzania 3-0 at the Borg Al Arab Stadium on Sunday. The Argentine coach highlighted how important it was for Egypt to get their AFCON qualification off to a winning start, and insisted he would rather concentrate on the upcoming game against Chad before talking about Nigeria. “Nigeria’s victory put me under stress? No, that is completely false. I do not care about Nigeria’s victory. I am only thinking about my team and it’s too early to talk about the Nigerian national team. We will play against them next

March but for now I should think about the teams I will play before then. The Super Eagles won their first match against Chad and they are happy and we won against Tanzania and should be happy like them,” Cuper said. “This victory against Tanzania is very important for me because it’s the first official match for me with the Egyptian national team and it’s important too because that makes the Egyptian fans happy and trust in their team. Indeed I need that in the next matches. I need the fans’ support that will help us in our mission. “In our match against Tanzania we missed many chances and I talked with my players to keep working hard and we will win. I knew that we will win. I have very good players and we can make the dream come true, and I can say that the door is open for all the players in the Egyptian league who want to work hard to wear the national team kit.”

L-R Mr. Frank Jituboh, Mr. Babs Ogunade, FIBA Africa Zone 3 President Col. Sam Ahmedu and Mr. Andrew Isokpehi at Tuesday’s FIBA Africa 3x3 Tour briefing. Photo Ifeanyi Ibeh

Kienka wins America sports academic scholar award

amina Kienka, who left Nigeria for studies in the United States as one of the country’s top junior tennis players, has been named to the 2015 All American Division 1 Academic men’s team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America last week. Earning the distinction of Academic All-American is quite an honour because it celebrates those athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics and sports in the

entire USA each year. “The award is symbolic of Kienka’s scholarly talent” said Dr. Curtis Lawson, the director of tennis at the North Carolina Central University where Kienka is a senior (final year). Kienka is the first NCCU tennis player to ever earn Academic All-America acclaim and won at the district level in 2014 and 2015. He played a total of 53 matches in four years at

NCCU and capped his collegiate career 7-2 in his nine trips onto the court. In academics, the 20-year old from Rivers State, entered the spring semester with a 4.0 grade point average (GPA). A biology (pre-med) and pharmaceutical science major, Kienka received the Department of Biology award for the highest performance by a senior. He is part of the NCCU’s Honours Program, a chancellor’s scholar.

Why I set up Team CCSF, says Chukwumerije Bernard Bulbwa of Nigeria and Grischa Proemel of Germany in action during the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand

Esperance want to pay Bulbwa $80,000 sign-on fee

unisia’s Esperance have moved swiftly to secure the services of Nigeria U-20 forward Bernard Bulbwa by seeking to pay him $80,000 as part of his signing-on fee. Bulbwa reportedly told AfricanFootball.com he does not have a valid contract with the top Tunisian club after the club stalled about discussing with the player’s agent on some grey areas regarding the contract he reportedly signed in March. “Esperance have now con-

tacted me to furnish them with my bank details so that they could pay part of my signing-on fees. But I have directed them to my agent, he is the man they have to deal with if they really want me to play for them,” Bulbwa was quoted as saying. Bulbwa’s contract will only kick off on July 1, even though the Tunisian club asked him to come over immediately after the Flying Eagles crashed out of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

eijing Olympics bronze medallist, Chika Chukwumerije, has said that his willingness to engage the country’s youth in meaningful activities that will affect them positively was the reason he set up Team Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation. Speaking at the well attended launch of the foundation on Monday, the 2007 All Africa Games gold medallist said: “It is true that one of our goals is to produce national champions within the first three years, continental champions within the first six years and Olympic medallists within the first decade. “However, this is not what our focus will be on. Our focus will be to help young people discover and express them-

selves. Our focus is to help young people learn a lot of soft skills not taught in traditional learning institutions. Our focus will be on building their character, and helping them appreciate all the virtues that mankind holds dear – humility, hard work, kindness, team work, indomitable spirit, loyalty, patriotism, courage and many more. “This is what drives Team CCSF: the desire to see young people come to us with empty minds, and end up having open minds that see opportunities to be harnessed from every situation and challenge. We teach them to fight hard, to fight strong and to fight fair; we teach them to look adversity in the face, and refuse to back down.”

Chukwumerije

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Aguero eyes Ballon d’Or at City

anchester City striker Sergio Aguero believes the club can give him the platform to become a Ballon d’Or winner. Aguero has scored 107 goals for City in 163 appearances since joining the club in a £38million transfer from Atletico Madrid four years ago. The 2014-15 campaign was his most impressive, with 32 goals in 41 games vindicating a change of training regime and diet after past problems with muscle injuries. The challenge is now to continue improving and reach the exalted status stars like his Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi

and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo have reached as world players of the year. Aguero, speaking as he joined the race to partner Messi on the EA SPORTS FIFA 16 UK cover, said: “The truth is that I would be very happy with the Ballon d’Or. I had a great year, I missed some games but the season has been very good, no? “The Premier League has this vision where (they want) everybody in the world to watch it so I have plenty of chances to at least be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. “I think for any player it’s important. Playing in the Premier League, obviously I have a lot of opportunities.”

Milan appoint Mihajlovic as new coach

C Milan have announced the appointment of Sinisa Mihajlovic as the club’s new coach on a two-year contract. The Serbian’s arrival was confirmed just under 90 minutes after the Rossoneri announced the dismissal of Filippo Inzaghi halfway through his deal with the San Siro side on Tuesday. Mihajlovic led Sampdoria to a seventh-placed finish in Serie A last season but stepped down at the end of the campaign, revealing in an open letter to the

Aguero

club’s fans that he was seeking “another challenge”. The 46-year-old had initially been expected to succeed Rafael Benitez as Napoli boss but the former Inter defender has now returned to San Siro to take charge of the Nerazzurri’s city rivals. “Sinisa Mihajlovic, who has signed a twoyear contract, will be the new coach of AC Milan for next season,” read a statement on the Rossoneri’s official website. “The club wish him good luck in his work and the best results.”

Chelsea agree £7m loan deal for Falcao

Drogba

helsea have agreed a £7m loan deal for Manchester United flop Radamel Falcao, according to L’Equipe. The Blues are set to complete the one year deal on vastly reduced terms to the £265,000 a week he earned at United in the coming days. Unless there are any last minute hitches then all parties are happy with the arrangement that will also include a £35m buyout clause. Falcao endured a nightmare season that saw him score just four goals as he has

Drogba shows interest in New York Red Bulls

idier Drogba has said he would love to play for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls, if the club wanted to sign him, according to report in ESPNSoccernet. com. The Ivory Coast striker has been linked with a move to join the MLS giants to replace Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. “OK, just call the owners and then I’m there,” Drogba said. The 37-year-old Drogba ended his Chelsea F.C. stint with a Premier League title but is currently without a contract. Drogba also rubbished re-

ports of him going back to Marseille where he had a remarkable 2003-04 season before signing for Chelsea. “There comes a time when it has to stop. I didn’t ask for any of this. I love the Marseille fans, and I am myself a Marseille supporter, but they have to stop throwing around rumours like that because it’s starting to get too much,” he said. Drogba has won four Premier League titles with Chelsea and also inspired the Stamford Bridge-based club to UEFA Champions League glory in 2011-12.

ment was unsealed on Monday, and includes references to agreements between Blazer and the United States government dating back to December 2011. “T he defendant agrees to furnish to the office all documents and other material that may be relevant to the investigation and that are in the defendant’s possession or control and to participate in undercover activities pursuant to the specific instructions of law enforcement agents or this office,” the

Falcao

Rodriguez: We have to stop Neymar

‘Blazer worked undercover to expose FIFA’

isgraced former FIFA official Chuck Blazer worked undercover to help the authorities with their investigation into corruption within football’s global governing body. Back in November 2013, Blazer pleaded guilty to 10 charges including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering and tax evasion. As part of his plea, the 70-year-old agreed to feed the authorities information pertaining to their investigation. The 19-page agree-

struggled to convince Louis van Gaal of his worth. But Mourinho, who needs to boost his attack following Didier Drogba’s departure, is undeterred and said he wants to restore the striker to his former glories with it bothering him that people in England don’t have a high opinion of the once feared player. It had been thought that Falcao would return to France to play for Monaco but the report indicates that he always wanted to remain in the Premier League.

agreement read. “The defendant agrees not to reveal his cooperation, or any information derived therefrom, to any third party without prior consent of the office.”

Blazer

olombia need to “stop Neymar” if they are to have any hope of bouncing back and picking up maximum points in their crucial clash against Brazil on Thursday, according to James Rodriguez. Los cafeteros suffered a shock defeat to Venezuela in their opening

game of the tournament at the Estadio El Teniente on Sunday. Colombia are fourth in the FIFA rankings but put in a lethargic and lacklustre performance against Venezuela who sit 68 places behind them in the rankings. Brazil currently lead Group C after an injurytime goal from Douglas

Costa sealed an unconvincing 2-1 victory over Peru. Barcelona striker, Neymar, shone throughout scoring the equaliser and providing the assist for Costa. “It will be crucial to stop Neymar, he is in great shape,” said Real Madrid and Colombia midfielder Rodriguez.

‘Hamilton can be the best of all time’

ormula One legend Nigel Mansell believes that British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton can be ‘the best racing driver ever’. The 1992 F1 champion thinks that Hamilton has what it takes to break Michael Schumacher’s seven title record before he retires. Despite the former Williams’ ace not being too keen on the current Formula One set-up, suggesting it needs huge changes, he is quite confident that the current world champion will maintain his fine form under Mercedes. “With the backing of Mercedes he can, maybe, go on to challenge Michael Schumacher’s record,” said Mansell.

Hamilton

“Mercedes are the best of the best by far. With the backing of Mercedes he can, maybe, go on to challenge Michael’s record,” said Mansell. “There is a long, long way to go but it is possible because Mercedes

will want to be the best of the best for a long time.” Hamilton currently holds a 17-point lead in the drivers’ championship over team mate Nico Rosberg. The next Grand Prix takes place this weekend in Austria.

Sport

Charles Ogundiya

ome of the clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League whose home venues were banned by the League Management Company have moved to alternative venues pending the conclusion of renovation works on their current pitches. The LMC on Monday barred nine stadiums from hosting league games starting from Week 12 mid-week games on Wednesday (today). Heartland FC of Owerri and Abia Warriors have moved to the Aba Township Stadium for their home games while Akwa United will now be hosting games inside the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo. FC Taraba will now play inside the Aper Aku Stadium, Markurdi, while Ifeanyiubah United will make use of the Rojenny Stadium, Oba.

Adeolu Johnson Abuja

s part of its efforts to keep its members free of corrupt practices, the Nigerian Referees Association has slammed an indefinite suspension on three of its referees officiating in the Nigeria Nationwide League. In the letter addressed to the affected referees on the June 12, and copied to the respective heads of the Nigeria

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Clubs move to new homes after LMC ban Heineken celebrates UCL final in style

Bayelsa United’s Tamarakuro Debekeme (left) vying against Heartland’s Fred Okwara

Nasarawa United and Giwa FC are yet to decide on a venue while the LMC is waiting for El-Kanemi

Warriors to decide between the Sanni Abacha Stadium, Kano, and the Karkanda Stadium, Katsina.

Patani Stadium, Gombe will now be the temporary home ground of Wikki Tourists FC.

NRA suspends three refs indefinitely Nationwide League and the NRA, and signed by NRA secretary, Prince Morrof Oluwa, the three referees were suspended indefinitely for gross incompetence. “I am directed by the working committee of the above named association to inform you, Ilugbo Adeyemi, who officiated the match between Juvenile FC Ilaro and COD

Toure happy with debut appearance

FC of Lagos in the week one of the Nigeria nationwide League has been suspended indefinitely for gross incompetence,” read part of the letter. Also, in the second letter from the same source: “The following referees: Tete J, Cephase (CR) and El Mustaphar Amore AR 2 who officiated the match between FC Abuja

and Dreams International FC, Makurdi in the week three of the NNWL have been suspended indefinitely for gross incompetence.” Meanwhile, the executive secretary of the NNWL, Olushola Ogunnowo, has reiterated the body’s commitment to punish any official, club or supporters found wanting.

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

WOMEN’S World Cup

Canada

Canada, Germany, Norway advance

G during the 3-3 draw against Sweden

Nigeria eye Sweden coach for Falcons

Emmanuel Tobi Live from

ead coach of team Cote D’Ivoire at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, Clementine Toure, has praised the performance of her team as the country exited the tournament. Toure said she was pleased with the progress of the team after playing three games at the tournament despite conceding 16 goals in three matches. “I feel very emotional after the performance that my players put in,” the coach said. “It’s so pleasing to see how much progress they’ve made in the three matches they’ve played here. Falcon’s Desire Oparanozie (left) “I’ve got no regrets; I’m more than satisfied. We lost because of mistakes caused by a lack of experience, but overall, it was a competition that taught us a lot.” Cote D’Ivoire started the tournament with a 10-0 bashing in the hands of Germany before losing narrowly to Thailand in their second game, the game ended 3-2. They here are strong inhowever exited the tournament after dications that the losing 3-1 to Norway in their final Nigeria Football game in Canada. Federation has opened discussions with Sweden coach, Pia Sundhage, to take over as the coach of African champions, Super Falcons According to AfricanFootball.com, talk between the 55-year-old, who is leading her native Sweden at the Women’s World Cup in Canada and Nigeria has reached Toure an advance stage.

t was a befitting conclusion to a hugely successful UEFA Champions League season, with simultaneous viewing parties across two continents. As Juventus and Barcelona traded tackles in the final match in Berlin, Heineken House Lagos treated fans and special guests to a night of exquisite football, refreshments and live entertainment anchored by top artiste, Wande Coal. At the same time, 20 Nigerian lucky trip winners were on an exotic Spanish island, enjoying the third annual edition of the ultimate football party experience: the Heineken Ibiza Final. The scintillating UCL final match saw Barcelona lift the world’s most coveted club football trophy for the fourth time in nine years, and marked another remarkable chapter in Heineken’s ninth consecutive year of sponsoring the tournament. At Heineken House Lagos, fans followed the game excitedly on multiple television screens while also interacting live, on Heineken’s #ChampionTheMatchTwitter feed, with Real Madrid legend, Roberto Carlos. The multiple UCL winner arrived in style by boat at Heineken Bay, the magnificent beachfront venue of the Heineken Ibiza Final event. The cove was elegantly decorated, and guests watched the match under open skies, on a giant LED screen anchored in the lake, with a dreamy Spanish sunset as the perfect backdrop.

“Top officials are keen to have the highlyrated coach take over the Falcons,” a highlyplaced official told AfricanFootball.com “The Falcons have very talented players like (Asisat) Oshoala and (Desire) Oparanozie, but their problem is basically coaching and that is why they opened talks with Pia in Canada during the World Cup.” Falcons have over the years been headed

by local coaches but some European coaches like Jo Bonfrere and Thomas Obliers from Germany have also tinkered the country’s women’s team. Pia, as she is fondly called, won two Olympic golds with United States of America between 2008 and 2012. She was also in charge when the US were upset by Japan in the final of the World Cup in 2011.

ermany and Norway progressed with wins to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Monday as a draw was enough to see hosts Canada and China through. Favourites Germany beat Thailand 4-0 to progress as Group B leaders ahead of Norway who secured their berth by beating Ivory Coast 3-1. Canada were held 1-1 by the Netherlands but it was enough to top Group A ahead of China who were held 2-2 in their fiery do-ordie clash against New Zealand. The four join champions Japan and Brazil, the 2007 runners-up, who are already through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare.

Germany s Dzsenifer Marozsan (below) tackles Thailand Natthakarn Chinwong

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Why the Amnesty Report is a waste of time

recall sometime during the cold war when the US decided to meddle into the affairs of Cuba, encouraging Cuban dissidents and granting them asylum with the hope undermining the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. To get even, Castro did the unthinkable. He opened the prisons in and around Havana letting out thousands of hardened criminals, murderers, assassins, armed robbers, drug dealers, rapists and fraudsters whom he generously shipped to America for good company. I wish we have a leader with the nerve to offload our prisons of Boko Haram militants and donate them to Europe and America where their human rights will be permanently protected. The world is in turmoil because the so called civilized world is increasingly acting without honour. The story I am going to share here had survived many years and has been told and retold in different ways without losing its humour and message. A young Igbo chap named Chuks bought a cow from a Fulani farmer for N100, 000. The farmer agreed to deliver the cow the next day. The next day, the farmer walked up to Chuk’s house and said, “Sorry, but I have some bad news, the cow died.” Chuks replied, “Well, then just give me my money back.” The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I have spent it already.” Chuks said, “Ok, then, just bring me the dead cow.” The farmer asked, “What are you going to do with a dead cow?” Chuks said, “I’m going to raffle it off.” The farmer said, “You can’t raffle off a dead cow!” Chuks said, “Sure I can. I just won’t tell anybody it’s dead.” A month later, the Fulani farmer met up with Chuks and asked, “What happened with that dead cow?” Chuks said, “I raffled it off. I sold 5000 tickets at 100 Naira apiece and made a profit of N500, 000.” The farmer said, “Didn’t anyone complain?” Chuks said, “Just the guy who won. So I gave him his N100.” Chuks grew up and became successful. It’s nice to see someone make a little money but it’s even nicer when money is honourably earned. The joke above shows how lying to people might be profitable, but never an honorable thing to do, which leads us to how Western Europe and America used some of their institutions to spread lies that discredit and undermines Africa just to achieve their sinister agenda. Make no mistake; the idea of protecting human rights is good. No one is opposed to it especially in a continent where corruption and dictatorship of the leaders have caused tremendous human misery. However, the world needs a uniform standard and not a patched, selective and parochial reporting of Africa as is currently the case. For instance there are claims that the US may have armed and sponsored AlQaeda the terror group responsible for 9/11, and that the CIA had also trained and armed ISIS which is spreading terror around the world. Again, it has been alleged that the US led intervention in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan came with huge collateral damages. I for one expected AI representatives to continually occupy major foreign media organizations calling for the prosecution of European and American leaders for mass murder but the group so far has done nothing. In its 2014/ 2015 report on Nigeria, Amnesty International accused the mili-

My Word CLEM AGUIYI

myword@gmail.com 08034747898 (sms only)

Amnesty International didn’t just present their report and wait for the reaction of the Federal Government of Nigeria

Boko Haram members

Buhari

tary of gross human rights violations in its conduct of the war against terror. It went further to call for sanctions against some Army Generals which it claimed have stars on their shoulders and bloods on their hands. Coincidentally, the report came at a time when Nigeria had just survived a difficult election and of course the doom prediction that Nigeria will disintegrate by 2015. It now appears as if AI and their sponsors are not happy that Nigeria is not another Kigali, they are not happy that we pulled back from the brink. What they want to further achieve with their tainted and sexed up report is absurd; they want our soldiers to get under attack and don’t shoot back at the bad guys; they want our officers to literally quit fighting; they want our men to be weary so that the insurgency will fester while the G7 continue with their unrestricted weapons sales to both sides of the conflict. This is sickening. Interestingly, while Amnesty Inter-

national took the pains to observe the abuse of human rights by soldiers, they deliberately ignored the observation of Boko Haram’s deliberate planning, attacking of innocent Nigerians, and detonating bombs in crowded areas in different cities of Nigeria including the markets, the Mosques, Churches and motor parks. Those who died in those attacks, and those who died as a result of direct attacks on cities and villages in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents or those who were painfully pushed out of their comfort homes are not entitled to the human rights and do not deserve the observation and protection of Amnesty International? In the desperate but blind pursuit of their sinister agenda, Amnesty International didn’t just present their report and wait for the reaction of the Federal Government of Nigeria, some individual members of the group took it upon themselves to also dictatorially insist and imply that they will compel government to investigate, try and punish senior military officers. One of them interviewed on CNN said, he will keep on talking until the Government of Nigeria put the military officers on trial. This sort of intimidation is unacceptable and it’s time for this group to back-off. I must confess that reading through the AI report was a complete waste of time as I found nothing new other than the usual gossips picked from drinking parlours and motor parks. First, you will wonder whose interest the group is serving and where they stand on the issue of human rights protection. That group cooked their report based on gossip can be seen on every page of the document. In the conduct of the war against terror our troops faced an unusual enemy who had no problem operating from crowded environments. Thousands of our soldiers and civilians have died as a result of their method of operation.

The military had so far adhered to strict international principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions and never used excessive force or impunity in combat operation hence the war has prolonged up to date. It’s an open secret that it took the government up to the last few months to invade the terrorist stronghold in Sambisa Forest because it was avoiding unintended casualties. We are witness to how our soldiers resorted to mutiny to protest not being provided with heavy lethal equipments. So far, the President and the new government are doing the best they can to restore security in the affected areas. The president must beware of the distraction AI’s report represents. We are grateful to our military and proud of their service and sacrifice. As a nation we are delighted that they have fought heroically against a common enemy having successfully degraded enemy capability to launch massive attacks on our population. I will recommend the dustbin for the amnesty report but since Mr. President in his wisdom said he would investigate the claims, I believe the truth will eventually be established and Nigeria and Africa will see the wisdom in distancing the continent from IMF,AI and ICC which targets Africa and weakens our leaders to lead without spine. President Buhari must be able to say NO to the West, stand up and win respect for his sheer guts rather than let his government be overawed by undue pressure from so called foreign friends and allies at home who are merely thinking of clipping coupons. In this war against terror he needs the neither European Partnership Agreement nor American troops to train our military. He is so far popular amongst the people; he needs to solidify his grounding with ordinary Nigerians to withstand inevitable pressure that are bound to come. I have no doubt in my mind, he will succeed.

On Marble Limitations live only in our minds.

But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Jamie Paolinetti

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

N150

1675: The English physicist Sir Isaac Newton argues that light is composed of particles, which are refracted by acceleration toward a denser medium, and posits the existence of “aether” to transmit forces between the particles.

Merger, power play and ancilliary matters

have maintained and still maintain that there is nothing unusual, treacherous or cynical surrounding the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. I am also of the opinion that there is nothing mystical or mythical about the response of the All Progressive Congress to the events surrounding the said election. Tactically and strategically, it was also important for a President that has not submitted list of Ministerial Nominees, Ambassadors and an Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly to maintain a dignified distance from the rumble and tumble of the campaigns and at the same time remain consciously alert to the events and maintaining a dignified aloofness to the contestations and the eventual emergence of the winners in the election. I also maintain that a Political Party that just lost a major election and searching for direction needs the type of rumble in the ruling Party to maintain a semblance of relevance and importance. The struggle, the contestation, the positioning and scheming in the All Progressive Congress may likely make the Party stronger and this depends on how the struggle is handled. The current struggle and its challenges may lead to the revaluation of its internal party mechanisms and a clear definition of roles and rules of leadership emergence, disciple and cohesion. On the other hand, if the contending parties dig in and maintain irreconcilable positions it may lead to permanent polarization, mutual suspicion and movement towards disintegration. The net effect of permanent and internal struggle will be a weak Presidency unable to push forward its change agenda with the speed expected from a regime with tremendous national, regional and international goodwill. But the issues and the challenges of the Party must be located within the matrix of its formation and struggle for power and change. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not a normal political party in the true sense of the word. It is a merger of different political parties that coalesced and tried to bid for power and successfully carried out a democratic revolution in Nigeria. Section 229 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) defines a “Political Party” to mean any association whose activities include canvassing for votes in support of a candidate for election to the office of President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or membership of a legislative house or local government council. Therefore, no association other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election. A close look at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will show clearly that there is only one route to party formation. Section 222 of the Constitution provides that no association by whatever name

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

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Dr. Bukola Saraki

Mr. Yakubu Dogara

called shall function as a political party unless the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission. The membership of such an association shall be open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstances of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping and a copy of the Constitution is registered with the Commission. Furthermore, the name of the association, its symbol or logo shall not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part of the geographical area of Nigeria; and the headquarters of the association is situate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The APC as a political party did not come into being following this sequence and procedure. This fact is germane to its current challenges and travails. Part of the challenges of the Party is the manner and procedure of its birth and it will be naïve to assume that the circumstances of its birth will evaporate overnight and the party will become one cohesive family or community. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came into being through the process and procedure outlined in section 222 of the Constitution. Now the process of party formation is very liberal. Ninety per cent involves paper work and the only tough condition is the requirement for the headquarters of the association to be situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The Federal

Capital Territory to my own understanding does not begin and end with Asokoro and Maitama. A party can site its office in Nyanya, Kuje or Yangoji and still satisfy the constitutional requirement of having its headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory. This liberal process and procedure for party registration and formation produced portfolio political parties with little or no presence in any of the States of the federation. But that is the reality of pluralism but it has its own drawbacks as scattered and amorphous political parties cannot in truth and in reality seriously bid for and achieve power in a diverse and big country like Nigeria. Hence, the dominance of a party like the PDP with structures, offices, canvassers, agents and facilitators in all parts of the country as against political parties with little or no presence in most of the States of the federation. It became clear to some of the serious political parties that coming together under some arrangement is the only way to compete with and possibly defeat the hegemony and iron clad grip of the ruling PDP. Some of the parties tried an alliance and it did not really produce any discernible or tangible result. In this, the allied parties retain their structures, their names and other identifiable identities. The agreement may only be on a single Presidential candidate and the candidate runs on the name and logo of one of the allied Parties. Sometimes, supporters are confused and the time to reeducate them on the issues and agreements may be too late. This did not produce the desired result since the return to civil democratic rule. The failure of the alliance option led inexorably to the merger option. By section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)

any two or more registered political parties may merge on approval by the Independent National Electoral Commission following a formal request to the Commission by the political parties for that purpose. Political parties intending to merge shall each give the Commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election. The written request for the merger shall be sent to the Chairman of the Commission and shall be signed jointly by the National Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer for the time being of the different political parties proposing the merger and shall be accompanied by-(a) a special resolution passed by the national convention of each of the political parties proposing to merge, approving the merger; (b) the proposed full name and acronym, constitution, manifesto, symbol or logo of the party together with the addresses of the national office of the party resulting from the merger; and (c) evidence of payment of administrative cost of N1,000,000.00 or as may be fixed from time to time by an Act of the National Assembly. Where the request for the proposed merger is approved, the Commission shall withdraw and cancel the certificates of registration of all the political parties opting for the merger and substitute a single certificate of registration in the name of the party resulting from the merger. Theoretically, five political parties participated in the merger talks that led to the formation of APC but in reality only three of them surrendered their certificates. The new PDP had no certificate but came to the merger with solid structures, finance, organization, experience and solid control of some of the States. The APGA elements in the merger came in with their structures, state control, organization and no certificate. Unfortunately, but as expected, the parties still retained their structures, organization and membership. Some of the leaders had their reservations and were really not sure that the APC will be a viable vehicle. Some did not know whether they will be schemed out in the power equation and sharing of offices and party positions. My submission therefore is that it will take a while before the merger arrangement in APC will solidify. Each of the parties that went into the merger may continue to seek accommodation in and fall back on their former structures and comrades. Suspicion and bellyaching may continue for some time. Some of the political big weights in the party may become aggrieved and or feel shortchanged and fall by the wayside. The way to go in my opinion is for the APC to recognise and acknowledge some of its challenges. To overcome the challenges the party must evolve clear rules and mechanisms of engagement especially among the leaders of the parties that merged or brought their structures, goodwill and finances for the purposes of the merger and the bid for political power. The party must also adopt and agree on clear rules and procedures for leadership emergence, succession, discipline and removal. Unilateral decisions and political ambush may be antithetical to the change agenda.

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