Wednesday, march 11, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 2 No. 385

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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N150

Defence Headquarters recalls 4,000 dismissed soldiers }6

Forex: CBN plans sanctions against exporters

17 days to go...

But the CBN has said it would not change its position on the issue. Reuters quoted Emefiele as saying that, "If you refuse to sell your export proceeds that you repatriate in the

Nigeria Nigeria votes votes

Tony Chukwunyem

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is planning sanctions against exporters who fail to comply with its recent directive to repatriate dol-

lar-proceeds. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this in an interview with Reuters yesterday. As part of measures to curb speculative attacks on the naira, the apex

bank had last month issued a circular mandating authorised dealers to repatriate proceeds of oil and non-oil exports into the export proceeds domiciliary accounts of their respective exporters.

It stipulated 90 days for the repatriation of oil export proceeds and 180 days for non-oil exports. The action was criticized by exporters who accused the regulator of trying to harm their businesses.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

2015

5 201}14-15

APC, party of deceit, fraud

lAkpabio, Lamido, Aliyu, Imoke, Mimiko, Fayose, others knock opposition party lBuhari will spend two terms in office, says APC }2 Quick Read Editorial

Enough of NFF, Keshi rigmarole }19 Jonathan fires Agwai as SURE-P chairman

Mbeki to Nigerians: Accept outcome of elections }15

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (left) and erstwhile South African President, Mr. Thambo Mbeki, during Mbeki's visit to Kalu in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

INEC: Card reader for polls stays Onyekachi Eze, Tunde Oyesina and Muritala Ayinla

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday sealed the fate of using Smart Card Readers

(SCRs) for the forthcoming general elections notwithstanding staunch opposition from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) and some other stakeholders. It said ahead of a meeting of its top leadership today in Abuja to consider

reports on the field-testing of the machine that took place last Saturday in 12 states that it was satisfied CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Ex-Ivorean First Lady jailed for 20 years }50 Travel Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP govs: APC, party of deceit, fraud Johnchuks Onuanyim, Temitope Ogunbanke and Mojeed Alabi

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday took turn to tell Nigerians why they should re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan. The governors, who gathered in Lagos at a programme organised by the PDP Governors' Forum (PDPGF), urged Nigerians not to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, as he has nothing to offer. The governors, including Chief Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Mr. Bala James Ngilari (Adamawa), Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Chief Jonah Jang (Plateau), Mr. Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River), described APC as a party that thrives on deceit and fraud. According to them,

Nigerians will be better off retaining the PDP in power. Their comments, however, drew quick rebuttal from the APC, which dismissed, among others, their allegation that Buhari would serve only one term in office. Akpabio, chairman of the PDPGF, said at the interactive session with the media and civil society organisations that voting for APC would not solve the problem of corruption, considering the fact that Buhari and other past heads of state were worse that the government they overthrown. He added that only Jonathan-led PDP government had fought corruption effectively with the creation of strong institutions. "PDP wants a corruption-free Nigeria. It is important to note that the PDP has done a lot in the fight against corruption since the coming of democracy, particularly under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

"But, we abhor the politicisation of corruption by military veterans. We know what Buhari did after he indicted our respected leaders like Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Dr Alex Ekwueme and others of corruption. These military veterans and their cohorts are today still trying to use the same old trick to hoodwink our people. "Questions that come to mind are: Who are the people talking about corruption? Who are the main financiers of the opposition? How did they make their money? We cannot fall prey to the same old trick. We are wiser today. "Buhari is still thinking of using the same subterfuge to deceive us today. We dare not allow anyone to use a 50-year-old trick to destroy our democratic values," he stated. Akpabio also said the APC presidential candidate lacked the ability to govern Nigeria. Aliyu, who chairs the Northern State Governors' Forum, also expressed displeasure at the emergence of Buhari as APC presi-

dential candidate. He said Buhari's victory would rob the North the opportunity to produce a president in 2019 as he would only serve one term in office. He took a swipe at those describing 16 years of the ruling PDP as a waste in Nigeria, saying the party has transformed the country. He also debunked the report by Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, that seven PDP governors are talking with APC, with the aim of defecting to the opposition party. He said Buhari could not preside over Nigeria effectively and those backing him were doing so to extend their looting to the national level. He added that voting for Jonathan will give the North an opportunity to produce a president in 2019. On his part, Lamido described APC as comprising disgruntled politicians driven by hate and anger, adding that the party cannot be trusted with the presidency.

In his remarks, Fayose described Buhari as too old for the job. Fayose said Buhari would end up as a shield for some people to loot the treasury. "Nigeria must not be misled, they must vote for people who have the mental capacity, Buhari is too old. "I have caught the APC red-handed on Buhari's health, his official age is 74 while my mother is 73 years. I know how she looks now. Buhari is my father. I am not after him but we must avoid the banana peel the APC has put before us. "North must be patient for four years as Jonathan spending another four years will give the North an opportunity for eight years," he stated. In his contribution, Jang said he was yet to collect his Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) and warned the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disenfranchising millions of Nigerians. Mimiko also defended

L-R: Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Mu'azu Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Jonah Jang (Plateau), at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum interactive session with the media and civil society organisations in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE.

Jonathan fires Agwai as SURE-P chairman Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan has relieved General Martin Luther Agwai of his appointment as chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The sack of the former Chief of Defence Staff is coming few days after he

spoke at the 78th birthday celebration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where he said change of leadership in the country was inevitable and that the country’s leaders must accept it and move with it. General Agwai had also cautioned the military to stay out of partisan politics if they should win the war against Boko Haram

insurgency and other security challenges. President Jonathan in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, however said the decision was in furtherance of his efforts to continuously re-energise and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery. The president has therefore approved the

appointment of Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new Chairman of SURE-P. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Arts and Law. According to Abati, Akau comes to the job with years of experience as a high-level administrator in the nation’s public

service. "His record of service includes tenures as Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Education Board and Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission,” he said. President Jonathan also thanked the General Agwai for his service to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Jonathan's tenure, saying no president since 1999 has come close to his achievements in office. He said voting for Jonathan who convoked the National Conference would allow speedy passage of the over 600 resolutions made by the delegates. But in a swift reaction to the allegations against the party and Buhari by the PDP governors, the APC accused them of embarking on a campaign of calumny. It dismissed claim by the PDP that Buhari will spend only one term in office. The party, in a statement against the backdrop of the allegation by PDP governors that the opposition party intentionally fielded septuagenarian Buhari for the presidential race as part of a plot to deny the North of twoterm presidency, said his constitutionally-guaranteed two-term of office would not be abridged, if elected. The statement, issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described as myth the PDP's allegation, aimed at causing friction between the north and south geopolitical zones It said: ''The APC will not abridge the right of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to spend the constitutionally-guaranteed two terms as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if elected in the March 28th poll. ''No conditionality whatsoever was attached to Gen. Buhari's candidacy. He won the party primaries fair and square in a globally-acclaimed transparent manner and he was neither a compromise nor a consensus candidate; hence there is no need for him to make a deal with anyone. ''We are therefore telling Nigerians to disregard the tales by the moonlight which some PDP elements are yarning in their desperation to muddle the waters ahead of the forthcoming elections and create disaffection between a section of the country and another''. The party stated that it had ignored the myth all long because it was being peddled by fringe elements in the PDP, but decided to put the record straight once and for all after top officials of the ruling party started parroting the claim. ''This myth that Buhari will spend one term, after which power will return to the South-West, is along the same line as the outlandish claim that our CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Travel Advisory

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

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

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

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

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

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

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

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

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

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

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

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

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

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

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

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

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

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

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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

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

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

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

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

DHQ recalls 4,000 dismissed soldiers Our Correspondent

bout 4, 000 soldiers from different military units, who were said to have been summarily dismissed by their respective unit commanders now have cause to smile as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has ordered their "rejab" into the military. The word rejab, in military parlance, means reabsorption. New Telegraph gathered from a military source yesterday that the decision to reabsorb the soldiers, who were part of the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, was taken after the authorities discovered that the commanders' action was ultra vires. The affected soldiers, it was gathered, were summarily dismissed for alleged cowardice and other offences. However, a senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commanders lacked the authority to summarily dismiss the soldiers. According to him, the military high command is conscious of promoting justice and fairness in the

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31oC

27oC

Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

39oC

24oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

27oC

19oC

Storm

KANO

38oC

19oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

38o C 26oC Thunder Storms

IBADAN

36oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

31o C 24oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 21oC Mostly Sunny

37o C 25oC Thunder Storms

Armed Forces and that informs why it does not deviate from the Armed Forces Act, which guides its operations. He said: "The Defence Headquarters has ordered the rejab of about 4000 soldiers who were accused

of cowardice and other offences against military rules and were summarily dismissed. "Most of them are infantry soldiers from different military units. "One of the reasons for the well-intentioned

action of the Defence Headquarters is because the summary trial, in the first instance, was ultra vires; beyond the powers of the various unit commanders. "Under Section 124 (6) of the Armed Forces Act,

Cap A 20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, the commanders do not have powers to try such offences like cowardice and other related offences summarily." Several efforts to reach the Director of Defence

Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, for official comment, did not yield result, as calls to his phone line did not go through. He had not replied to a text message sent to him as at 7p.m. yesterday.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha (left) and Chief Executive Officer, AOP Logistics Limited, Mrs. Enitan Rotimi, at the launch of the Stanbic IBTC Blue Women Network and commemoration of the International Women’s Day in Lagos...yesterday.

INEC rebuffs pressure to drop use of machine for general elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

with the outcome of the exercise and saw no reason why it should go back on its decision. Irrespective of its decision, the PDP, which has catalogued the defects of the machine observed during the field test and submitted to the electoral umpire, said it was planning a meeting with INEC officials on the need for the commission to review its position. But the ruling party received a knock from Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who said the PDP-led Federal Government had no excuse for opposing the use of the machine for the elections. Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, in a statement yesterday, said after reviewing the conduct of the mock accreditation on Monday, the commission was satisfied that the objective of using the SCRs to verify Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) had been fully met. "In this regard, there were a few issues in some states during the public demonstration. Overall, 59 per cent of voters who turned out for the demonstration had their fingerprints successfully authenticated. "But the commission, in agreement with registered political parties, had provided in the approved

guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections, that where biometric authentication of a legitimate holder of a genuine PVC becomes challenging, there could be physical authentication of the person and completion of an Incident Form, to allow the person to vote," he said. Idowu, however, said the commission took a serious view of the high rate of the SCRs’ failure to authenticate voters’ fingerprints in some areas, particularly in Ebonyi State and had decided to thoroughly investigate the cause, as well as repeat the public demonstration in that state. "This demonstration will be conducted in the particular Registration Area involved in the last exercise, namely Izzi Unuhu (Abakaliki Local Government Area); as well as in Ibii/Oziza Registration Area (Afikpo North LGA). The repeat demonstration will be on Saturday, March 14th 2015. "INEC is satisfied that the use of SCRs in the 2015 general elections will add tremendous transparency and credibility to the accreditation process on Election Day. The commission hereby reassures the public that it will do everything necessary to ensure that the processes of the elections are seamless, free, fair, credible and peaceful,” he stated. However, PDP Deputy

National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the party had already submitted its observations on the field test of the card readers to INEC. The party had, in a statement on Saturday, expressed worry over what it described as reported lapses which, it said, included non-verification of voters’ fingerprints even after authenticating their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs), slow accreditation process as a result of poor Internet server operations in some locations, and apparent inadequate knowledge of the technology by both INEC officials and voters. Secondus asked the commission to address the non-uniformity in the finger print sensitivity level of the card reader machines, particularly as they related to different parts of the country. According to him, some persons residing in areas where the machine operated at high sensitivity level found the process of accreditation very difficult while those at areas where the machines operated at low sensitivity level found the accreditation process very easy. "Based on our investigations and what we observed during the test run, the machine has some defects which should be corrected by INEC and those who manufactured them

before the elections. INEC should not be carried away by rhetoric and propaganda published by the opposition. It is a matter of technical details, which must be taken very seriously. We must not politicise the matter at all," he added. He also asked INEC to investigate the rejection of the PVCs of some persons during the test run, saying that they might be the ones the Department of State Services (DSS) accused the APC of cloning. But Fashola, at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Lagos yesterday, wondered why the PDP has continued to reject the card reader for the elections if it had no ulterior intention. The governor, who described the excuses by the ruling party as baseless, wondered why the nation could spend so much time and energy on the usage of the card reader and PVCs to address electoral malpractices only to rubbish them a few weeks to the election. According to him, contrary the claim attributed to the PDP that PVC is new in the nation's electoral system, Nigerians, in the past, have used PVCs. He said: "Let's assume we have not used it before, why did he ask us to use PVC. Why did he go for PVC and the machine when he didn't want us to use it? You acquired the machines for

the card readers, you gave us the cards and you are now saying you don't want them again. That means the game is up!" He likened the PDP to a football club who was playing on its own soil, but lamenting that the ball and the pitch weren't good for the match, when the club was losing. He called on residents to vote for the party for sustained development on the axis. Fashola also told the traditional rulers in Eti-Osa Local Government, venue of the rally, to reject the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, as he will revoke their lands and give them to the Federal Government, if elected. Meanwhile, the Civil Society Organisations in its Situation Room yesterday endorsed the use of PVCs and card readers for the general elections. It, however, urged INEC to make available alternative card reader machines at all polling booths during the elections. The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, who spoke in Abuja on behalf of the CSOs after assessing the outcome of the field test of the card readers, also called on the commission to intensify efforts on voter education and civic education programme on PVCs.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Terrorism: Senators hail Jonathan, troops Chukwu David Abuja

verwhelmed by the recent achievement in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators yesterday put aside their partisanship and commended President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian troops as well as the sub-regional forces for the successes recorded so far. The senators, who were hitherto critical of the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the insurgency in the region, eulogized the president and the combined military forces in the recent feats in recapturing lost towns and villages from the sect. The commendations were made mainly by the senators from the affected region, who gave empirical testimonies to the fact that the lingering insurgency had begun to abate while socio-economic and political activities had started returning to normalcy in the areas that had been liberated by the troops. Senator Maina Ma'aji Lawan, representing Borno North Senatorial District, set the ball rolling, when he came up with point of order, citing Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended) for personal explanation. Lawan drew the attention of the Senate to the impressive performances of the Nigerian troops and the allied forces from the neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, in rooting out the Boko Haram insurgents and reclaiming lost

towns and villages. He said: "It is only fair, Mr. President, that this time around, when there is some cheering news, I should mention this to this Senate. I want to say that several territories hitherto inaccessible to Nigerian authorities have been liberated; Mungono which is a high military zone, housing a whole brigade of the Nigerian Army, has been liberated. Baga, my hometown, has been liberated. "The effort is on-going and I think that it is only fair that, no matter what is left, it is important that we appreciate what is being done, and I want to say that our troops are much more up and doing." Similarly, Senator Buka Abba Ibrahim (Yobe East) joined Lawan in applaud-

ing the soldiers for the courageous battle they had fought to reclaim lost territories from the insurgents, expressing optimism that, although his house was still being occupied by the wives and children of the terrorists, the whole area would soon be free from the infestation of Boko Haram. "I rise to fully support what Senator Maina has said. All the details he has given are correct with the exception of Bama and Gworza. There is not a single local government in the North-East under the Boko Harm control. Even Gulani and Gujuba have been liberated even though my house is still occupied by their wives and children, but we will allow them to stay on hu-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tries' armed forces that all joined in this war against insurgency.” In her own contribution, Senator Chris Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) commended the APC Senators for their courage and sincerity in appreciating the effort of the Federal Government in dealing with the security challenges in the North-East. "What we have seen this morning is statesmanship, and that is the way it should be and I want to say that we are proud of them for having the courage to speak truth at this time. It is important that when things were not going right, you had the courage to speak out, and that did help Nigeria a lot especially the armed forces. Also now, against

the grip of even their political parties, they are able to speak out and that is the way it should be,” Anyanwu said. President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, also commended the opposition senators for their non-partisan disposition in appreciating the Federal Government in its efforts to win the war against the Boko Haram. "I think we must commend our boys and girls that are in the field there, who have been going through these hardships. Clearly, with the right platform, the armed forces in this country will prove themselves that they are worthy of the international reputation that they have earned." Mark stated.

L-R: Wife of the author, Mrs. Mina Cole; Prof. Wole Soyinka; Chairman of the occasion and Publisher, The Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Ibru; the author, Dr. Dele Cole and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, at the launch of a book entitled "Modern & Traditional Elites in the politics of Lagos" in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Forex: CBN plans sanctions against exporters foreign exchange market we will ban them from accessing foreign exchange in the Nigerian foreign exchange market," He said much of the pressure on the naira over the past year was due to activity of importers and exporters, the former frontloading purchases of hard currency while the latter were hoarding their overseas cash earnings. The resulting impact on the currency markets has forced the CBN to intervene, and this has led to a steep drop in Nigeria's foreign cash reserves to four to five months' worth of imports. Forcing exporting and importing companies to

manitarian grounds. "So, I am in total support and there is need for us to show total appreciation for what is happening, not only to Nigeria but also Chad, Niger and Cameroon too; we must also appreciate what they have done," he said. Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), on his part, also acknowledged the commendable performance of the Joint Military operations in the North East, pointing out that there were provable facts that the soldiers had more than before, demonstrated commitment and patriotism towards defeating the terrorists. He said: "I want to join my colleagues to commend the Nigerian Armed forces and the other coun-

comply with existing regulations on their use of the currency market was now necessary. "Another thing we will do is that we will ask the banks not to loan money to them (exporters who don't repatriate hard cash on time)," he said, saying the measure would come into effect soon, but declining to give a date. Emefiele estimated that some $3-4 billion of proceeds due to be repatriated were outstanding, of which 40 per cent would come from oil companies. "We are saying... don’t put your foreign exchange in the hands of people who want to carry cash and take it abroad," he said. "Use it to import tangible items that are document-

ed." Also last month, the central bank introduced trading rules under which banks will be able to purchase foreign exchange only if they have a prior order from a corporate customer, such as a fuel importer or foreign mobile phone company looking to repatriate profits or dividends. The CBN Governor restated that the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) which was closed on February 18 would not be reintroduced. "The window is not closed. It is crushed and destroyed for life," said Emefiele. "Nothing is going to be opened again. We are not going to go back to a subsidised regime."

Akpabio, Lamido, Aliyu, Imoke, Mimiko, Fayose, others knock APC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has sworn to an oath to resign in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu once elected. ''The question to ask is: When will the PDP stop this campaign of calumny and character assassination against our candidates and leaders? When will they stop this one-day, one-lie nonsense? ''The truth is that Gen. Buhari's candidacy has brought out the worst in the PDP leadership and supporters, including Mr. President and his wife. Unfortunately for them, the more they campaign against our candidate, the more popular he becomes," APC added.

Besides, the party's presidential campaign organisation also condemned Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, for suggesting the kidnapping of APC leaders According to it, the governor should be blamed if any APC leader is abducted. Briefing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Director of Media and Publicity, APCPCO, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: "As we were preparing for this press conference, some of the PDP governors are meeting in Lagos and some of the language that are coming from that place are not particularly pleasant. "I want to consider what the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, said. I think that is terribly in a

bad taste that the governor will stand in the front of the television cameras and announced that to break the APC, all they needed to do is to kidnap two APC leaders and then the party would be broken. "For us in the APC presidential campaign, kidnapping is a serious threat to this country and it is not a matter that people should joke about, just as it is with Boko Haram. Of course, it is not surprising that for our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, the key issues are about the security and the lives and property of the people of this country and as you can see from his various speeches, this is a matter he intends to give his all."

News

WEDNESDAY, march 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Police shelve strike as authority promises salary increase storm over

Policemen dump planned strike as demands are tackled Juliana Francis and Emmanuel Onani

ersonnel of the Nigerian Police Force, who had been planning to embark on a national strike on March 28, have shelved it, following promises from the police authority that issues which are the bones of

contention would be settled after the forthcoming elections. For more than two weeks running, there had been a gathering storm, as policemen began to hatch plan to embark on a strike on March 28, which is also the day for the presidential election. The planned strike was due to non payment of salaries and allowances arrears due to personnel who were promoted during and after the administration of the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar.

The present IGP, Mr. Suleiman Abba,had been struggling to stop the impending strike. According to a senior police source, different types of signals and circulars had gone round police formations, actively checking the actions and movement of the personnel. Even then, the wind of the impending strike had continued to blow, until Abba was forced to send another message to his men, promising that their salary and allowances arrears, including other benefits owed them,

would be settled immediately after the elections. The personnel were also to expect salary increment. The source said: “There was a circular that stipulated that any policeman who comes to work must sign to show that he had booked in for duty on that day and he must also sign out as he is going off duty. A signal had been sent to all senior police officers that all money due to them, would soon be paid, that they should exercise patience. The signal stated that there was no money

available for now. There was another circular that states that our salary will soon be increased, but everything will be after election. The police authority said that all money due to us would be given to us. “The Force Headquarters got intelligence report about the impending strike and started sending the circulars. Truly, every one of us planned to go on strike, but who would take the first step?” Further reports say some aggrieved officers, who were promoted to

their next ranks, from that of Sergeant and Inspector, are affected and are protesting what they described as nonpayment of their salary arrears, which accrued between December, 2013 and January 2015. They are said to be angry that, their last salaries, reflected their new ranks, but did not include the outstanding months' arrears. However, a senior officer, who spoke on anonymity, said the March 28 date, was strategically chosen, to nudge Abba to address the issues.

Hate campaigns: Reps indict NBC, BON, NTA others Philip Nyam Abuja

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko (left), presenting sets of computers to the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, in Abuja …yesterday

Chibok girls: Shettima wants to embarrass FG — PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, alleged that the abduction of over 200 girls from Federal Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State last year, was planned to embarrass the Federal Government as well as to bring President Goodluck Jonathan and the armed forces into disrepute. The Director, Media

and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement said Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, should explain to Nigerians why he failed to provide security at the school the night of the abduction. "The questions are simple and clear: Did he or did he not ignore the Federal Government’s warning and that of WAEC when they advised him not to allow those examinations to take place

in Chibok? And secondly, did he or did he not guarantee the security of those girls? Thirdly, is it not true that he failed to deploy any security personnel to that school that night?" He added that the record has shown that despite his promises of ensuring that the girls would be protected, not one security operative, policeman, soldier, armed man or even adult was with those girls that night, except for one elderly gateman, who was

Candidates applaud JAMB for hitch-free UTME Mojeed Alabi

any of the candidates, including the visually impaired, who sat for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, especially in Lagos, have commended the Joint Ad-

mission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, for a putting up a process devoid of logistic challenges. At the different centres visited by New Telegraph yesterday, including Chams City, Ikeja; University of Lagos Infor mation,

Communication and Technology Centre and the ETC Centre, also in UNILAG, candidates said they were at peace with the computerbased- test mode, which for the first time gave them no option of the usual paper-pencil test mode.

unarmed. “The governor failed to keep his promise. He betrayed those girls; he let down Borno State and he let down Nigeria. Instead of him, begging God for forgiveness, working hard for the return of those girls and to assist in finding them, all that he does is to hurl insults at us. “This does not surprise us because that is the style and the way of the APC for you. They are a party of failed propagandists, liars, slanderers and deceitful men."

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

hristian members in the cabinet of the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, yesterday accused the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of inciting their followers against the All Progressives Con-

he House of Representatives yesterday accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Advertisers Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) of failing in their responsibilities to regulate operations of media organisations. Chairman, House Committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Buba Jibril, who made the accusation at a meeting with the regulatory organisations and some media organisations, said the failure was responsible for the widespread ongoing campaign of hate in the media among political parties. The committee also accused both the AIT and NTA of violating the media code by airing damaging and inciting documentaries against opposition candidates. He said. "Since the beginning of the electioneering campaigns, there has been noticeable disregard to the laid down rules and regulations governing political coverage and broadcasting. "It is most unfortunate that the regulators have allowed politics of slander in media adverts to take the centre stage,

which is now smearing the good image of the country" He lamented that despite several instances where the attention of the regulators were severally drawn to these hate campaigns, they could not act. Jibril expressed regret that in spite of the well spelt regulations in NBC, APCON and Nigeria Press Council (NPC) codes; there seemed to be deliberate breaches by media organisations, as well as their regulators. "Sadly, media organisations that should be non-partisan seem to allow their outfits to become platforms for the mudslinging tactics of desperate political players. This situation is higly unhealthy for the nation's nascent democracy" Speaking at the meeting, a member of the committee, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, accused the NTA of working for the ruling party against the opposition APC. She said while the NTA accepts adverts and documentaries from the PDP, it refused to accept same from APC, seeking to reply the PDP. Responding, Director General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mbah, explained that the organisation was doing its best within the provision of the law and has fined several radio and television houses for violating the media code.

Christians in Kwara Govt accuse CAN of bias gress (APC)’s presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari. The group, under the aegis of Conference of Christians in the government of Kwara State, claimed that some Chris-

tian recently reportedly assembled at a church in Ilorin, the state capital and accused the APC of alleged involvement in the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, march 11, 2015

News

national

APC alleges plot to disrupt party's road show in Ekiti Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said that it has uncovered plots by the Peoples Democratic Party to disrupt its planned road show in Ekiti State. According to APC, PDP had planned to use thugs, decked in APC T-Shirts to infiltrate the rally and instigate violence. In a statement issued in Lagos yesteday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also accused the PDP, working through Governors Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, of plot to cause mayhem in the South-West before, during and after the forthcoming elections to make free, fair and peaceful polls impossible; having realized that the PDP's stock in the geopolitical zone has been totally depleted, despite their massive bribery of some leaders in the region. It, therefore, called on security agents to be on the alert during the Road Show in Ekiti and indeed all through the south-west

as the elections approach. ''Scared stiff about the success of the one-millionmarch in Lagos last Saturday and worried about the successful rally being repeated in Ekiti and elsewhere in the south-west, the PDP has perfected a devilish plan to cause mayhem during the Ekiti Road Show. The APC T-shirts being sewn by Mimiko will be given to their thugs, who will then be mandated to infiltrate the Road Show and start a fight. ''Beyond that, the two 'generals' of the PDP in the South-west, Fayose and Mimiko, have perfected a scheme to take the military and police uniforms being sewn in Ado-Ekiti to Akure, where they will be worn by thugs for the purpose of intimidating APC supporters before and during the elections. Already a special task force under one Soji Bello has been set up in Ondo State with the express mandate of attacking and beating up all known supporters of APC in Ondo State while another team has been mandated to cause mayhem in the Hausa-dominated Sabo and Shasha areas of the Ondo State capital, Akure.

Aviation contributed N137.9bn to Nigeria's GDP — Chidoka Wole Shadare

he aviation industry in Nigeria made a quantum leap last year, surpassing its previous record of contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, disclosed yesterday that the sector contributed $0.7 billion (N137.9 billion) to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Chidoka disclosed this at the `Aviation Executive Business Forum 2015’ held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, yesterday. He said that the current GDP in Nigeria was $80.3 billion (N15,819 trillion) saying that the industry was grossly underutilised. This is an improvement to previous statistics, which put it to less than N120 billion. According to him, there are lots of untapped opportunities for the sector, especially in Lagos, which he said would have positioned itself as hub of aviation in West Africa. Chidoka noted that the sector has an impact on the environment, but

seeks to balance the debate about its future by highlighting the benefits it brings to so many people worldwide. “We also have weak corporate governance in the industry, poor incentives for private sector participation. Also the underutilised Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and under financed domestic airlines are also part of the problem". he said. The minister, however, said that with appropriate policies, program initiatives and incentives, this industry would pick up speed. “That is just exactly what the Nigerian aviation industry needs. By introducing some initiatives, we are beginning to feel the pulse of the industry. “Among other initiatives we strongly believe that the industry also needs an economic stimulus to drive it even faster than expected,’’ he said. Chidoka explained that economic stimulus for aviation would involve a package of financial incentives and support across the aviation value chain.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Kurt Otto; General Manager, Marketing, Martin Mabutho and Director/Zonal Manager, Nigeria Copyright Commission, Chris Nkwocha, at the MultiChoice anti-piracy non-secure decoder crushing in Lagos…yesterday

13 killed in Maiduguri blast Ahmed Miriinga Maiduguri

hirteen people were again killed yesterday, while several others were injured in a fresh Boko Haram female suicide bomber blast at El Kanemi roundabout of the Monday Market Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. It could be recalled that the suicide attack came barely two days

after the last Saturday’s triple blast in Maiduguri which killed over 60 people while 140 people were injured. An eye witness said that that the incident occurred at about 4:00pm, when a female suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), killing some people, while several others were injured. He said: “The blast killed the suicide bomber and many others while several oth-

Sacked speaker: Court hears Fayose, others’ objection March 25 Akeem Nafiu

ustice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on March 25 hear a notice of preliminary objection filed by the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and other defendants in a suit initiated by the sacked Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin. The suit was filed by the sacked Speaker, his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, and 17 APC members of the House of Assembly to challenge their sack from office.

The defendants, included Dele Olugbemi (1st defendant), Samuel Ajibola (2nd defendant), Adeojo Alexander (3rd defendant), Adeloye Adeyinka (4th defendant), Israel Olowo Ajiboye (5th defendant), Fatunbi Olajide (6th defendant) and Olayinka Abeni (7th defendant). Others are: the Inspector General of Police (10th defendant), Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State (11th defendant), Mr. Owoseni Ajayi (12th defendant), Mr. Kayode Oso (13th defendant) and Chief Toyin Ojo (14th defendant).

NLC appeals to delegates for peaceful elections Yekeen Nurudeen

wenty four hours to its rescheduled Delegates' Conference, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has appealed to delegates to embrace peace and orderliness in the Congress' elections

to hold during the conference. The NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter OzoEson, who made the appeal in Abuja, yesterday, noted that delegates are the ones to decide how the process would go, urging them to do so with clean and open minds.

ers were injured and have since been rushed to Specialists Hospital Maiduguri for medical attention” “The body of the suicide bomber was scattered, as the IEDs blew off her head, hands, legs and others parts of her body. As such, nobody could identify the ages of the bomber,” he stated. A member of the civilian JTF in the area, Garba Gora, told our correspondent that 12 people were killed, while

14 others were injured and they have since condoned the area to avoid further explosion, as such blasts are always followed by another one. He said: “ I personally counted 12 corpses, while 14 others were injured and we have since rushed the injured ones to State Specialists Hospital for treatment and to avoid further damages, we have condoned off the area, as people always immediately rush to the scene to offer help.”

Nigeria exports rose to N17.2trn in 2014 –NBS Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

igeria attained favourable balance in her external trade last year recording an increase in her exports merchandise in excess of N17,203.9 billion on annualised basis. The amount represents a rise of N2,958.6 billion or 20.8 per cent over 2013 level, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data confirmed yesterday. NBS put the total value of Nigeria’s external merchandise trade at the end of Quarter Four (Q4), 2014 at N5,742.5 billion, indicating 11.9 per cent lower than the value (N6,518.5 billion) recorded in the preceding quarter. “At the end of 2014, Nigeria’s external trade stood at N24,435.3 billion. This was N3,174.2 billion or 14.9 per cent greater than the value recorded in 2013. This development arose from a sharp rise in the value of exports from N14,245.3 billion in 2013 to N17,203.9 billion in

2014, an increase of 20.8 per cent.” NBS explained that a slight increase of N215.6 billion, which amounted to only a 3.0% rise in imports, also contributed to the very favourable trade balance of N9,972.5 billion recorded in 2014. The crude oil component of total trade increased by N982.3 billion or 8.3% over the level recorded in 2013. On import component, NBS data showed Nigeria’s import trade stood at N1,888.1 billion at the end of Q4, 2014. This was 3.7% more than (N1,820.7 billion) recorded in the preceding quarter. According to NBS analysis of imports, “Machinery and transport equipment,” “Food & live animals,” and “Manufacturing” account for 15.5%, and 15.1% respectively in 2014. These commodities contributed the most to the rise in 2014, whereas commodities like “Crude inedible materials,” “Oils, fats & waxes,” the least, accounting for 1.3%, 1.2%, and 0.7% respectively.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

1,000 almajiris begin school in Niger

Pupils at one of the centres

OFF THE STREETS Niger State Government kicks off its Almajiri schools and begins to pick up children of school age from the streets Dan Atori

registered for admission. In order to streamline western and Quranic education so that it can catch particularly those who are wandering along the road and streets calling themselves almajiri, we have started the centres in earnest. “We have approved subjects,

like the religious knowledge subject and the normal lessons we learn in our conventional schools, so they have a dedicated curriculum. “It will not look like conventional and it will not look Quranic but there is a diffusion of the two so that they will learn in both ways.”

According to him, the word ‘almajiri’ means ‘a learner,’ but today it has been stigmatised. “When they call you almajiri, they think you are a beggar. A beggar in Hausa is called ‘mobarachi,’ a learner is called almajiri. Also, the Emir of Suleja and

Chairman of the Implementation Committee for the Almajiri Schools in the state, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim, admonished the teachers to give their best and ensure they are punctual. He said: “We have done the sensitisation and training of the teachers; we have done admission, and we started today (yesterday).” A teacher at the Islamic Integrated Education Centre in Minna, Mallam Bello Dauda Mohammed, said the centre had 80 pupils, adding that the pupils were happy. He said: “We start schools on Saturday to Wednesday. Thursdays and Fridays are our weekends as Islamic school. We resume 8am and close 2pm daily.” Also, a female staff member, Safiya Ibrahim Yusuf, told our correspondent that the centre with 12 teaching staff, two nannies and two cooks would not admit more pupils for now. According to her, the centre will experiment with the 80 pupils to see its reception. She added that if there were more pupils, they would be referred to other centres. It was gathered that implementation committee has started going round the town of Minna to pick up almajiris who have refused to attend the schools.

MINNA

he long awaited Integrated Islamic Education popularly known as Almajiri School has taken off in Niger State as over 1,000 pupils resumed classes yesterday. The Commissioner for Basic Education, Mallam Danladi Abdulhammed, described the take-off of the school as a breakthrough. Abdulhammed said the state government had built nine Integrated Islamic Education centres or Tsangaya Education Centres spread across the state. He said: “We have 1,000 pupils for now that we have

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Gunmen kill Benue Deputy Eight arrested for robbery Director of Education Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ear has gripped the residents of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State following the killing of the Deputy Director of Education who is also a teacher at Government Model College, Otukpo, by gunmen. The deceased, Mr Akpa Onyilo, had left his home located at Oyigebe Street on the evening of Wednesday, March 4 for a Christian Wake at the Agbenyojo area of the town. But the body of the father of six was found by the roadside in the GRA area in the wee hours of the following day. The body was reportedly picked by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and deposited at the General Hospital in Otukpo. His head was said to be badly damaged while his face was

swollen, making it difficult for people to recognise him. Onyilo’s younger brother, Gabriel Ogbole Onyilo, who is a teacher at Saint Francis College, Otukpo, described the death of his brother as a mystery. He said: “His death is a mystery to us. Where his body was found is a place he hardly goes to. We leave everything to God Almighty to judge.” On her part, the wife of the deceased, Ada Onyilo, a teacher in the Department of Home Economics, College of Education, Oju, expressed shock at the sudden death of her husband. The widow said she had left everything about her husband’s death in the hands of God. The Principal of Government College, Otukpo, Godwin Ochube, described the late Onyilo as a hardworking member of staff who had contributed immensely to the development of youths in the area through his teaching.

Aderanti

Gbemisola Oyedepo

olice in Lagos State have arrested eight suspected armed robbers and recovered three pistols and 14 cartridges from them. The suspects were arrested in different parts of the metropolis and on different dates. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the arrest, said they were already assisting police in their investigations. Three of the suspects, Manven Bali, Chekwube Emeka and Ejike Chukwuemeka, were ar-

rested about 8pm on February 9 at their hideouts at Ojodu and Ikorodu areas of the state. They were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos. The police recovered two locally-made double-barrelled pistols and 14 cartridges from them. “Since the arrest of the three men, they had confessed to different robberies they carried out in Lagos and Ogun states. We are already hunting for one Alhaji Nuhu who the suspects claimed is the receiver of their stolen goods,” Nwosu said. Also, a police patrol team, attached to Ketu Division, while on a ‘stop-and-search’ duty at Mile 12 area, intercepted a Toyota Starlet car, marked XA 989 REL, with Lagos commercial colour. The car was driven by one Kunle Owori of No.15, Anike Abu Street, Bariga with two occupants. On sighting the police, one of the occupants jumped out of the vehicle and took to his heels, while the police arrested Abiola Shittu and Owori.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Group seeks probe of father of four’s killing Shola Adefuwa

he Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has asked the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, to fish out and prosecute the killers of Peter Eyitayo. Eyitayo was shot and killed on January 22, by gunmen at Agege area. It was later alleged that policemen killed. But nobody had been able to prove that police killed the father of four. The Executive Secretary of CCHR, Comrade Prince Toyin Raheem, said that it was saddening and that almost two months after Eyitayo was killed, the police were yet to fish out his killers. He said: “The police are treating the issue with levity. This lukewarm attitude of the police, to arrest the mastermind and killers, is an indirect confirmation of the popular saying that some people are above the law. “CCHR hopes that the police would prove the saying wrong by taking immediate action to bring the perpetrators to book.” Raheem added that CCHR was ready to provide legal practitioners to prosecute perpetrators in court, if they were eventually caught. “What we required from the police is to arrest and charge the suspects to court. This is a crime and for any act of criminality to be charged to court, it must emanate from the police,” he said. Raheem said that family members of the late Eyitayo were in distress.

Five injured in Lagos gang war Taiwo Jimoh

ive persons were injured while 25 vehicles were damaged when two rival gangs clashed at Mushin in Lagos. The residents said that the clash on Monday night between the rival groups started at Osmask Hotel on Abiodun Street and extended to other streets. The hoodlums destroyed about 25 vehicles parked on the streets and looted shops. The violent clash started around 11:30pm when some thugs from Johnson Street allegedly attacked members of a rival group from Coker Street, while they were relaxing at Osmask Hotel. A resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “What I heard was that some hoodlums from Johnson Street, with the support of Fadeyi boys, attacked those from Coker who were enjoying themselves at a hotel in the neighbourhood.

One of the vandalised vehicles

“Some people, who were still outside when the incident started, were robbed of their belongings. Now we cannot trade. We are afraid of reprisal attacks. We learnt that they said they are coming back to kill some of the boys on Coker Street.” When our correspondent visited the area, shattered windscreens littered the

Arrest perpetrators of Lagos mayhem, RTEAN tells police Shola Adefuwa

he Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Muhammed, has called on the police to investigate the recent crisis at Oshodi, Lagos where four people were killed and several others injured. Muhammed, who said that property and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed, urged the police to bring the perpetrators to book. The chairman accused politicians of inciting the crisis

which led to bloodbath at Oshodi market. Muhammad said that the ‘do or die’ ambition of some politicians was responsible for the ugly incident at Oshodi. He said politicians polarised the National Union of Road Transport Union (NURTW), inducing its members with money, which resulted to rivalry and rancour. The chairman insisted that disgruntled members of the union backed by their political godfathers ignited the crisis. He said: “NURTW members should learn from RTE-

Alleged rape: Group demands DPO’s probe report Juliana Francis

he Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has called on the police hierarchy to make public the report of the probe into the allegation of rape against a Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, who made the demand yesterday in Lagos, said that rather than being reprimanded, the then DPO, Mr Adekunle Awe, a Superintendent of Police (SP), had been promoted. Awe allegedly raped a 31-year-old female detainee, identified as Miss Akinwunmi, in his custody on April 15, 2014. According to Nwanguma, the man is now the

ground. A bus belonging to the Ansar-ru-deen Society of Nigeria was not spared. Alhaji Luqman Ajani, a member of the Islamic organisation, said: “We are tired of crisis in Mushin. We want a lasting solution to the fracas. We are not safe in Mushin. Look at the level of damage done to the vehicles parked

on the streets. “Where do they expect those whose vehicles were damaged to get money to buy new windscreens?” Mr Saheed Bello, an automobile mechanic whose workshop was also attacked, said: “Three of my customers’ vehicles parked in my workshop were damaged. “I was at home when I received a call that the hoodlums had gone on the rampage. When I got to my workshop, I discovered that cars I was working on no longer had windscreens. My colleagues and I had reported the matter at Alakara Police Station and Olosan Police Station.” Bello appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, to deploy police patrol teams in the area, to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Kenneth Nwosu, did not reply to the text message sent to his phone on the incident.

Akinwunmi

second in command at Area C Police Command, Surulere, Lagos. This is a great leap from being a DPO when he allegedly raped the suspect. The victim, Miss Akinwunmi, accused Awe of rape while she was in his custody. According to her, she

was arrested on about 1am on a Tuesday but was raped at about 10pm the same day. The victim added that after the incident, the man asked her to go inside a toilet in his office to clean up. She said: “He said I should wash, but I said no. He started shouting at me, saying he would make sure I and my brothers go to jail. I went into his toilet. There was a bucket filled with water. The water contained Dettol. I used it to wash.” The then Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, ordered the Lagos State Command to set up a panel to look into the rape allegation. Since then, the case appeared to have been swept under the carpet.

AN, where we channel our complaints and differences to a higher and appropriate authority for resolution. Union members should stop resorting to self-help, riot, killings or acts that could breach public peace. The bloodbath at Oshodi was uncalled for, unacceptable to any sane society. “There should not be any sacred cow in this case, because in RTEAN, we do not subscribe to violence as a means of settling dispute. This is because of close communication and understanding among us.” Muhammad also called the

Juliana Francis

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, yesterday remanded four persons in prison custody for allegedly duping some Nigerians of over N242 million in a fake investment deal. The accused, Emmanuel Nehemiah, Thomas Dauda Boman, Jemila Abdulrahman Garba and Francis Kato David, were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were arraigned yesterday alongside their companies - Geldaps Ezofom Services Limited and Geldaps Investment Nigeria Limited. They were arraigned before Justice M. M. Kolo on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and criminal breach of trust. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Head, Media and

Lagos State Government to implement Muiz Banire’s white paper signed by NURTW and RTEAN, to ensure a lasting solution for a peaceful co-habitation of the two bodies. He added: “The Lagos State Government should borrow a leaf from Ogun State, where the two unions operate one week on and one week off as it is being done in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry. This will ensure peace among the two unions and help security operatives to easily identify and apprehend criminals.”

Court remands four over N242m fake investment

The suspects

Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused allegedly swindled 50 subscribers to the tune of N242,178,272 in a bogus investment scheme. According to one of the victims, who invested N400,000, the accused promised them 50 per cent interest on any sum invested upon maturity after 60 days. Uwujaren said: “An-

other victim alleged that she invested N800,000 which she borrowed from one of the new generation banks but neither received the interest promised nor got a refund of the principal invested.” Kolo ordered that the suspects be kept in prison custody and adjourned the case till March 30 for trial.

News

SOUTH-WEST

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oyo Assembly issues warrant of arrest against AG Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against the State Accountant General, Mr. A.F. Oyadeyi and two top officials of the Ministry of Local Government to appear before it tomorrow for

defying an earlier summon and request to furnish it with information regarding probe of the excess crude oil account allocation expenses to the 33 councils in the state. The Assembly gave the order to the State Commissioner of Police yesterday to arrest and produce the three officers at its plenary sitting when the officials,

due to appear before it, failed to turn up. The other affected officers are: the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry/ the Director, Inspectorate for Local Governments, Mrs. Ogunesan and an administrative officer, who signed a reply to the House summons and request, regarding the excess crude oil account from 2011 till date, Mrs. B.O. Adebanjo.

Following disobedience of the summons issued last Thursday, the lawmakers frowned at the conduct, describing it as an affront. It rejected a letter sent by the ministry which attempted to provide answers to the Assembly’s queries. The letter explained that the ministry was only in possession of budget estimate and could not help the Assembly.

The Speaker, Honourable Monsurat Sunmonu, after reading the letter, threw the issue open for the legislators’ comments with Honourable Fakorede Farinto, saying it constituted a slight on the House. Farinto, noted that it had become the practice of the members of the executive arm of government to ignore the House summons and treat the legislative arm

of government as an appendage, wondering why this should be so, when even top functionaries of federal agencies such as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), University College Hospital (UCH), the judiciary and Police Commissioner who had been invited in the past could subordinate themselves to the constitutional authority of the Assembly.

Ekiti reiterates fight against maternal death Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State governor’s wife, Mrs. Feyi Fayose has assured that the state government would continue to combat child and maternal deaths, as well as enforce all relevant laws to protect the rights of women in the state. Fayose also said the Ayo Fayose administration has done creditably well in promoting and protecting the dignity of women in the state for them to be able to actualise their dreams. Speaking during the 2015 Women’s International Day in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Mrs Fayose said all the relevant laws like Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law and Equal Opportunities Law, were being fully applied to ward off all sorts of discrimination against women in the scheme of things.

The event was organised by the state government in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Explaining that the annual celebration was meant to celebrate women’s dignity across the globe, Mrs Fayose said the state government under Fayose had promoted women beyond the 35% affirmative action in political and other appointments. “Ekiti was the first state to domesticate Gender-based Violence Prohibition Law and Equal Opportunities Law and the reason is to protect the rights of women’s rights. “These laws are meant to curtail all forms of discrimination in the areas of appointments, promote their social and economic well-being, combat poverty and ensure that they could compete favourably with their male counterparts,”she said.

Lagos PDP chair sued over candidate’s substitution Akeem Nafiu

n aspirant for the House of Representatives, Abdulkabir Lawal has approached a Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking to restrain the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from according recognition to Adebola Gbabijo, as a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate. Lawal, who vied for the party’s ticket in Lagos is asking for an interim injunction to bar INEC from recognizing Gbabijo as the the PDP’s flag-bearer for the April 11 election. Respondents in the suit are the state party’s Chairman , Captain Olatunji Shele, Gbabijo, PDP and the INEC. In the suit, Lawal accused Shelle of trans-

ferring his mandate to Gbabijo, who contested the primary election with him. According to him, he polled 29 votes to defeat Gbabijo who polled 28 votes in the election. At yesterday’s proceedings, the plaintiff, through his lawyer, Dr. Yemi Oke, in a motion exparte, urged the court to make an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from recognising Gbabijo as the PDP candidate for the Epe Federal Constituency. But Justice Yunusa, rejected his request. Instead, he ordered that the respondents be served with the court’s processes. “The respondents should be served with all the processes in relation to the motion on notice,” Yunusa said.

L-R: Oyo State Comptroller of Immigration and Chairman of the occasion, Mr Innocent Akatu; guest Lecturer, Mr Olatunde Olayemi; Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Prof. Olufemi Taiwo and Director, Policy Engagement and ICT, Prof. Nyemutu Robberts, at a seminar on combating human trafficking in Ibadan…yesterday

Students seek clearance for Obanikoro Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

tudents from the South-West geopolitical zone, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), have urged the Senate to clear former Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Musiliu Obanikoro, who was recently re-nominated by the Presidency. They hinged their call on the fact that Obanikoro was also a former Senator. Urging members of

the Senate not to break the long standing tradition of allowing former senators smooth sail during screening on the floor, the students said the Senate should not heed the move by some Senators bent on stalling Obanikoro’s re-appointment. In a speech by NANS’ Coordinator, Zone D, Sunday Asefon, during a pro-Obanikoro rally in Ado-Ekiti, the students urged the Senate to shun politics of bitterness for the sake of moving the country forward. NANS described Obanikoro as a worth-

while representative of the good people of the Southwest, urging the Senate to give him expeditious screening. Asefon urged the Senate to disregard the anti-Obanikoro rally held by some members of NANS in the zone, led by one Tosin Ogunkade, stating that the anti Obanikoro’s reappointment on the basis of his alleged involvement in rigging during the June 21 governorship poll in Ekiti State was baseless. Asefon appealed to Senators on the platform of the All Progres-

sives Congress (APC), particularly those from the Southwest, to eschew bitterness, saying the present scenario was a replica of how Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, lost the speakership of the House of Representatives to Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on the altar of high-wired politics. He said: “We call without hesitation on the leadership of the Senate to shun politics of bitterness and hypocrisy by allowing Senator Obanikoro take his bow before the distinguished senators in accordance with the agelong tradition.”

Osun workers’ protest non-payment of salaries Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

ngry workers in the Osun State civil service yesterday protested the non-payment of their salaries in Osogbo, Osun state capital with a plea to the government to speedily off-set their outstanding salaries. The workers threatened to continue with their protest until their demands were met. Armed with different placards that read:

“Aregbesola is inconsiderate for not paying our salaries,” “ Is it when death claims our lives in hundreds that the government will respond to our plights”? “ The present government is too wicked and we will try all we can to force the payment of our salaries, among others, decsribed the hardline posture of the government towards their plights as inhuman. Speaking with newsmen on the matter, the Chairman, Senior staff

Association, Comrade Olatunji Akinyemi said it was unfortunate that the state government refused to pay workers’ salaries in the past five months and appealed to it to have a re-think on the matter. Akinyemi stated that many workers in the state had lost their lives as a result of the development, while scores are presently on hospital beds due to illhealth. In his reaction, Director, Media and communication to Aregbesola, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, ap-

pealed to workers in the state to exercise patience on the matter, saying the governor would soon pay their salaries. He said as a responsible government, we can only appeal to our workers and those connected with them for understanding. What this time calls for is sober reflection on the part of all parties as all hands must be on deck to ensure that we all navigate this stormy waters and get rid of those who are bent of holding the people down”.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015

Campaigns

General elections

Edo politicians sell property

Mbeki to Nigerians: You must accept outcome of polls

Flag bearer

Interview

AD adopts Jonathan, expels presidential candidate

Buhari is on vengeance mission – Ogunlewe

Politics TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE chronicles series of accusations the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have levelled against each other in the build-up to the March 28 and April 11 general elections

Season of accusations

he trademark for the 2015 general elections has practically become accusations and counteraccusations from the political class in Nigeria. In fact, the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), seem to be taking the leading role in the ‘Seasons of accusation.’ Since the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammadu Buhari as PDP and APC presidential candidates respectively in December 2014, both parties have engaged each other in a serial accusations and counter-accusations. Hardly will a day pass without the two parties accusing each other of sinister motive ahead of the general elections. The allegations they level against each other are sometime ridiculous. The spokesmen of the parties – Olisa Metuh (PDP) and Lai Mohammed (APC) – and directors of media of the parties’ presidential campaign organisations – Femi Fani-Kayode (PDP) and Malam Garba Shehu (APC) are in the vanguard of these accusations. Amaechi financing Buhari The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State, Tonye Princewill, last December accused Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, of selling the state’s assets to an indigenous oil com-

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Buhari

pany, Sahara Energy, and using the fund that accrued from the sale to finance APC activities. Princewill alleged that the over $800 million realised from the sale of the state assets like Olympia Hotel, Abonemma Wharf, Risonpalm and the power generating stations in the state sold to Sahara Energy was never lodged into the coffers of the state government. “Incidentally, the partners in the company (who were) uncomfortable with the obvious attempt to finance the politics of Amaechi hesitated to approve the transactions. But a prompt threat from the Rivers Government made them rethink. Can anyone say they did not know what the money would be used for? “Amaechi is one of the chief financiers of the APC election and a close ally of Buhari,” he said. The PDP gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, also accused Governor Amaechi of spending no less than $33 million to finance Buhari’s campaign. Amaechi has dismissed the allegations, saying that he is not funding APC or Buhari’s campaign with Rivers State resources. He also challenged those accusing him of using the state resources to fund APC to show any proof or bank account through which he was sending money belonging to the state to his party.

Jonathan

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

The APC leaders begged for the speaking engagement... The information at our disposal indicated that no less than N5 billion was budgeted for the London jamboree

Buhari’s WASC result ‘forged’ PDP on January 21 dismissed the statement of result released by the Government College Katsina, as the University of Cambridge West African Schools Certificate results of Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the document released by the school was “forged, manipulated and fraudulently procured.” Fani-Kayode said: “The results sheet which was attributed to the Cambridge examination body is clearly a super imposition of one document on another. “Our conclusion is that the documents purportedly released by Government College (Pilot) Katsina, upon which the APC presidential candidate hopes to bury the doubt about his eligibility for next month’s election are forged, manipulated and fraudulently procured. They are therefore untenable in fact and in law. Fake poll for Buhari Metuh on January 5, accused APC of plotting fake poll for Buhari. He said that his party’s findings reveal that the APC leaders are already intensifying effort to compromise some section of the media so as to ensure that the poll packaged by its foreign consultants is widely publicised. His words: “It is not surprising that the APC and its presidential candidate will resort to organis-

ing a kangaroo opinion rating in a failed attempt to cover up their inadequacies and manipulate public perception in their favour. “This APC phantom poll has been designed in such a way to make the Nigerian public believe that 75 per cent of the voting population is in support of General Buhari.” Hacking of INEC database The DSS on January 7 accused APC of an elaborate plot to hack into the voters’ registration data base of INEC, alleging that the purpose was to clone voters and party membership cards to match those in the data base. DSS spokesperson said the claim of the security agents was based on what it allegedly recovered from the invasion of the APC data centre in Lagos on November 22, 2014. She also alleged that the DSS also discovered that the APC registered under-aged persons including several infants and babies, foreigners and security personnel as members of the party. But the APC described the security service findings as hogwash, a “disservice to Nigeria and an embarrassment to all intelligence-gathering organisations around the world.” He said the development was CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Politics

WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo politicians sell property to fund campaigns Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

here are strong indications that politicians vying for elective positions at the national and state levels in Edo State may have gone bankrupt as some of them have reportedly put up their properties for sale to fund their campaigns. New Telegraph’s findings revealed that property agents in the ancient capital city are making brisk business from the deals as desperation to

meet up with campaign expectations, have made some politicians to resort to selling their properties at give-away prices. After the break occasioned by election postponement, campaigns have picked up again with consultations at units and wards levels gradually gaining momentum. Investigations revealed that choice properties located within Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) have been marked for sale with “Property for Sale” boards stationed at various spots where imposing buildings are

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

located with phone numbers of popular agents and those of possible owners for quick and urgent contacts and eventual purchase. Findings indicate that some of the choice properties are owned by

known prominent politicians and businessmen who are desirous of giving them out for sale. It was further learnt that bulldozers have been deployed to some of the properties as those who have taken possession of the old structures are ready to take possession after payment of such properties. Sources close to some of the candidates jostling for the national and state house of Assembly, who pleaded for anonymity, said paucity of funds is major challenge to their principals’ campaigns.

I’ve no plan to return to PDP –Atiku Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has restated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the success of its presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and other party candidates in the March 28 and April 11 general elections. Atiku, who made the assertion against the backdrop of reports in a section of the media of his purported return to the fold of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that his membership of the APC is unwavering and never been up for bargaining. In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku said: “I remain irrevocably committed to the APC, as I promised in my concession speech at the conclusion of our party’s presidential primaries and has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari and other

candidates of our great party at the general elections.” Atiku said the reports of his purported return to the PDP or any other party is the handiwork of mischief-makers aiming at pitching him against other leaders of the opposition party. “For the avoidance of doubt, I’m unequivocally committed to the unity of APC and that it will take more than the antics of mischief-makers to break that bond. “My return from Adamawa, where I convened a stakeholders’ meeting and reconciled disagreeing camps within the party, towards ensuring victory for the APC bears eloquent testimony of this commitment. “I have backed my words and commitment with my resources to ensure that I bring my influence and support to bear on our party’s march to victory at all levels in the general elections. That should be enough to shut up mischief-makers bent on derailing the APC’s success at the March 28 and April elections,” he said.

Nwabueze, Agbakoba back INEC’s card reader Wale Elegbede

A APC Taraba State gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Aisha Alhassan (left), with the party’s vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during the party’s campaign in Jalingo …yesterday

My blueprint will turn Abia to mega city – Udensi Norman Obinna

he Abia State governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance, (PPA), Sir Chikwe Udensi, has assured residents of the state that his blueprint will transform Abia into a mega city if elected. Udensi, who gave this assurance on Monday in Aba when he and Mascot Uzor Kalu were hosted by members of Club 25, also said that his administration will not borrow funds from anywhere to rebuild Aba as the city alone has the capacity and the human resources to generate more than enough fund to sustain Abia State. “Our people have suffered a lot and are still suffering. My objective is to create a better Abia where we will all be proud to call our own and I want to assure you all that if it is a curse, we shall surely reverse it,” he said.

He said he has been able to realise through his tour of the state and his recent meeting with the Aba Shoemakers and Allied Leather Products, Cooperative Union and Aba Leather Cluster Elders Forum the hidden treasure which will not only boost Abia State economy to an enviable height but also as a tourist centre in the long run. “Aba alone has approximately 100,000 shoemakers in its shoe sector exporting over one million pair of shoes to other African countries and with the population of Nigeria said to be 160 million or thereabout, with each of the shoemaker able to sell as little as two pairs of shoe, Abia State will be making about N680 billion annually,” Udensi said. According him, with that discovery, his priority if elected will be to expand, decongest Aba and create a new Aba that will compete with the

best cities of the world in terms of infrastructure with world class trade zone well equipped with contemporary machines that will place “Made in Aba” products at international level. He further said that as part of his plan to rebuild Abia, especially Aba, he has already had an understanding with Julius Berger and will move them to Abia State once he is elected governor. He added that his passion to develop Abia State is so strong that he

has to stop all his adverts and jingles and channel the funds into road construction with the aim of completing at least 30 roads in Aba to save the people the agony of rainy season until May 29th when he will assume office as the governor of Abia State. He however donated an undisclosed amount of money to Club 25 and thank them for his induction and for adopting him and Kalu as their candidates for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

head of the March 28 and April 11 general elections, foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), yesterday threw their weight behind the use of card readers for the rescheduled polls. Speaking at a media briefing organised on the aegis of Project Nigeria, the duo said the use of card readers for the presidential and other elections would eliminate rigging. According to Nwabueze, “in the past, we have been embarrassed by rigging of elections in Nigeria. The card reader introduction by the independent National Electoral (INEC) is a good innovation. We support it but urge INEC to do everything to make sure it works,” he said. Answering questions

on which party the group is rooting for ahead of the polls, the legal luminary said the question is absurd, insisting that the group was only working for the interest of Nigeria. “Am not going to vote so it’s not necessary to talk about who I will vote for or who I support. I do not even have the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and I am on a wheelchair and so cannot go out to vote,” he said. Speaking on the issue, Agbakoba, who is the Project Nigeria Action Committee Chairman, said supporting the use of the card reader does not mean supporting that INEC should disfranchise any eligible voter. “The use of the PVC has been a big issue among political parties and we need to dismiss the noise. We intend to create frameworks to assist Nigerians in making the right choice during the elections.”

Jonathan meets PDP N’Assembly candidates Anule Emmanuel Abuja

head of the March 28 and April 11 general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a private meeting with National Assembly candidates on the platform of the Peoples Dem-

ocratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting is in continuation of his consultation with major stakeholders ahead of the elections. The president met separately with the candidates zone by zone to discuss modalities that would give the ruling party an edge

over the All Progressives Congress (APC). As at press time, the consultations were still ongoing. New Telegraph gathered that the parley is expected to continue on Wednesday (today) with candidates from other zones. President Jonathan

started the series of meetings with candidates last week and intends to take full advantage of the extension period by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He had also met with governorship candidates of the PDP and governors elected on the platform of the party.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015

Mbeki to Nigerians: You must accept outcome of polls Onwuka Nzeshi

ormer President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, yesterday told Nigerians to be prepared to accept the results of the forthcoming general elections irrespective of which political party or candidate emerges victorious at the end of the exercise. Mbeki, who spoke during his visit to the Abuja residence of the former Governor of Abia State,

lSays elections are not wars

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, said all political actors should approach the March 28 and April 11 polls with all sense of patriotism, stressing that elections in a democracy must not be reduced to a warfare where contestants take up arms against one another. “Elections are not war. So, there is no need for anybody to resort to violence in the process of conducting a democratic election. Indeed, all of

us in Nigeria should go about it peacefully so that whenever the results are announced, whoever wins, people must accept that peacefully and not respond in any violent manner,” he said. Mbeki, who has been in Nigeria for the past five days, held private meetings with the major actors in Nigerian politics including President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate

of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Major General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd), presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also met with former Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar where they reviewed Nigeria’s preparations for the elections. He disclosed that though he was in the

L-R: Member, Media Strategy Committee, PDP South-West, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara; former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; former Secretary, PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi and Alhaji Rosale Yusuf, after Magodo Residents Association declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in Lagos…yesterday.

AD adopts Jonathan, expels presidential candidate Wale Elegbede

he ranks of support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election got a boost yesterday when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) adopted the president as its flag bearer for the March 28 election. The AD also said its National Executive Council (NEC) has expelled its former National Secretary and presidential candidate for the 2015 elections, Rafiu Salau, stating that the NEC ratified the report of a disciplinary committee that found Salau culpable of anti-party activities. In his address at the

NEC meeting held in Lagos, the party’s national chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, said with the adoption of Jonathan, the AD party machinery and structures across the country is available for the president. He said: “Our decision to endorse Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did not come easy. We had to critically compare his record with that of General Buhari and we can affirm that Jonathan has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a true democrat.” While stressing that it did not see the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Buhari (rtd) as a true representative of patriotic, detribalised Northerners, the party said the opposition APC cannot change the tide of the country because its leaders has no moral conscience. “We are alarmed at the speed at which Buhari’s quest to become President of Nigeria has

almost turned from extremism to fanaticism to the extent that when he contested in 2011 and Nigerians rejected him. “If Buhari becomes the president of this country, God forbid, it will facilitate Bola Tinubu’s quest to conquer and acquire Nigeria as he did in Lagos and this may be the end of true democracy in Nigeria,” Akinfenwa said. The party said Salau who emerged as the factional presidential candidate of the party was expelled after NEC found him culpable of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, unruly behaviour to the chairman of the party, among others.

Give Jonathan a chance, Abdulsalami tells Nigerians Muhammad Kabir Kano

ormer Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan the benefit of doubt on his promise that general elections would hold as re-scheduled. Abubakar made the call while fielding questions from newsmen in Kano.

The former Head of State was in Kano to inaugurate the Kano Informatics Institute, Kura. He said Jonathan had in the recent Presidential Media Chart promised to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the polls on the new dates. “As our President, let us give him benefit of doubt and accept what he said,” Abubakar said. He, however, urged

INEC to ensure the conduct of free, fair and acceptable elections for the sustenance of the country’s democracy. According to him, “I do hope INEC officials will conduct free, fair and credible elections in the country,” he said. On his recent visits to President Jonathan and, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar said the visits were private.

The former Head of State said his meeting with the two leading candidates was strictly a private meeting. “My meetings with President Jonathan and Buhari were private ones not for the public consumption,” he said. He commended Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for turning Kano to a mega city. He said Nigeria needs people like Kwankwaso in government

country to receive the 2014 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, the visit had afforded him the opportunity to meet with the leadership of the country to feel their pulse about the forthcoming elections as well as convey the good wishes of the rest of Africa to Nigeria. “It is really to get a sense of what is happening, and to wish everybody success and communicate the message that all of us in the rest of Africa wish Nigeria well and we really hope that the elections would go very well and that whatever the outcome that will be announced, everybody will accept it. It should be a peaceful election,” he said. On whether he and other African leaders were apprehensive over what may happen to Nigeria in the course of the elections, Mbeki explained that his visit was not borne out of any fears but about the bonds of brotherhood as, according to him, Nigeria has been a second home to him. He disclosed that in the course of his visits and consultations, he had received assurances that the leadership of the country, the political par-

ties and state institutions such as the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were prepared to ensure that the election were conducted under a peaceful and transparent atmosphere. “Like I said, since I was in Nigeria it is important not just to read from your newspapers but to talk to the actual leaders to hear from them. Everybody I met has really reassured me that the leadership, political parties, state institutions like the Police and others, everybody wants peaceful elections, wants free and fair elections and wants peace after the results have been announced. So, I have no apprehension at all. I am quite sure that this leadership, the political parties, state institutions and so on are capable of ensuring that the election goes well,” Mbeki said. The visit to Kalu yesterday which was the final engagement before he flew back to South Africa saw Mbeki holding private talks with his host over lunch. Kalu commended him for the visit and remarked that Africa would remain proud of Mbeki for his outstanding legacies.

INEC takes delivery of fresh 170,000 PVCs in Ogun Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has delivered fresh 170,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to Ogun State. The state Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr. Dickson Atiba, who disclosed this to reporters at the INEC office in Abeokuta yesterday, said the additional PVCs were brought from its Abuja headquarters. Atiba, who spoke on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chief Timothy Ibitoye, noted that the remaining cards due for the state would be delivered on or before Friday. According to him, the new consignment brought from Abuja contained between 170,000 and 190,000 PVCs belonging to nine out of the 20 local government areas of Ogun State. The INEC boss disclosed that with the arrival of the new PVCs, the percentage of PVC received in the state had reached 65.6 per cent. He, however, put the percentage of PVC collection in the state based on registered voters at 50.1

per cent. Atiba put the number of registered voters in the state at 1,795,794 while the number of PVCs distributed as at Monday remained 899,214. He stated that the number of PVCs yet to be collected was 474,078. The REC allayed the fears of registered voters in the state that none of them would be disenfranchised in the rescheduled general elections. Meanwhile, in its bid to ensure that all Nigerians have equal rights to participate in the electoral process, INEC has said it will engage the services of physically-challenged persons in the country. The commission’s Desk Officer, Gender and Civil Society Organisation in Ogun State, Mrs. Adeola Osikomaiya, said this at a seminar organised in Abeokuta for members of Joint National Association of Persons with Special Needs (JONAPIWD) ahead of the rescheduled general elections. She said: “It is legal, lawful, constitutional and a civic responsibility to vote and be voted for. People with disabilities should therefore be encouraged and supported to vote and be voted for.”

16 Politics Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), believes that had the election held on February 14, the nation would have witnessed a massive chaos, occasioned by the poor distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Ogunlewe also believes that the tension in the country over the general elections is a function of a perceived injustice to the North in 2010. He spoke with GEOFFREY EKENNA As a PDP man, what do you think would have happened if the presidential election had taken place on February 14? Do you think PDP would have won? No, I don’t even see any election being successfully conducted on February 14. My own thinking is that there would have been so much chaos at the polling booths that the election would have been disrupted because a number of people would not be able to vote because they don’t have their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). And once a majority in the pooling booths cannot vote, you cannot imagine the chaos that would happen. So, it is better for us not to conceive the idea of holding the election on February 14 at all because over 32 million people had not collected their PVCs as at that time. The basic fact is that some PVCs have been stolen, converted and compromised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in some areas, so they are not available. In some areas, they have also targeted the non-indigenes of that state so that they would be disenfranchised; they would not be able to vote. So, what do you think those people could have done at the polling station rather than to cause chaos? So, it is unimaginable. My own appeal is that everybody that has stolen PVCs should return them. Let the real owners collect their PVCs so as to avoid chaos on the day of the election because there can still be chaos if people can’t find their PVCs and you don’t allow the Temporary Voters’ Cards (TVCs) to be used, there can be fight at the polling stations. And once they are in the majority, they will disrupt the election. In essence you believe that beyond the issue of the security that was given by Prof. Attahiru Jega, the issue of PVCs was even more threatening? Of course. In Ogun State, only about 32 per cent received their PVCs as at that time and there is this tendency of denying some

WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari is on vengeance mission – Ogunlewe non-Yoruba speaking people from collecting their PVCs in Lagos State. And they are many. I spoke with an APC official who described the idea of hoarding PVCs of non-indigenes as stupid. He said what is the guarantee that the non-indigenes are going to vote PDP? That is what I am saying. Don’t politicise the issuance of PVCs; give it out. Haven’t you heard of complaints that they are deliberately denying them? Why must you deny them? They can still also vote for you. So, you don’t need to deny them. Give it to everybody to avoid chaos at the polling stations. It is their right to vote. Their right to vote is in the constitution and they must be able to vote. The more you deny them, the more you invite chaos on the day of the election. Even if it is on March 28, there can still be chaos if substantial number of people is refused collection of PVCs.

You are a PDP man. The APC and their sympathisers are of the view that the election was postponed to allow the PDP room to manoeuvre because you people were not ready? We were ready; it was INEC that was not ready. If INEC had distributed all the PVCs, we would not have been making a noise. The issue of security would have been segregated to a particular area. We have hands that were not employed in each of the states; area boys, miscreants that are ready to cause confusion at the polling booths and their own would be worst because they have not been able to get their PVCs. So, it is a twin problem. So, we better solve one first, then we talk only about security. If everybody had collected their PVCs, who is going to say that they have not collected. Why does it appear to you that the PDP is playing down on the security side of the thing that Jega spoke about and focusing on PVCs? Jega talked about military writing him a letter that they won’t guarantee security on February 14 and 28 if the elections held on those days. What we see is what we talk about. It is the issue of the PVCs that I am aware of. Anything about security is another profession entirely. I am not privy to the details and we are not supposed to know the details. Anything that is security, it is the security people who can explain more. But what we are saying cannot be controversial. They said they have trained 150 officials per state but in Lagos State, we need about 9,000 and they are still going to train them. Who is going to train them and when? Do you think the issues of PVCs, Card Reader and the method INEC wants to use in the 2015 elections are faulty from the beginning? Of course. The Uwais report recognised this sort of problem and insisted on the usage of National ID cards. If he has targeted and prepared for issuance of the National ID cards from 2007, we would not be where we are now. Everybody would have now got a National

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Buhari is here on a vengeance mission. Some people have offended him in the past; they overthrew him. He has not tasted power for so long; he has been idle one way or the other and he is coming on a vengeance mission

Ogunlewe

ID card as a perquisite for voting. So, it is easier to manage National ID cards than to manage PVCs. It is definitely easier and in term of high level technology, they would have been able to design it properly to make sure it will not be easy to clone, duplicate or steal it because it has a number that is yours. It is permanent and once the number is permanent to someone, nobody else will be able to claim the number. But in case of PVCs, some people have two. That is what we have missed now. Hopefully in the future, everybody will make sure that National ID card is preferred. Honestly, that is where we should be going. Do you see INEC conducting free and fair elections with the way they are distributing the PVCs and with the controversies around it? It depends on them; let them tell us. I am excited because they have gone a little bit above what we are used to by introducing PVCs and Card Readers. Let us know what the

Card Reader would do. If the Card Reader would make sure that there is no possibility of people thumb printing the ballot paper and dropping them into the ballot boxes, then they would have been successful. Let me tell you how people rig election. Where they deposit the sensitive and non-sensitive materials, people buy ballot papers from there. Once you buy the ballot papers from INEC officials, you take it and you thumb print and cleverly bribe the INEC officials to put it into the ballot box for you. That is the easiest way of manipulating the election process; stealing or buying the ballot papers. The second possibility is, between 1p.m. and 2p.m., when nobody is there, they share the ballot papers amongst the parties. If we have about 100, they will give the highest bidder 80 and give the next bidder 10 and they will thumb print and they will all agree to put everything in the ballot boxes and it will be counted. Those are things the Card Reader would prevent and

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015

the Card Readers can even collate but it is because we are not serious, that is why we quarrel. If with the Card Readers, at the end of the day you count immediately at the polling station and everybody knows the number and we put it to the Card Readers, the process of rigging the election would have been eliminated at the coalition centres because once you take it from the polling booths to the ward centres, the figures can be tampered with. It can also be tampered with from ward to local government area or from local government area to state. The figures can be altered easily with human errors. But if we are serious with any form of election, we don’t need to go through the rigours. The Card Reader will do almost everything for us and there will be no need to fight because immediately we finish, the Card Reader can make a submission and you will know who is the winner within 30 minutes instead of waiting for 20 hours. And there are so many far areas in Nigeria. Nigeria is a big country with many water side where to move the materials from after the election to the coalition centre will take two days. In that case, how will you guarantee the sanctity of the figures when they are being moved on the high seas? Whereas from wherever they are, they can transmit the figures to a coalition centres instead of moving it through water,

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Tinubu factor is basically about money not popularity. Money and manipulation. Tinubu is a very clever politician that would manipulate at any level to get victory... If you don’t match him, he will outsmart you

camel or horse. These are areas of manipulations. There is also underage voting, which is the worst and it is predominant all over Nigeria, where you will see school children voting because we are not using National ID cards. You cannot acquire National ID cards, if you are not 18 years old but now you see a 10-year-old person voting. Foreigners at times do come to vote because we don’t have National ID cards. Those are the areas of rigging that we must eliminate. Your party pushed for a postponement. That is not right Let us look at PDP and APC. Since 1999, there has not been anytime the tension was this high of the possibility of the PDP losing an election. What went wrong with your party? I think with due respect, maybe I may be wrong; it is former President Olusegun Obasanjo. That is my own assessment. If I were him, I won’t have allowed Jonathan to contest; I would have allowed the presidency to go back to the North after the death of former President Umar Yar’Adua, may be there would be less tension. But the tension has risen now because of the belief that it is the turn of the North, which we deprived them of it. It is even worse with APC now, when APC has picked a Yoruba person as a vice president. Is that right? Why is it not right? A Yoruba man has left the place many years ago as the president and they are coming back now as a vice president. They are denying other zones of participating at the federal level. It is a deficit to the system because we have short-changed some zones. My belief is that it may not necessarily be the turn of the Yoruba to occupy that level of government. Is it not logical that the zone that you could say is short-changed in all these things is the South-East? APC has no practical presence in the South-East; they are not accepted in the SouthEast... It is not correct. Chris Ngige is a senator there. They are not scoring zero. What about Imo? It is APC now. Why can’t they give it to the South-South? In the APC arrangement now, a zone has been shortchanged in this arrangement. If you talk of South-South, it has a President now. That is what I am saying. In the APC arrangement now, a zone has been short-changed, which is SouthEast; that is my own take. You are talking about Obasanjo not to have allowed Jonathan to run in 2011. What you are saying in essence is that the decision to allow Jonathan contest in 2011 is possibly the reason for this tension. Was it a mistake on your party? It was not a mistake; it was the belief that a minority of Ijaw extraction should govern Nigeria which is legitimate too. Everything that I am saying is a legitimate politics but it is just for argument purposes. Or why is it like this now? If it was not like that, would it have been easier without less tension? When you are doing a critical analysis, you will juggle your thought to see the pros and cons of whatever you are saying. So, I just pray we go through this and let us normalise the rotational system.

What I am saying is, at no point is your party threatened like this. That is correct As it is now, if you interview 10 people, about six people will prefer Buhari wins the election. Those are not the ones that would vote. The one that would vote will say eight Jonathan and two Buhari. Does it mean that in the past four years, your party has not delivered a strong president; that is what the signs are? No! It is the dividend of democracy that is important, not the strength of the president in terms of capacity to cause violence or retaliate. The way I am looking at it, Buhari is here on a vengeance mission. Some people have offended him in the past; they overthrew him. He has not tasted power for so long; he has been idle one way or the other and he is coming on a vengeance mission. And that is what is going to be more critical in this election. Do you want a neutral person that wants a united Nigeria or do you want a president that has a score to settle with people that have denied him the opportunity of governance before or that have not made him relevant as Head of State? There are so many possibilities one can think about and be afraid of. But incidentally the same people you are talking of are backing Buhari now, people like Ibrahim Babangida, Obasanjo; I mean the Generals. They may not see what we are seeing or they may see it and would not expect it. I am just saying these are possibilities, nobody is going to be sure whether it would be done or not. But the person I am seeing, I don’t think he is coming there to serve; he may be coming there for vengeance and it is not impossible. How much ruin was done to Buhari that he will run for presidency for four times? This is the fourth time the man is contesting. So, that persistency connotes something. At which age? Seventy three years old? He must be up to something. He is not contesting because he wants to be there. He must be contesting for a purpose and I am not convinced that he is not coming to retaliate. What makes you think that PDP will win the election? It is up to Mr. President. We need to work harder and strategise more. Elections are not won by television and newspapers advertisements. About 60 per cent of those who will vote have never seen newspapers in their life or watched television. It is strategic planning; your areas of opportunities and strength; where you think you must invest in and get good result. It is a skill that everybody must appreciate. It not a newspaper matter and you can see the skill in APC. So, PDP should also sit down and use these skills to win this election, not noise making. And you don’t believe that the noise that APC is generating on the social media, newspapers, television, radio and everywhere counts? I am a politician, I have contested elections three times and I can tell you that all that has nothing to do with election. It is noise making. When you are talking about winning election, election is won in the houses not on the streets, newspapers or social media. What is social media? How many people are on the

social media in Nigeria? How many people understand social media? We are talking about election and you are talking about social media. It doesn’t work out like that and we politicians know that all those ones are just there so that we can show that we are on top of it. Election is in the rooms and houses. Election is in the brain and it is a person that uses brain that wins the election. It appears that APC is making more noise in Lagos State. PDP has a good candidate in Lagos and I think since Funsho Williams died, this is the best candidate you have presented to rule this state. Do you see PDP winning Lagos? Let me be frank with you, I wish they can reverse the election for us to have the governorship election first, it will be so easy to win. The only hurdle we have to clear is the presidential election. That will determine how we foresee the chances of PDP. How? Once we win the presidential election, it is taken for granted we are going to win Lagos. It is a lot easier for us to win the governorship election than for us to win the presidential election in Lagos State. What are those things that make you feel that in the first instance, you can win Lagos? It is Jimi Agbaje and that is what we are going to sell. He is an exceptional good person. Nobody has said anything offensive about him. He is a gentleman, an industrialist and an entrepreneur. He has worked all his life in a private sector and has paid salaries to many people. He has run his company and he is a provisional person. He knows what to do and the professionals are with him. He has a large catchment area because of his birth. His parents are from Onilegbale family in Lagos Island and he is a Prince from a ruling house in Ikorodu. He is an extremely brilliant person and everything goes for him. He is very confident and you can see how he performed in all the debates and that is why they have told Ambode not to come for debates again. Why? Because the three they held, it was 9/10 for Agbaje and 3/10 for Ambode. So, Ambode couldn’t cope. You believe that he has everything it takes for him to win Lagos State? Of course. What of Tinubu factor? Well, Tinubu factor is basically about money not popularity. Money and manipulation. Tinubu is a very clever politician that would manipulate at any level to get victory. So, it is for you now to match him. Once you match him, he is not popular but he has the brain to manipulate. So, you must match him. If you don’t match him, he will outsmart you. The advantage that PDP has in Lagos State is that we have picked three Igbo to run for House of Assembly and four for House of Representatives. And we have picked a South-South person to run for House of Representatives. We have accommodated non-Yoruba speaking people to represent their people in Lagos for the first time and no other political parties have done so. So, we have an advantage.

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The moment of truth Jide Ayobolu

igeria as a country has come a very long way, the most populous black nation on planet earth has passed through a number of turbulent trajectories. And, one of the greatest challenges of nation-building and national development confronting the country is that of leadership. Over the years, the glaring absence of qualitative, visionary, purpose-driven, matured, dynamic, charismatic, articulate, broadminded, perspicacious, knowledgeable, capable, and tested leadership has denied the country the much needed catalyst and fillip the country requires to actualise her full potentials in many areas and diverse directions. The leadership question has once again come to the front burner of national discourse in the last six years, more than ever before, the reason for this is quite fathomable. In spite of the stupendous resources at the disposal of the federal government of Nigeria, in recent years, to enhance, growth and development for the entire country, it is very unfortunate and rather disappointing that the country has been moving round aimlessly in circles with poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment looming large in the polity with ravaging, devastating consequences. Furthermore, there is pervasive insecurity in the country, the government has failed tragically and pathetically in its responsibility to guarantee safety of lives and property, as the Boko Harem insurgents and Fulani herdsmen have continued

to waste innocent and innocuous lives with impunity; in spite of the tardy onslaught against them in recent times. It is very disheartening that the government had been lethargic and lukewarm about how to decisively deal with the worrisome security situation in the country until the fears of the outcome of the 2015 election suddenly woke the federal government up from its deep slumber and prolonged miasma. It is also crucial to observe that, the Chibok school girls that were kidnapped are still in captivity after well over 300 days now, and the president has not deemed it fit to personally even visit Chibok, but inauspiciously, the president is busy campaigning for re-election for a second term in office, even when the 1999 constitution states that the welfare and security of the country shall be the primary purpose of government. The point is that governance has been in abeyance because of the on-going electioneering campaigns. Moreover, the economy is in tatters, the unemployment ratio in the country is terribly alarming not to talk of underemployment, also poverty is ubiquitous as over 75 per cent of the entire population live on less than $1.25 per day; and the poverty in the country is grinding, excruciating and absolutely dehumanising to the extent that Nigeria has been classified amongst countries in the world where the poorest of the poor live, yet, those in government live in unqualified luxury and opulence with uncommon arrogance. Equally, there is no constant power supply, roads in the country are in a deplorable state of disrepair, hospitals are worse than mere consulting clinics, educational institutions are in a very bad shape with incessant strikes, industries are closing shop in various parts of the

country and relocating elsewhere for business, the capacity utilization of industry is abysmally low, the per capita income is at a very low level and the quality of life index is uncharitable. Similarly, the four refineries in the country are not working and the Nigerian government have been importing refined oil for local consumption from various parts of the globe; paying ridiculous and over-inflated subsidies to cronies as compensations and booties. Today, Nigeria is an oil bearing country, but not so much an oil producing and exporting country; curiously, the leadership of the country is very comfortable with this warped arrangement and economic mess. Furthermore, the Nigerian economy is presently tied to the apron strings of International Finance Capital, thereby fostering economic underdevelopment, backwardness on the country, as an inconsequential, peripheral economic appendage. Again, politically the country has never been so polarised and balkanised along religious and ethnic lines. But the point and fact remains that, there must be no other election postponement, the elections must take place as planned, the rules of election must not be changed now, the umpire must not be removed, the army must not be drafted for election as stipulated by the electoral law and the government must not do anything that can in any way affect the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. It is important to note that, those who fail to learn from history will sooner than later become relics of history for others to learn from, the 2015 election is indeed the moment of truth and a critical decider of the future direction of the country, therefore, a stitch in time saves all.

Bala J. Ngillari: History beckons Emmanuel Y. Kwache

ince 1991 when Adamawa State was created, it has never known real peace. No meaningful development has taken place. Political bickering, envy, jealousy and betrayals are what the ordinary citizens witness day after day. The state has a collection of intellectuals and powerful people and persons, but they thrive in divide and rule. Rather than harmonise their differences as strength and bring about unity and harmony, they play with ethnicity and religion to achieve ulterior motives. Alhaji Saleh Michika was there briefly in the third republic, until, it was aborted. Then several Police, naval and Airforce officers were there as military Governors or administrator. Some that can be remembered at this point are Police Commissioner Ismail, Group Captain Abubakar Salihu, Air Commodore Gregory Agboneni and the last was an army officer who handed over to Boni Haruna. When Governor Boni Haruna left, Muratala Hammanyero Nyako stepped on. Some believe, he was dictatorial and all were shoved aside including the present Governor who was discriminated against. He was just there watching things happen. But by the Grace of God on 8th October 2014, Bala James Ngillari was sworn in as a substantive Chief Executive. He is more than four months now, no witch hunting has taken place. Though the opposi-

tion rail against him, members of the Peoples Democratic Party blackmail him on the pages of newspapers and magazine, he remains quiet and solid. He prefers working behind the scene. He does his revolution silently using his deep wisdom and knowledge. I remember what his counsel said before the court. “He did not intend to resign” they doctored his resignation letter, but he was wiser and sent the letter to the Assembly, instead of his principal. That was a high intelligence quotient. Festus Keyamo, (SAN) cashed on that loophole and told the court. That was how Governor Bala James Ngillari became the Chief Executive and Governor of Adamawa State and the State got peace. Hitherto, there was political tension and hate language was awash but Ngillari came with a new fashion of governance: tolerance patience, understanding and comprehension. In the previous regime, salaries were not paid. What Civil Servants want are for their privileges and rights paid when due. At one point 15 per cent was cut from the salaries of Senior Civil Servants of Adamawa State, for whatever reason, we don’t know. No physical development was taking place. Recently the Governor promoted and swore-in seven new permanent secretaries that had their elevations stagnanted. They are John Tizhe Garba,Yuniyus Philemon Barakalyara, Barnabas Galadima Pata, Hamidu Bashir Hussaini, Ahijo Dahiru Mohammed, Bashir Dahiru Tu-

kur and Shadrach Simon. Three new High Court Judges were sworn in also. This was beside the substantive Chief Judge. On the substance of righting the wrong that was witnessed in the state especially the Judiciary that was a shamble, someone suggested that Ngillari is supposed to bestowed with Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). See! The Governor said at one of the ceremonies last year, he will not abandon all projects started by the previous regimes. To this end the road rehabilitations between Jimeta and Yola town proper are on. It is expected before handover on 29th May 2015, the roads will be completed. The roads along Zaranda, Ilorin and Bauchi Streets are on-going too. Have you ever been to Yola, the Adamawa State capital of recent? If you have not done that please do so! Streets and traffic lights are working. It is like you are in Ibadan. At every junction and busy joints, streets and traffic lights work properly. The giant police roundabout is being beautified. Flowers, water fonts and tiles are constructed. He has constituted a cabinet of technocrats and bureaucrats seasoned professionals and careerists, who are piloting the affairs of the state. In Agriculture, he has accessed a two-billion Agricultural credit facility to enhance agricultural activities. This is in preparation to diversify the economy as oil and gas have become a problem world-wide. Ngillari is a man of peace. When he was surreptiously denied the t

governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, instead of dumping the party as others have done, he stayed. He is loyal all through. He is patriotic. In whatever, happens, he rejoices. He practices the Christian principle of being happy all the time. He has pledged to work for the success of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to be the Governor after him. It is hard to get Ngillari’s type. This is a man who is careful, cautious and very steady. He does not rush things. He takes time to see things, before he plunges into decision. That is why they say, he is “slow”, he is “Wallet Governor”, he does not spend. It is better to copy this his example of “slow and steady” than to rush things and mistakes are made. It is better to be a “Wallet Governor” than to be “extravagant” and “wasteful” and spend all the money and you cannot see any tangible thing. There are tangible and intangible achievements. Tangible are physical achievements like the supply of drugs and equipment, including fourwheel drive vehicles to General and Cottage hospitals. What else? He has cooperated; and collaborated with the military to flush out the insurgents. Every other day, there is a security meeting in Government House Yola, to find other ways to drive away insurgents, providing logistics and any other things needed. • Kwache (tizheyame@yahoo.com), Freelance Journalist, writes from Girei Local Government, Adamawa State.

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Enough of NFF, Keshi rigmarole

he impasse over the employment of a new coach for the senior national team, the Super Eagles, is very disturbing especially to followers of the game. At the FIFA World Cup last summer in Brazil, it was almost obvious that there was a need to rebuild the Super Eagles. In doing so, it is definite that a new technical crew has to take charge of the team. The contract of Coach Stephen Keshi who led Nigeria to Brazil expired with the World Cup and since negotiations for renewal did not start before or during the Copa Mundial, it was believed that both parties (The Nigeria Football Federation and Keshi) were not ready to continue with the ‘marriage.’ For the Nations Cup qualifiers, the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, had a special arrangement with Keshi to handle the team. The various crises within the squad at the World Cup continued while Keshi maintained his position to exclude some players from the team. At the time, the leadership crisis in the NFF did not help matters as Eagles failed to pick a ticket to the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. After the AFCON failure, the general consensus was that

It took Burkina Faso under three weeks to get another coach for its national team. The same applied to Senegal. Why is Nigeria different? there was need for a new beginning for the team. In addition, many Nigerians including ex-players, coaches and administrators were of the opinion that Keshi should step aside. A former coach of the team, Samson Siasia, got the sack after failing to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 AFCON. Why will Keshi’s case be treated differently? Keshi’s offence is akin to that of Siasia. However, we learnt Keshi has been enjoying the backing of some top politicians in the country to hang on to the job. It came as a surprise that the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the NFF has been finding it difficult to take a decision on Keshi. The body is scared of the backlash of its decision of engaging another coach. During the qualifiers when Keshi was asked to step aside, some-

how, the coach found his way back through the back door to complete his poor run in the qualifiers. This is a sad commentary in a football-loving country like Nigeria. Between July and now, Nigeria is yet to arrive at a decision on the coach of the Super Eagles. Two friendly matches were played earlier in the year without a substantive coach. Another FIFA window is approaching later this month and two other matches against Bolivia and South Africa could be played without a coach. Sad enough, the NFF did not even come out with options in the process of engaging a coach for the team. Nigeria crashed out of 2015 AFCON on November 19, 2014, yet till now there are no concrete plans for the rebuilding process of the senior national team. This is not only a colossal disappointment but a huge embarrassment to the country that has the potential to rule the continent for decades if the administrators are stern. In the past weeks, Keshi and the NFF had been singing diverse tunes until last week when a contract was offered the coach who again quickly rushed to the press labeling the proposal as a ‘slave contract.’ The senate committee on sports only on Friday charged the

sports ministry and the NFF to resolve the rumpus in the interest of millions of Nigerians who enjoy the bragging rights when the Eagles are soaring high. It is so disheartening that a country that won the Nations Cup two years ago and was at the World Cup in Brazil is in the situation we find ourselves in football. It took Burkina Faso under three weeks to get another coach for its national team. The same applied to Senegal. Why is Nigeria different? The way the contract talks between the NFF and Keshi have dragged is enough indication that both parties cannot work together. The former board led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari was reluctant to give Keshi a new deal, ditto the new board and this is enough to show that the ‘forces’ behind the coach are very powerful. We believe the NFF should be brave enough to tell Nigerians the true position on this delay in engaging a coach because over eight months have been wasted already. Nigeria is bigger than any individual and sport, especially football, is too sensitive to be treated this way. Politicians should not hijack sport. Those in charge of various positions should be allowed to take decisions as they reckon fit.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

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Editor n Yemi Ajayi

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

Book Review

Clarion call to end terror

Title: Author: Publishers: Year of publication: Reviewer:

END OF TERROR Chris Femi Opara University Press PLC, Ibadan 2014 Oluchi Anyakudo

t is often said that ‘honesty is the best policy’ and in a world void of moral uprightness, rarely will you see youths decide to stand for the truth thereby shunning evil. End of Terror is a thrilling story of three teenagers and friends, Shehu, Chukwudi and Tunde, who have been chosen by the Federal Ministry of Education to represent the country at an International Youth Science and Technology Exhibition in America. As a requisite for the competition, the boys are required to exhibit their individual works and also a joint work as a team. While deliberating on what to build, Tunde, whose uncle died as a result of a construction accident, suggests a safer mode of blasting rocks via solar power, a project which they name TCS Solar Blast. The trio eventually head for America where their invention emerges the winner at the fair. However, a dark cloud appears to loom ahead when Mr. ABL makes an eye-popping offer of 300 million dollars for their invention. Will the boys succumb to the lure of instant wealth, especially when they discover the evil intent of this terrorist group Mr ABL represents, which plans to destroy New York City? This is the story around which Chris Opara weaves his array of themes of national concern. Friendship and loyalty as personified by the three friends is a tool the author employs as he tries to state the need for us to foster unity even in our diversity. The trio represents the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria - Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Yet, theirs is a friendship not marred by religious or ethnic bigotry. We

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

see the boys lay aside their differences, hence, their ability to work as a team and receive the ultimate reward for diligence and hard work. Notwithstanding the tempting offer Mr. ABL makes, there is no thought of betrayal by either of the boys. Their refusal to kowtow to his offer reveals how as a nation we can achieve greater heights if we come together as one. We may pretend to be human, but our actions will always tell otherwise. Our refusal to stand as one despite the challenges and pressures we face, leave us at the mercy of the machinations of evil people who further exploit our instability and greed for their own purpose. Writing for young people is no mean feat and the fact that Opara chooses a delicate subject matter both of national and international concern, further distinguishes his work. The get-rich-quick syndrome typical of today’s youth as exemplified by Efe who tries his hands on Internet fraud and wants a go at militancy and kidnapping is the story everywhere. The author demonstrates his commitment to his society and through his creative binoculars focuses on the vices peculiar to young adults, thereby creating a utopian legacy for them to follow in their intellectual pursuits. To further captivate his audience, he infuses a budding romance as well as native folklore and history as The Special One thrills them with stories from Africa, especially those concerning his ancestry. This aspect of the novel is worthy of note as he does not only educate his readers but entertains them as well. End of Terror once again reveals the need for youths to display a high sense of moral uprightness and discipline. There is a need for them to have mentors in their lives that they can look up to. Chris Opara’s skills as a creative writer come into play as he masterfully weaves his numerous sub-plots into the story without veering off its course. By portraying fathers who tell their stories to their children, the writer creatively reveals the vital role of fathers in the lives of their sons as tutors and mentors. For example, Shehu has been warned by his

father as he lay on his death bed, never to shed blood, “if Mr. ABL turned out to be an agent of a terrorist group as it reasonably appeared, would he not become blood-guilty by helping them acquire the TCS technology for mass destruction?” (p.138). We can see the concerted efforts by the boys as they strive not to let their fathers down. Also, the fact that their fathers were once young people like them and faced with the obstacles and trials of their time make the

saying ‘there is no new thing under the sun’ true. Terrorism has posed itself as a plague whose end is not even in the near future as each day the death toll keeps rising. The fact remains that we constantly supply the oppressors with the weapons to continue our dehumanisation if internal conflicts, tribalism and gross materialism continue to fester as our very own selfinflicted injury. Opara’s language is one that is appropriately weaved

Odeahan’s book for launch Mojeed Alabi

ll is set for the launch and public presentation of “A Handbook on Strategies for Curtailing Adjournments and Trial Delays in Nigeria”, a law book written by the Presiding Judge

of the Customary Court, Shere, Abuja, Hon. Femi Odeahan. The book presentation holds on Friday March 13, 2015, at the Merit House, Maitama, Abuja. The programme, according to the Coordinator of the organizing committee,

to match the understanding of his target audience. Apart from the simple nature of his storytelling, his choices of words are of educational significance. This is a pointer to the fact that the writer wants to help his readers in their vocabulary, thereby enhancing their cognitive competence. This book is highly recommended for tertiary institutions and secondary schools where youths are possible recruits for terrorism and other social vices.

Mr. Christopher Echei, will be graced by stakeholders in the nation’s legal system, and will be chaired by the President of the FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Moses Abu Bello, while Justice A. Banjoko will review the book.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

The Mega City

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

One of the gardens at Ojota

r. Fatai Bakare is an ‘Omo Eko,’ going by the popular parlance in Lagos. This is because he was born and bred here in Lagos. In 2008, he won the then thriving American visa lottery and relocated with his family to the United States of America. His relocation period coincided with the greener initiative programme of the administration in Lagos. The tree planting campaign, construction of gardens and lawns in many areas in Lagos were at the peak by the time he travelled out. At that time, the goal of the government was to bring and imbue in Lagosians the culture of relax-

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CO-ORDINATOR

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

MY CITY, MY WORLD

LIFE IN THE CITY

Lagos is good; but will be better if…

Defying the anti-smoking law

Beautiful flowers, poor maintenance The present administration in Lagos State saw the need to save the environment and bring out the greener habitat in it. It made flowers and trees planting pleasurable and lucrative. Today, that enthusiasm and culture so aroused are nose-diving. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU and TEMITAYO ABASS look at the declining trend ation and the need to protect the environment. Recently, Bakare and his family visited the country. He is not totally unappreciative of the efforts of the government in achieving some level of beauty in some prominent strategic locations in Lagos mainly, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja and its suburbs. But he wonders why some locations in Lagos have no flowers and in some, there are scanty and unkempt flowers, indicating

It could alternatively serve as habitats for miscreants

a lack of attention. However, Bakare was pleased with the idea of naming deceased prominent Nigerians such as Ransome Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Prof. Ayodele Awojobi and many others at various gardens scattered all over the state. The greatest source of worry for Bakare is that people still urinate and defecate indiscriminately. He feels the aim of the garden parks could be

defeated since Lagosians have not yet cultivated the habit of relaxation, appreciation of beauty and other recreational benefits. He reasoned that it appears sustained efforts have not been made to encourage the use of the gardens; as such, it could alternatively serve as habitats for miscreants. He said: “Apart from the ecstatic value of flowers, wellCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Life | In The City

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Planted trees competing with electric cables on Igando-Ikotun Road

Beautiful flowers, poor maintenance CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 21

built and adorned gardens add to longevity. The environment exudes a unique fragrance that cannot be got in the market. With the way terrorism is growing in the world today, gardens should not be left untapped otherwise criminals will take them over as their nests.” The present administration in Lagos State like God in the bible, saw the necessity of a woman in a man and gave her to man. Governor Babatunde Fashola saw the need to regenerate Lagos. As a result, in 2008, the government embarked on ‘greening initiative’, which was geared towards planting of flowers and trees as well as the establishment of gardens and parks in virtually all parts of Lagos, so as to mitigate the effect of climate change on the environment. According to records from the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) there are nearly 5 million trees planted and over 200 parks and gardens built in Lagos by this administration. A visit to most of these parks from Lekki to Victoria Island, Costain to Surulere; Ojota to Ikorodu, down to Ikeja and to Oshodi and Iyana Ipaja up to Igando revealed the natural ambiance the state depicts. No doubt, there is wide difference between the Lagos of today and the Lagos as at 2007 downwards. May Lagosians say lack of maintenance and adequate care for these flowers and parks are responsible for the militating factor against the efforts of the government. They advised government that rather than build new ones, they should endeavour to maintain the already built ones. They wondered why government has regressed if not stopped the free flowers distribution. They argued that some of the flowers and trees

are either given out and the ones planted in some areas died not long after they were planted due to lack of maintenance. On the other hand, where the flowers and trees were contracted out to be managed, they are not given to competent hands, due to political patronage. At Ojota, within the Gani Fawehinmi park, many parts of Ikeja, and other parts of Lagos, the metal barricade used to fence the area, so as to protect the flowers have fallen off, either as a result of pressure from hawkers or rust of the pipes; some of which may be as a result of poor quality pipes. Some of the metals readily serve as weapons to miscreants at any slightest provocation. The government needs to check this ugly trend. Mr. Ambrose Keffas, lives in the Lekki area of Lagos. He lauds the efforts of the present administration in the area of flowering in the city. He said: “This government has set an unequalled record in the area of flower planting and recreation parks. The flowers along the road from Lekki to Victoria Island are beautiful sights to behold. They give one joy and satisfaction on seeing them every mornings and evenings.” He added:“Although the flowers outside the highways are not being catered for, nobody takes care of them, some have turned wide trees. In some areas, they have stretched too far to obstruct the road. Government should extend their supervision beyond the flowers and gardens in highbrow areas. As for the gardens and parks, we hardly patronise them for the fear of insecurity. In our society, government properties are never taken care of. Notwithstanding their claims of security at the parks, since they are government’s, there could be compromise in security.”

Mr. Robinson Akin, an itinerant ice cream seller, said setting up the parks and gardens are laudable ideas. However, he decried that most of them have been taken over by hoodlums. “My brother, there was one evening at Anthony, some people called me for ice dream. I rode closer. They were three in number. They collected ice cream and rebuked me to move away or they will carry all my ice cream and as well collect all the money I have made for the day. When I looked how fierce they were looking, I wasted no time in tracing back my route. As somebody that moves around, apart from the parks inside the higher institutions in Lagos, people are hardly seen relaxing in those gardens.” He said. Within the Nigerian Seme border areas, may be, because of the soil, government gave out certain trees to people and planted some in some areas believed to be government’s territories. Such trees as coconuts, and nem trees (dogonyaro trees) were planted there. According to the youth President of Pengbon Community of Badagry West, Mr Yankoty Anord, “the government did not give flowers and trees to individuals here to plant. They did the planting. The flowers they planted along the Seme-Badagry express never survived because they were never maintained them. Some other coconuts they planted inside the barracks were not maintained also, as such, they all died. If they had handed the maintenance of the trees and the flowers to our people here, they would have survived. They did not maintain them, neither were our people given any like other communities. You cannot see any trace of that flower or tree planting in this our area.” At the Badagry roundabout, some flowers survived in those areas while the neem trees (Dogonyaro) and some step trees planted A fallen barrier at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Beautiful flowers, poor maintenance

A private garden on Igando road CONTINUED FROM PAG E 22

along the roads in the area never survived due to lack of maintenance. Mr. John Mentowe, a resident of the area said the government planted those trees and went to sleep and they never survived. Most branches of the flowers were recklessly damaged and thrown away without concerns, so observed Miss Blessing Andrew, who chuckled as she recalled and recounted the wonderful scene she saw herself in on her very first time in Lagos in the year 2011. She added, “Very many corners of the City were affectionate because of the flowers that doted the city, right from the Ojota entry point and far beyond. I thought I was in London. That aura of beauty has weaned down because the flowers are not sustainably appreciated by the people. Some throw dirt into the flowers and gardens while government has not maintained some areas. Some of the wires and metals built to protect the flowers and the gardens are now menacing. Some are now lying on the flowers they are to protect.” A visit through 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue and 21 road at Festac Town Lagos has its own tale of neglect. Mr. Emmanuel Egemuka, a resident of the area, said, “See, these are no longer flowers. They are now wide trees. Once salt ceases to give that test, it’s no longer salt. The flowers are scanty. And the ones that survived have widely grown they could constitute security threat in this area.” Mrs. Babalosha, in her input commended government

A dilapidated flower garden at Bariga

for bringing out the beauty of Lagos through flowers. She said, “The culture of planting flowers and trees should not be allowed to go down as it is dipping. In my area, some flower beds were destroyed by some traditional worshippers that saw it as upsetting their sacred altars of worship. They claimed the flowers obstruct their communication with their deities which if allowed to stay will hamper their successes.” Mr. Akin James lives around Odo junction at Igando road. He said there is nothing like Garden Park within their area even down to Ikotun. “This area, we don’t know what is garden park. The one at Isheri round about, we don’t know what they do there because it’s always locked.” he emphasised. “Within this our area, Igando, and from this junction, through governor road, Ikotun, the so called trees are now competing with the spaghetti dangling electric wires, causing electric sparks quite often.” Many Lagosians are somewhat of the opinion that the flowers so planted, most of which did not survive; goes a long way to prove that scope of neglect in our life pattern. They argued that most of the flowers have grown more than many trees, particularly the masquerade tree planted in many parts of Lagos. They are begging to be pruned. They are so bushy from the base to the tip. Some branches now compete with pedestrians on the walkways and in some areas with vehicles. Whenever there is wind, people around are scared. Mr. Emeka Duru, is a flower

Culture of planting flowers and trees should not be allowed to go down

gardener who has his garden at Hotel bus stop on Igando road. He elucidated on many factors as reasons why the culture of flowers and tree planting are going down as well as why flowers planted in many parts of Lagos have not survived among which are, economic drought in the country, neglect, quacks in flower management and contract racketeering. “Flowers need constant attention, at least every two weeks, no matter how big they are. Any day you stop attaining to them; they have become nuisance and unwanted. The government of today revolutionized flower business and the culture in Lagos. Some of the gardens are wonderful, bringing out the beauty of Lagos State like the one at Costain. Recent house owners in Lagos show interest in their compound landscaped and flowered. However, the demand for flowers have gone down drastically in the last three years.” he said. “Most flowers and trees planted by government were hijacked by government officials that turned horticulturists overnight. One came to my garden from Alausa some time ago, he saw how beautiful the step-trees I planted around are. He went back, mentioned it to the government, got an approval. The next time I saw him, he was planting them around here for the government. Those step-trees he planted almost died while those ones I planted are here properly maintained. Some will collect the contract, call us to plant for them. At the end, they will not maintain them. Flowers are like human beings; they need attention, fertilizer, water etc.”

Duru also said, “Many flowers, like some kings-palms, have over grown and are now posing danger to man and his environment. Sundry masquerade tree flowers insulate the flow of electric currents in many parts of Lagos today. They need to be pruned to bring out their beauty. It is our job; the business is retrogressing also, as a result of the economic downturn. We will not jump out because we are professionals. The government visited us recently and promised to look into our needs after elections.” On a visit to one of the parks, one of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) official assigned to the park told our reporters that they are at various parks for environmental crime enforcement. He said: “We have environmental crimes such as, cutting of our sticks, not trimming it, public defecation and open urination especially within our parks. We are here for their enforcements. The flowers and trees here are pruned and taken care of. We have about four departments here; enforcement, maintenance, attendance and the night guards.” In his contribution, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) Mr. Sanusi said people have today imbibed the culture of flower planting because the government has convinced them on the needs and importance of it. He said, “traders display their wares on the flowers, when we try to arrest them, they concoct all forms of reasons that will make us remorseful. However, we are doing our best.”

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Smouldering cigarrate

Smoking with impunity

Defying the anti-smoking law It is meant to protect Lagosians against second hand smoking, fumes from other smokers and even to protect children. But the Lagos State law, which prohibits smoking in public seems to be in the cooler. Even though many say that public smoking has reduced, many still do it without care. Elijah Samuel reports

hen the Lagos State government enacted the anti-public smoking law in January 2014 hopes were high. The purpose of the bill was to regulate smoking in designated places in the state and for connected purpose. Some of the designated public places included in the bill are public toilets, tertiary institutions, public transportation vehicles, shopping centres, stadia, and restaurants. The bill stipulates that any person involved with the management of public place should put a ‘No-Smoking’ sign in conspicuous areas. The bill also provides that any person, who contradicts this section of the legislation shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of N100, 000 or six months imprisonment. “It shall be an offence to smoke in the presence of a child under 18 years or expose the child to any form of injurious smoke,” the bill stated. For the efficacy of this protective law, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is entrusted with the enforcement of not only ‘nosmoking’ in the public law, but also the halting of other dangerous deeds that are classified as harmful to the comprehensive wellbeing of the state and the citizenry. The implication of this law, according to LASEPA, is that it will be virtually impossible for anyone to be defiant to the prohibitive smoking act, by indulging in smoking in any of the highlighted public places. But, irrespective of the awareness and reorientation programme that was promised to be carried out in all parts of the state in order to enhance adequate sen-

sitization for fruitful implementation by LASEPA, smokers are found puffing out vapour that is not only from cigarette but from other smoking substances in several places within the metropolis. As it seems, many are either oblivious of the reality of the moment which forbids smoking in the public, or simply have chosen to be indifferent. Yet, it is apparent that many have chosen to disregard the anti- smoking bill and its related risks. “I just want to be okay. It’s not all the time that one takes this thing (cigarette), but once a while, one needs to be cool,” a smoker who simply preferred to be identified as Alex casually disclosed when New Telegraph tried to gauge the motive for his indulgence in smoking. When reminded of the no-smoking in public law, Alex, although acknowledged the awareness of the law, dismissed with a wave of the hand the possibility of his being arrested. “It is just not possible for the state officials to arrest me. Has the state ever made a law and enforced it, when even those at the helms of affairs are as guilty,” he boasted. At yet another scene, a dramatic opportunity presented itself for New Telegraph to further test the popularity and the degree of compliance to the nopublic smoking law. They were five in number, hanging out at a corner of a street in Surulere, and in apparent jovial mood with sticks of cigarette and bottles of beer to complement. Upon enquiry if they were aware of the law. They chorused, “says who?” A lanky fellow in the group retorted. “But the state has made

The state has made a law that smoking in the public is no longer acceptable

a law that smoking in the public is no longer acceptable,” the correspondent asserted. “What type of law is that? Let them come and arrest us now,” another member of the group dared. The argument got heated, accompanied with unsavoury remarks with tendency for vicious attack. The five men were of the opinion that the law was a toothless bull dog of the government as usual. They concluded that no law made has ever been enforced. The above incidences and a few isolated others, have put the acceptance and the workability or the potency of the public smoking restriction law into perspective. However, a few people believe smoking in the public is on the downscale, not necessarily because of the enactment, but for some socio-moral consideration. “Smoking has somewhat gone down when you consider the rate it was done, decades ago. Apart from the fact that you don’t find people smoking in the public, they have significantly dropped the act even in their closets. Many young people don’t seem to be smoking again, although a few of them smoke other things apart from cigarette. Nonetheless, cigarette-smoking has reduced drastically; it may be that the people felt within themselves to discontinue with the act,” Abiodun Assogba, said. Speaking from experience, Assogba explained that there were great risks involved in smoking. According to him, it reduces smokers’ lifespan; it affects the internal vital organs like the heart and lungs. He pointed out some of the dangers of smoking as; smokers hardly can withstand strenuous task be-

cause of the cumulative effect of smoking, which overtime, would have depleted the vitality in the smoker. Apart from the no-public smoking law itself that has been promulgated in the state, he said the people themselves are beginning to imbibe new orientation and consciousness to exhibit responsibility by not smoking in the public. “In the course of this, many have abandoned smoking, reduced the frequency of smoking as an act to the confine of privacy,” he said. Alhaji Salisu Issa, a merchant in household items and provisions around Isolo, tied the likelihood of the efficacy of no-public smoking law on the drop in sales of cigarette. “People are still smoking but it is not as it was before. In the past, until around late last year, I used to sell many packs of cigarette in a day but I discovered later that there was a drop in the way people come around to buy cigarette. I can’t say really if the state’s law on smoking is responsible; all I know is that sales in cigarette had dropped so much. But people are still buying and smoking,” he said. But the General Manager of LASEPA, Rasheed Adebola Shabi, asserted that his agency has done so much to effect nosmoking in the public law in the state. He said: “Smoking in the public in the last few years has been reduced drastically because the attitude of people to smoking these days is not the way it was in the past. Secondly, Nigerians are beginning to imbibe the attitude that only irresponsible people smoke publicly. Again, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Living behind gated streets Oluwatosin Omoniyi

n the year 2009, January 27, precisely, the Lagos State Government, had directed that gates erected at the entrance and exit of every street in the state be opened. The gates are to remain open between 5 a.m. and midnight daily. The State Government, residents and other stakeholders at a Town Hall meeting, resolved that the decisions jointly agreed on should become effective all over the state not later than seven days time of the time it was agreed. The essence of opening up of street gates in Lagos is to ease traffic bottleneck often caused by locked gates in the state. Therefore, it was agreed at the meeting that all gates will be manned by members of the Community Development Associations resident of areas where gates are usually locked. The governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) during the interactive session, said incalculable damages have been done to people through the persistent closure of gates, while also not preventing the attacks of men of the underworld. He declared locking of streets gates as illegal since they lacked approval from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. Rather than prevent the harm and damages residents are trying to proof, “the gates have created more problems for security than they are anticipated to solve. Many have lost their lives due to gated streets and burglary proof erected for security reasons, he said. The governor however allayed the fear of the people about insecurity, saying efforts were already being intensified to improve the security situation in the state. “We have acted by equipping law enforcement agents and inspiring them through improved welfare packages. We have acted by deploying technology through the 767 emergency toll free numbers and commence the pilot scheme of street cameras,” he said. Well, six years after, all that, plus the promises of security and the agreement of that time seemed to have become history as most Lagos street gates remain firmly closed even at day time! Posing in front of the locked gates are stern looking private security men acting on strict instructions. One of such is the Omole phase 1, gates on Ojodu/Berger road. The instruction at the first entrance of the estate on Agindingbi road is that no vehicle without the estate sticker is allowed in and out of that gate. Boldly written on a flashy coloured banner by the security post is the instruction that “no sticker, no entrance.” Any vehicle without the Omole sticker would not be allowed in or out of the estate. As such, there is constant traffic at the gates mostly at the gate on Ag-

Stranded residents at locked gates

indigbi road, both morning and evening. The gate linking Ali Adesanya and Akinsanya streets and sharing fence with the compound of Federal Road Safety Corps is permanently under lock and key. The reason according to the Landlords association of that estate is to curb the incessant robbery that was disturbing them on the street. One of the landlords who pleaded anonymity explained that the residents did not just take laws into their hands. He said they went to area ‘F’ police station, invited the DPO who came with them to the estate, inspected it and approved the permanent lock up of the gate. But then, the landlord added that the estate was not planned to accommodate thorough fare for especially commercial buses that are

very rough in nature. “More so, any route you allow commercial drivers is always very dangerous. We also do not wish to lose the serenity of the estate,” he said. The landlord agreed that the government of the day directed that all gate remain open to ease up traffic flow in the state but believes that the government did not weigh the merits and demerits of the law properly before giving the direction. “God forbid, by the time, we allow thorough fare through the estate, and anything happens to our children or any member of the estate, will Fashola bother about such case? It is a good law, no doubt but it can’t hold sway especially in a tight and rough place like Lagos,” he said. In Ikeja, around Toyin, Unity, some part of Opebi and GRA,the

gates are under constant lock and key. Drivers who are unaware and want shortcut out of a thick traffic turned disappointedly cursing and swearing. That on Toyin, Tokunbo Ali Street close to St. Leos Catholic Private School for example is never opened until 6.05am Monday till Friday. Parents taking their wards to the school compound would queue at the locked gate waiting for the gate man who would stroll in around 6am or 6.05 with a bunch of keys dangling in his hands to open the gate. His reason for doing that, he said is based on the resolution of the residents association, after an incidence occurred. He said, there was a time robbers visited the area and nearly killed the security man at the gate, “it was since then that I go away from the gate after locking and returned only at the given time in the morning to open it. I don’t know about any Fashola law, I follow strictly the resident’s instruction,” he said. It was a pitiable condition for Akanni Peters, a 40 year old sicklier two weeks ago. He nearly gave up the ghost when he had an attack midnight- 1.17am. He got the timely help of his wife and neighbour, Dotun Aiyekoto, who rushed him out of the house. But getting to the gate that led to the hospitalSolid Rock, the gate was padlocked. They went round almost five gates leading to the hospital, but all were locked and non of the security men was kind enough to open the gate for them to drive through. EventuCONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Life |

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

A ride on Lagos Metro ferry Certainly, water transportation, world over, reduces reliance on roads as sole means of transportation. Going by the constant gridlock in Nigeria, especially in the Lagos metropolis, water transportation aptly serves as an alternative. Unlike the roads, there is no traffic snarl on the waters, no sweating and gnashing of teeth under a scorching sun. The only prayer of the passengers would probably be for a safe dock at their destinations and of course, with their life jacket by their sides. OMOLOLA ADETORO, explores one of the Lagos ferries

he popular Lagos State ferry at Ikorodu, makes movement across and within the city easy and less stressful, especially for people going to Victoria Island, CMS, Ebutte Ero, Badore, and other connecting areas in the state. Within 20 minutes, passengers have arrived their destinations. A day at the Ikorodu ferry terminal shows how the terminal functions. New Telegraph observed that despite the ease and speed of the speedboats to passengers’ destinations, not many Lagosians explore the ferry option. Some pointed out that there is no security guaranteed. “Our rescue agency in Nigeria is near zero, a passenger would have drowned before help could arrive. I can’t swim in case of emergency. So, I won’t toy with my life,” Kehinde Kiev, a trader said. But for Ayobami Kadiri, a bank official, whether safety or not, she said what would be would be. To him, the water transport alternative is a timely development, which shows the sensitivity of the government. “Since, I started boarding the ferryboat to and fro my office, the issue of lateness stopped and I don’t have to jam pack with other passengers like BRT and commercial buses,” Kadiri said. Mr. Lati Jubril, a passenger said he likes to go to work in ferryboat because it is faster and less stressful. The service, according to him, is very much okay. And in case of any emergency, he said it takes just 10 to 15 minutes to fix it. But the snag there is the cost of the ferry transport. He said the fare could be reduced to N300 instead of N600. Luckily, the Ikorodu terminal is built in such a way that is convenient for passengers. But the environment is not tidy at all. There were papers and sachet water nylons all over the place. Greenish and a little grown grass surround the envi-

Passengers inside the ferry boat

ronment. Yet, passengers ignore all of that and focus on the alternative means of reaching their destinations. The bridge leading to the ferry was made of weak looking wood, thereby posing as danger. There is the ferry car parking space for passengers who have cars and it is called the ‘motor ferry.’ For early risers and late comers from work, there is 24 hours canteen and Sharwama stand at the waterfront. According to Mr. Emmanuel Kolawole, the security man at the waterfront, there are two ferry terminals at the Ikorodu ferry terminal, jointly owned by government and private sec-

tor. He explained that the government ferry is not yet operational but that he was reliably informed that it would commence to complement the one at Badore. Kolawole narrated that the first ferry used has spoilt, due to old age. He said the old one which was made of wood, was very slow and takes about 40 to 50 minutes to convey passengers to their destinations. “As such, people did not patronise them then,” he said. Happiness Ayeonitaju, one of the captains, said the metro ferry operates between 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning and till 12 noon. After that, they rest for a while and continue from

Defying the anti-smoking law CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 24

there must be designated areas for smokers at public facilities owned by individuals; there must also be ‘no-smoking’ signs conspicuously displayed within such places,” he said. But given the peculiar nature of the state, and the somewhat seeming noncompliance with the law, it is doubtful whether the agency has the capacity to implement the law. “The agency has the manpower and the resources to do it. You don’t need one million people to implement a law; you can implement a law effectively with few people,” he affirmed. He added that there is a provision in the law which empowers a person and encourages participatory implementation to halt smoking acts that may be going on

in his neighbourhoods within the state by calling the agency or leaving information on the agency’s website: www.lasepagov. org which will be treated confidentially. However, as LASEPA, on behalf of the state, continues to strive towards enthroning a Lagos that is environmentally safe for rewarding socio-economic endeavours, it is pertinent, for its success, that a vigorous awareness campaign be waged in all nooks and cranny of the landscape that is called Centre of Excellence. This is even so necessary as many residents still display ignorance, indifference and utter defiance with which they indulge in this risk-laden act within the state. Without fear or favour, let it be seen that the tenets for safe environment are being upheld and imbibed by all and sundry as far as the state is concerned.

Dearing the no-smoking law

4 to 7 o clock or sometimes it will be extend to 8 o clock from Monday to Friday. He said that the system is a bit classy, in the sense that passengers are not allowed to board the boat with plenty loads. But the second ferry boat, he said, is meant for both load and passengers and that is mostly patronised by traders. In the case of emergency, Sami Solomon, a captain, said the state government has put safety measures in place. It includes life jackets, which they give every passengers before boarding. A well trained life guard at hand and operational emergency ferry boat. “The emergency ferryboat takes maximum of 10 minutes to arrive at the scene of an emergency,” he said. New Telegraph observed that the service is mostly busy in the morning period. The queue was very long. Passengers and their tickets on their hands waited patiently for the arrival of the ferry boat and gently take their turn to board. The boat takes only 20 passengers at a time. But by afternoon, business is a bit dry except, till evening time when passengers return from work. The ferry terminal however, has five boarding points and there is a stall house for the engineers to work or repair on faulty ferryboats. In fact, there are different departments like, Managing Director, operators, servicing, monitoring, etc. Owoyori Hammed, a passenger, suggested that the management should bring in more ferries for the convenience of the people; the engineering department should check the ferries daily to make sure they are in good conditions before take off, so as to stop accidents and stopping at the middle of ocean. They are rules guiding the captains that drive the ferry which they must follow and the monitoring departments to do follow up.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

My City, My World Lagos is good; but will be better if… Ezurike Ugochukwu ustice c. Uhuegbu is a human JPublic right Lawyer/Activist and a Commentator based

Fashola admiring his prototype resident card

Still awaiting residents’ registration Ruth Okocha

onsidering that the world is gradually evolving into a global village with new inventions, improved technology, discoveries of software, new trends etc. everything is also being computerized. Lagos has gradually evolved into a mega city with this new trend and for it to measure up with other mega cities across the world, a bill was passed in 2011 to make the state computer based, for easy identification of residents via internet in the state. Computerizing it was supposed to help the government in planning budget, know the number of people, help in tax collection, know the number of roads under construction and to know the number of roads that need repairs, amongst others. The registration is applicable to citizens and non-citizens of Nigeria living in Lagos State with no age barrier. Despite this benefit, citizens are yet to know the impact of this agency, probably due to failure on the side of government and or the agency responsible to effectively enlighten the people.

After the bill was enacted in 2011, the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency LASRRA was set up to supervise the registration. Initially, messages was sent out to residents living in Lagos, campaigns were held trying to enlighten the people across the state of its benefit, but along the line, the campaign went cold and Lagosians did not bother themselves with it any more. Theodara Onyeka, a bank official, whose office is close to LASRRA’s head office in Alausa, asked, “does such a thing exist in Lagos? I have not heard of such. I am sure the state and the nation as whole have not advanced to that level”. She added that, “ I thought it is one of the numerous agencies Lagos State established with no specific aim. I pass through the Lateef Jakande road everyday but I do not know what they are into.” Ejiro Okpaye, a trader, said “I’m aware of it. I remember receiving a message years back from the agency concerning the registration but I disregarded it because, I don’t know what it is all about. The message wasn’t explicit enough and there was no enough awareness to educate us about it. I would have registered if I

were fully detailed,” she said. Toreola Ajayi, a stylist, said she has never heard of the registration. The first time she heard of the agency and its mission was when the correspondent asked her about it. Most of the individuals, New Telegraph spoke to refused to identify themselves but argued that they were not aware of the programme. They chorused that the agency and its registration programme are probably politically motivated. They concluded by saying they would never register for anything that has to do with it, except government would pay them for it. Looking at the issue critically, it is evident that most residents in Lagos know little or nothing about this agency and its mission. It is only in Lagos non-citizen get jobs without identification, walk around easily and even become more successful than the citizens, unlike in some other countries, where non-citizens take permission before working or living in the country. There also seems to be no penalty for those who refuse to adhere to the law which accounts for the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the agency and Lagosians.

Living behind gated streets CONTINUED FROM PAG E 25

ally, one of the security men asked them to park at a distance and trek in with the patient. “We did, even though, the guy couldn’t walk, by then, he was enmesh in his urine and vomit. He couldn’t walk again but his wife and I struggled to carry him into the hospital, through the small entrance by the side of the large gate,” Aiyekoto said. Aiyekoto’s anger is mostly directed at the Lagos State Government who made law and couldn’t enforce it and provide adequate security measures.“I am not blaming residents for locking their gates, after all, the government is not responsible for their safety even though, they claim to,” he said. More pitiable was the story a pregnant woman who delivers her bundle of joy at a gate somewhere in Isolo, area of Lagos six months

ago. Why? The security men claim to be acting on instructions, as such, didn’t allow her husband drive in. Her husband who simply identified himself as Bello said they pleaded with the men at the gate but the security men suspected us to be armed robbers bait, even with the tears streaming down his wife’s face, “they told us to go home and have the baby because they were not ready to open the gate for us and they walked away from our view. Shortly after, my wife who couldn’t stand up nor walk anymore gave birth at the gate. It was the cry of the new born baby that attracted the security men and landlords to the gate. They alerted the hospital for us. Well, I’m happy now because, they apologised to me and the estate compensated my family for the embarrassment. Most important is that mother and child are

alive. I thank God,” he said. In Surulere, area of Lagos State, a landlord who refused to give his name for security reasons said the Fashola law cannot hold forth “because the security measures he promised are yet to be fulfilled. So, where the government failed the people, the people should help themselves,” he said. He added that, that was why he didn’t get upset when he had an emergency last month; no gate within his area was opened despite the fact that he is a landlord and among those who made the law. “From Surulere, it was at Iyana-Ipaja that I was able to get a hospital to attend to me. It is not our fault but that of the government who wouldn’t provide security for us,” he said. Majority of the landlords and other residents that spoke with New Telegraph agreed that the law is viable but is not sustainable.

in Lagos. He has put over a decade in the legal profession here in Lagos. Barr. Uhuegbu believes Lagos is good, as the pro- Uhuegbu genitor of many good things and maker of many people. “Lagos is good if it’s not good it would have not borneCentre of Excellence insignia. When Lagos sneezes, the whole Nation catches cold. What happens to Lagos and in Lagos is the microcosm of the macrocosm of our larger society.” He said. That Lagos has been at the forefront for the fight against injustices as a former Federal seat of power; all manner of people converge here and reflect on many progressive subjects concerning Nigeria and Africa. The fathers of Nigeria started their struggles here. Their foot prints are here for us to follow and perfect on them. “The fire that started consuming injustice was ignited here. Come to think of people like: Herbert Marcauly, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Margret Ekpo, Beko Ransom kuti, Tai Solarin and many others all of blessed memory. They dominated the scene; they raised the torch we are seeing with today.” Barister Uhuegbu argued that Lagos and Nigeria as a whole will be better and take its rightful place in the comity of Nations, if the bill he called ‘WONDER BILL’ is adopted. According to him, the wonder bill will give every Nigerian citizen irrespective of where he comes from and where he resides equal right. “with wonder bill, the indigene and non-indigene factor that has eaten deep into our socio-economic, political and religious sub conscious minds will fizzle away. “Not until this starts in Lagos as the centre of excellence and permeates all corners of Nigeria that is when Lagos will be better.” He emphasised.

‘Lagos taught me to survive’ Okocha Ruth Obetta Remigus, the coordiFgosornator of OJB Foundation, Lais an interesting city whose

commercial value and nature is evoke feeling of delightsomeness and everyone sees it in that light. He said: “Lagos is a city of big Remigus business opportunity for those, varying from people of high class to those in lower class, strong at heart. Every one of them can earn a living as long as there is hard work.” He said sometimes the petty traders in Lagos make more money than those in offices, adding that the hustling and bustling activities in Lagos have made him adapt to so many things which have equipped him to survive in any other state he goes. Therefore, Lagos to him is also an institution and a teacher which has taught him to be an expert in virtually everything to survive and that has made him successful in life. “I have achieved a lot in terms of family and carrier and I attribute all to Lagos” he said. He appreciates the Lagos State government for its effort, as time is gradually changing and as such the number of Lagos residents has increased which has caused increase of Lagos traffic unlike other states. He said most of Lagos workers get up early for work and goes back late at night leaving them with no time for recreation. He said there is inadequate inter personal relationship amongst people living in Lagos and everyone stands alone. He urged the government to provide affordable housing estate within Lagos for their workers and also provide special buses for them too to reduce the number of vehicles on the road while also pointing out the street traders which have become a major challenge for residents. He however admonished that the government should provide an empty spaces for them elsewhere as they cause traffic and human congestion. “Despite all this, I will like to live in Lagos repeatedly if given the opportunity” he concluded.

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UPCOMING EVENTS

SME Financial Forum Q1 Organiser: SME Business Platform (Media Platform Limited) Date: March 12, 2015 From 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Venue: LCCI Conference & Exhibition Centre, Plot 10, Nurudeen Olowopopo Way Behind MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

Oracle Cloud Knowledge Transfer Session Organiser: Co-Creation Hub Nigeria Date: March 13, 2015 From 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM Venue: 6th Floor, 294 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo Yaba

LOUDTHOTZ POETRY OPEN READING Season 6

National Prayer SummitGENERATIONS

Organiser: Independent Poets Concerns Date: February 12, 2015 From: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Venue: ORANGE ACADEMY 3B ADESOYE STREET MENDE MARYLAND, LAGOS NIGERIA Lagos, Nigeria

Organiser: Awesome Treasures Foundation Date:March14,2015 From9:00AM-12:00PM Venue:SHELLHALLMUSON CENTRE,Onikan,Lagos,Nigeria

Arts in the Digital Age Organiser: British Council Arts Date: 17 March 2015

Breafast with CEO Organiser: Junior Chamber International, Lagos City (Nigeria) Date: March 14, 2015

From 11:00 - 13:00

From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Venue: TerraKulture

Venue: 254, Hebert Macaulay

Victoris Island, Lagos

Way, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria

MEGA CITY EVENTS Church service for late Molade Okoya-Thomas at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Lagos

L-R: Mr. Hakeem Bakare; Rotimi Adeshina; Chief Leila Fowler and widow of the deceased, Lady Oliveta Okoya-Thomas during the church service

A cross section of children and grandchildren of late Molade Okoya-Thomas at the church service

Public presentation of ISO 2OOO-1:2011 Certificate to VDT Communication by Director, United Kingdom Trade and Investment at Jade Palace Chinese Cuisine, Victoria Island, Lagos recently

L-R: Managing Director, VDT Communication, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi; Managing Director, Digital Jewels Limited, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa and Managing Director/CEO, Estream Networks Limited, Mr.Muyiwa Ogunboye

Mr. Olusola Abolarinwa of MTN (left) and Head of Marketing, Tara Systems Limited, Mr. Niyi Williams

PHOTOS: Godwin Irekhe

The 2014 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership was recently awarded in Lagos

L-R: Representative of the Ooni of Ife and the Oba Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and Executive Secretary, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, at the presentation of Award to the winner of the 2014 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership held at Muson Centre in Lagos

L-R: Chief Sola Ebiseni; former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Comrade Yinka Odumakin at the event

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

FCT Watch

Non-oil sector: NEXIM, others as change agents

The Investor

Money

Maritime

CBN’s currency speculation war

Nigeria, Niger float joint commission for trade

A few brokers’ dominance: Need to break the jinx

Business What's news

Telecoms operators attract 1.8m new lines

Major mobile network operators (MNOs) in Nigeria have sold and activated additional 1.8 million telephone lines on their networks, according to the latest official industry data.

Nigeria ships N12trn crude oil in 2014 –Investigation SLIGHT RISE

Crude exports increase by 2% compared with 107,686,011 metric tons recorded in 2013

34,466,291 gross tons achieved in the same period of 2013. Also, Tin can Island Port recorded a GRT of 50,011,289, representing 17 per cent increase over the corresponding period

of 2013, which was 42,758,161 gross tons. The Calabar Port Complex logged a total GRT of 4,085,903, depicting an increase of 46.3 per cent compare with 2,792,488

gross tons recorded in 2013. Rivers Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 7,304,591, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Bayo Akomolafe

p.30

Importers flood Lagos Port with N9.30bn soya beans Some 47, 476 metric tons of bulk soya beans valued at N9.30 billion ($46,479,004) have been shipped to Lagos Port Complex in Apapa.

p.30

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

igeria shipped 107,880,239 metric tons of crude oil valued at N12.2 triilion ($61,707,496,708) to other countries in 2014, checks by New Telegraph has revealed. In the energy parlance, one ton translates to 7.15 barrels. Given that a barrel of crude traded at about $110 up till June last year before falling to around $50 par barrel in December, our calculation was based on $80 per barrel. Consequently, 7.15 multiplied by $80 equals $572; 572 multiplied by 107,880,239 tons equals $61,707,496,708. Last year’s figure was two per cent higher than 107,686,011 metric tons recorded in 2013. Also, 21,679,330 metric tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) were shipped during the period, leading to an increase of 12.1 per cent over 19,341,663 metric tons recorded in the previous year. Investigation also revealed that 5,541 oceans going vessels with a total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 147,852,920 gross tons called at Nigerian seaports in 2014. According to a data received from the Nigeria Ports Authority’s Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Iliya Musa, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered tonnage of 36,969,456, indicating an increase of 7.2 per cent over

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

L-R: Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Ogbuefi Ozongbachi and a member of the committee, Babangida Ibrahim, after a budget defence of the ministry in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI .

Investors lose N1.12trn in four most capitalised firms Chris Ugwu

hareholders of four most capitalised companies in Nigeria’s stock market lost about N1.120 trillion between January and March 9, 2015. This stemmed from massive sell-off that have pervaded the local bourse due to preparations for the general elections and the declining oil prices at the global markets.

Oil, which accounts for about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and 80 per cent of revenue, have fallen by 50 per cent since June, last year, inflicting a huge blow on the naira that has been devalued twice in the last four months. The currency initially exchanged at N168 per dollar at the official market last November, but currently trades at N197 per dollar. Oil, which also

traded at about $110 dollars per barrel in June, now trades at below $60, indicating a sharp decrease in the country’s foreign exchange inflows. The declining value of naira and the postponement of the elections had scared away foreign investors and sparked a flight to safety. Meanwhile, the market CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Mar.6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N226 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N343 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N250

l Foreign Reserves – $30.873bn as at 4/03/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Mar. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N231

Business | News

ACCESS

More Nigerians continued to get phone lines to access telecoms services Kunle Azeez

ajor mobile network operators (MNOs) in Nigeria have sold and activated additional 1.8 million telephone lines on their networks, according to the latest official industry data. According to the data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the weekend, active telecoms subscriber base in Nige-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms operators attract 1.8m new lines

ria has further increased from 139 million in December last year to 140.8 million by January this year. This represents an increase of 1.8 additional lines on mobile networks. However, only the four Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators - MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat - contributed the new telephone lines. Rather than amass new lines, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

lost more lines from their existing combined telephone subscriber base. According to the NCC data, CDMA networks’ active subscriber base fell from 2,108,960 to 2,187,845 from December 2014 and January, this year. However, fixed networks gained more lines by increasing their combined subscriber base from 183,290 lines to 182,693 telephone lines during the same period. Meanwhile, telephone density or teledensity,

which is the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area, has also increased in Nigeria. According to the latest data, teledensity moved from 99.32 per cent from 100.59 per cent from December last year to January, this year. The NCC data, throughout 2014, showed that the nation’s telecommunications sector recorded month-onmonth rise in telephone

subscriptions as telephone operators introduced new services and expanded their network coverage to new locations not yet covered by their services. According to the industry’s report, from 127.9 million active subscriptions in January 2014, the figure increased to 129 million in February and by the end of first quarter of year ending March, the figure fell slightly to 127

Nigeria ships N2trn crude oil CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

representing 14.2 per cent growth over 6,394,270 gross tons achieved in the corresponding period of 2013. Onne Port complex documented a GRT of 41,854,687, reflecting an increase of 7.4 per cent over 38,967,131 gross tons recorded in the previous year. Delta Port Complex recorded 7,626,994 GRT, showing an increase of 21.1 per cent over the year 2013 figure of 6,295,995 gross tons, It was learnt that most of the ports recorded increase in GRT of vessels due to the capital and

L-R: Managing Director, Coleman Wires and Cables, George Onafowokan; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Executive Director, CWC, Micheal Onafowokan, during the minister’s visit to the company at Sagamu, Ogun State.

Importers flood Lagos Port with N9.30bn soya beans SHORTAGE

Nigeria’s crop faces gradual annual shortfall Bayo Akomolafe

ome 47, 476 metric tons of bulk soya beans valued at N9.30 billion ($46,479,004) have been shipped to Lagos Port Complex in Apapa. Data from Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s shipping position revealed that two vessels berthed with the commodity this week. Soya beans are sold at $979 per ton at the global market. At the terminal are MV Noro Shanghai and MV Marina L berthed with 30,476 metric tons and 17,000 metric tons of soya beans respectively. Nigeria presently produces 500,000 metric tons, making it the largest producer on the

continent. Data from Index mundi revealed that in 2015, the country would need 130,000 metric tons to support the dwindling local production. Index Mundi is global research firm that deals with imports and export commodities. In 2014, the Nigeria imported 121, 000 metric tons, 2013, 100,000; 2012, 75,000 tons; 2011, 99,000 tons and 2010, 35,000 metric tons. It was revealed that there was an annual shortfall of approximately 300,000 tons. In September 2008, the Federal Government removed the import ban on crude vegetable oil and increased imports. It was gathered that some milk manufacturers were now using the beans as alternative to cow milk. Leading infant food manufacturers in the country use soya beans because of its high nutritional value. Soya

beans are also processed into powder for consumer convenience. Food processors in the country are showing strong interest in value-added soya products because of the nutritional and health benefits and the cost of effectiveness as protein substitute and extender. Soya beans has an average protein content of 40 per cent and is more protein-rich than any of the common vegetable or animal food sources found in Nigeria. Currently, Sakma Oil Mills in Kano, Grand Cereals in Jos, ECWA Feeds in Jos, Afcot Oil Seed Processors now depend on the commodity for their production. Since the early 1990s, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) had promoted the use of protein-rich soya beans in everyday foods to curb malnutrition.

million again. In April, active subscriptions stood at 129.3 million, 131.1 million in May, 132.7 million in June and by July, the figure fell to 132.1 million. Also in August through December, active subscriptions on all mobile networks, including GSM, CDMA and fixed lines networks, were 134.5 million, 135.6 million, 136.6 million and 139 million respectively. Just as it was the case in January 2015, GSM companies in 2014 were major contributors to the growth recorded in 2014, as CDMA networks and fixed lines continued to lose subscribers on their networks.

maintenance dredging of the channel by NPA Joint Venture Companies (JVC). The companies involved in channel maintenance were identified as the Lagos Channel Management (LCM) Company, for the management of the Lagos channel and the Bonny Channel management (BCC) Company for the management of the Bonny channel. Also, NPA had recorded a cargo throughput of 86,603,903 metric tons of cargo last year, showing an increase of 12.64 per cent. The cargo throughput was 76,886,997 metric tons in 2013.

Investors lose N1.12trn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which measures the value of stocks listed on the local bourse, stood at N10.410 trillion at the close of trading on Monday as against the opening figure of N11.477 trillion at the beginning of trading in January 2015. The stocks that lost significant values are Dangote Cement Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Checks by New Telegraph showed that Dangote Cement, which controls about 28 per cent of overall market capitalisation led the top four league with a loss of N801 billion or 30.72 per cent to close at N2.607 trillion on at the time of filing this report on Monday, March 09, 2015. This is against N3.408 trillion opening figure in January. Nestle Nigeria trailed with a drop of N151 billion or 23.4 per cent to close from N801.9 billion to N649.9 billion, while Nigerian Breweries, which also ranked number two

in market capitalisation followed with a decline of N147 billion or 13.3 per cent to close at N1.103 trillion from N1.250 trillion. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc depreciated by N109.7 billion or 2.73 per cent, from N741 billion to N721.4 billion. The low sentiment in the market has been on the increase following upset in the financial market arising from insecurities, build up to 2015 elections and drop in oil price, among others. Financial analysts believed that some of these factors sent a shock wave to both local and foreign investors and created uncertainty in the investment environment, which led to retreat on the part of the bargain hunters and depletion in foreign portfolio investment in the country. The chief executive officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr Bismarck Rewane, had recently said that preparations for the elections and the declining oil prices were likely factors for the rise in the FPI outflow.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

FCT Business Watch Non-oil sector: NEXIM, others as change agents said that Sealink Project would assist in bridging the artificial boundaries that have hitherto prevented trade, economic integration and a seamless logistic services within the region. According to Orya, “The release of this financial grant of $302,000 to NEXIM Bank under the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF), which is managed by African Development Bank is an attestation of the confidence the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as other key stakeholders in our commitment, especially through the Sealink Project, to facilitate the free movement of persons, goods and services within the West and Central African sub-regions.”

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

recent statistics on trade by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) projected the likelihood of a rise in the country’s total merchandise trade by N2.43 trillion from the estimated figure of N25.17 trillion in December 2014 to N27.6 trillion by the end of 2015. The bureau’s prediction, which was contained in its economic review and outlook for the next three years, said that the N2.43 trillion represents an increase of 9.66 per cent. Of course, the projection in the rise of merchandises (non-oil sector) is good both for the economy and key institutions that would be driving the projected growth in non-oil sector. Over time, government has been worried over the country’s sole reliance on crude oil as its mainstay, driving the nation’s economy. The vagaries, which has assailed oil price at the global scene, thus making budgeting process very unstable has, undeniably, led to a paradigm shift and a wake-up call to focus on the nonoil sector. NBS tied its prediction to the recent depreciation of the country’s currency, the naira, which it reasoned would result in cheaper prices of non-oil exports and its subsequent positive impact on trade. “While exports are expected to be positive in the near term, the impact of declining crude oil prices is likely to result in a decline in the value of oil exports over the forecast period. The recent depreciation of the naira is expected to result in cheaper prices of non-oil exports, resulting in a boost. “Although the decline in crude oil prices may impact the value of oil exports negatively, the recent depreciation of the local currency is expected to bode well for non-oil exports. “The depreciation also means that imports are likely to be more expensive and are likely to slow down going forward. The value of total trade is projected to increase by 9.66 per cent in 2015.” NEXIM and others The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), a development finance institution set up to facilitate lending to export and import of goods to the country and other institutions such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) are now playing active role, to boost production activities in the non-oil sector and stimulate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country. For instance, NEXIM Bank has

Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

increased its supportive role to non-oil sector, especially agriculture and the services sector. A data obtained by New Telegraph indicates that the bank supported Nigeria’s non-oil sector to the tune of N40.217 billion between 2009 and May 2014, creating over 24,139 direct jobs in the process. The bank spent N16.35 billion or about 40 per cent of the total amount in support of the manufacturing sector of the economy and N8.61 billion on agro-processing. It was learnt that it disbursed N2.7 billion in support of solid mineral sector and another N12.544 billion on the services sector. Between August and December 2009 when the current CEO just assumed office, the bank financed exports worth N1 billion and sustained 606 jobs while assisting exporters to generate $8.408 million. In 2010, the development bank financed export trade valued at about N5.655 billion and provided trade guarantee of $21 million to exporters, which created about 5,298 jobs and generated $73.406 million at the end of 2010. In 2011, the bank increased its export financing to N7.588 billion and provided a guarantee of $6.3 million to exporters. This resulted in the creation of 5,124 jobs in 2011 and foreign exchange earnings of $68.051 million. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) have agreed to collaborate with a view to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the non-oil export sector. The partnership commitment agreed to by the two agencies stemmed from a recent signing of a Memorandum of Under-

Minister for Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga

standing (MoU) between both agencies of government. The Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, while commending the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Mrs. Saratu Umar, for the initiative, noted that the partnership would provide a platform for synergy with other relevant stakeholders in the sector. He said that platform will also proffer strategies for diversifying the nation’s productive base from oil to non-oil, particularly in the wake of dwindling revenues from the former.

Sealink Project would assist in bridging the artificial boundaries

Sealink’s connection Conceived and nurtured by NEXIM Bank to promote intra and inter-African trade by fostering regional integration, economic growth and development in the West and Central African sub-regions, Sealink is a proposed shipping vessel aimed at easing trade activities within the West African region. Billed to commence operations by December 2015, Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya, was upbeat that going by the groundwork so far covered, the project, aimed at mitigating current non-tariff barriers and high logistics costs that have hindered the growth of intra-regional trade and competitiveness of Nigerian manufactured exports regionally, will contribute immensely to the growth of non-oil sector, especially export of agriculture produce. Speaking recently in Abuja in an interview after the signing of MOU with African Development Bank (ADB), which offered $302,000 grant under the aegis of the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF) to support the actualisation of the project, Orya

Any need for a shipping line? There are opinions in some quarters on whether floating multi-purpose vessels for carrying passengers, freight and vehicles is desirable. In his response in an interview last week, MD, NEXIM Bank, Orya, said: “You know it is a new concept. NEXIM just saw that we are having a lot of problems, especially from the stand point of Nigeria being the dominant trading partner. In most of the markets in West Africa, the products you find there are Nigerian products. “If you talk to Nigerian exporters, they will tell you what they face moving these goods and that was why we decided that we are not going to buy ships, but we are only going to facilitate a shipping line that will be owned and operated by the same traders that are facing these challenges. And you know that kind of initiative is not easy to sell. Many people don’t even believe in it. But we have to push it because we have seen that even if you look at the world container trade within Africa, the contribution of Africa is more. You can’t trade by road. And then, if we say that we want to construct may be a railway, you know that most of the member states of ECOWAS are coastal countries, except about one or two that are landlocked. So we felt that no matter how difficult it is, we must push through this initiative because that is the only thing that can deepen trade and ensure regional integration.” Cost implication Orya said that the project’s cost is $60 million. Conclusion Analysts, including officials in government circle, have renewed clamour for expansion in non-oil value chain. It therefore means that key agencies like the NEXIM Bank, NIPC, NEPC and others that would be driving the expected growth envisaged in the sector should be given the needed funding and attention.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | The Investor

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Chris Ugwu

he current state of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) where 10 brokers have continued to dominate trading activities in a market where there are over 300 players raises a lot of concerns. Analysts have said that if more dealing members, especially the domestic are not active in the nation’s bourse, it would create room for imperfect competition. Some also believe that the NSE is prone to similar situation it witnessed during the global financial meltdown of 2007 and 2008, if more local players are not active in the market. The aftermath of the collapse saw the nation’s capital market lost huge funds, as the NSE’s All-Share Index fell from a height of 66,000 basis points in March 2008 to less than 22,000 points by January 2009. Also, over N8 trillion or 70 per cent of the total market capitalisation of the Exchange was wiped out during this period. Analysts noted that one of the major causes of the crash in the Nigerian capital market in 2008 was the massive exodus of foreign investors from the equities market. Top brokers executed these deals because they are the biggest trading houses for Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs). Market watchers believe that the dominance of these brokers accounted for why they have been dictating the tune in the Nigerian market. When they purchase shares, the bulls return and when they stop buying and take their profits, the bears take over again. Hence, these are some of the reasons for the back and forth movements being experienced in the market so far. The domination of the market by a few has also made some firms inactive, leading them to commit market infractions. This might not be unconnected with the management of the NSE’s intention to get tough with any dealing member firm that is not active for six consecutive months by revoking their operating licences. Current situation In an effort to stimulating demand and engender competition in the stock broking community, the management of the NSE had, in September 2011, introduced the ranking of the brokers by transaction value and volume. These leading stockbroking firms exchanged 9.009 billion shares worth N133.435 billion in the month of February 2015. Investigation by New Telegraph showed that the N133.435 billion was responsible for 72.51 per cent of the total value between 02/02/2015 and 27/02/2015. Also, the 9.009 billion shares accounted for 58.23 per cent of the total volume during the period under review. Further checks showed that while the top 10 broking firms accounted for 72.51 per cent of the total value of transactions in the month, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited dominated with 17.53 per cent or N32.268 billion exchanged in 1.490 billion shares. CSL Stockbrokers Limited accounted for N22.978 billion or 12.49 per cent invested in 1.715 billion shares. Rencap Securities Limited recorded N21.754 billion or 11.82 per cent exchanged in N2.328 billion shares. EFCP Securities Limited traded N19.117 billion or 10.39 per cent recorded in 890.183 million shares, while African Alliance Stockbrokers Limited recorded N9.248 billion or 5.03 per cent in 440.833 million shares. FBN Securities Limited accounted for N7.982 billion or 4.34 per cent in 442.845 million shares. APEL Asset Limited traded N6.183 billion or 3.36 per cent exchanged in 331.812 million shares, while

NSE building

A few brokers’ dominance: Need to break the jinx Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited exchanged shares worth N5.646 billion or 3.07 per cent. Vetiva Capital Management Limited staked shares worth N4.694 billion or 2.55 per cent, while Partnership Securities Limited traded N3.562 billion or 1.94 per cent exchanged in 375.771 million shares. Regulators’ observation The NSE has blamed most of market infractions being committed at the market on low capitalised brokers. The Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, speaking at a forum, said there was need to place a high barrier to entry. He added that the minimum requirement would increase professionalism and make the market become globally competitive. “It is the smaller brokers that commit most of the infractions because they are not robust enough to do the business. This is economically non-viable due to its low scale and pricing power. “We benchmark ourselves against other Exchanges and we discovered we have low market concentration, low retail penetration and low institutional flows because of fragmented broker as against other markets that have the participation of global players,” he said. Onyema explained that among 307 licenced dealing members, only 235 are active, noting that there was a disproportionate amount of broker per dollar amount of capitalisation in Nigeria. This, according to him, has made the market become unattractive to big players, as well as limits the size of the market. Onyema said that 50-100 firms were ideal for the nation’s capital market. Inactive brokers The management of the Exchange had announced its intention to get tough with any dealing member firm that is not active for six consecutive months by revoking their operating licences. The decision, according to the Exchange,is to maintain the integrity of the capital market and further protect investors in Nigeria. Head of Legal and Regulation Division, the NSE, Ms. Tinuade Awe, explained that voluntary inactivity occured

Smaller brokers commit most of the infractions

where the dealing member firm had not engaged in any trading activity for a consecutive period of six months without being suspended by the Exchange or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). She added that the rule further provides that the Exchange shall forthwith revoke the licence of any dealing member firm that falls into this category. Awe said: “Involuntary inactivity occurs where a dealing member firm has been suspended from trading activities by the Exchange or the SEC by reason of any infraction committed by that dealing member firm and it has not carried out any trading activity within the stipulated six months period. “The powers of the Exchange under this SEC approved rule will be exercised judiciously and will take into account all the circumstances surrounding each individual case as well as the interests of all stakeholders, particularly the investors.” She observed that majority of the prohibited practices in the market have been linked to inactive firms and so it is important to stress that the new rule is aimed at further sanitising the market to protect investors. Operators’ perspective The Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr Mike Eze, in a chat

with New Telegraph, noted that these 10 firms that have continued to dominate the activities on the Exchange have some of the most diversified portfolio of clients. He expressed worry that the activities of these big stockbroking firms have made the local bourse move towards a market dominated by few buyers and sellers who create room for all sort of imperfect competition, in order to accrue greater revenue and market share. “In addition to being the biggest trading houses for Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs), they also play big among the local institutional and high networth investors thereby keeping other players at bay,” he said. The Managing Director of Securities Africa Financial Limited, Mr. Folabi Afolayan, identified volume of transactions as a major challenge facing stockbroking firms in Nigeria. According to him, institutions, mainly foreign ones, have been dominating the market while the domestic retail investors have not sufficiently returned to the market since the financial crisis of 2008/2009. He pointed out that there were a few stockbrokers working with these foreign institutions who collectively control the major volumes traded in the market. “Foreign investors are also very sensitive and any information that reflects uncertainty in politics and government policies trigger a fast withdrawal from the market, which results in high levels of volatility. “Thus, the market still suffers from confidence issues within the domestic sector. We need increased level of domestic participation to improve the volume of trades and to contain the high volatility currently being experienced in the market,” he added. Conclusion Given that the industry is highly fragmented with most operators lacking both human and capital capacity, it is advisable that there should be room for mergers and acquisition options for the small players. This choice will help to strengthen the liquidity base of the operators to compete favourably with the big players and stay in business.

Business | Money

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FBN Capital: Weak oil prices may spark more naira devaluation Stories by Tony Chukwunyem

ith the next meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) rate setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), scheduled to take place in the next fortnight, analysts at FBN Capital Research have said that persistent weakness in oil prices could lead to a fresh devaluation of the naira. The analysts made this prediction in a recent note, which reviewed personal statements of members of the MPC made at the Committee’s last meeting in January. The experts noted that even though none of the MPC members actually voted for a floating exchange rate, the likelihood of them supporting this measure if oil prices continue to show weakness could not be ruled out. The analysts said “At the same time, a reading of the (MPC members) statements

does not throw up any support for a floating exchange rate. Our own view is that the longer low oil prices persist, the more likely it is that such an about-turn in thinking will occur. The Russian monetary authorities, which were equally attached to a managed rate, made the transition.” They noted that one of the 11 members of the MPC had during the meeting argued for the regulator to dump the Retail Dutch auction system (RDAS) in order to remove the arbitrage gap, a move which the CBN later implemented on February 18. At the MPC meeting held in January this year, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had said that while the regulator would continue to provide foreign exchange for Nigerians engaged in legitimate business, it would not allow the nation’s currency to come under speculative attacks. Emefiele said: “We have a responsibility in line with our core mandate to defend

the currency and the exchange rate of the naira. What is paramount is that the external reserves must be defended; the exchange rate policy must be defended. “We will ensure that economic activities continue to take place; anybody who needs foreign exchange to transact business in the country will be allowed to do so, but for legitimate purposes; and we will not tolerate speculative attack on the currency. “At this time, the naira is appropriately priced and there is no need for anybody to worry that there will be devaluation.” When asked about his assessment of the nation’s currency since the last devaluation in November 2014, he said: “Our assessment since devaluation remains positive, and I repeat; we are monitoring the market and we will ensure that all economic activities that take place in the market are supported by the CBN from time to time.”

Devt Bank: Why Nigeria needs foreign funding –Okonjo-Iweala

he Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stated that the proposed Development Bank of Nigeria is seeking funding from international investors in order to prevent it from becoming another corruptible institution. She told Bloomberg that aside from the $500 million financial package secured for the bank from the African Development Bank (AfDB), there were plans to seek funding from inter national investors looking to make a positive “social impact.” According to her, being accountable to these backers will help to improve corporate gover-

nance at the bank. She stated that although the Nigerian economy was posting positive growth rates, what was lacking was a state-backed institution like the Development Bank, which would have the capacity of providing long-term funding. “You can’t expect people to borrow short term — for three years — to invest in a 15-year endeavor,” she was quoted as saying. The minister predicted that apart from telecommunications, manufacturing and construction — Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth would increasingly come from non-oil minerals that are yet to be exploited such as copper and tantalite.

AfDB CEO forum to focus on economic environment

L-R: Principal Manager, EKEDC, Ademola Adegoke; Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Godwin Idemudia Sule; Mahendra Kumal Dandy of TATA Group; Chief Executive Officer, EKEDC, Dr. Oladele Amoda; Raj Verma of TATA Group; Mrs. Tinu Sanda of EKEDC and Uday Mishra of TATA Group, after EKEDC quarterly briefing on its activities in Lagos…yesterday

ore Nigerians are seeking to acquire training as forensic accountants and are registering for training programmes organised by the Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants (ICFA). The ICFA Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Richard Mayungbe, disclosed this in an interview with New Telegraph. He attributed the growing interest in forensic accounting to Nigerians’ fear of being defrauded. He said: “Many Nigerians now come to us saying they want to register for our training programmes and when I try to find out why they are interested, they say they want to acquire the knowledge and

More Nigerians seek forensic accounting training -ICFA also so that they get hired as forensic accountants to handle corruption cases.” Besides, he said: “There is so much talk of corruption in the ongoing political campaigns and some people believe that when a new government is sworn in, there will be many corruption cases and people who will be needing the services of forensic accountants.” He disclosed that the ICFA established its Nigerian office about five years ago, adding that the Institute has so far trained about 200 persons. Mayungbe said that special-

ised knowledge is required to tackle fraud and corruption. “Forensic Accountants combine their accounting knowledge with investigative skills in various litigation support and investigative accounting settings,” he explained. The ICFA Country representative pointed out the difference between a normal audit report and a forensic audit report lay in the word, ‘forensic’. “The difference is the word forensic. It means suitable for legal purposes; suitable tribunal or court of law,” he stated.

he African Development Bank (AfDB) CEO Forum billed for March 16-17, 2015, in Geneva, will focus primarily on development priorities of African businesses. According to a statement by the bank, the event, which has as its theme: “Africa’s new economic environment’’, will be an opportunity for the AfDB, especially its Private Sector Department, to reemphasise its strategic mandate in partnering with African countries in “doing business.” Commenting on the event, Director of AfDB’s Private Sector Department, Kodeidja Diallo, said: “Going forward, the bank is set to grow its private sector portfolio and play a greater co-investment and cofinancing role beyond its annual investment target of around $2 billion per annum.” He disclosed that Africa’s economic outlook will be discussed in depth by experts and delegates who will also discuss the growth paths of the continent’s economies over the next five years. The organisers will tackle the issue of the World Bank’s Doing Business index, which measures progress in

the business environment of 189 countries each year. According to the index, of the bottom 50 countries, 36 are African. The urban explosion in Africa will also be high on the Forum agenda. The focus here will be rather on what percentage of the annual $25-billion consumer market African businesses can tap into, and under what conditions. Discussions will also centre around how African businesses, with their knowledge of transport and linkages to trade and other sectors could play a decisive role in structuring African cities and making them more productive. Through its private sector window, the AfDB invests in infrastructure, financial institutions, industries, agribusiness, manufacturing and service sectors in Africa. It supports African enterprises to become more competitive at home and abroad, while continuing to attract foreign investment. An increasing demand for private-sector participation through innovative partnerships, presents significant opportunities for growth, synergy and impact.

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

CBN’s currency speculation war Tony Chukwunyem

pinions are divided in industry circles over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) stepping up of its campaign against currency speculators. While most analysts support the apex bank’s move, the view in some quarters is that it may not be an easy battle and could negatively impact the economy. Since November 25 last year when in the aftermath of the oil price slump, the CBN, citing the need to curb speculative attacks on the local currency and preserve the external reserves, devalued the naira by eight per cent, from N155 to N168 to the dollar, it has continued to deploy additional measures to ensure a stable exchange rate. Analysts point out that the new measures became necessary because despite the November 2014 devaluation, the postponement of the general elections as well as lingering concern over oil price volatility caused the naira to further crash through what dealers consider to be the psychologically important level of N200 to the dollar last month. Anti -speculation measures Clearly, the most significant of the additional steps taken by CBN to defend the naira was the closure of the Retail Dutch Auction (RDAS) and Wholesale Dutch Auction Systems (WDAS) windows on February 18. The closure of that window and the CBN’s directive that all demand for foreign exchange should be channeled to the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM) effectively meant that naira had been devalued from the official rate of N168/$ to the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM) rate of N198/$. In the statement it issued announcing the closure of the RDAS and WDAS windows, CBN explained: “In recent times, with the sharp decline in global oil prices and the resultant fall in the country’s foreign exchange earnings, CBN has observed widening margin between the rates in interbank and the RDAS window. This has engendered undesirable practices, including round-tripping, speculative demand rent-seeking, spurious demand, and inefficient use of scarce foreign exchange resources by economic agents.” According to CBN, this has continued to put pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves with no visible economic benefits to the productive sector of the economy and the general public. “In view of the foregoing, it has become imperative that appropriate actions be taken to avert the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves,’’ the statement added. But in what was obviously a well planned move, 24 hours after shutting down the RDAS window, the regulator issued a circular mandating authorised

Jonathan

dealers to repatriate proceeds of oil and non-oil exports into the export proceeds domiciliary accounts of their respective exporters. The circular signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, stipulated 90 days for the repatriation of oil export proceeds and 180 days for non-oil exports. Exporters criticised the action. However, analysts saw it as the CBN’s way of blocking speculators’ access to foreign exchange. Other fresh measures introduced by the CBN to tackle speculators include barring lenders from reselling oil companies’ dollars to other lenders unless the sale was backed by a customer order and fixing the rate at which banks can buy dollars from oil companies at not more than N2 spread to its clearing rate. There were also indications at the weekend that the CBN had stepped up inspection of commercial bank’s trading books to verify utilisation of its dollar sales and that it was getting ready to take more drastic steps against speculators. Indeed, according a report by a national daily last week, the CBN is said to be planning additional measures to tackle speculators as it strongly believes that they are responsible for the local currency’s travails. Automation to the rescue The report disclosed that one of the new measures the CBN was considering was the automation of the foreign exchange market to ensure that transactions are conducted electronically, thus eliminating usage of cash and reducing opportunities in the market for arbitrage and round-tripping. The report also stated that the CBN was collaborating with the National Assembly to introduce stronger legislations that would give the Customs more powers to prevent foreign exchange from being illegally taken out through the country’s borders. More significantly, the report claims that the CBN firmly believes that the continued weakness of the naira was basically due to speculation and that if it succeeded in checking the un-

Godwin Emefiele

Dominance of the market by a few buyers and sellers create room for imperfect competition

wholesome activity, it would be able to meet genuine demands for foreign exchange. According to the report, CBN Director, Monetary Policy Department, Moses Tule, reiterated that the apex bank took the decision to close the RDAS window because it was being abused by those who accessed foreign exchange through it. Tule was quoted as saying, “Remember, first, the creation of that (RDAS) window in itself is a child of circumstance and because of that, it was an abnormality in the sense that we did not need to have a preferential window for access to foreign exchange. But we felt that as a developing country, we needed to encourage our domestic industries to produce, improve their capacities and become competitive in the global market. But the window has been severely abused, sometimes by the manufacturers themselves, who access foreign exchange and refuse to bring back the proceeds.” Tule also confirmed that the CBN had, equally in the short term, tightened monitoring of the foreign exchange market and was keeping a close watch on the activities of market operators, to checkmate speculators. He said: “We have not only improved the level of supervision, we have also improved the frequency of spot checks which of course we do not announce. We try to look at the veracity of the documentations submitted by FX market operators- especially those that are demanding very high foreign exchange, and we may now want to see for instance, what you have brought in with what you demanded, your capacity and so on.” Director, Trade and Exchange, CBN, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, was similarly quoted by the newspaper as saying: “Our eyes are on the market, we do not sleep over the matter because there are no strong fundamentals to support volatility in the FX market other than speculation. We are coming up with more measures and I bet you speculators will soon lose money.” Analysts’ divergent views

However, some analysts are sceptical about the CBN’s ability to win the battle with speculators, especially against the backdrop of reports that it was unable to meet the total outstanding dollar demand of about $600 million at the IFEM last Thursday, coupled with persistent decline in the foreign reserves. For instance, a financial analyst, Mr. Dafe Edevbi, told the New Telegraph that he did not know where the CBN was getting the confidence from that it would win the war against speculators, pointing out that the reserves had steadily fallen to about $30 billion, which was $23 billion less than what the nation had as reserves when oil prices fell sharply in 2008. He said, “Before the devaluation in November last year, the CBN was also claiming that it would defend the naira and that devaluation was not on the cards. But at the end of the day, it had to come to terms with reality. It had spent $1billion in two weeks trying to prop up the naira but it saw that the currency continued to decline so it had no choice but to devalue. I suspect it would soon also realise that its quite difficult winning a fight with speculators with dwindling foreign reserves. If the CBN is not careful, the rate could go much higher than the current rate of N226 or N227” But in a telephone chat with New Telegraph, financial consultant, Dr Boniface Chizea, contended that the CBN’s measures had succeeded in stabilising the exchange rate, adding that he was optimistic that the apex bank will win the battle against speculators. According to him, “what the CBN is trying to do is to ensure that it takes care of only those who have genuine demand for foreign exchange. And I think it is succeeding. In the last couple of days, the rate has been at N197/$ at the IFEM and that is the market we should be looking at not the parallel market.” His views were echoed by the Country Representative of the Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants, Dr Richard Mayungbe, who argued that in the face of weak oil prices and surging demand for foreign exchange, the CBN has no choice but to impose controls on forex purchases. “The only way to ensure that the foreign reserves is not completely depleted, which would be terrible for the country, is for the CBN to take the steps that it is currently taking. You really have to show evidence that you genuinely need forex before it will be sold to you”, he stated. Conclusion But with Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which the banking watchdog uses to defend the naira, drawn down to $30.81billion as at March 5, 2015, followers of developments in the financial markets obviously have cause to worry.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

36 10,000 vessels operate in Nigerian waters illegally –Agbakoba p.37 RECOVERY Nigeria moves to reclaim cargo businesses lost to neighbouring ports Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

ig erian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo has been constituted after a joint meeting between governments of both countries. The move is to tackle trade facilitation currently being threatened along the Nigerian land borders. Already, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has given assurance to the commission of its support in order to encourage Nigerien business community to patronise the Nigerian ports. Presently, Nigeria has lost three million metric tons of Nigerien cargo to neighbouring ports of Benin, Togo and Ghana due to high port tariffs and surcharges. However, the Managing Director of the authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, had said in Lagos while receiving members of the commission in his office, that the ports authority would support their mission. He enjoined the commission to find ways of mitigating the threats in the interest of the country.

Maritime

‘Police lack weapons to secure seaports’ p.38

Nigeria, Niger float joint commission for trade Abdullahi stressed that he was happy with the activities of the commission in the area of trade facilitation between Nigeria and Niger. He said that NPA would support the commission’s sensitisation workshop scheduled to hold in Abuja soon. Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Peter Utsu, had told the managing director that the commission was constituted after a joint meeting between the governments of Nigeria and Niger Republic. He added that the presidency gave the commission the marching orders to ensure that the interest of Nigerien business community in doing business through the Nigerian seaports was revived. According to him, the commission would organise a sensitisation workshop in Abuja on its activities, which would precede the arrival of Nigerien business delegation to Nigeria and the Nigerian Ports this month. Until 2006, about 70 per cent

of Niger Republic cargo were transited through Nigerian seaports as against the current zero per cent. Three countries, Ghana, Togo and Benin, snatched over three million metric tons of cargo of Niger Republic from the country. At present, Niger Republic is shipping about 2.5 million metric tons in Benin Republic, 1.5 million metric tons in Togo and close to a million metric tons in Ghana. Major imports into Niger Republic, like Nigeria, are mostly consumer goods, while the country exports uranium, sesame seed, arabic gum, groundnut and skin through Nigerian

seaports in the past. As part of efforts to reclaim the loss, in 2013, the Federal Government sent some officials from various agencies to the landlocked country in 2013. Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) led the trade delegation made up of port concessionaires, port administrators, government officials and other shipping service providers to Niger Republic. The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said that the essence of the trade mission was to strengthen trade agreements between Nigeria and Niger Republic to

enable Nigerian ports handle more of the import and export cargo of the landlocked country. He said: “What we are doing is part of the Federal Government’s efforts and the Government of Niger Republic to discharge their international law obligations as coastal and transit state and landlocked state respectively.” Bello noted that the meeting between the Nigerian maritime industry operators and the Niger Republic business community was facilitated by the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Development (NJJC).

Transfer operations: Maritime Insurance warns members

he Marine Insurance, P&I Club, has warned some liners over ship to ship (STS) transfer operations in the Gulf of Guinea. It observed that West African countries had started ship to ship (STS) transfer operations that may be taking place in national waters and their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It said that members should be aware of the increased regulation and control being exercised by coastal states in western Africa in relation to ship to ship transfer operations. Already, the association’s correspondents in the Republic of Congo had advised that the local merchant marine authority must be given advance notification of any STS operation and provide approval before it may go ahead.. It noted that STS performed without such approval may result in significant fines and other legal action being taken. The P&I Club said that members should identify the cargo to be transferred and the quantity.

It said: “From experience, it has been shown that STS operations come with the risk of both pollution incidents, physical damage to the involved vessels, as well as the risks of injury and fatalities, if such operations are not conducted carefully. “In addition, there is a need to conduct a commercial risk analysis, which covers the nature of the commercial situation, legal obligations and responsibilities, as well as regulatory compliance obligations. “Vessels that are stationary during a STS operation may be at particular risk, as they cannot seek to use navigation to fend off an attack. “Therefore, it is advisable to seek to conduct operations in areas where protection can be afforded by authorised bodies of the local coastal state. In this regard, it is important to note that it may not always be possible to have foreign security personnel on board a vessel, be it armed or unarmed.”

Vessel awaiting cargo discharge

Grimaldi to order $300m Roro ships

rimaldi Group will, this month, complete an order for five giant car carriers worth $300 million to move vehicles made by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV to US, Nigeria and other countries. The family-owned, Naplesbased company, which operates over 100 ships through five main companies - Grimaldi Lines, Atlantic Container Lines, Minoan Lines, Malta Motorways of the Sea and Finn lines, will move cars and containers from the US and Canada to Europe and Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and other West Africa countries. The shipping company’s Managing Director, Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi, said that the ships would carry 7,000 cars each on 13 decks. Also, he noted that ships would move Fiat- and Chryslermade cars from Europe to the US and the other way around.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the seventh-largest auto maker in the world, whose brands include Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati. Grimaldi is also the premier carrier for other car companies, including General Motors Company and Ford Motor Company. He explained: “We have shortlisted some Chinese yards and the order will be finalised in March.” Grimaldi added:”Sales of car carriers are a barometer for car sales around the world, and the Grimaldi order signals rising optimism on that score.” He said that he was expecting the overall shipping industry to start emerging this year from one of its longestever down cycles, which had lingered since the recession of 2008-09 and has been worsened by the European debt crisis.

“Now, after some very bad years of the economy in the southern part of Europe, there will definitely be a pickup in car sales,” which will benefit shipping companies, he said. “Many countries, like Italy, Spain and Portugal, have been suffering a lot from the crisis and people have not changed their cars. In Italy, in the good years, you had 2.4 million new-car sales annually, now it’s one million.” Grimaldi said that the falling interest rates had substantially cut borrowing costs, both for countries servicing their public debts and for private enterprises, and the falling euro is making European car brands more competitive abroad. Grimaldi, whose group’s Greek-based Minoan Lines moves passengers and cargo around the Greek islands and Italy, said he is not concerned by fears about Greece leaving the eurozone.

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

DILEMMA Maritime trade in limbo as mafias keep local ship owners out of Nigerian waters Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

ormer Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has raised the alarm over the increasing number of foreign ships operating in Nige-

10,000 vessels operate in Nigerian waters illegally –Agbakoba rian waters illegally despite the cabotage regime. He noted that over 10,000 vessels were operating in Nigeria’s coastal illegally. The lawyer added that the number of vessels operating illegally has continued to increase each day with the Chinese’s involve-

ment in exploring Nigeria’s natural fishing resource. According to him, the Chinese and some other Asian countries are having field days exploiting Nigerian resources on Nigerian waters. Agbakoba recalled that the Presidential Committee, of

NIMASA’s patrol boats

Terminal operators groan as revenue drops 42%

ort terminal operators have declared that their income had been significantly eroded by as much as 42 per cent as a result of the low imports and the depreciating value of the naira. The operators under the aegis of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), explained that at the current exchange rate of the naira to the US dollar, Terminal Handling Charges (THC) had effectively been eroded in value. Its Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup, lamented that most of their commitments were in dollars. She said: “We charge in naira but due to the devaluation of the naira, you’ll see that what we charge today is effectively 42 per cent of its value in 2006 when you convert to the U.S dollar. “This is significant for us because we now need more naira to fulfill our dollar commitments. It might be recalled that in 2006, one USD exchanged for about N130, but today, it is more than N220 to the dollar, which implies a significant decline of about 65 per cent in the value of the national currency since port concession. “Vessel call dropped by half in the first month

of the year. Volume also dropped significantly by an average of 27 per cent across the various terminals. Some terminals suffered more drop in volume than this.” Haastrup said that the situation had been compounded by a drop in cargo volume at the port since the beginning of the year. She noted that only 29 vessels were declared for the Lagos Pilotage District (LPD) between the last week of February and the first week of March, 2015. “These ships include tankers, container vessels, general cargo vessels and so on. It is very unusual. Ordinarily, about 60 vessels would be declared within the same period,” she said. The STOAN chairman also said that some government policies on importation were affecting the volume of cargo handled at the port. Haastrup said: “For instance, due to the automotive policy, the number of cars/vans discharged in Lagos dropped from 27,000 units in January 2014 to 8,000 units in January 2015. “It must be noted though that in the first half of 2014, the volume of vehicles imported was extremely high in anticipation of the in-

troduction of the new duty regime on vehicles. Average number of cars/vans for previous years was in the range of 20,000 units per month. We are talking of over 60 per cent drop in volume here. “For trucks, the volume dropped from 2,700 units in January 2014 to 1,700 units in 2015. The number of trucks discharged in 2014 was in line with the figures of previous years. “But in Cotonou port, the total number of cars/vans discharged in January 2015 was 30,000 units against 20,000 units discharged in January 2014. This represents a 50 per cent growth. Similar trends have been registered also for trucks. “This means that Cotonou is gaining from Nigeria’s loss due to the auto policy as more importers are discharging there to avoid paying the 70 per cent duty and levy in Nigeria. These vehicles will eventually find their ways into the Nigerian market.” Haastrup explained that the same fate had befallen general cargo terminal operators especially those handling rice and fish. She explained that the terminal operators generally were facing a tough time here.

which he was chairman, had, in its report, submitted a few years ago, discovered that no fewer than 5,000 of such illegal vessels were operating in Nigeria’s coastal waters. Also, the human right lawyer lamented the domination of Nigeria’s oil and shipping sectors by foreigners. Agbakoba said that it was sad that 99 per cent of the vessels in the nation’s coastal waters were foreign owned. He declared: “At the point we wrote the report, 99 per cent of the vessels in our coastal waters were foreign owned estimated at that time at about 5,000. Now, it is pushing to about 10,000 because the Chinese have joined in exploring and exploiting our rich natural fishing resource and we have no answer.” Agbakoba identified at least four services in the oil and gas sector of the economy in which Nigerians can be involved, but were not for decades now. He called for a Maritime Action Plan that has a national content policy to boost the efficiency and growth of the maritime industry. The lawyer said that the involvement of Nigerians in the sector would have a multiplier effect on the national economy with at least N7 trillion a year and about four million jobs. Also, Agbakoba urged the Federal Government to create a ministry fully dedicated to the maritime sector. He said: “Nobody is going to invest in the ports if the Ports and Harbour Bill is hanging. There are lots of laws that are hanging that we recommended should go through. Now, with the type of tariffs imposed by these foreign dominated terminal operators, our ports are unattractive. “If there was a Minister of

Shipping, the minister would have pursued the Transport bill; Ports and Harbours bill and other bills that would move the sector forward in the National Assembly.” The legal practitioner also called for the unbundling of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Agbakoba said that the agency should focus only on maritime safety and security. He said: “We need to call attention of people who make policy to the huge potentials in the industry. As an active actor, I think the problem is simple and actors in the sector need to call for attention. “Our role as stakeholders is to continue to put it at the top of the agenda what we want to do differently from the past and that is to have a cohesive action plan to drive the maritime industry. “Nigeria requires a practical and holistic plan to address myriad of challenges facing her maritime industry and to harness the potentials for the benefit of the nation. “The challenges in the sector are enormous and multifaceted. That includes access to credit financing, obsolete or ineffective laws, poor infrastructure and human capacity.” Agbakoba said that maritime sector stakeholders should demand for programmes of action for the industry from the two leading presidential candidates in the March 28 2015 general elections. He said: “We need to know that there are mafias in the sector, which is in their interest to keep Nigerian ships out of Nigerian waters. It is in their interest to allow foreign vessels control our Cabotage trade, to the detriment of the industry.”

VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PILOTAGE DISTRICT S/NO

SHIP

21 22

ZIM CHINA ZEELANDIA

23 24 25

34 35

MSK CONGO MSK IZIMA HAMMONIA BEROLINA MOEN ISLAND MSK CAPECOAST MSK INNOSHIMA RT AEGIR MSK JUBAI MSK CASABLANCA KOTA NASRAT NORDIC STRALSUND ARGOSY KOTA BUNGA

36 37 38 39

ROSEMARY PORT RUSSEL KILBURN BULK PHOENIX

AMETRIN

SEA GRACE

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

AGENT

PORT

TONNAGE / UNIT LANSAL APMT 500FCL MGM LOG EKO SUPP 103FCL+ 1200MT MSK NIG APMT 600FCL MSK NIG APMT 400FCL MSK NIG APMT 400FCL

E.T.A

LENGTH

CARGO

24/03/15 254M 3/03/15 140M 3/03/15 6/03/15 8/03/15

CONT CONT+G/ CARGO 249.12M CONT 233M CONT 209M CONT

MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG

APMT APMT APMT APMT APMT APMT

381FCL 585FCL 384FCL 455FCL 408FCL 600FCL

9/03/15 10/03/15 13/03/15 15/03/15 17/03/15 17/03/15

223M 249.12M 233M 209M 223M 249.12M

CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT

PIL PIL

APMT APMT

200FCL 536FCL

6/03/15 7/03/15

180M 228M

CONT CONT

PEAK SHOREVIEW TEAMS TIGER TIGER SUPERMARITIME UNION MARITIME ZIRCONIA

NOJ LADOL

23000MT 8FCL +140MT 5000MT 210000MT

3/03/15 3/03/15

184M 179.5M

3/03/15 101M 25/02/15 170M 7/03/15 30000MT 12/03/15 190M

PMS CONT+G. CARGO DPK PMS B/GAS G/CARGO

GDNL

46202MT 7/03/15

190M

B/GYPSIUM

NOJ

6000MT

142M

AGO

F/W NISPAN LISTER ENL

1/03/15

Business | Maritime

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Police lack weapons to secure seaports’ INEFFICIENCY Crimes flourish at seaports Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Commissioner of Police, Easter n Port Command, Mr. James Caulcrick, has said that his command lacked adequate arms and ammunitions to effectively police the port. Caulcrick made the complaint when the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Maritime Command, Kalafite Adey-

S’Korea to tackle illegal fishing in Nigeria, others

he South Korean Government is planning to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by South Korean fishing boats operating in Nigeria, Ghana and the rest of Gulf of Guinea by greatly reducing their number. South Korea said that from now, deep-sea fishing would only be allowed in countries with which South Korea has a formal fishery agreement. Under its plan, the government would provide a total of $8.99 million to those that voluntarily halt fishing activities in waters off West Africa and retire their aged vessels there. According to the country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the move came as suspected IUU fishing by South Korean ships in the region had been largely blamed for the country’s preliminary designation as an illegal fishing state by the European Union (EU). The EU recently began its final deliberation to remove South Korea from its shortlist of IUU countries after the country took series of painstaking measures to curb pirate fishing that included a 2013 revision to the law on deep-sea fishing that raised the maximum fine for IUU fishing from 30 million won to 200 million won, along with an additional fine of up to three times the value of catch from illegal fishing. The United States, which had included South Korea on its own list of IUU fishing countries in 2013, has removed the country from its list.

emi, visited the zone. The commissioner listed the challenges facing the command to include inadequate arms and ammunition for effective patrol and guard duties within the ports and its environs, lack of gunboats and patrol boats, as well as lack of personalised radio transmission network within the barracks. Other challenges are shortage of operational vehicles, barracks accommodation for Port Police personnel and inadequate

staffing of the command. However, the AIG said that the Police authorities would look into these challenges. Adeyemi expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship existing between her men and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) officials. She pledged to strengthen the relationship to ensure that the port environment was safe for business activities. She warned police-

men on duty at various seaports in the country to ensure that no illegal weapons were shipped into the country. Adeyemi said that police would provide security along the waterways during the forthcoming general elections. She appealed to officers to ensure adequate security to avoid any loophole that could make importation of illegal firearms through the ports possible. Also, Adeyemi said:

“The importance of this visit cannot be complete without giving notice that no election can take place in the absence of viable service. “The success of the 2015 general election rests on our shoulders in being vigilant. Therefore, all efforts should be geared towards avoiding criminal elements from using our ports to bring in weapons and dangerous materials for use to cause violence during the elections. “We have been lectur-

ing our men to be of good behaviour. They are going to perform well.We are ready for the elections. We are out to do our jobs and to be on steady patrol of the waterways. “We have the capacity to face whatever challenges that may confront us. That is why I am on this tour because the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abbah, asked me to go round and see how we can provide all those things before the time of election.”

Photo | News 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

L-R: Olupoye of Ipoye-Ijesa, Oba Joshua Adefioye; Asolo of Isolo-Ijesa, Oba John Ade-Adeyemi; Asileyun of Sileyun-Ijesa, Oba Peter Ade-Atayero and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, during the grassroot campaign for presidential, national and state house of assemblies, at Ilaa-Ijesa, Atakumosa-West Local Government.

Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (right), with ace musician, DanMaraya Jos (Adamu Wayya), during a patriotic advocacy concert on “Do the Right Thing, Fall in Love with Nigeria” in Jos.

L-R: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh; Governor Willie Obiano; his wife, Ebelechukwu and Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Revd. Valerian Okeke, after being honoured by the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria in Onitsha. Former deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George (right), with Prince Adebiyi Akinsemoyin, during a press conference on the state of the nation, in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

L-R: Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; Rivers State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Director-General, Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Mr. Victor Giadom, during Odinkalu’s visit to Peterside’s campaign office in Port Harcourt .

A medical doctor based in America for 42 years to be crowned the Omu of Asaba, Lady Ada Biose (middle), with Asaba monarchs and chiefs, after being presented to the Asagba for approval in Asaba, Delta State.

L-R: National Youth Leader/Founder, Youth of all Nations Empowerment Association, Comrade Jeff Echezono Joshua; candidate, Federal House of Representatives, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Hon. Rita Odichinma Oriji; President, Youth of all Nations, Comrade Bababtunde Ifenuga and Mr. Famakinwa Olumide, during an interactive session with the candidate of the local government area on their manifestos, in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Deputy Chairman, Joint Action Front (JAF), Comrade Achike Chude; Chairman, Dr. Oladipo Fashina and Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, after a news conference on the state of the nation in Lagos.

40 Politics

Okonjo-Iweala

WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tambuwal

Jibrin

Preparing for passage of 2015 budget After about three months, the House of Representatives has finally passed the 20152017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). PHILIP NYAM captures highlights of the approved MTEF and the likely shape of the 2015 budget

nlike the previous years where the approval of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) was characterised by fierce disagreements amongst members of the House of Representatives, the 2015-2017 MTEF was unanimously adopted. It was curious that the lawmakers were all at home with the report on the MTEF presented by chairman of the joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Aids, Loans & Debt Management and Legislative Budget and Research, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin. The House had mandated the joint committee to study the MTEF and make appropriate recommendations to it. While presenting the report, the chairman said the projected gross federally collectable revenue for 2015, 2016 and 2017 are N9.904.87 trillion, N10.284.75 trillion and N10.865.56 trillion respectively. He said the increase in the MTEF projection for 2015 for non-oil revenue from N3.539.07 trillion, N3.787.30 trillion for 2016 and N4.018.04 trillion for 2017 should be sustained. Jibrin explained that between June 2014 and February 2015, crude oil price had declined from $114 per barrel to $60 per barrel. He said given the tight revenue prospects for the country in 2015 because of the fall in oil prices, it is most likely that the increasing debt profile of the country may persist, stating that the nation’s debt profile by 2014 was N10.841

trillion, even as he urged that government should make concerted effort at tax collection to achieve a higher level. According to him, “prudence, pragmatism, cooperation, collaboration and consultations between the executive and the legislature would be required by the political leadership while implementing the inevitable austerity measures, as well as protecting jobs, service delivery and implementing the capital budget as much as possible.” The House called on government to strengthen and consolidate its fiscal strategy to “narrow the gap between projected and actual revenue for the period 2015-2017, curtailing oil theft and diversifying the economy to increase tax bases.” Although, the House retained the original total budget projection of N4.4 trillion, it moved money from one item to the other. Benchmark/Exchange rate The House adopted $54 per barrel of oil as benchmark for the 2015 Budget as against $65 proposed by the Executive. The Senate had a week earlier fixed the oil benchmark at $52. The House rejected the $65 benchmark proposed by the Presidency, describing it as unrealistic. A member of the joint committee and chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget, Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi, gave some insights into how the committee arrived at the benchmark. He told the House that the joint committee’s resolution on the oil benchmark was reached following consideration of $60 oil benchmark adopted by oil-producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Venezuela. According to Opeyemi, Saudi Arabia pegged its own at $60 and Venezuela $60. These are countries that don’t even have the kind of challenges that we have, and they are countries with better macro-economic fundamentals. But based on foresight, they chose $60 as their oil benchmark. He said: “The adoption of $54 is to ensure micro-economic stability for the country.” The House also pegged the exchange rate of N198 to $1 just as it approved the crude oil production

of 2.278.2 million, 2.327 million and 2.406 million barrels per day for 2015, 2016 and 2017 fiscal year respectively. Similarly, the House approved that the total recurrent (non-debt) expenditure be reduced from N2.616.01 trillion to N2.584.08 trillion; total capital expenditure be increased from N633.53 billion to N700.78 billion; total statutory transfers be reduced from N411.85 billion to N368.27 billion; total non-oil revenue be increased from N3.539.07 trillion to N4.024.11 trillion while the total statutory allocation to the National Judicial Council be increased from N73 billion to N78 billion. The House, however, noted that these projections are subject to further upward review because of the falling oil prices.

Collaboration and consultations between the executive and the legislature would be required by the political leadership while implementing the inevitable austerity measures

Capital budget The House rejected the low component of the capital budget proposal by the Executive. Ever since the budget proposal was presented, the House never hid its dissatisfaction with the capital provision in the budget. Its argument has been that if the government wants to impact on common Nigerians, it must allocate substantial funds to capital projects. So, after a long deliberation on the report, they adopted N700.78 billion, but adopted an increase of the National Judicial Council vote from N73 billion to N78 billion. The House also adopted a recommendation to abolish subsidy on kerosene, if it is found that its implementation is shoddy, as it called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS) for better interest of the country. Service Wide Votes It also recommended scrapping the N360.94 billion proposed as Service Wide Vote, stressing that all expected line expenditures under this vote should be channelled to various line ministries

for proper monitoring. This did not come as surprise because the House has since 2014 being investigating the utilisation of the Service Wide Votes and has always expressed concern at the manner the fund is administered. Only a week ago, the House Committee on Public Accounts led by Hon. Olamilekan Adeola reported that only the President, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and the DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, had access to the account. Olamilekan said: “The SWV is operated by only three people; Jonathan, the Finance Minister and the DG, Budget Office.” The House also resolved “that a drastic reduction in cost of governance and improved revenue collection be undertaken with a view to attaining a healthy recurrent/ capital expenditure ratio and that the relevant committees of the National Assembly should oversight the kerosene subsidy provision to ensure its full implementation, availability and accessibility. If this is difficult to attain, then we should do away with kerosene subsidy.” SURE-P It equally resolved that the total expenditure for SURE-P be reduced from N102.50 billion to N21.03 billion due to fall in the price of crude; diversify the economy to increase tax bases; that the non-oil revenue projection for 2015 be increased from N3.539.07 trillion to N4.024.11 trillion. Similarly, the House resolved that the current government policy restricting government-owned enterprises expenditure to a maximum of 75 per cent of their gross revenue and automatically converts 25 per cent of such revenue to government revenue should be pursued vigorously, while punitive action be taken and possible prosecution of erring CEOs of these ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) who do not comply with the instruction. With the approval of the MTEF, all is now set for the passage of the 2015 budget, which may be done anytime from now.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015

PDP, APC fight dirty over Jonathan, Buhari

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

reflective of the synergy between the security service and the PDP to rubbish the opposition party ahead of the forthcoming elections. Oath taking On February 27, PDPPCO spokesman alleged that APC National Leader and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is plotting to become the president of Nigeria through the back door. Fani-Kayode alleged that APC vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was picked by Tinubu and “forced to take an oath” to resign his appointment six months into the new cabinet, should the APC win the elections. “Tinubu, according to our information, has compelled Osinbajo to swear to an oath that after six months in office, he would resign as the vice president, in the unlikely event that their party wins. The wicked plot, as laid out by them, is to force Osinbajo to resign for Tinubu to be nominated by Buhari as his replacement. “The ultimate objective of this plot is to ensure that Tinubu becomes President. The script is simple: given the questionable health of Buhari, Tinubu, who is desperate to be president for his own selfish reasons, will simply bid his time in the evil expectation that Buhari will not be able to go the whole hog.” But Tinubu described FaniKayode as a peddler of falsehood, hired for a smear campaign against APC, its leader and presidential candidate. He also said that the PDPPCO spokesman is suffering from hallucination. Freezing of bank accounts, grounding of aircraft On February 28, the spokesman of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Garba, accused President Jonathan of attempting to weaken Buhari’s chances at the March 28 election. He also accused Jonathan and the PDP of plotting to thwart the electoral process by freezing the bank accounts of APC chieftains and grounding their aircraft. N5bn spent on Buhari’s Chatham House engagement On Sunday February 28, FaniKayode, alleged that APC spent N5 billion to set up a speaking

Mu’azu

engagement for its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, at Chatham House, London. Fani-Kayode insisted that Buhari was in the UK for medical purposes and that his presentation was hurriedly arranged while he was in London and his party paid for it. “The APC leaders begged for the speaking engagement and we are reliably informed that they paid for it. The information at our disposal indicated that no less than N5 billion was budgeted for the London jamboree,” he said. APC spokesman faulted PDP’s allegation, asking the ruling party to tell Nigerians how much they also paid for such opportunities, especially when the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Dansuki Sambo (rtd) was at the Chatham House. Fresh vote delay plot On March 1, APC accused President Jonathan and the PDP of perfecting a fresh strategy to further push for another postponement of the 2015 general elections. “The plan is to use the same bogey of insecurity in the NorthEast to push for another postponement in the elections,” the party stated. The party added that while the 23 parties are pushing for the elections to be further postponed, the Jonathan administration and the PDP are simultaneously forging ahead with their plan to remove Jega and replace him with a malleable acting chairman whom, they believe, will do their bidding. APC said: “Once they remove Jega, his replacement will either seek more time to organise the polls or simply jettison the plan to use card readers, thereby opening the door for those who have been buying up Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to use them.” But the ruling party faulted the APC’s allegation, saying the opposition party is suffering from hallucination. Fuel scarcity PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu on Monday March 2, accused some opposition leaders of being behind the last week petrol scarcity in Nigeria. He claimed that the scarcity was engineered to damage the image of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the March 28 election. Also blaming APC for the fuel

Mohammed

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan. They (CAN) later disbursed N3 million to the state chairmen

scarcity, the Director of Media of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode alleged that fuel marketers had taken what it described as a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies to filling stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity. “These unconscionable opposition elements infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers, whom they have contracted, in a calculated attempt to frustrate the good efforts of government. Why have they taken this time when all hands are on deck for the March 28 elections to cause this artificial fuel scarcity? The situation is so bad that they are not importing the product,” Fani-Kayode said. Responding to PDP allegations, APC in a statement by its spokesman said: “It is totally unconscionable, and indeed an admission of failure for a sitting government and a ruling party to blame the opposition for their failings. These guys have simply abdicated their responsibility to the people. They can as well throw in the towel and head for home. “The questions to ask are: who runs the NNPC? Who pays subsidy to fuel marketers? Who has used federal resources to bribe individuals and groups to such a level that there is no money to run the government, let alone paying subsidies? “The moment a ruling party starts transferring its responsibilities to the opposition, it is clear that the market is over.” Setting up Jega with huge deposit On Wednesday March 4, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a press conference in Lagos revealed several plots by the PDP to scuttle forthcoming elections. “There is a plot to transfer a humongous amount of money into the bank account of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and then claim that the money came from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in order to justify the ongoing plan to sack Prof. Jega so that he won’t organise the elections. “Beyond Jega, there is also a plan to credit the bank accounts of some key national institutions with huge amounts of money purportedly from our party, the APC, ostensibly to compromise those institutions.

Telephones bugging APC also alleged that there was a plan to use the security agencies to intimidate key opposition leaders as well as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunications service providers to disrupt voice and data transmission, especially in APC strongholds, on election day. “As we have said earlier, the telephones of our leaders have been bugged and their movements are being daily monitored. Top on the list of the security agencies to be used against the opposition is the DSS, which will be used to compel all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to hand over the names and telephone numbers of all INEC’s regular and ad hoc staff who will conduct the elections, as part of the Jonathan administration’s rigging plans,” Mohammed said. Keeping IT experts in Villa The APC also accused the Presidency of retaining the services of two Israelis and a Belgian who are currently holed up in the Aso Rock Villa to hack and corrupt INEC computers on election day, with the trio having already been paid 25 percent of their contract fees upfront. Ekiti treatment In the days leading up to the elections, APC said, the Jonathan administration is planning to give the opposition the Ekiti treatment by massively arresting key opposition leaders, with a view to destabilizing their ranks, putting them away and paving the way for a free rein of their rigging agents. Towards this end, thousands of signed blank detention orders have been procured. Planting of illegal substances in baggage “As part of the plan to implicate our leaders, illegal substances may be put into their checked-in luggage during local and international flights. That is why we are calling on our leaders to travel only with their carry-on baggage,” said APC. But the PDP through its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the allegation is a reflection of the character, CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42 Politics C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

inner thoughts and ideology of APC leaders. He said APC had resorted to fabrications because it had discovered that its “fake campaign promises” would not able to upstage the achievements of the president. “Indeed, Nigerians are not surprised at the contents of the recent false alarms by the APC as they are undoubtedly a reflection of the character, inner thoughts and ideology of its leaders,” he said. The DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, also denied the alleged involvement of the security agents in the rigging plot, saying that APC just made an allegation without having the details. Gombe anti-election leaflets The APC on February 15 accused the PDP and Jonathan administration of sponsoring circulation of leaflets urging the people of Gombe to stay away from the polling booths on election days or they will be in trouble. It also accused the PDP of sending emissaries to Northern leaders, especially the Emirs, to push for an interim government. “They are the unseen hands behind the advertisement by faceless groups urging Muslims to vote for Muslim candidates. It is in line with their exploitation of religious and ethnic fault lines to divide Nigerians,” the party said. Buhari in London for medical treatment Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, on February 20 alleged that Buhari travelled to United Kingdom for medical treatment contrary to claims that he went abroad to speak to some international dignitaries at Chatham House. Fayose said that Buhari was sick and lacked the required capacity to rule Nigeria. His words: “As against the claim of the APC that Buhari was on a short working visit to the UK, Buhari is being treated at a hospital located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, W2 London West End, London. But, Garba said Fayose’s claim was untrue as Buhari was not hospitalised. “The fact that Buhari is still alive up till today is not pleasing to the governor. From the day Fayose published a Buhari in the coffin, when he announced a death wish for the former Head of State, the governor demonstrated his morbid hatred for Buhari,” he said. N6bn bribe to CAN The Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation and Rivers State governor, Amaechi, last month alleged that unnamed leaders of the PDP paid N6 billion to Christian clerics to campaign against APC and Buhari. He said the compromised pastors were circulating documents to Nigerians, where they alleged that the APC and its presidential candidate would Islamise the entire country, if Buhari is elected as president. “Some pastors collected N6 billion and they are circulating documents and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man, not to vote for a Muslim because they want to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them to

WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP, APC fight dirty over Jonathan, Buhari

Amaechi

Fani-Kayode

Metuh

Shehu

return our N6 billion to the Federal Government coffers,” he said. Confirming the allegation that President Jonathan gave pastors across the country money to vote against Buhari, a Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, said that the money that was given to pastors by the President was actually N7 billion and not N6 billion as alleged by Governor Amaechi. Musa-Dikwa, the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, told journalists in Kaduna that the said money was channelled through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He said the CAN got N7 billion on January 26 and disbursed N3 million to each state chairmen of the CAN across the country. His words: “It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan. They (CAN) later disbursed N3 million to the state chairmen of the CAN. The money was handed over to the CAN Leadership on 26th January, 2015.” In a swift reaction, the Borno State Chapter of CAN denied allegations of receiving money bribe from President Goodluck Jonathan for his re-election. In a statement by its chairman, Rev. Titus Pona, CAN said that Pastor Musa-Dikwa’s allegation was not only falsehood but “baseless, fictitious and unfounded.”

the government intends to use to create an impression that it is winning the war on terrorism. Shehu in a statement said credible sources had alerted the APC that the fake Shekau might become a tool to blackmail members of the opposition “by coaching the phantom terror chief ” to say he was working for Buhari in order to link APC presidential candidate to terrorism as it had attempted but failed in the past. “The charge to the military, that they should catch Shekau alive by the President in the last 24 hours, lends credence to the report that indeed a fake Shekau is about being created,” APCPCO stated.

He said his chapter had no knowledge of such allegation and did not collect any money.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

President has a grand plan, a grand plan to ensure that by hook or by crook he wins the election or if it all fails, he scuttles it and creates chaos, confusion and unpleasantness

NIMASA Behind hate campaigns APCPCO on February 19 accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of being behind “dirty campaigns” of hate against the APC presidential candidate, Buhari and his family as aired in documentaries by some media organisations. Shehu in a statement alleged that the organisation has evidence and has confirmed that NIMASA was indeed the sponsor of all the documentaries against Buhari on AIT, NTA and several other media platforms. But NIMASA’s Director-General, Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, denied the accusation, describing it as attempt by the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation to impugn the integrity of the agency and its management. He said NIMASA is not an affiliate of any political party and therefore he should not be dragged into malicious politicking. Plan to ‘create’ fake Shekau On February 24, the spokesman of APCPCO raised alarm about reports of a fake Abubakar Shekau (Boko Haram leader) allegedly being paraded by the Federal Government, which it says

Jonathan trying to play Gbagbo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo while speaking to journalists at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta last month accused President Jonathan of hatching a grand plan to ensure that he wins this year’s presidential election by hook or crook. Obasanjo likened the style of President Jonathan towards the forthcoming elections to the attitude of former President of Cote D’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo who was disgraced out of power after he orchestrated a shift in election date. “What is observable and what would appear to be happening is that the President has a grand plan, a grand plan to ensure that by hook or by crook he wins the election or if it all fails he scuttles it and creates chaos, confusion and unpleasantness in the whole country because it is the duty and function and responsibility of the security officers to provide security. Failure to do so is dereliction of duty, pure and simple. It looks to me that the President is trying to playing Gbagbo,” he said. Obasanjo plot to head Interim Government President Jonathan while refuting Obasanjo’s allegations against him, said the ex-President is planning to scuttle the 2015 general polls to enable him push for an Interim National Government, which he intends to head. President Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, accused Obasanjo of trying to return to power through the back door. “For reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his mind on regime change by fair or foul means. Indeed, it is not President Jonathan, who remains faithful to his oath of office, who is trying to plunge Nigeria into crisis, but Chief Obasanjo who is scheming to plunge the country into chaos in pursuit of a selfish and highly egocentric agenda. “Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Govern-

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MarCh 11, 2015

ment, which he hopes to head on the nation is well known to us, but by the grace of God Almighty, his odious plan to return to power through the back door will fail woefully,” he said. Jega conniving with APC to rig polls The PDPPCO spokesman on February 11 accused INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega of working with APC to rig the forthcoming general elections. It alleged that Jega has been holding meetings with APC chieftains in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate and other unnamed cities to perfect plans to disenfranchise

23 million eligible voters by not giving them their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Fani-Kayode alleged that Jega might have decided to aid APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs. He also alleged that emerging trends have shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the PDP presidential candidate of their PVCs whilst the parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the APC presidential candidate, had got their PVCs.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Even the Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly (SNPA) accused Jega of holding meetings with the Northern elders in order to favour the north in the elections. He added that the PVC collection statistics for states and geo-political zones before the postponement of the elec-

tions buttressed the fact that Jega had allegedly contrived grand conspiratorial alliance with APC to fraudulently secure victory in the elections. Denying PDP’s claim, Mohammad wondered how his party could have done that when its leaders have been busy with campaigns, noting that there is no reason to meet with anybody. Buhari has cancer, asthma, dementia Fani-Kayode in January alleged that Buhari has “prostate cancer, acute asthma and that he suffers from dementia” and as such wouldn’t last long in office if elected as

president. He also accused the APC leaders of trying to force a dying man into office to achieve ulterior motives. The allegation about Buhari’s health status generated lots of issues, before Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) discredited the purported medical report, said to have emanated from the hospital indicating that Buhari is suffering from prostate cancer. The ABUTH report, which was made public by Shehu, described as disdainful, distractive, mischievous, fake and fallacious the trending

news report of an alleged prostate cancer condition of Buhari being credited to a source from ABUTH. “It (report of cancer) is untrue and condescending of its exponents. I have it on good authority that GMB has not visited the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in the last five years. So, how can anyone say that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last October, barely three months ago? “This is the highest point of political distraction, malice and mischief. The report was not only fake but unfounded. I have spoken to impeccable sources at ABUTH all of whom deny the report and also claimed that the letterhead used was not their regular one, and that Dr. Bala Mohammed that purportedly approved the false medical report is not on the personnel list of that department,” he stated. $100m war chest to stop Buhari The APC on January 29 alleged that the Federal Government has set aside $100 million war chest to prosecute a campaign to stop Buhari at all cost in a bid to scuttle the general elections and pave the way for an interim government. The opposition party in a statement by its spokesman alleged that the game plan is to get the court to disqualify Buhari based on controversy over his secondary school certificate, and precipitate a crisis that could halt the electoral process. He said besides a rash of court cases that have been instituted against Buhari by PDP fronts, there is also a systematic denial of visas to foreign journalists wishing to cover the elections. “The rumour mill is spinning fast. Stories abound of a huge war chest of $100 million being earmarked to grease the palm of any pliable judge who can disqualify General Buhari and halt the electoral process…,” the party said. Denying the allegation, PDP spokesman, Metuh, said the allegation of $100 million budget to stop Buhari was not only laughable, but an indication that the opposition party has admitted that it has lost the election. He urged APC to stop making spurious and unfounded allegations against the ruling party. As the general elections draw closer, Nigerians are asking: Will the catalogue of accusations continue or will the political parties change gear?

Business | Money Line

IRRELEVANT

Specialist urges less focus on parallel market rates Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the backdrop of the widening margin between the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM) and parallel market rates, a financial expert has cautioned Nigerians against using the latter rates to assess how the naira is faring. Although the naira has stabilised at N197 to the dollar at the IFEM in recent days, it has continued to trade at above N224/$ at the parallel market. But in a telephone chat with New Telegraph, respected financial consultant, Dr Boniface Chizea, argued that the naira’s value at the IFEM was more significant than what the currency was trading at the parallel market. He said, “How many serious stakeholders in the real sector patronise the parallel market? I don’t think any real serious operator in the economy sources forex from the parallel market. Their forex comes from the IFEM so, it is this market’s rate that should be

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Expert to Nigerians: Use interbank market to assess naira taken as the real rate of the naira.” He noted that recent measures introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stabilise the exchange rate had started yielding results as the naira had been consistently trading at N197/$ in recent days. Since it devalued the naira on November 25 last year, citing the need to curb speculative attacks on the local currency and

preserve the external reserves, the apex bank has continued to deploy additional measures to ensure a stable exchange rate. On February 18, the banking watchdog also subtly devalued the naira. It announced the closure of Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) window and directing that all demands for foreign exchange should be channeled to the IFEM. In a statemen, the CBN

explained, “In recent times, with the sharp decline in global oil prices and the resultant fall in the country’s foreign exchange earnings, CBN has observed widening margin between the rates in interbank and the rDAS window. This has engendered undesirable practices, including round-tripping, speculative demand, rent-seeking, spurious demand, and inefficient use of scarce for-

World Bank launches ‘Lighting Africa’ programme for Nigeria

he International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday launched the Lighting Africa programme for Nigeria. The programme, a joint initiative of IFC and the World Bank, is targeted at increasing access to affordable, clean and safer lighting for more than 30 percent of Nigeria’s population who live in rural areas, and have low incomes and

no access to grid electricity. According to a statement posted on the Bank’s website, “Lighting Africa mobilises the private sector to build and develop markets that enable access to clean, affordable, quality lighting products by fostering partnerships among local and global manufacturers and creating new channels through local distribution companies that will help build robust supply chains for off-grid lighting prod-

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

N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$32,758,862,269

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 6/3/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

ous opportunities would be explored and our goal of inclusive electrification would be achieved in Nigeria.” He further stated that the expansion of the Lighting Africa programme to Nigeria supports the World Bank Group’s Energy Business Plan. Under the Energy Business Plan, each World Bank Group institution will leverage its competencies and products to provide solutions to projects that encourage their viability and contribute to the sustainability of Nigeria’s power sector to underpin the government’s ambitious privatization and reform programme.

Bank floats currency exchange transfer service kye Bank Plc has introduced a self service currency exchange transfer service on its internet banking platform to allow customers transfer funds from their foreign currency account to their naira account with the bank. In addition, the service allows customers to transfer from their foreign currency accounts to other Skye Bank account holders’. Similarly, lender according to a statement, has also introduced a direct International funds transfer service that enables account holders to transfer foreign exchange from their account to offset

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves,’’ the statement added. Other fresh measures introduced by the CBN to tackle speculators include barring lenders from reselling oil company dollars to other lenders unless the sale was backed by a customer order and fixing the rate at which banks can buy dollars from oil companies at not more than N2 spread to its clearing rate.

payment in any part of the world. The service is known as FX Direct. Skye Bank’s Head of Information Technology, Mr. Richard Amafonye, who disclosed these new self-service offerings, said all the transactions are performed at the bank’s prevailing exchange rate. He said the service provides ease and convenience to customers if they run short on cash in local currency. “All it takes is to choose the foreign currency account you want to transfer from, fill the amount with the Naira equivalent of the amount you wish to exchange and submit”, he explained.

US export agency increases Africa offices

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

ucts.” Programme Manager for Lighting Africa programme Itotia Njagi, said, “Lighting Africa is helping to build a market to bring off-grid lighting and energy services across Africa by establishing quality standards, investing in consumer education, creating a favorable investment climate, and supporting innovative business models. As we foster these partnerships among all parties in the industry, vari-

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

eign exchange resources by economic agents.” This according to the CBN, has continued to put pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves with no visible economic benefits to the productive sector of the economy and the general public. “In view of the foregoing, it has become imperative that appropriate actions be taken to avert the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he US Commercial Service, the export promotion arm of the Department of Commerce, doubled its presence in Africa over the past year to boost trade with some of the world’s fastest growing economies. The agency opened offices in Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania in the past 12 months and is planning its biggest-ever trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa in September, Donald Nay, a regional se-

nior commercial officer, said in an interview with Bloomberg. US companies have faced increasing competition from China in Africa over the past decade as the Asian nation targeted the continent for oil and other mineral resources. Chinese trade with Africa amounted to $174 billion in 2013, more than double that of the US, which was Africa’s biggest trading partner five years earlier.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

10-Mar-15

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 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)

23-Apr-10 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

4.00 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

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 34.00 600.00 459.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 223.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,932.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,377.36

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 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

0.12 1.44 2.13 2.38 2.48 3.22 4.30 4.62 4.93 6.89 9.01 13.72 14.20 14.70 15.37 19.36

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

15.65 16.17 16.32 16.26 16.26 16.18 16.11 16.04 16.03 16.05 16.31 15.67 15.58 15.48 15.90 16.43

14.39 16.04 16.24 16.17 16.18 16.04 16.01 15.92 15.94 15.98 16.24 15.62 15.52 15.40 15.82 16.36

98.59 96.11 97.81 87.70 86.37 86.60 99.60 71.24 98.32 101.32 90.20 96.18 82.47 59.90 66.40 75.14

98.74 96.26 97.96 87.85 86.52 86.90 99.90 71.54 98.62 101.62 90.50 96.48 82.77 60.20 66.70 75.44

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.21 1.07 1.75 2.11 2.32

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

18.26 19.49 18.19 17.26 19.11

96.31 98.00 96.76 96.98 90.29

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 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

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.10

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.48

4.44

20.59

96.48

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.32

3.23

19.01

98.26

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

21.45

94.60

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

20.48

96.33

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.11

1.00

17.26

87.57

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

17.43

95.71 91.37

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.81

1.79

18.01

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

1.98

1.80

18.05

93.77

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.00

1.00

17.26

94.92

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.18

1.00

17.26

95.28

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.18

4.78

21.04

88.64

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.38

1.00

17.26

96.77

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.62 4.70 2.68

1.00 1.00 1.00

17.25 17.04 17.24

96.61 91.93 95.02

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.23

1.00

17.18

94.38

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.72

1.00

17.02

87.39

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.81

1.00

17.01

92.67

‡ /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

3.47

1.44

17.59

92.57

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.50

1.00

17.14

94.74

97.09

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 423.22

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.44

1.00

17.07

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.50

1.00

17.21

97.56

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.58

2.63

19.03

97.36

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.56

1.00

17.13

94.54

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.63

1.34

17.49

95.52

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.56

1.00

17.25

91.47

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.58

1.88

18.02

100.67

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.58

1.00

17.14

98.54

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

2.00

1.00

17.26

101.17

98.02

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

2.00

1.00

17.26

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.54

1.00

17.14

91.91

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.86

2.29

18.51

96.01

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

2.19

6.11

22.37

93.13

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.81

2.16

18.38

94.99

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.68

2.76

18.78

87.91

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.56

1.00

17.40

74.89

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.56

1.00

17.40

80.95

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

132.23

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

122.45

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.93

1.00

17.21

84.37

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

17.04

81.42

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 20.67

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.51

6.30

101.16

102.16

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.86

5.56

97.79

98.70

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.78

6.64

97.46

98.33

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,482.06

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

128.54

44.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

7.67

5.84

99.79

101.86

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

13.31

88.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

14.08

13.01

82.11

84.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

8.89

8.27

91.13

92.95

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

38.91

43.63

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.22

90.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.39

14.88

79.99

81.35

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

14.09

77.95

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

28.38 14.54 14.13

28.38 13.97 14.13

40.00 78.83 74.25

40.00 80.83 74.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.22

10.65

88.25

90.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,604.60

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

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.68 13.45 14.36 14.98 14.72 14.79 14.91 14.17

Offer Discount (%) 10.43 13.20 14.11 14.73 14.47 14.54 14.66 13.92

Bid Yield (%) 10.71 13.53 14.49 15.17 14.94 15.06 15.22 14.50

Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.1283 15.8352 16.8264 17.8427

Rate (%)

OBB

13.00

O/N

13.33

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 13.50 14.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

199.08 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

199.18 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

***LCRM

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.10

19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.11 2.32

1.00 2.85

17.26 19.11

96.98 90.29

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.48

4.44

20.59

96.48

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.32

3.23

19.01

98.26

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

21.45

94.60

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

20.48

96.33

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH 2.11 1.00 17.26 87.57

‡ /Agusto

Business | Financial Market News *BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

17.43

95.71

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.81

1.79

18.01

91.37

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

1.98

1.80

18.05

93.77

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.00

1.00

17.26

94.92

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.18

1.00

17.26

95.28

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.18

4.78

21.04

88.64

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.38

1.00

17.26

96.77

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

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.62 4.70 2.68

1.00 1.00 1.00

17.25 17.04 17.24

96.61 91.93 95.02

31-Dec-20

5.81

1.00

17.01

92.67

31-Dec-20

3.47

1.44

17.59

92.57

06-Jan-21

3.50

1.00

17.14

94.74

17-Aug-15

0.44

1.00

17.07

97.09

09-Dec-15

0.50

1.00

17.21

97.56

11.22

10.65

88.25

90.63

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† UPBEAT ‡ /Agusto

*EKITI *NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR Local bourse gains *ONDO BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS N53bn

Stock market remains bullish

timent extended gaining 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 sector of the financial streaks, following the 10-Oct-13 14.75 OSUNinvesII 10-OCT-2020 services sector was 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS tors’ sustained 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 most active (measured optimism. 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Consequently , the All- by turnover volume) with 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 Share Index gained 159.35 203.6 million shares worth Stories by Chris Ugwu 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 basis points or 0.51 per N2.3 billion exchanged by TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE he bulls yester- cent to close at 31,355.28 as investors in 1,822 deals. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION day maintained against 31,195.93 recorded Volume in the sub-sector Corporate Bonds grip on their the previous day, while was largely driven by activ10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto *UPDC market as barmarket capitalisation of ities in the shares of Zenith 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS by06-JAN-2016 gain hunters jostled *CHELLARAMS for equities appreciated Bank Plc and GTB Plc. 14.00 CHELLARAMS BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 shares ofA-/GCR blue chip com0.51 per29-SEP-2016 cent Other financial instituNAHCO A+/Agusto; 29-Sep-11 NAHCO N53 billion or13.00 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 tion sub-sector, boosted A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH to close at N10.463 trillion panies on the floor of the by UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA from N10.41013.00 trillion. Nigerian Stock Exchange activities in the shares of 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING Meanwhile, a turnover FBNH Plc, trailed with a (NSE). MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA turnover of 201.8 million The keyB+/GCR market perforMPR+7.00shares TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; *TOWER of 528.8 million shares valued at N1.3 bilmance measures, the NSE 4,955 MPR+5.25in TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER worth N5.3 billion 14.00 UBA IIin 22-SEP-2018 UBA AllA/Agusto; ShareA/GCR Index and mardeals was recorded the lion in 1,285 deals. 22-Sep-11 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 day’s trading. ketBbb+/Agusto; capitalisation, rose*LA byCASERA The number of gainers MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS 0.51BBB-/DataPro†; per cent as market senThe banking subat the close of trading ses16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

#{r}

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

sion was 26, while decliners closed at 18. 11.10 14.75 13.50 87.50 Plc AIICO Insurance 15.00 5.00 led the gainers’ table with 14.50 4.55 6.74 per cent to close 15.00 4.56at 95 kobo per share, while 460.61Conoil Plc and Ikeja423.22 Hotels Plc followed with a gain of five per cent each to 10.00 2.50 close 12.00 at N35.50 and N4.20 18.75 per share 14.00 respectively 0.42 . Fidelity13.00 Bank Plc added 15.00 4.86 14.25 to close at 5.53 per cent N1.51 13.00 20.00 per share. 18.00 0.64 On16.00the other 6.30 hand, Beta 18.00 Glass Nigeria 2.54 Plc led the price losers’0.70table, 16.00 14.00 4.99 per 35.00 dropping cent to close 15.75 at N25.73 per2.40 share. 18.00 0.36 Champion Breweries Plc 16.00 4.50

Foreign investors dump $4.5bn Nigerian stocks 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

NAHCO

14-Nov-13

15.25

oreign investors have 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 30-Sep-14 11.93 STANBIC IBTC 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 13.25 IBTC sold off NigerianSTANBIC stocks TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE valued at $4.5 billion TOTALSeptember MARKET CAPITALISATION since last year following the consistent drop Supranational Bond in AAA/S&P oil prices, which weakened 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 the economy . rency. 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 theAaa/Moody's; naira. AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 11.25 “Export revenues are down The increased political “I repeat that there is no TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE risk ahead ofMARKET the presidential elec- by over 50 per cent. Imports need for us to panic because TOTAL CAPITALISATION tion later in March and inse- are sticking upwards, while we’ve looked at various scecurity due to persistent BokoIssuer people’s expectations narios and where we Description are Rating/Agency Issuemodels Date Coupon (%) Haram attacks have also con- pretty high. To bring peoples looked at some of those acFGN Eurobonds tributed to the sell-off. expectation down to reality is tions that the monetary and According to an online mefiscal authorities would6.75take becoming a problem,” Bismark 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 dium, data from the Nigerian Rewane, an economist, told as we attain various levels in BB-/Fitch; 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 Stock Exchange (NSE) showedFGN eNCA TV. the price of crude. BB-/S&P that foreign investors increased The Federal Government “I think it is important for BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 BB-/S&P exiting the market towards the had recently appealed to for- me to at least commend the TOTAL OUTSTANDING last quarter of 2014, VALUE selling out eign and local investors not to fiscal authorities. In 2014, for MARKET CAPITALISATION of TOTAL the relatively liquid bank- panic over depression in the instance, as these unfolding ing, consumer and oil sectors nation’s local bourse. events started, the Minister of Corporate Eurobonds as B/Fitch; the price of Brent crude, the The CBN Governor, Mr. GodFinance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 11.50 bench mark against which Ni- win Emefiele, made this appeal invited the McKenzie Group to 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 7.50 geria’s oil is priced, dropped. when he paid a courtesy visit to look at our non-oil sources of 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 7.25 The B/S&P plunge in the oil price the Exchange. revenue. In 2014, we had6.88over 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 He said the Nigerian monehas put Nigeria’s currency N75 billion in increased non-oil 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANKunPLC 08-Nov-13 6.00 der pressure and dampened tary authorities as10.25 well as08,fiscal revenues.08-Apr-12 We are expecting APR 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 10.25 in 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLCauthorities were doing appetite for assets in Africa’s every2015 that 22-Apr-14 this will ramp6.25 up to May 21, 2019to B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMONDoil BANK PLC 8.75 are biggest economy and chief thing they could to8.75respond as high as21-May-14 $1 billion. Those AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 the vulnerabilities8.25 occasioned exporter, prompting theFIRST central some of the activities that8.25 have 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 by drop in oil prices and other bank to intervene repeatedly been put in place. There6.63 is no 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 9.25 sectorJUL of 23 2021 need to panic,” to B-/Fitch; try toB/S&P prop up the local cur-LTD upset in the financial 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 FIRST BANK 23-Jul-14 he said. 8.00 A/GCR

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Aug-14

Africa Prudential’s profit leaps by 25%

frica Prudential gic plan, was em0.58 2.63 19.03 which97.36 (APR) barked upon in 94.54 2013. 29-Sep-16Registrars 1.56 1.00 17.13 25-Oct-16Plc has1.63 1.34 recorded He17.49 said that95.52 the com1.00 a30-Sep-17 25 per cent 2.56 leap in its pany 17.25 executed a91.47 year out 30-Nov-17 1.58 1.88 18.02 100.67 post-tax profit for the year of the three-year strategic 09-Apr-18 1.58 1.00 17.14 98.54 ended plan, 17.26 which has boosted 09-Sep-18December 2.00 31, 2014. 1.00 101.17 According to the company’s earnings. 09-Sep-18 2.00 a notice 1.00 17.26 98.02 3.54 1.00 17.14the end 91.91of the to22-Sep-18 the Nigerian Stock Ex“By 18-Oct-18 2.29 96.01 change (NSE),1.86the comthree 18.51 years strategic plan 17-Feb-19 2.19 6.11 22.37 93.13 in 2015, APR will not just pany’s net earnings grew 01-Apr-19 2.81 2.16 18.38 94.99 to14-Nov-20 N1.218 billion, with Ni5.68up 25 per 2.76 be benchmarking 18.78 87.91 cent from N914.4 companies74.89 but with 30-Sep-24 9.56 million 1.00 geria 17.40 9.56 of 2013. 1.00 international 17.40 80.95 in30-Sep-24 the same period companies Net investment income in its sector,” he said. increased to N1.349 bilAnalysing the company lion in the fourth quarter performance for 2013, he (Q4) 2014 compared with said that the firm84.37 achieved 11-Feb-18 2.93 1.00 17.21 N937.7 million 4.75 reported in a strong revenue growth 01-Feb-21 1.00 17.04 81.42 the corresponding period with an increase of 35 per of 2013. cent to N1.49 billion from Africa Prudential had N1.03 billion in 2012. said embark that Maturitythat Date it would Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) He Bidadded Price OfferAPR Price was on integration and expan- the first outfit in its niche Yields e-stock software sion to leverage on otherPrices to&adopt opportunities for growth. application in102.16 Nigeria, 28-Jan-21 6.51 6.30 101.16 The Managing Di- “this has helped grow cli12-Jul-18 APR, 5.86 5.56 98.70 rector, Mr. Peter entele97.79 base from 20 comAshade, speaking at the panies at the end of 2006 12-Jul-23 6.78 6.64 97.46 98.33 company’s fact behind the to 46 companies in 2014.” figure on the floor of the He pointed out that Exchange, said the com- in 2013 the company acpany had strategic plans quired UAC Registrars Limited, saying, “this to01-Feb-16 explore other oppor128.54 128.54 44.00 44.00 tunities for both organic acquisition lends further 19-May-16 7.67 5.84 99.79 101.86 and inorganic13.31 growth of credence to our aim to 25-Jul-17 13.31 88.00 88.00 lending 84.50 registrar the business, 14.08 which will 02-May-18 13.01 be the 82.11 outfit91.13 in Nigeria. The grow the aggregate share08-Nov-18 8.89 8.27 92.95 holders base 38.91 across the helped 08-Apr-19 38.91 transaction 43.63 43.63 grow 22-Apr-19 9.22 9.22 90.00 90.00 APR client companies to our business organically 21-May-19 15.39 by 2015. 14.88 by adding 79.99 81.35 client over four million on four 07-Aug-20 14.09 14.09 77.95 77.95 Ashade attributed the companies with aggre09-Dec-20 28.38 28.38 40.00 40.00 growth in profitability gate shareholder base of 24-Jun-21 14.54 13.97 78.83 80.83 to23-Jul-21 a three years 14.13 strate14.13 over 250,000. 74.25 74.25 06-Jan-16

2.05 0.10 15.44

132.23 122.45 12.00 12.95

24.95 20.67 Outstanding Value ($mm)

500.00 500.00 500.00

1,500.00 1,482.06

450.00 500.00 350.00 300.00 400.00 300.00 500.00 200.00 300.00 360.00 400.00 450.00

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

followed with 4.90 per cent Plc trailed with a loss of to10-Oct-20 close at N4.85 4.11 per at 70 3.23per share 1.00 17.18cent to close 94.38 27-Nov-20 5.72 1.00 17.02 share. 87.39 kobo per while Costain West Africa

10-Mar-15

3,604.60

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 Market **Treasury Bills professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “ASFIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Money basis and may not be accurate or up to date.(Spot We do not guarantee Foreign Exchange & Forwards) Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) the accuracy, DTM timeliness, completeness,Maturity performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 9 19-Mar-15 10.68 16 26-Mar-15 13.45 23 2-Apr-15 14.36 30 9-Apr-15 14.98 FGN Bonds 37 16-Apr-15 14.72 44 23-Apr-15 14.79 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 51 30-Apr-15 14.91 58 7-May-15 14.17 4.00 23-APR-2015 65 14-May-15 14.33 13.05 16-AUG-2016 72 21-May-15 14.58 15.10 27-APR-2017 86 4-Jun-15 14.91 93 11-Jun-15 14.76 9.85 27-JUL-2017 107 25-Jun-15 14.87 9.35 31-AUG-2017 114 2-Jul-15 14.61 10.70 30-MAY-2018 128 16-Jul-15 14.90 16.00 29-JUN-2019 135 23-Jul-15 14.81 7.00 23-OCT-2019 NA NA 142 30-Jul-15 14.43 15.54 13-FEB-2020 149 6-Aug-15 14.91 16.39 27-JAN-2022 156 13-Aug-15 14.95 14.20 14-MAR-2024 170 27-Aug-15 14.79 15.00 28-NOV-2028 177 3-Sep-15 14.89 12.49 22-MAY-2029 184 10-Sep-15 14.99 268 3-Dec-15 13.22 8.50 20-NOV-2029 282 17-Dec-15 13.16 10.00 23-JUL-2030 303 7-Jan-16 14.19 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 317 21-Jan-16 13.96 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 331 4-Feb-16 14.15 345 18-Feb-16 14.19 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 359 3-Mar-16 15.42 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Rating/Agency Issuer **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

10.43 13.20 14.11 14.73 14.47 14.54 Issue 14.66Date 13.92 23-Apr-10 14.08 16-Aug-13 14.33 27-Apr-12 14.66 14.51 27-Jul-07 14.62 31-Aug-07 14.36 30-May-08 14.65 29-Jun-12 14.56 23-Oct-09 14.18 13-Feb-15 14.66 27-Jan-12 14.70 14-Mar-14 14.54 28-Nov-08 14.64 22-May-09 14.74 12.97 20-Nov-09 12.91 23-Jul-10 13.94 18-Jul-14 13.71 13.90 13.94 15.17

Description

10.71 13.53 14.49 15.17 14.94 15.06 Coupon 15.22 (%) 14.50 4.00 14.71 13.05 15.01 15.10 15.45 15.33 9.85 15.54 9.35 15.30 10.70 15.72 16.00 15.67 7.00 15.29 15.54 15.88 16.39 15.97 14.20 15.88 15.00 16.05 12.49 16.22 14.64 8.50 14.65 10.00 16.09 12.1493 15.88 16.23 16.39 18.17

Bonds

Issue Date

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 13.1283 15.8352 16.8264 17.8427

OBB

13.00

O/N

13.33

REPO

Tenor TTM Call (Yrs) 1M 3M0.12 6M1.44

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 581.39 16-Aug-16 476.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 14.0606 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 14.6386 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 14.9435 300.00 30-May-18 6M 15.2090 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 15.2905 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 16.4637 34.00 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 459.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 150.00 Current Price ($/N)22-May-29 BID($/N) 200.00 199.0250 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 199.1250 591.57 23-Jul-30 223.50 18-Jul-34

Rate (%) Bid Yield 13.50 14.00 15.65 15.00 16.17 16.00

Tenor

(%)

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer Yield 2M (%) 3M 6M 14.39 1Y 16.04

2.13 16.32 16.24 2.38 16.26 16.17 2.48 16.26 16.18 :Benchmarks 3.22 16.18 16.04 * :Amortising Bond 4.30 16.11 16.01 µ :Convertible Bond 4.62 16.04 15.92 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.93 16.03 15.94 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 6.89 16.05 15.98 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.01 16.31 16.24 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.67 Management 15.62 LCRM: Local13.72 Contractors Receivables 14.20 Aviation Handling 15.58 15.52 NAHCO: Nigerian Company O/N: Overnight 14.70 15.48 15.40 UPDC: UAC 15.37 Property Development Company 15.90 15.82 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 19.36 16.43 Company 16.36 NOTE:

Offer ($/N)

199.08 199.18 201.81 201.93 Price 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 Bid Price Offer Price 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21 206.2898.59 213.4798.74 220.2996.11 226.2796.26

97.81 97.96 87.70 87.85 86.37 86.52 NA :Not Applicable 86.60 86.90 # :Floating99.60 Rate Bond 99.90 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 71.24 71.54 98.32 98.62 ‡ : Bond rating under review 101.32 101.62 †: Bond rating expired 90.20 90.50 N/A :Not Available 96.18 96.48 {r} :Issuer in receivership 82.47 82.77 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 59.90 60.20 UBA: United66.40 Bank for Africa 66.70 75.14 75.44

4,932.13 4,377.36 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 Total Outstanding 0.00/16.50 LCRMValue(Bn) III 06-JUL-2017 Porfolio Market Volume(Bn)

24-May-12 0.00 03-Apr-12FMDQ FGN17.25 BOND 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50

Outstanding Vol

Value

322.68

1,375.00

1,409.48

42.92

46.48

3<5

1,022.53

1,059.68

32.27

34.56

560.75

815.07

24.82

3,284.23

Market

12.50 KADUNA 2,958.28 31-AUG-2015

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket Weighting

INDEX

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 06-Jul-17

Mod_Duration

0.21 1.07 1.75 2.11 2.32 Implied Yield

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 Implied 2.85

Portfolio Price

18.26 19.49 18.19 17.26 INDEX19.11

96.31 98.00 96.76 96.98 YTD Return 90.29 (%)

0.43 308.10

21.61

16.19

100.5013

1,126.01

1.6394

0.32

37.24

16.16

100.4684

1,002.48 -

0.9963

18.96

0.25

41.15

16.05

70.5226

991.20 -

100.00 31-Aug-10

100.00 12.50

8.501.00

100.00 31-Aug-15

16.12 0.48 0.32 0.83 0.83 2.11 1.38 2.81 1.98 2.00

93.0507 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1,051.47 20.59 19.01 21.45 20.48 17.26 17.43 18.01 18.05 17.26

1.5706 0.3524 96.48 98.26 94.60 96.33 87.57 95.71 91.37 93.77 94.92

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Elechi: N3bn budgeted for my impeachment Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

he Ebonyi State governor, Martin Elechi, yesterday alleged that N3 billion has been budgeted by desperate politicians for his removal from office. He spoke yesterday at the Government House, Abakaliki, while addressing the National Association of Ebonyi State Students, who paid him a solidarity visit. According to him, some

politicians, who are desperate to govern the state, are trying to dent his image by accusing him of corruption, when they had sung Hosanna in the past. “As poor as we are, some people who want to take over Ebonyi State have budgeted N3 billion to ensure that I am crushed, so that they will have their way. They are busy throwing money about recklessly and God is in control. So, let them bring more money and give to hooligans in order to unseat me, they will not succeed.

“They are denting my image, knowing that the process of impeachment cannot succeed constitutionally. They have also sworn to remove me, because they believe if I am there, their dream of becoming the governor will not be realised. “So, we must remove him at all cost and that is why they decided on impeachment before even having reasonable excuses to justify that decision. We are watching them, I am yet to be served. So, Ebonyi people have risen

to the challenge of the moment and said no, we are watching them. “It is ridiculous that lawmakers are lawbreakers. Otherwise, lawmakers should know that matters in court of justice should be allowed to take their cause before reacting one way or the other. “It is so ridiculous that when a House of Assembly approves a borrowing through overwhelming resolution of the members and that borrowing is coming in stages, they said oh, you have violated the laws;

you didn’t get our approval, forgetting that they had approved it. “The first thing they said was, we will complete uncompleted projects. They have no dream, no vision of what they want to do. Your only ambition is to go and complete what somebody else has started.” The governor said those calling for his head

Okorocha’s convoy in auto crash, several injured Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

L-R: Member representing Ikwuano, Abia State Constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka; Commissioner for Information, Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, during a press conference in Umuahia on alleged shooting of one Mr. Frank Dickson, by the armed guards of APGA’s gubernatorial candidate, Alex Otti, in Umuahia.

Obiano’s wife chides Obi Igbo leaders endorse card reader machine over campaign Tony Okafor Awka

he wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has described the recent campaign against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the state government by the immediate past governor of the state, Peter Obi, as the act of a prodigal son. She pleaded with the people of the state not to vilify Obi based on his recent actions, saying when the former governor would realise his folly, he would return to his roots (APGA) and that the people of the state should be ready to receive him like the father of the biblical prodigal son did. She, however, acknowledged that Anambra State under Obi witnessed a great transformation in every facet. The g ove r n o r ’s wife was addressing no fewer than 28, 000 women under the auspices of Women of Sub-

stance Association that thronged the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Park, Amawbia, near Awka, the state capital, to pledge their support for the senatorial bid of the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh. She asked the women to embrace the various empowerment programmes lined up by the government to lift women and youths in the state.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

gbo traditional rulers in the 19 states of the north and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday supported the use of card reader machines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the coming general election. They also cautioned politicians against hate

speeches, which they said are capable of affecting adversely, the unity and oneness of the country. The rulers, who are operating under the umbrella name of Association of Ndi Ezes in the 19 northern states and Abuja, rose from their two-day meeting in Abuja, with a communiqué that emphasised the need for politicians to be very careful with their utterances, especially during this period of electioneering.

Ebonyi holds one-million-man march for Jonathan Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

one-million-man march was yesterday observed in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital as supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged a peaceful rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan and Dave Umahi, in the build up to the March 28 and April 11 general elections. The rally, which grounded socio-economic

activities of the state, had the party’s supporters marched through the major streets in support of Jonathan’s bid for a second term. The march, which took off from the Peoples Club Resort, Abakaliki, with posters and banners of President Jonathan and that of the PDP governorship candidate, Umahi, whose Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, was visibly present. The supporters, who

were in support of Governor Martin Elechi’s impeachment, said the governor was the cause of the political crisis in the state, because his style of administration has become archaic. The group said they were in support of Elechi’s impeachment and urged that the House of Assembly should be allowed and supported to discharge their duties and functions without fear or favour. Also, economic activities in the city were paralysed.

are jealous of his track record saying; “Those who are militarising the political space will themselves face militarism in due course.” Earlier, the President, National Association of Ebonyi State Students, Comrade Freddrick Nwebor, had urged Governor Elechi to remain focused as the people are behind him.

ragedy was averted on Monday when the convoy of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, was involved in an accident that left several people injured. The accident occurred in Ulakwo along the Owerri-Aba Road, when the governor was returning from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, where several of his supporters went to welcome him after his twoweek trip abroad. The governor was, however, unhurt as the vehicles that were involved in the crash were those at the rear of the convoy. Eyewitnesses attributed the crash to recklessness on the part of the convoy. According to one of the eyewitnesses, the reck-

lessness of the drivers led to one of them losing control of his bus, which somersaulted several times and ended in a ditch. Though no life was lost, five members of the APC Youth Vanguard, who were in the bus, were said to be unconscious. As at the time of filing this report, about 12 others are said to be nursing varying degrees of injuries in the hospital. The victims were said to have been taken to Umezuruike Hospital in Owerri for treatment. The governor’s Media Aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, denied that there was any accident at all, saying “The convoy in which I was, never had any accident.” But, a member of the APC Youth Vanguard told newsmen that he narrowly escaped the accident by the grace of God.

PUBLIC NOTICE GATEWAY POWER PRAYER AND EVANGELICAL MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) UKPOMA MICHAEL IGE 2) UKPOMA RONKE IGE 3 ADEKANMBI ADESHINA ADELANI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To preach Christ love, fellowship, respect and peaceful co-existence amongst members. 3 To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and set the captive free. 4 To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, faith clinics and training centers to enhance the spiritual growth of the people in the Lord. 5. To undertake missionary/evangelistic work in Nigeria and the whole world. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE MARVELOUS MEN INT’L CLUB

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) GBADAMOSI KAZEEM OLANREWAJU 2) LAWANSON OLUWASEGUN 3) BOSOBALAJI AFFIS ABOLORE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To unite members 2) To foster friendship and brotherhood amongst members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 TigrisCrescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED:TRUSTEES

News

‘Court may nullify 2015 elections’ Dominic Adewole ASABA

he Delta State Chair man of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Comrade Emmanuel Igbini, yesterday predicted that the March 28 Presidential election may likely be annulled, whether the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or the opposition party General Muhammadu Buhari, emerges the winner. Igbini, who doubles as a member of the National Executive Council of his party, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since incurred the wrath

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

of the court on the process of the elections, noting that the commission was yet to obey three separate judgements delivered by competent courts of jurisdiction. Addressing journalists in Asaba yesterday, Igbini said the commission’s nemesis was the de-registeration of some parties in the build up to the 2015 general election, a decision which different court verdicts have reversed. According to him, Hope and Fresh Parties sued INEC for unlawfully delisting their names from its register, but the commission had refused to obey the judgement reversing the decision. He said, “The whole

elections may be declared null and void. Besides the favourable judgement which Hope and Fresh parties got against their delisting was very germane to such possibility, though the commission had refused to obey that court order. Federal High Court in Abuja also ordered the commission to accord the Young Democratic Party (YDP) the full recognition as a registered political party in Nigeria, which the commission was yet to obey. I am sure of Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which the court relied on are some pitfalls of INEC, which some

persons were waiting to exploit, if a winner emerged for the March 28 presidential election.” He, however, ruled out the possibility that his party would sue the commission for its unlawful exclusion from the elections. “While we are not angry that PRP was de-registered under the administration of the PDP, we are not still thinking about it because we don’t want to heat up the polity and allow Nigeria to disintegrate, especially now that corruption has bonded us together, but I am sure that the whole election may be declared null and void,’’ he said.

12, 700 students sit for computerbased JAMB exam in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

mid mixed reactions among millions of admission seeking students in Edo State, the Joint Universities Matriculations Board (JAMB) commenced its Universities and Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), on a smooth note yesterday with over 12,700 candidates sitting for the examinations at the University of Benin and other centres of Edo state. The commencement of the examination witnessed a heavy presence of security operatives and JAMB officials, who monitored the process, though without the usual rowdy session as was the case in the past. Findings conducted on the seven locations revealed that in one out of the three

centers set out for the JAMB candidates at the Uniben’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) center, the conduct was peaceful and without any form of complaints from the candidates. It was also observed that some of the candidates lacked full knowledge in computer application as some of them managed to operate the systems with little or no skill to write the examinations based on their course of studies. At the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ekenwan Road, Benin, Study Center, there were also hundreds of other candidates who participated in the exercise. The examination was also held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, ICT centers respectively.

PDP, APC supporters clash at Rivers INEC office Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, signing into law the N338 billion State Appropriation Bill, at the Government House... yesterday.With him is the leader of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd

Polls: Edo monarch pledges support for APC Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

monarch in the Edo South area of Edo State, the Enogie of Oghobase, His Royal Highness Idu Akenzua, has declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), promising to ensure that the party emerges victorious in the coming elections following the numerous developmental strides of the party in the state. The monarch stated this yesterday when the state governor Adams Oshiomole, paid him a visit in his palace. He said, “We are following your activities. We can say without any fear of contradiction that you have not only demystified governance, you have brought human

face to bear on governance. Governance used to be inaccessible, but since you came on board, you have changed a lot of things in terms of infrastructural development, building of schools, healthcare and more. “I am assuring you of my support and the support of my kingdom. We are solidly behind you. You should not relent with what you are doing. We will ensure that we put in the best we can, we will also ensure that you get victory at the end of the day. In his response, Oshiomhole, said, “I am appreciative of your support for my government. I am happy that you already have acknowledged some of the things we have done in some parts of the state and you have drawn my attention to the peculiar

issues in your domain. Issue of schools is very important because people in rural areas will not be able to produce engineers and doctors and achieve upward mobility for their children if there were no schools. “That is why Edo State Government devotes a lot of resources to building schools so that the children can have access to quality primary and secondary schools. In order for the parents not to have any excuse for not sending their children to school, we have also abolished school fees and all form of charges. Our schools are completely free and in area where school children are able to board the Comrade Bus, they do so free of charge whether they are going to or returning from school, once they wear their school uni-

form.” Oshiomole, also told a group of party faithful that the APC was committed to the wellbeing of the people. He said, “The problem we have today is that the country is grounded. No matter what the state government does, if the Federal Government does not do its part, the full benefits will not be felt. After 16 years of PDP rule and all the money they spent on power have all gone into individual pockets, Nigeria is still in darkness. There is no way we can create prosperity without electricity. He urged the people not to be distracted by politicians who drag religion into politics as all the problems confronting Nigeria was peculiar to a particular religious group.

here was breakdown of law and order yesterday at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC along the ever-busy Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt as supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, engaged in a bloody clash. Although no life was lost as the police timely intervention averted what could have turned a bloodbath, but score of people were injured as missiles were freely thrown by the protesters.

The supporters of both parties had stormed the INEC office, each carrying placards, singing protest songs, when the situation suddenly went violent, with some protesters seizing the placards of their opponents. The PDP supporters who were more in number, and were first to storm the venue, stood directly in front of the INEC office. They chased the APC supporters who started their protest from the residence of one of the state lawmakers. Some of the APC placards read: “We will resist attempt to manipulate the electoral process”, Rivers REC, Mrs. Gesila Khan, Dont cause confusion in Rivers”.

Oputu: We’ll canvass for votes until Jonathan’s victory is sealed Gabriel Choba Ughelli

head of the March 28 election Presidential election, the Presidential Campaign Council for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday said it would work seriously to ensure victory for the President. Coordinator of the Jonathan Campaign Council in the area, Mr. Eterhisan Oputu, who made this statement in chat with newsmen during a campaign tour of Udu, called on the INEC to cancel the use of card readers in the general elections. He said, “The aim of our work was to sell our presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan for his re-election on

March 28 and to deliver the PDP candidates in all the elective deferent positions. So we are working to sell all our candidates and ensure that they win in the general elections. With our logo, the umbrella, we have done a lot of work outside the local government, at the senatorial and state levels, all in a bid to sensitize our people and gather votes for our party. It is an ongoing job and we will keep doing that till we win the elections”. “We have done a lot of work which exceeds what we did in previous elections. We have overtaken the opposition parties in our local government. We have gone round communities and we have been on this campaign for days now, visited all the 10 wards, met with leaders and clusters of persons.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, march 11, 2015

go for broke

More trouble for Boko Haram insurgents as Nigerian military go for the kill

Emmanuel Onani and Ibrahim Abdul

he Nigerian Army has announced that soldiers of the 23 Brigade on Monday foiled an attempt by fleeing Boko Haram fighters, to invade Gombi town, Gombi Local Government area of Adamawa State. In the ensuing encounter, it said the troops killed ‘quite a number of the insurgents,’ even as the army added that many sophisticated weapons and vehicles were recovered while others were destroyed. The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Colonel Sani Usman. The statement added that a soldier, who was wounded in the battle, is responding to treatment. The statement reads in part: “Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the onslaught of troops met their waterloo in their attempt to enter Gombi town, Gombi Local Government area of Adamawa State yesterday evening.

Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State has declared vacant three seats of its former elected members, the Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda Kuit, has said. Addressing a press conference at the party’ secretariat in Dutse, Kuit said arrangement for their recall has gone far by the party in their respective wards and local

Nigerian troops kill more insurgents in Adamawa “The terrorists were engaged by troops of 23 Brigade Nigerian Army in a gun battle that led to the killing of quite a number of them, the destruction and recovery of their vehicles, motorcycles, various calibre of weapons and ammunition. “These include four Hilux vehicles, three antiaircraft guns and one .50 inch Browning Machine

Ilorin

wara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, has cautioned eligible voters in the state against selling their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to those he described as desperate politicians, seeking to circumvent the will of the people. Ahmed made the call in Banni Kaiama Local Government while answering questions from

Gun. Others include 5, 000 rounds of 12.7 millimetre ammunition, two boxes of .50 inch ammunition, 1, 000 rounds of Light Machine Gun ammunition and one Rocket Propelled Grenade 7 tube as well as one General Purpose Machine Gun. “Unfortunately, one soldier was wounded in the encounter and he is responding to treatment. Troops are mopping up

the area to prevent further incursion by the terrorists,” the statement said. Reports yesterday further said that; “The men came in from Goloso, Garkida villages through Biu road by 6.30pm in a motorcade and engaged the soldiers in a gun battle.” One of the residents of the area, Bello Abubakar, said many residents ran and hid themselves as the

shooting continued for over two hours. “There were apprehension and pandemonium in the town, people scampered for safety for fear of uncertainty,” he said. Another fleeing resident, Mr. Bitrus Danladi said: “Many residents ran into the bush and as I am talking to you now, we are here on the mountain taking refuge.

L-R: District Governor, Rotary District 9125, Mr. Mogbeyi Omatsola; Administrative Secretary, Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Abdulazeez Yusuf and beneficiaries, during the presentation of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the North-East in Jos …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

PDP declares three seats vacant government councils. The affected members are Hon. Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, a federal lawmaker representing Birnin-kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, his counterpart, Hon. Ibrahim Garba Hannun Giwa, a member representing Gumel, Gagarawa, Sule-Tankarkar and Hon. Adamu Sarki Miga, representing Miga Constituency in the House of Assembly on the

Ahmed warns voters not to sell PVCs Biodun Oyeleye

News 49

NORTH

newsmen shortly after the completion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign tour of Kaiama Local Government area. While claiming to have fulfilled his 2011 electoral promises to the people of the area, the governor described the PVC as the only weapon in the hands of the electorate to elect leaders of their choice and warned the people not to allow any politician to disenfranchise them in whatever guise.

ground they have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). “Declaring vacant all the seats of these members has become imperative as they betrayed and violated our party’s constitution,” said the chairman. According to him, arrangements have been completed to persuade both the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal

and that of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Adamu Sarawa, in declaring the seats of the three members vacant. His reason was that their actions have ridiculed the PDP and, as such, should not be condoned. Responding, Hon. Garba Hannun Giwa said: “Certainly my decision to dump my former party, the PDP, for the APC was informed

Yero tackles el-Rufai over insecurity in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has been accused of using insecurity in southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari axis, to score cheap political points. The accusation, which was made by Governor Muktar Yero’s Campaign Organisation yesterday, was in reaction to el-Rufai’s

vow to tackle the killings in those areas when elected governor of the state. In a statement issued by the Media Committee of the Yero/Bajoga Campaign Organisation, the governor said el-Rufai must not wait until he is elected before providing solution to the crisis. According to the statement, Governor Yero has taken all “measures to tackle insecurity in the state and thank God, peace has returned to southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari axis.”

by the elusive nature of the ruling party, coupled with their deceptive approach in handling sensitive issues affecting the nation. As a lawmaker, we have tried our best in calling Mr. President to order in facing the realities, especially to give attention to most of the nation’s crucial problems such as security, power generation, unemployment, the fight against corruption, among others, but to no avail, hence that prompted my desire to dump the party.

Court throws out PDP, INEC appeals in Niger Dan Atori MINNA

n Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by the Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the verdict of the National Assembly Election Tribunal that declared David Umaru, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Niger East senatorial bye-election. The court also reserved judgement on the appeal filed by Dr. Nuhu Zagbayi of the PDP, who was removed as the senatorelect in the bye-election by the tribunal that sat in Minna. In the appeal that was held on Monday, PDP and INEC's appeals were thrown out by the Court of Appeal panel made up of Justice A. D. Yahaya, Justice T. Akomolafe Wilson and Justice J. E. Ekane, for failing to transmit the records of proceedings of the lower court that ruled on the matter. On the other hand, Zagbayi based his appeal mainly on the issue of dumping of documents before the tribunal, arguing that the tribunal erred in law by acting on the dumped documents. He also argued that the petitioner only called 33 witnesses out of 111 polling units during the trial. Although, counsel to the petitioners led by Ibrahim Mujaheed, raised preliminary objection to Zagbayi’s appeal, they however, argued that the documents presented at the tribunal were not dumped, but were presented by witnesses on oath and tendered as exhibits after INEC confirmation before the court.

Right’s commission warns politicians against violence Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

he National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned politicians in the country against acts of violence before, during and after the March 28 and April 11 general election. The North-East Coordinator of the commission, Alhaji Babangida Labaran, said political violence will not be tolerated and that any politician who instigates violence will not

be allowed to go free. Labaran, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday, said they were working in line with the directive from their head office to ensure that the 2015 election is violence free, adding that the commission has noticed that some politicians are throwing money about trying to cause violence. He said the agency would hold perpetrators responsible for any act of violence, loss of lives or destruction to property.

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WORLD | News

Slok congratulates Okunbo, Sunmonu

Ivory Coast: Ex-First Lady jailed for 20 years

lok Nigeria Limited has congratulated the Mr. Osagie Okunbo on his assumption as the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Company in Nigeria. Describing the appointment as a well deserved honour, Slok in a congratulatory letter signed by its Group Managing Director, Mr. Firas Abboud, expressed confi-

dence in Okunbor’s ability to take SPDC to the next level.  The letters reads in part: “It is indeed, a well deserved honour. I strongly believe in your capacity to build on the progress made by your predecessor in taking the multinational to the next level.”  In the same vein, Slok also congratulated the former Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, on his

retirement from SPDC after 36 years of meritorious service.  In a congratulatory letter also signed by Abboud, Slok stated that under Sunmonu’s “dynamic leadership, Shell witnessed robust growth. Your contributions to the oil and gas industry in different capacities is commendable.  “As the saying goes, ‘retired but not tired’, I wish you continued success in your future endeavours.”

N25bn fraud: Court reserves judgment on Igbinedion, others Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, yesterday reserved judgment till April 17, 2015, in the N25billion suit filed before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and others..

Chief Igbinedion, his younger brother, Micheal, Patrick Eboigbodin and four companies are standing trial over the misappropriation of the huge funds belonging to Edo State. Justice J. Liman had in his ruling for another adjournment yesterday, first apologized to the parties for the several adjournments trailing the case. He attributed the adjournments

to ill health and the prolonged strike action by federal judiciary workers which ended in February. By the latest adjournment, the court would have delayed ruling on the matter for the third time The learned judge said: “I promise that this will be the last adjournment which will be for a very close date, after counsels re-adopt their written addresses”.

Jonathan will ensure 50% women representation, says Rajis-Okpara Mojeed Alabi

he Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara, has urged Nigerian women to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is reelected in the forthcoming presidential election, promising he will ensure they are offered 50 per cent representation in his administration. Rajis-Okpara made this pledge on behalf of the President in her statement to mark this year’s edition of the annual International Women’s Day, the occasion she said represented an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide. She called for greater

equality, globally, saying for decades, women had been fighting for equal recognition but President Jonathan upon assumption of office increased the representation of women in administration to 35 per cent. She said; “This year’s IWD will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap that sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights and equality. The United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day 2015 is “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it. The theme envisions a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in poli-

tics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.” She advised women to do something good with their time by investing wisely and helping others in need. “We as women must redeem the time and prune off some things and relationships that are not adding value to our lives or helping us fulfil our destiny. You cannot hang around with chicken and expect to soar like an eagle. When you walk with wise men, you will become wise, for iron sharpens iron. Don’t hang around with people that are not going anywhere; that have no goals, vision, dreams; that is, people that are not focused or disciplined.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

he wife of Ivory Coast’s ex-president has been jailed for 20 years for her role in the country’s post-election violence in which 3,000 people were killed. Simone Gbagbo, who is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was tried alongside 82 other supporters of Laurent Gbagbo. General Bruno Dogbo Ble, who headed the elite republican guard and former navy chief Admiral Vagba Faussignaux were also jailed for 20 years. Lesser sentences were handed to other defendants including the Gbagbos’ son, Michel, who got five years, according to his mother’s lawyer Rodrigue Dadje. “The jury members retained all the charges against her, including disturbing the peace, forming and organising armed gangs and undermining state security,” he said. Allies of ex-president Gbagbo, whose refusal to acknowledge his defeat to Alassane Ouattara in elections in late 2010 sparked a brief civil war, claimed his wife’s trial was politically motivated. The sentence

Simone Gbagbo

given by the six-member jury followed nine hours of deliberations and was longer than the 10 years requested by the state prosecutor. Simone Gbagbo’s civil rights will also be suspended for a period of 10 years, Mr Dadje said. Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the ICC accused of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in orchestrating the post-election violence. Ivory Coast refused to transfer his wife to The Hague to face similar charges, arguing she could receive a fair trial at home. Pascal Affi N’Guessan,

president of Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party and seen as a potential challenger to President Ouattara in elections later this year, was handed an 18-month suspended sentence. On the final day of the trial, Simone Gbagbo said she had been insulted and humiliated by the prosecution, which she claimed had failed to prove her guilt. “I’m prepared to forgive. I forgive because, if we don’t forgive, this country will burn,” she said. “I am satisfied with this trial. I told my part of the truth.”

Protest in northern Mali against draft peace deal

undreds of people rallied in the northern Malian town of Kidal yesterday to protest against a preliminary, U.N.-brokered peace deal signed by the government and not yet accepted by Tuareg rebel groups in the north, residents said. The protests, which organizers said drew several thousand demonstrators, came ahead of a meeting in Kidal on Wednesday of representatives of rebel groups involved in the recent peace talks in Algiers to discuss the terms of the proposed deal. The West African country’s

government signed the agreement on March 1 in hopes of tackling decades of Tuareg-led uprisings in northern Mali. In an interview with Reuters Monday, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop urged separatist rebels to quickly follow suit to differentiate themselves from a wave of Islamist violence in Mali. The rebels, however, had demanded more time to consult with their supporters in the sparsely populated desert north of Mali, a region they call Azawad. On the streets of Kidal, a dusty desert town

and stronghold of Tuareg separatists, demonstrators chanted slogans against the deal and carried banners calling on their leaders not to sign. “The people of Azawad will not sign their own death warrant,” read one banner, while other protesters waved the red, green, black and yellow flag of their notional state. “There are more than 1,000 demonstrators shouting slogans against the accord and calling for autonomy,” a resident said, adding that they had gathered near an airstrip outside town.

BPE boss lauds FG on prompt dispatch of Bills to NASS French Parliament debates legalisation of Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

irector General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has hailed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for promptly transmitting the eight Reform Bills initiated by the Bureau to the National Assembly for passage.

The Bills are; Railway Bill, Inland Waterways Bill, Ports and Harbour Bill, Federal Roads Authority Bill, National Roads Fund Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Competition and Consumer Protection Bill and Postal Sector Reform Bill. A statement by BPE said Dikki commended the government while exchanging views on the Reform Bills dur-

ing donor agencies coordination meeting on infrastructure and Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Nigeria Regional Office of the African Development Bank (AFDB) Group in Abuja. Dikki expressed the hope that with the necessary stakeholders’ engagement, the Bills would be passed within the current legislative year.

mercy killing

rance’s Parliament started debate yesterday on a bill aimed at allowing doctors to keep terminally ill patients sedated until death comes, amid national debate about whether to legalize euthanasia. The proposed bill backed by the Socialist government stops short of recommending lethal injections and avoids the terms eutha-

nasia or assisted suicide. Prime minister Manuel Valls praised “a reform that proclaims the right to die peacefully, in dignity and without suffering,” in a speech at France’s lower house of Parliament. The measure would give people “the right to deep, continuous sedation until death” at the patient’s request, but only when their condi-

tion is life-threatening in the short term. It would also force doctors to follow end-oflife instructions whether they are expressed by the patients themselves or written in advance, if they are no longer able to express their will. The vote is scheduled next week at France’s lower house of Parliament. The bill will then be debated by the Senate.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

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International Sport

AYC

Rackets & Bats

Oladipo donates $15,000 for cancer research

PSG aim to win Champions League – Verratti

Flying Eagles target World Cup ticket

My exposure will help me win, says Onaolapo

Sport

Did you know? That the world’s first football club was Englandbased Sheffield Football Club, founded in 1857 by Colonel Nathaniel Cresswick and Major William Priest, two British Army officers.

World Cup fever grips Falcons •Players lament poor preparations

Ifeanyi Ibeh

embers of the country’s women’s national team, the Super Falcons, feel time is no longer on their side with regard to preparations for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, in Canada. The World Cup begins in June with the Super Falcons set to slug it out in Group D with two-time world champions, the United States of America; Sweden and Australia for a place in the second round. The Super Falcons have however not gone beyond the group stage of the last three editions of the World Cup in 2003, 2007 and 2011. And with preparations for the tournament far from adequate, members of the team have decried the lack of attention from both the Nigeria Football Federation and the supervisory Sports Ministry. “This is the biggest tournament in the world and we have known for some months now that we would be

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

going to Canada. But we have not played a single friendly match and they will be expecting us to go to Canada and win the World Cup,” said a member of the team to last year’s African Women Championship in Namibia, who spoke on condition of anonymity. She added: “Before the Super Eagles went to Brazil [for the 2014 World Cup] the NFF and the Ministry arranged for them to play friendly matches but look at us, we have not even played a single match while the teams we are going to play against have been busy.” Nigeria’s first round opponents have all been playing international matches ahead of the tournament. Even one of Africa representatives, South Africa’s, are currently in Cyprus taking part in an invitational tournament involving a host of other World Cup-bound teams. “A few days ago some countries going to the World Cup were in action. So, imagine how I felt when some of my club teammates asked me when Nigeria would be playing,” said an overseas-based mem-

Super Falcons captain Evelyn Nwabuoku (left)

ber of the Super Falcons, who also preferred anonymity. “I didn’t know what to say so I just lied to them that a friendly that had been planned had to be cancelled at

the last minute. “This is not a good development and I just hope they won’t be expecting us to go to Canada to accomplish the impossible,” added the player.

Cricket World Cup: Unbeaten India outclass Ireland

reland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals suffered a blow as India sealed top spot in Pool B with a fifth straight win in the tournament. Ireland came into the match knowing that a point would see them qualify. Despite an opening stand of 89 between William Porterfield and Paul Stirling and 75 from Niall O’Brien, their 259 total was never likely to be enough. So it proved as Shikhar Dha-

wan (100) and Rohit Sharma (64) helped India to a comfortable eight-wicket victory. The margin of defeat is a reality check for Ireland, who have performed well above expectation in this tournament, claiming three wins (two against Testplaying nations) to give them six points and genuine hope of reaching the last eight. They can still do so, but they will need to beat Pakistan in their final pool game or gain a point should the fixture be

rained off. Much like their game with South Africa, in which they conceded 411 runs before being bowled out for 210, the gulf in class between the sides in Hamilton was vast. They started well, with Porterfield (67) and Stirling (42) using the pace of the opening bowlers well to amass an encouraging opening stand and suggest a competitive total over 300 was a possibility. But India’s switch to spin

bowling halted their progress as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravinda Jadeja and Suresh Raina frustrated the top order and claimed the important wickets of Ed Joyce (bowled by Raina) and Andy Balbirnie (caught by Mohammed Shami off Ashwin). Niall O’Brien offered resistance and hit well but when he and brother Kevin both fell to Shami, Ireland’s hopes of a decent score disappeared, with the returning Indian pace bowlers cleaning up the tail.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oladipo donates $15,000 Sex before match not good – Odemwingie for cancer research I

Ifeanyi Ibeh

merican-born Nigerian basketball star, Victor Oladipo, has donated $15,000 (around three million naira) towards breast cancer research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Centre. The Orlando Magic star, who played for Indiana University’s basketball team before making the jump to the NBA, made the donation on Monday while visiting patients in the centre. The money was a portion of his winnings from the slam dunk contest and a social media fundraiser at the NBA’s All-Star weekend in February. He finished second in the slam dunk contest. The 23-year-old crafted the idea of donating any winnings that he received from the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest to three different cancer research centres prior to the NBA All-Star Weekend, joining forces with ‘Dunk Cancer’, a social media fundraiser created to help bring awareness to the need for funding in the search for a cure

for the deadly disease. Oladipo not only shocked the basketball world with his jawdropping 540-degree dunk, but he took home $50,000 in prize money – funds that will be set aside in the fight against cancer. “That’s what it’s all about – changing the world,” Oladipo said. “I was blessed and fortunate to be in the position that I am and blessed and fortunate to do something like this, so why not take full advantage of it? I want to try and save lives and this is the least I can do. It’s all about helping people and that’s one of the reasons that God put me on this Earth. So I want to take every opportunity to maximise my opportunities to help people.” In addition to Indiana University’s Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Centre, Oladipo will make donations to the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, in Orlando, and the Washington-based Children National Medical Centre. The facilities were picked because Oladipo was born in Washington, D.C., attended college at Indiana University and became an NBA player with the Orlando-based Magic.

njured Stoke City forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has revealed that he does not engage in sex before a match. Speaking in an interview with www.daylight.ng, the Super Eagles striker added that he won’t be able to give his best if he gets involved in pre-match sex. “Sex before a game? Count me out. It is totally bad. I don’t involve myself in such habit. I have never done it before and I will never try it. It may be working

for some players but I don’t think it will work for me,” Odemwingie told Daylight Sports from London. “For me, sex before football will not help any player. It is rather a psychological thing. It does not add to your strength. Football is a game of energy and sleeping with a woman before doing a thing that is energy-sapping will not bring the best out of you as you are bound to lose a lot of strength, blood and energy. It is a bad and unnecessary habit that is not good

for the game and athletes. Anybody who gets involved in it and tells you that it aids him to do well is just deceiving himself,” he added. The Nigeria international said instead of thinking about sex he prefered to pray and focus on every game he plays. “What I do whenever I have a football game is to pray, sleep and visualise the pitch. I dream about football, seeing myself doing good things that will help my team excel rather than thinking about wine or sex.”

Suswan warns Flying Eagles against complacency Emmanuel Tobi

ormer Flying Eagles defender, Terna Suswan, has warned the national U-20 team players to avoid complacency when they battle Congo on Wednesday at the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal. The Flying Eagles defeated hosts Senegal 3-1 in their opening match on Sunday but the Stal Rzeszow of Poland player stressed the need for the team to improve in the defence, which he described as shaky. “The Flying Eagles deserve commendation because the players have proven their determination to succeed at the tournament with the victory over Senegal but the coaches need to work more on the team’s defence,” he said. The 23-year old, who once featured for the Super Eagles and the U-23 Eagles added: “the match against Congo is very crucial, just like the opening game, because it will determine Nigeria’s qualification for the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.”

Suswan

Esuku wins three medals at Qatar Taekwondo Emmanuel Tobi

igeria and Taekwondo Commonwealth gold medalist, Josephine Esuku, has expressed satisfaction after winning three medals - two gold and one bronze medal at the just concluded Qatar International Taekwondo Opens, held in Doha, Qatar, from March 6 to 10. The University of Benin graduate who sponsored herself to the Qatar trip was also given the “Best Female Poomsae Player” award. “I am so happy that I came here and won these medals, given the huge challenges I

Oladipo

had en route this trip. “The NTF and President Ashiru were very supportive of my trip, and I am happy with the outcome because it took a lot of sacrifices just to make this trip,” she said. NTF Boss, George Ashiru, while congratulating Esuku for making the country very proud said, “This young lady has yet again provided inspiration to the Nigeria Taekwondo community, and has done very well. Against all odds, she has proved her quality and shown why she is a Commonwealth Gold medallist.” Ashiru added that, “There

are many opens, and the only reason we do not win more medals is that we are not going for these events as often as we should. Esuku almost missed out on this trip, so imagine that we would not have this wonderful inspiring story to tell if she had not gone to Qatar.” For the Kyreougi category, there were 398 competitors registered from 44 countries with 119 competitors registered from 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Guinea, Egypt and Nigeria for the Poomsae category.

Lagos Open: Attention on Quadri as main draw starts Ajibade Olusesan

op seed, Aruna Quadri, will play his first game today (Wednesday) as the main draw of the ongoing ITTF World Tour takes centre stage. Although his opponent is yet to be determined as the preliminaries were still ongoing as at the time of filing this report, the Nigerian star player is expected to move to the round of 16 when he mounts Table 1 in the round of 32 matches today.

Other seeded players such as defending champion, Omar Assar, Ojo Onaolapo, Kazeem Makanjuola, Oyeniran Boboye, El-Beiali, Silva Andre and Assar Khalid will also begin their quest for the top prize today. Last year’s runners-up and second seed in the women’s singles, Funke Oshonaike, will also play her first game today in the round of 16. The preliminaries were not concluded and her opponent was still unknown as at the time

of filing this report. Edem Offiong and top seed, Egyptian Dina Mashref, will also begin the race today. Meanwhile, 2013 winner, Cecelia Otu, boosted her chances of making it into the main draw after she defeated Yaya Sidikat 4-0 in her opening match on Tuesday. 2014 Nigeria Table Tennis Federation President Cup winner, Janet Effiom and Olaide Atinuke also won their matches and are likely to make it into the round of 16.

Quadri

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

PSG aim to win Champions League – Verratti

aris Saint-Germain midfielder, Marco Verratti, is hopeful the club can overcome Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 and has set his sights on going all the way in the competition. The Ligue 1 champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes in the first leg of the tie and face a tough task to seal qualification for the quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, the Italy international refuses to throw in the towel just yet and remains optimistic about his side’s chances. “The last few years, we went out with our heads held high, but our ultimate goal is to win the Champions League. That’s what we are here for,” Verratti told RMC. “Chelsea are probably stronger than they were last year. They made some great signings, like Cesc Fabregas. “But for us, these are the

kind of games we dream about. There is a lot of pressure on this encounter and we hope to qualify.” Nevertheless, Verratti realises that winning the Champions League will be a huge task and admits PSG might need some more time. PSG’s biggest success in the Champions League came in 1994-95, when they made it to the semi-finals. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals at their last two attempts.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

Bayern vs Shakhtar 8:45pm Chelsea vs PSG 8:45

Messi back to his best, says Martino

Messi

rgentina coach Gerardo Martino believes Barcelona ace Lionel Messi is back to the form that saw him win four consecutive Ballon d’Or between 2009 and 2012. The 27-year-old has struggled to replicate his best form in the past two seasons, but has been hugely impressive since the start of 2015, netting 15 goals in 10 La Liga appearances. Messi’s sublime form in recent months has seen him equal his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo on 30 league goals so far this campaign and Martino feels the forward is arguably better than ever before. “Messi’s start to 2015 has been unrivalled,” Martino told TyC Sports. “His efficiency in front of goal and the amount of goals he has scored cannot be bettered. “He is back to his best again.” The prolific attacker has already netted 41 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona so far in 2014-15. Messi will be looking to add to his tally this weekend when the Catalans face Eibar, before crucial games against Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Welbeck eyes Wembley with Arsenal

rsenal striker, Danny Welbeck looks forward to his first Wembley appearance with Arsenal after going through a night of mixed emotions at Old Trafford on Monday. Welbeck sent Arsenal through to an FA Cup semi-final against either Bradford or Reading with a 61st-minute winner that came as a result of a clanger by Manchester United right-back Antonio Valencia. For United boss Louis van Gaal, watching the man he sold last summer score the winner at Old Trafford must have been hard to take. But it was also a difficult night for Welbeck, who came through United’s academy and still considers himself to be a big fan of the club. “Manchester United is a club that means so much to me,” said Welbeck, who spent 15 years at United having joined them as an eight-year-old. “I’m a fan and it’s hard to knock them out. I was just doing my job. “It was about being professional, keeping my focus and motivation. I kept plugging away and then got on the end of Antonio Valencia’s backpass, beat David de Gea and got the winning goal.”

Arsenal are now favourites to retain the FA Cup after their first victory at Old Trafford in nine years.

PSG’s David Luiz attempting to stop Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas during the first leg

Bayern close to quarterfinal – Neuer

ayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, has said the club has a “duty” to reach the Champions League’s quarter-finals when they host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Donetsk held Bayern to a goalless draw in their last 16, first leg, in Ukraine last month and the visitors will be chasing an early goal to put Pep Guardiola’s Bavarian giants under pressure. But Neuer says the 2013 Champions League winners have a duty to reach the last eight as they bid to win a sixth European title. “The game simply has to be won, nothing else comes into question for us,” said the 28-year-old Neuer. “We like a situation like this. It’s our duty to progress. To bow out would be

fatal, but we are thinking positively.” The hosts will be without suspended defensive midfielder Xabi Alonso, who was sent off in the first leg after a second yellow card. With Alonso suspended, Austria leftback David Alaba is set to move into Bayern’s defensive midfield alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger with Brazil’s Rafinha and Juan Bernat used as wing backs. Bayern’s injured captain Philipp Lahm returned to team training on Monday after fracturing his ankle last November and echoed Neuer’s sentiments. “We are deserved favourites when we play against many opponents and our own performance dictates whether or not we can be counted among the top teams,” Lahm told German magazine Kicker.

IOC mourns French Olympians killed in crash

Welbeck scoring the winning goal as Arsenal progressed to the FA Cup semifinals

he International Olympic Committee is mourning three French Olympic athletes who were among those killed in a helicopter crash in Argentina. According to various media outlets, including French newspaper L’Equipe, two helicopters collided in mid-air and crashed, killing 10 people. Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud were among those who died. The athletes were part of a French reality television program that was filming in Argentina. “We are shocked by this sad news,” said IOC president Thomas Bach in a statement on Tuesday. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these

great athletes who have left us. “The Olympic Movement mourns with their families and friends, their fellow athletes, the French National Olympic Committee and with France.” Bach said the IOC flag would be flown at half-mast for three days to honour the Olympians. Muffat won Olympic gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Games and captured a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle. She was 25 years old. Vastine won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. He was 28 years old. Arthaud, who was 57, is most known for winning the Route du Rhum, a solo race across the Atlantic -- in 1990.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

senegal 2015 AYC

Flying Eagles target World Cup ticket •Face desperate Congo in Dakar Stories by Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria’s F lying Eagles will today (Wednesday), come up against Congo in their second game of the African Youth Championship. A win for the Flying Eagles will be enough to book a place at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, taking place in New Zealand. On Sunday, Manu Garba’s side defeated Senegal 3-1 in the

Flying Eagles captain, Musa Mohammed

Wednesday matches Nigeria

v Congo

5:30pm

Cote d’Ivoire v Senegal 8:30pm

Ghana coach tasks players to be ruthless

hana U-20 coach, Sellas Tetteh, has said his side needs to improve on their finishing despite beating South Africa 2-0 in their Group B opener on Monday. Two first half goals were enough for the Black Satellites to pick up maximum points against South Africa’s Amajita, who finished the game with 10 men after defender, Maphosa Modiba, was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half. The Ghanaians however failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, wasting a handful of good scoring opportunities, and Tetteh has expressed concern about his side’s lack of killer instinct in the opponent’s final third.

“We wasted a lot of chances. Whenever a team is down by a man, they appear motivated and work very hard. After the red card, we were not effective,” Tetteh was quoted as saying on the official website of CAF. “Despite being a man down the South Africans gave us a good game and that is the hallmark of a good team.” Ghana captain Joseph Owusu Bempah, who was taken off in the second half after picking up an injury, however said: “It is good to get the three points, but there is still room for improvement. The defender added: “It is a good sign to play well and create chances. We hope to continue from there.”

Nigerian League Rendezvous

tournament’s opening game at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, while the Congolese had to come from behind to play out a one-all draw against Cote d’Ivoire in the day’s second game. The win over the Senegalese took the Flying Eagles to the top of the Group A standings and a win against the Congolese will ensure a semifinal ticket, as well as a World Cup ticket for the Nigerians well ahead of Saturday’s final group stage encounter against

the Ivoirians, who will take to the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium right after the Nigeria-Congo match against the Senegalese. Nigeria’s two-goal hero against the Senegalese, Taiwo Awoniyi, will again be the man expected to unlock a Congolese defence which, for the lone goal conceded against the Ivoirians, looked quite solid for the better part of the game against the young Elephants. The Nigerian backline will however have to be more focussed and avoid a re-enactment of the shambolic defending that led to the only goal scored by Senegal in Sunday’s opener when they take on Congo who are at the AYC with as many as five full internationals, including AS Vita striker, Georges Kader Bidimbou, who scored thrice to dump out Egypt in the final round of qualifiers.

Senong urges South Africa players to raise game

outh Africa U-20 coach, Thabo Senong, expects his charges to raise their game against Mali on Thursday at the ongoing African Youth Championship following their 2-0 loss to Ghana in their tournament opener on Monday. Senong, in the postmatch conference, refused to mention who impressed against the Ghanaians, preferring to instead focus on the team’s collective effort. “I am disappointed at the showing. That is not the Amajita we all know

but we will correct these mistakes in the next game. We have to come good, we have no choice,” he said. Senong bemoaned two costly mistakes in the first half as the moments that defined the contest. First, defender Aubrey Modiba pushed the ball past his own keeper in the opening minutes and a minute from halftime, the otherwise reliable goalkeeper Dumsani Msibi rushed off his line, leaving his area exposed, allowing Benjamin Tetteh to lob the ball

into an empty net. “We were completely flat in the first half and the two basic mistakes didn’t help matters. We were really bad in the first half,” continued Senong. “We were not that bad in the second half but playing with 10 men against a side of Ghana’s stature was never going to be easy. The red card made things really difficult for us.” Senong said Amajita no choice now but to produce the goods in their upcoming game against Mali.

with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

08098042287

Ifeanyi Ubah Utd sign Ivoirian, Malian national team players

ewly promoted Ifeanyi Ubah United (formerly Gabros FC) have recruited two foreign players to strengthen the team in a bid to show their seriousness in the new season. The proprietor of the club, Ifeanyi Ubah, has given the management a blank cheque to rebuild the privately owned club. The signing of players of the national teams of Ivory Coast and Mali as well as a player from Brazil is the first step according to the club coordinator, Friday Nwankwo-Kujah. The foreign imports are: Boueti Emmanuel and Koko Christy. They will join the squad before the next league match this weekend. Kwankwo-Kujah also said that the Malian top player, Christy, would arrive Nigeria Thursday while the third, a Brazilian, is expected in Lagos on Friday. Nwankwo-Kujah said that several top players from more established teams in Nigeria had dumped their former

clubs for Ifeanyi Ubah United even for a pay cut. According to him, the reason is the new structure of the club which emphasises players’ welfare. Meanwhile, Ubah has acquired four brand new Sports Utility Vehicles for the coaching crew and management staff while two luxury buses have also been bought for the smooth ride of the players to match venues.

League action between Rangers and Bayelsa United last session

Clubs, fans hail Week One officiating I

t was commendation for referees in all the centres of the Week One fixture of the Glo Premier League as both home and away teams as well as fans commended the high level of officiating. Information from most of the centres indicated that officiating was at its best in the league’s first games, due to the introduction of referees assessors by the new leadership of the League Management

Company headed by Shehu Dikko. From Port Harcourt to Nnewi, Jalingo to Benin, Aba to Kano as well as Bauchi to Jos, the news of excellent officiating by referees filtered in as fans, home and away teams urged the LMC to ensure that the level was sustained all through the season. This is part of the move by the LMC to raise the standard of the League and build confidence for fans to return to the stadium.

Also efforts are being made to introduce special security for fans and referees to guarantee a healthy atmosphere in all the league venues. Again, in an attempt to bring back fans to the stadium most clubs are already planning to utilise the innovative fans development strategy introduced by the new board of the LMC aimed at rewarding clubs that mobilise over 5000 fans to their venues.

Sport 55

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Martins, my best-ever strike partner –Dempsey

eattle Sounders striker Clint Dempsey has rated Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins as the best strike partner in his football career. The USA international scored a brace in Sounders 3-0 win over New England Revolution on Sunday night, one of which was assisted by Obafemi Martins and then assisted Martins for his goal. He said he has enjoyed partnering the Nigeria star upfront.

“He’s one of the players who I’ve enjoyed playing with the most in my career. It reminds me of being a kid, of playing pick-up style. We think alike, know that if you make the right move, he’s going to find you,” said Dempsey, who has played in the EPL with Fulham. “I think it’s even better because we have each other’s back. We try to give each other good looks in game so that we can get each other goals and get

each other assists so we showed that we can both be unselfish and both create opportunities for each other. “And I think that’s what it’s about, just having somebody there that’s grinding it out with you that plays a similar style as you. “Obviously, you’ve got to give credit to the whole team because the whole team makes everything work, but it is special to play with a player like Oba.”

Babayaro: Keshi can’t succeed elsewhere Obafemi (left)

Orderga eyes World Cup debut

uper Falcons forward, Francesca Ordega, has expressed confidence in making her World Cup debut for Nigeria in Canada after she sat out the last edition in Germany four years ago. The Benue state born-star said she was ready to contribute to the Falcons’ success having failed to feature in any of the team’s games at the last World Cup. “I know the immediate task before us is to qualify for both the

All Africa Games and the Olympic Games against Mali but this cannot stop me from dreaming about the World Cup because I know we would beat Mali to qualify for both games. “At the last World Cup in Germany, I was one of the young players drafted into the Super Falcons from the Under-20 team that lost in the final. I didn’t get to kick a ball then, so I want to make my mark this time in Canada,” she stated.

mmanuel Babayaro says the reason out of contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is holding on to his role is because he won’t succeed outside Nigeria. The outspoken Atlanta ’96 Olympic football gold medallist says if Keshi is not afraid of failure outside his comfort zone he would have moved on as it is clear from the body language of the NFF they are not keen on him. “It’s clear to see why Keshi is willing to hold on to the Eagles job against all odds. He is afraid of failure, he knows too well what

brought about the success he achieved earlier with the Eagles,” he told SL10.ng. “The Super Eagles job is a comfort zone for him cashing on the players talent and abilities to make a name for himself, furthermore it’s only here in Nigeria that he can get away with inviting ‘bench warmers’, injured and clubless players.” When reminded that Keshi was a hit in Togo and Mali, Babayaro floored his achievements as short term. “Did he succeed in Togo? Yes but Emmanuel Adebayor did most of the job by

scoring vital goals that propelled the team to the World Cup in 2006. It’s easy to see why the team flopped when Keshi had a misunderstanding with him. “In Mali they said he qualified them for the Cup of Nations Yes but who were their opponents during qualifiers? Did they make it out of their group? “In Togo and Mali he achieved what anybody, I repeat any coach, could within a short term but we all know coaches’ true mettle is revealed in the long run and time has proven he is a mediocre,” he said.

lagos ITTF world tour with Ajibade Olusesan 0706 537 7853

Oshonaike, others, are tough, says Meshref

op seed, Dina Meshref, has said that Nigerian stars, Funke Oshonaike, Cecilia Out and others will not be able to stop her as she is determined win the women’s singles title in the ongoing Lagos Open. Otu is the only Nigerian woman to have won the tournament after she beat her compatriot, Edem Offiong, in the final of the maiden edition in 2013. But Meshref told our correspondent in an exclusive interview after she dispatched Nigeria’s Mbah Onyinyechi 3-0 in her first match of the tournament yesterday that: “Oshonaike, Cecelia and the Chinese players from Portugal are very good rivals. They are going to give me a tough fight but I should be able to win this tournament.”

Oshonaike

My exposure will help me win, says Onaolapo

able tennis prodigy, Ojo Onaolapo, has said that his exposure as a foreignbased professional will help him claim the biggest gong in this year’s ITTF World Tour which served off on Tuesday in Lagos. Onaolapo won the gold in the U-21 category of the tournament last year but crashed out in the quaterfinal of the men’s singles. But in an exclusive interview with our correspondent at the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the tournament, the player said that he could surpass his last year’s achievement because he is a more exposed and experienced player having shifted base to Italy since after last year’s edition. He said that there had been a lot of improvement in his game as he had learnt so much at his Cagliari Table Tennis Club sine he moved there in late 2014. “I am sure I can go all the way in this year’s tournament because there have been a lot of improvement in my game. I got to the quaterfinal of the tournament last year and also won the U-21 gold but my tar-

Onaolapo

get is to retain my U-21 title and also win the men’s singles. I think I can correct some of the mistakes I made last year because of what I have learnt since I moved to Italy. “I know it is going to be tough winning especially the men’s singles title because of the calibre of players like Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar in that category but in tennis if you want to be a champion you must beat champions. So I am not afraid of anyone,” he said. He added that there was no reason for Nigerians to be scared of their Egyptian counterparts saying that there is nothing special about the game of the North African players.

Why we are dominant –Assar

frican champion, Omar Assar, has given insight into why Egypt remains the dominant force in table tennis on the continent. The world number 37 said that their dominance was a result of long term planning and adequate preparation for tournaments. He said that although Nigeria is getting better but his country would remain at the fore front of the game in Africa. “Our dominance is a result of long term and adequate planning. It is a challenge for us that Nigerian players are getting better but I loook forward to other African countries like Congo, Tunisia and Togo winning more international games,” he said. He said that although it would be a great pleasure playing againt top seed, Aruna Quadri, he wanted to concentrate on games that come his way.

Assar

On Marble Men marry women with the hope

they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invaribly they are both disappointed.

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

The first player to score a penalty goal was Mexico’s Manuel Rosas against Argentina on July 19, 1930 at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in Uruguay.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Albert Einstein

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

N150

The unfinished business of Electoral Reform

ill the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission be removed? Have the politicians and the political parties succeeded in damaging his credibility and the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission? Will the attacks on the Chairman and National Commissioners have long term impact on the professionalism and credibility of the institution itself ? These are difficult and complex issues and it is difficult to appear and remain neutral and rational in dealing with these issues when everything is seen and analyzed from a political prism. In the midst of the convoluted debate relating to these issues, it is important to place them in proper perspective and see how they fit into the long term project of building a strong, independent and professional electoral management body. The charges against the Chairman and the National Commissioners are complex and varied. The first is that the Chairman created and or sought to create an additional 30,000 polling units to favour a particular geopolitical zone. The Commission later suspended the creation of the additional polling units. Then it was alleged that the Chairman skewed the distribution and collection of the permanent voter’s cards to favour a geopolitical zone. Thereafter, they raised the issue of the legality, durability and advisability of the card readers for the 2015 elections. A combination of these issues led to calls in certain quarters for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission to proceed on leave and or be removed by the President. We must acknowledge that INEC is not an ordinary Commission. It is a Commission that carries on its shoulders the fate of Nigeria’s electoral democracy. The Constitution created only one electoral management body for constitutionally provided elections. It has no duplicate and has no alternative and if we destroy it, electoral democracy may come to grief. We must also realize that the Chairman and the National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission are not infallible. They operate within an institutional framework that is huge. This framework encompasses headquarter staff with varied and variegated departments and a huge staff strength. It encompasses Resident Electoral Commissions with huge bureaucracy. It encompasses Electoral Officers in the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria with their coterie of staff. Within this framework, things may not always go as choreographed. Mistakes are bound to be made and policies and programmes may not always turn out as planned. But it is an institution of democracy and all sorts of forces and interests have their eyes permanently glued to the institution. I think the mistake people make

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only)

Jega

is to think that the Chairman is the institution and the institution is the Chairman. They conveniently forget that the National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners are from various states with varied ethnic and religious backgrounds and inclinations. Some of them are distinguished individuals who “have seen it all”. But I understand this mindset. It is a mindset that is wrapped around the individual as the “big man” of the institution and everything must revolve around him. In this mindset, if the head is good, then everything is good and if the head is bad, then it is over for the institution. In this context when the individual leaves or is removed, everything collapses. In this scenario, no attempt is made to build the institution. But we must realize that a strong institution makes the individual work within a framework of rules and procedures and the institution will continue to run whether the individual is there or not. I am sad that this debate is skewed on ethnic and religious lines. But I believe that it is a price we have to pay for refusing to implement the report and recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC). The ERC made far reaching recommendations on how to make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a truly national, professional and independent electoral management body. Presently, the Independent National Electoral Commission is listed as one of the Federal Executive Bodies

in section 153 of the Constitution. By section 154 of the same Constitution, the President appoints the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the Council of State. By section 157 of the Constitution a person holding the office of the Chairman or member of INEC may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct. The implication of this provision is that only the President and the National Assembly play a role in the removal of the Chairman and the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Individuals, political parties, lobby groups, attention seekers, cronies and other rabble rousers have no role in this venture. But does section 157 of the Constitution offer good protection to the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission? The answer is no. The Chairman and members of the Board of INEC are appointees of the President and the President only consults the Council of State in relation to their appointment. It is on the basis of this that the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) of which I was privileged to be a member made alternative recommendations on their appointment and tenure. We recommended that section 153 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to remove INEC from the list of Federal Executive Bodies. This has not been done. We recommended that the Board of the Independent National Electoral Commission should be composed of a Chairman, who must be a person of unquestionable integrity; a Deputy Chairman, who must be a person of unquestionable integrity. However, the Chairman and Deputy must not be of the same gender; six persons of unquestionable integrity, two of whom must be women and one of whom must come from each of the six geopolitical zones; one nominee of Civil Society Organizations working in the area of elections; one nominee of Labour Organizations; one nominee of Nigerian Bar Association; one nominee of Women Organizations; and one nominee of the Media. We also recommended that the appointment procedure for the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the six nominees from the six geopoliti-

cal zones should be facilitated by the National Judicial Council. The National Judicial Council will advertise the positions, spelling out requisite qualifications; receive applications/ nominations from the general public and shortlist three persons for each position. Thereafter, it will send the nominations to the National Council of State to select one for each position and forward to the Senate for confirmation. For other nominees from professional and civil society bodies, each of the bodies would send three nominations to the National Judicial Council for screening. The NJC shall screen the nominations and forward them to the National Council of State which shall further screen and send one name for each position to the Senate for confirmation. On the security of tenure of INEC Chairman and Members, the ERC recommended that the Chairman and members of the Board of INEC may only be removed by the Senate on the recommendation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) by twothirds majority of the Senate which shall include at least 10 members of the minority parties in the Senate. The removal of INEC from section 153 of the Constitution which lists it as a Federal Executive Body would have taken care of the question of whether the Chairman and members of the Board of INEC are civil or public servants and whether they are subject to civil service rules and regulations. It will also be an academic exercise whether a precedent had previously been set on the issue. Talking of precedent, one of the enduring lessons from this whole debate is that we must at all times protect our democratic institution no matter who occupies the position and that the removal of such persons must follow due process. The moment we look the other way and rules are bent and procedures are not followed just because we do not like the occupier of the position or we have serious issues with him, then unconstitutional and illegal precedents will be set and used in future to justify other unconstitutional things. This treacherous and constitutionally dangerous period demands that we protect the electoral management institution and not bring it to disrepute. The Chairman and members have shown that they are ready to take risks on behalf of the people of Nigeria. They have shown courage in the face of a convoluted and treacherous electoral environment. We have to support them in the gradual introduction of technology into our electoral process. Our people will only be confident about our electoral process and the legitimacy of those elected when they are sure that their votes will count. We must therefore finish the unfinished business of constitutional and electoral reform and guarantee the true independence of the electoral management body.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.