Wednesday, may 13, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Vol. 2 No. 448

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@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Let's bury the hatchet, Mu'azu tells Fayose, others

Nigeria’s Chuka Umunna to run for UK Labour Party leadership

Nigerian-born Briton, Chuka Umunna, is among politicians jostling for the leadership of Brit-

ain's opposition Labour Party after it suffered a heavy defeat in a national election last week. Umunna, the son of a Nige-

rian immigrant, is a former lawyer who was first elected to parliament in 2010 and has been Labour's shadow business

secretary since 2011. He is one of the bookmakers' favourites to win the job of party leader. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

NEW TELEGR

APH WEDNES

The Mega DAY, MAY 13,

N150

2015

...EXCLU SIVE LAG OS MAG AZINE

MY CITY, MY WORLD

City

The incom ing administrat ion should fly higher – Orajekwe 27

Tyrants of Osh

LIFE IN THE CITY

Lagos’ Carni val of glamour, elegance 23

odi-Apapa ro

Apapa-Oshodi, not only Lagos usually referred to as Oshodi-Ap apa Expresswa which are of State but the country as a whole. huge socio -economic It offers acces y, is of great importanc making free impo flow of move e and s ment a night rtance. But commuters to and from the two main strategic to the econo mare. ELIJA continue to mic H SAMUEL groan as fuel international entry point wellbeing of reports tankers have s of the coun taken over the road, theretry by

eight pages of mega city A chaotic scene

at Coconu

t Bus-Stop

}21

Fuel scarcity: FG runs out of ideas F

on Oshodi-

Apapa Express

way

rom the ceasel helpless Nigeri ess outcry of and have busineans, who reside Expressway. The fuel completely tankers have ss transa to conduc taken over t in the area, ctions find it as they now they have convenient it seems been left on to permanently use the stretch continue to their own to shoulder the between Cocon trauma which pains and and Sanya Bus-St ut mon featur have become coming arena, while ops as their parkes of Oshod waiting for turn to lift their i-Apapa depots that fuel in many of fuel area betwee are domiciled in the Ports. Apparn Kirikiri and Tin-Ca n ently , the tanker ers and their drivsleep in theirassistants now have to vehicles while ing watch. It has been keephell The situati on this road. as the motheon can be describ It ed the govern r of traffic jam wasn’t like as OLUWATOSI this in state, seemsment, especially N OMONIYI the to the inflexi to have no answe the past CITY EDITOr tosin.omoniyi@ne on Oshod ble traffic dilemm r wtelegraphonline i-Apapa a .com Determ Expre © Daily Telegrap ssway ined h Publishin the abyss not to be confined . g Company of to Limited mercial bus lamentations, comoperat ors a way out: they have now have ace in runnin found solg against traffic on

Apapa-Oshod i side of the Unlike the road. traffic situation before LASTMA hardship when officials tried Helen Nwabulingers. hend offend to appreeze, they now ers at Cele Bus-Stop, ing and forwarding is a clearengage in driving, facing dangerous inevitably had to agent, who be at Apapa Tin-Can vehicles comin from Apapa g see to Ports Friday mornin the restriction, and Mile 2 withou g to t which conclusion of a proces thereby giving some securit s way to days was commenced y agenci a few earlier. She es to exploit the situati and touts on that seldom travels on. But they cannot go route beyond Cocon held up in for the fear of being Stop where the ut Bustraffic. had her way And would have all the passengers , she would if she template going n’t going furtheto alight. Passengers in that directiconr into But with the import Apapa would have to contin on. a motor bike ue from there on assignment at hand, ance of the choice. “It she had no otherwise okada. The wasn’t like this on okada riders called hodi-A the situati papa Osalso use on past but sinceExpressway in the to make briskas an opportunity the concen tration sult of surge business as a re- of lifting fuel by over the countr tankers from all commuters in the number of y shifted in the area. to this different shades However, part of the nation , it has been hell on this of views ing display ed by comme are be- I just had road. This morni operators ng, to come down and commu rcial bus because ters as the CONTIN UED ON PAGE 22

lNigerians groan as petrol shortage worsens }5 lNiger Republic comes to the rescue with 2m litres

Quick Read L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; Gen. Yakubu Gowon; President Goodluck Jonathan; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Shehu Shagari; former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and other members after the Council of State meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Police Council confirms Arase as IGP lOkiro links Abba's sack to indiscipline

Editorial

The Ondo ban on local gin }19 Court freezes Benue, Plateau accounts }8

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Ighoyota Amori

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 4, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 75, representing 68 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber. Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them? These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them. For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015

Travel Advisory

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

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

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

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

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

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

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

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

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

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

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

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

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

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

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

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

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

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

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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

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

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

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

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015

Fuel scarcity: FG runs out of ideas N Adeola Yusuf

igerians may have to live with the ongoing fuel scarcity until after May 29 following the inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to end the shortage, which first began about three months ago. The scarcity has defied solutions, despite several meetings and promises by the Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and oil marketers to improve on the supply system. New Telegraph investigations showed that the president might have decided to leave the matter to the incoming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari instead of tackling the crisis, which has crippled socio-economic activities nationwide. Oil marketers, it was learnt, had cut down on fuel importation out of the fear that the Buhari administration might not honour debt obligation arising from the fuel subsidy scheme. They are now waiting for a pronouncement on subsidy from Buhari to end the fuel scarcity rocking Nigeria. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on importation of refined products due to inefficiency of its four refineries to meet the 40 million litres daily consumption requirement. Added to this is the halt of importation by private concerns, which have thrown the country into a major fuel crisis that is expected to continue even after the President-elect assumes office. Nigeria is now at the mercy of Niger Republic, which is now supplying about two million litres to the Northern region. A Niger Republic official, who is on vacation in the United States, told New Telegraph that the Soraz Refinery in Niger was catching in on the scarcity in Nigeria. Importers who have stopped fuel importation have said only a “pronouncement and assurance” from Buhari can make them begin importation. The Federal Government, through the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, had called on the marketers to resume imports after a part-payment

of about N165 billion was made to them. But the Executive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Thomas Olawore, said the government, which has made them go insolvent, was not in the best position to ask them to import. He said: “Our operations are facing a serious threat owing to the debts the government owes us and the banks are still not helping matters. They have stopped to honour our requests for loan facilities. Now, tell me, what do you do in this kind of situation?” It was gathered that the importers were more confused with the stance of the President-elect on payment of subsidy and many of them believed that it would make no economic sense for them to import on credit for a period, which will not be controlled by the outgoing government. “We are afraid of going ahead to import because we are neither sure that the next government will pay the backlog of subsidy nor honour a new fuel import contracts,” a management staff of one of the major marketing firms told New Telegraph on the telephone. Meanwhile, Niger Republic is catching in on the fuel scarcity in Nigeria to boost sales and the country exports of about two million litres of fuel to its neighbour. A Niger Republic official said his country had a huge surplus of product refined from about 13, 000 barrels per day and the larger chunk of Premium

Motor Spirit (PMS) from this volume is consumed majorly in Nigeria. He said: “Although the optimum capacity is 20, 000 barrels per day, the Soraz Refinery is refining average of 18, 000 barrels of crude daily. Our domestic requirement from this is less than 5, 000 bpd and you should know that the scarcity in Nigeria is a major market advantage for our products,” he said. The oil installation is

close to the Nigerian border. The 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) Soraz Refinery, located in Niger Republic, is now a major supplier of petroleum products to Katsina, Bauchi, Sokoto, and Jigawa, amongst others. These states actually consume petroleum products from the refinery located at Zinder, some 900 kilometres east of the capital of Niger, Niamey. As the fuel crisis wors-

ens, the Republic of Benin and other neighbouring countries have begun to suffer the backlash. “Towns like Cotonou, Tube, Ajashe and others in Benin Republic have, for a long time, been depending on supplies from Nigeria through Idiroko border and now that Nigeria is not able to even satisfy itself, these towns are in serious mess,” Ade Qudus, a tyre merchant in Owode-Yewa, border

town between Nigeria and Benin told New Telegraph by phone. However, oil workers have called for a ceasefire between the government and oil importers. The workers, under the auspice of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the National Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said the government and marketers should resolve their CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (left) and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, at a meeting in Abuja…yesterday.

Police Council confirms Arase as IGP

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Police Council, comprising President Goodluck Jonathan and governors of the 36 states of the federation, has confirmed Mr. Solomon Arase as substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP). Jonathan had, last month, named Arase IGP albeit in acting capacity, following the sack of Mr. Suleiman Abba. Speaking to State House correspondents after the council meeting, Arase confirmed his elevation, adding that he will dedicate his tenure to improving the welfare of men and officers of the force for effective civil security. "I have just been con-

firmed," he told reporters who sought to know the outcome of the council meeting, which lasted for about two hours. The IGP said members of the council deliberated extensively on the state of security in the country and strategies needed to addressing the situation. "We talked about the security challenges we are having and our strategic responses to addressing those challenges. I can assure Nigerians that we are going to address these issues," he stated. He added that in tackling the challenges, the police under his watch would strive to reduce crime. "I don't think it is the worst security situation we are facing. There is no society that is actually crime-free, but we are

trying to ensure that it is within tolerable level. It is not as bad as the public perception," he added. He promised to pay more attention to personnel welfare as an incentive to improve their welfare to motivate optimal performance. "To my men, I will tell them that their welfare will be number one on my cardinal responsibilities. You don't motivate a workforce except their welfare is paramount. I'm going to ensure that their welfare is going to be put on the front burner. "To Nigerians, I know that their expectations are high, but I can assure them that no Nigerian will suffer any injustice by my inaction or action," he said. He also stated that the police were also coming up

with measures to ensure strict compliance with his order on ban of roadblocks nationwide. "We already have an enforcement policy in place. Sixteen teams have moved out across the length and breadth of this country to ensure there is strict compliance to that order," Arase added. Also, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and a former IGP, Mr. Mike Okiro, told reporters that the high level of indiscipline among the rank and file of police personnel made Jonathan to sack Abba as IGP. Referring to discussions during the Police Council meeting, Okiro said: "The president, in a very brief way, said during the period of the former IGP, a lot of indiscipline

was noticed among the rank and file of the police and as such he felt that a new IG should come and try his luck. That is what he said, though I cannot give details of that." He said the coming on board of the new IGP was geared towards achieving this goal. According to him, the policies and programmes put in place are promoted by the new police hierarchy. “Until his appointment as Abba’s replacement, Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.

News

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Let's bury the hatchet, Mu'azu tells Fayose, others Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

eleaguered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has called for truce in the party as the agitation for his ouster following the party's defeat in the general elections grows. Mu'azu, in a statement yesterday he personally signed, said some of the mistakes that led to the party's loss in the general elections were avoidable. He also expressed worry over the division in the party, which has resulted in the call for the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) by Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and his Niger State counterpart, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, among others. "Mistakes have been made, some of them avoidable, but this is the time to put all of them behind us and move ahead as our party and its interest remain paramount and overriding", Mu'azu stated. He blamed the misunderstanding in the party on media misrepresentations, saying: "in the last few weeks, the media has been feeding on these reac-

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

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tions with a section even blowing it out of proportion to a level that has become a threat to our oneness as a family." He said he had warned his aides to desist from making comments on matters of party administration in the media or at any other forum. While appreciating the concern, pain and frustrations of PDP members regarding the defeat, he appealed to them to put behind them the disappointment of defeat for

KANO

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IBADAN

CALABAR

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34o C 24oC Thunder Storms

we all must resolve to bury the hatchet, pick our pieces and move on to rebuild our party and return to our winning ways. "I wish to charge all members that though we have had our setback, we are not down and out. The PDP remains the largest political party in this country. What we need now more than ever before is to unite as therein lies our strength as a family. Fighting ourselves will not yield anyone any good. Our members, therefore,

must remain focused and join forces with their leaders at all levels to actualise our collective quest to rebuild the PDP and repositioning it to regain power in 2019”, he said. According to him, following the rigorous campaigns and the attendant toll on his health, he yielded to the advice of his doctor to take a two-week bed rest for proper checks and recuperation. He said his absence from the country lately had led to some apprehen-

sions within the party resulting in various public interpretations. Mu'azu stated that the party had set machinery in motion by the constitution and inauguration of the Post-Election Assessment Committee, headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. He called for support for the committee to come up with meaningful report that will provide answers to the challenges and come up with a road map for the future.

L-R: Former Managing Director, Hallmark Bank, Chief Mark Wabara; former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; the author of Media Gaffes and Essays, Mr. Ebere Wabara; Leader, Obigbo, Chief Charles Ahize and Head of Civil Service of Kastina State, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, during the presentation of the three-in-one book in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: Godwin Irekhe

Senate presidency: Group mobilises 70 senators for Saraki, Ndume

lJibrin woos new members-elect with committee positions Chukwu David and Philip Nyam Abuja

PORT HARCOURT

the survival and stability of the party. "Having been a state governor on the platform of this party for eight years and having the grace of being a committed member for the past 16 years, I very much appreciate the reactions of some of our members like Governor Ayo Fayose, whose victory in Ekiti in June last year helped to strengthen our party, particularly in the South-West region. “Nevertheless, in the larger interest of our party,

s aspirants to the office of the Senate President intensify their lobby for the top job, a group known as "the Like Minds" has declared their support for the candidacy of Senators Bukola Saraki and Ali Ndume. The group, led by the Senator-elect, Dino Melaye, has about 70 senators and its membership cuts across all the six geo-political zones. About 27 of the 49 senators-elect from the ruling

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are said to be part of the group. New Telegraph learnt that the fundamental goal of the group is to ensure that no external forces or political godfathers whatsoever hijacked the leadership of the Eighth Senate. The source further said that the North-East, which was said to have endorsed the candidature of Senator Ahmad Lawan, has 15 senators in The Like Minds camp and nine senators out of 20 from the North-West. He further disclosed that 11 APC Senators out of 18 from the North Central have identified with

the group, while 11 out of 18 from the South-West have also given their support to the Saraki/Ndume candidacy. He, however, noted that the group would respect and abide by the decision of the APC hierarchy on zoning, assuring that the group would support whoever the party eventually anoints as its flag bearer. Another senator said that the Eighth Senate would prevent a stooge of external forces becoming the Senate President. "We want to make sure that it is only senators that will decide who will be the Senate President and not

external body. We are committed to serve the country and give the best for the overall interest of the generality of the people," the source said. Meanwhile, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano), has formally written to the over 200 new memberselect on his ambition to be speaker of the 8th Assembly. Jibrin pledged to give the new members 75 per cent of committee chairmen and deputy chairmen positions if they support him to emerge as speaker.

The speakership contestant, who had earlier written to all the 360 members of the House, said in his new letter to the new members that he would give special attention to them. "To this end, if you elect me Speaker, I pledge to hand over 75 per cent of the total positions (Committee Chairs and Deputies) in the House to First Term Members. It means 75 per cent of the positions allocated to each state will go to First Term Members. To do this, I will have to step on toes. But if this will usher in the change and fresh ideas we crave for our dear country, so be it," he said.

Nigerians groan as petrol shortage worsens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

differences in the interest of Nigerians. President, NUPENG PTD, Lagos unit, Tokunbo Korodo said: “The major marketers and independent marketers are the ones that shut their depots from tanker drivers due to their subsidy outstand-

ing. The queue in filling stations across the nation is because it is not all of them that have fuel. The only few that have need to cater for the entire nation. In fact, bridging is the in-thing now; tankers are coming from different parts of the country to Lagos to lift fuel.”

The prevailing price of petrol at the international market is currently around N115 per litre, while it sells at N87 per litre in Nigeria, amounting to a subsidy of N28 per litre. This has compelled the independent oil marketers to sell the product at be-

tween N125- N135 per litre. The scarcity has continued to take a toll on business activities across the country. While queues have persisted in filling stations, which dispense in Lagos and Abuja, others who shut their gates against customers are selling to the black marketers

at a price between N120 and N140 per litre. The black marketers in turn are reselling to motorists at between N160 to N250 per litre. The prolonged scarcity has also brought in its wake, a hike in transport fares, commodities and services.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015

Constitution amendment: Senate's move to override Jonathan suffers setback lCampaign for Senate presidency disrupts proceedings

Chukwu David Abuja

he decision of the Senate to override President Goodluck Jonathan's veto on the Fourth Alteration Bill to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) yesterday suffered a setback as the upper chamber stood down the item from the Order Paper at plenary. The bill, which was earlier passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for his assent, has provoked controversy between the Presidency and the National Assembly because of the president's refusal to sign the document into law.

President Jonathan had enumerated a number of defects in the amendments including the fact that the Alteration Bill failed to comply with the strict provisions of Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution as well as whittling down the executive powers of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The action of Mr. President, however, angered the National Assembly, compelling the two Chambers of the apex parliament to contemplate overriding his veto in order to pass the bill into law. Not willing to be vetoed, the Federal Government on April 23 took the National Assembly to the Supreme Court, challeng-

ing the amendments and asking the court to stop the National Assembly from carrying out further action on the constitution. The request was granted by the court. But the Senate insisted on overriding the president, a decision that made the upper chamber to attempt to re-introduce the Bill by enlisting it on the Order Paper for First Reading yesterday. However, there was a dramatic turn when the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba moved that the Bill be stood down till another legislative day. No official reason was given for the withdrawal of the bill. New Telegraph learnt

Former govs to meet over Senate presidency Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ndications emerged yesterday that former governors under the umbrella of Former Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum (FGF) would meet next week to resolve the impasse on the 8th Senate Presidency. A source from the FGF told New Telegraph in Abuja that the meeting is imperative since most of those aspiring for the position of the Senate President are former governors. Also, he stated that the FGF feel embarrassed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not been able to resolve the crisis on who become the Senate President. Three former gover-

nors from the North East and North Central are among those jostling for the position of the Senate President. The former governors are: George Akume (North Central), Bukola Saraki (North Central), and Danjuma Goje (North East). The FGF had recently paid a visit to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at his office in Abuja. Oyegun is also a former governor. The former governors, who were led by the chairman of the FGF, Senator Jim Nwobodo to the meeting were, Fidelis Tapgun (Plateau), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Balarabe Musa (Kaduna), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Ok-

wesilieze Nwodo (Enugu), Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra) and Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti). The source said the former governors would meet next week to consider the candidates for the Senate Presidency and decide on who to support. The source added that once the former governors choose who to support they would communicate all the former governors in the Senate and also try to sell the chosen person to the party and the entire Senate. The national leadership of the APC, since last month has not been able to come out with acceptable zoning partner for the principal offices at the 8th Assembly.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s citizen eyes UK Labour Party leadership CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

"I am pleased today to be announcing that I will be standing for the leadership of the party. "Some have actually suggested over the last few days that somehow this is now a 10-year project to get the Labour Party back into office ... I think the Labour Party can do it in five years, I want to lead that effort," Umunna, 37, said in a video posted yesterday on Facebook. On Sunday, Umunna said during the election campaign his party had concentrated its policies too much on the poorest and the richest, ignoring the majority of people inbetween, reports Reuters. The leadership of the

Umunna

Labour Party became vacant following the resignation of Mr. Ed Miliband who stepped down after his party's disappointing general election showing. Labour suffered heavy losses at the hands of the SNP, with the Tories defying opinion polls to secure a House of Com-

mons majority. In a speech in London, Miliband said it was "time for someone else" to take over the leadership and that he was "truly sorry" he did not succeed. He confirmed Deputy Leader, Mr. Harriet Harman, would be interim leader.

that there was misunderstanding amongst the senators as some of them had advised the leadership to be cautious in rushing to take a decision that might be injurious to the interest of the nation in future. The senators who are opposed to overriding the President's veto had reportedly warned that the Senate should not involve itself in any action that would not yield positive development at the end of the day. The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, however, invited all senators to a closed-door meeting in the National Assembly today to deliberate on the matter and take a firm position on it. He said: "I request all of us to be available tomorrow (today) to discuss the amendments to the constitution and be able to respond appropriately to the development. Please let those who are not available know that we will have close session tomorrow to discuss this item so

that we will be able to fashion out the way forward." Meanwhile, campaigns for the Senate presidency disrupted proceedings yesterday when supporters of various candidates took their campaigns to the floor of the chamber during plenary session. The open campaigns in the hallowed chambers of the Senate was a demonstration of the desperation of the candidates arising from the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) hierarchy to arrive at zoning formula and a consensus candidate for the post of the Senate President. The National Tobacco Control Bill which was being considered on clause by clause basis in the Red Chamber had to be temporarily interrupted for Ekweremadu to address the brief rowdy session created by the up and down movements of the campaigners. Ekweremadu, who was called upon to address the situation, was compelled to give definite ruling, saying that "all campaigns for

Senate Presidency is hereby suspended until the end of proceedings." The call for restoration of sanity was made by Senator Chris Ngige, who was making a contribution to deliberations on the National Tobacco Control, noting that the attention of the Senate was being distracted by series of political movements by senators from one seat to another in the chamber. Ngige shouted: "Mr. President, please could you tell all these campaign co-ordinators to allow us treat this Bill. They are disrupting the chamber and we are not being allowed to give the Bill the utmost attention it deserves." No fewer than four senators have signified their interests in the nation's number three position. They include former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki; former Benue State Governor, George Akume; Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account Committee, Ahmed Lawan and Senator Ali Ndume.

WANTED URGENTLY Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, requires the services of: Copy Editors: Must be graduates of English Language with a minimum of Bachelor's Degree (Second Class Upper). Applicants must have calm personality; be good writers with eyes for details and must be able to infuse life into 'dead' copies. He/she must have at least eight years post-qualification experience either in the media or the publishing industry. Legal Officer: with LLB (minimum of Second Class Lower). Should possess at least 4 years post-call experience. Must be able to provide assistance in preparing, drafting and vetting all agreements as well as rendering accurate legal opinion. Eligible applicants should submit their applications within two weeks to: Head, Administration Department, 1A, Ajimobi Street, off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos or newjobstoday2015@gmail.com

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wednesday, may 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Court freezes Benue, Plateau's accounts Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday ordered the freezing of accounts belonging Benue and Plateau states in Skye Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank of Nigeria and First City Monument Bank Plc over their alleged refusal to release funds for the payment of wages and allowances of court workers in the states. The order was sequel to two ex-parte application filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), who sought to attach the states’ accounts in the banks over their alleged refusal to pay about N1.6billion to satisfy the January 13, 2014 judgment given by the judge The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, however, made the order, attaching the money belonging to the 15th and 16th judgment debtors/respondents domiciled with Skye Bank Plc, Makurdi Branch – account number 170008758 to satisfy the judgment awarded in favour of the judgment creditor/applicant. He also made similar order in relation to Plateau State’s accounts in

the other banks. The court also ordered the garnishee” to show cause why the order should not be made absolute by the court.” New Telegraph recalls that Justice Ademola had in January 2014 in a judgment, affirmed the financial autonomy status granted the Judiciary by the Constitution and abolished the piecemeal funding of the arm of government by the state governments. In their ex-parte application, JUSUN submitted that the amount due to Benue State judiciary “as at March 2015, is N957,630,349.57” and the amount due to the Plateau State judiciary for the same period is N673,019,948.19. Listed as defendants in the suit are Governors and the Attorney General of both states. JUSUN said Benue and Plateau, who were parties in the main suit, have “bluntly refused to obey the judgment of the court”. It said the Judiciary of both states owe their workers, who are members of the union “arrears of salary and other funds due to them up to March 2015”. The court later adjourned to June 1 for the garnishee proceedings.

Senate passes anti-tobacco bill Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate yesterday passed the Tobacco Control Bill 2015, spelling out six months imprisonment for those caught smoking in public places in Nigeria. The passage was sequel to the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Health, presented by Senator Chris Ngige, on behalf of the committee chairman, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was absent from the Chamber. The committee, in its report, however, noted that it found that "if tobacco regulation becomes excessively restrictive and legitimate producers close shops, smokers would continue to smoke". It also argued that demand for tobacco would then be met through smuggled cigarettes, thereby transferring

jobs and revenue to other countries to the detriment of Nigerians. It added: "There will no longer be industry operators such as producers to engage in terms of product quality and alternative products to regular cigarette and assist in the fighting against smuggling." The committee also lamented that absence of adequate legal framework had greatly affected the nation's ability to get the required data base or actual numbers of smokers in the country. "The absence of adequate legal framework has greatly affected the nation in getting required data base or actual numbers of smokers/ statistics on smoking population as several millions of smokers in Nigeria and their numbers are yet to be ascertained because many cigarettes consumed in the country are smuggled."

Why Nigeria is backward, by Coomassie Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

Former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro (left), with the new Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, after his confirmation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday

N4.5bn subsidy fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Ahmadu Ali’s son, others Akeem Nafiu

amman, the son of a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali and two others, were yesterday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged complicity in a N4.5 billion fuel subsidy fraud before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court.

Ali was re-arraigned alongside another oil marketer, Christian Taylor and his company, Nasaman Oil Services Ltd. The trio had previously been arraigned on July 26, 2012 and their trial had commenced before their co-defendant, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, absconded. This eventually led to the amendment of the charge against the defendants upon which they

Jonathan appoints Sanusi Supreme Court Justice Tunde Oyesina Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved the appointment of Justice Amiru Sanusi as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The appointment was sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. According to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the NJC, Soji Oye, Justice Sanusi will be sworn-in by the Chief

Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Mahmud Mohammed tomorrow at the Supreme Court Complex. Jonathan had on March 11 through a letter addressed to Senate President, David Mark, forwarded the name of Sanusi to the National Assembly for confirmation. The President noted in the letter that the nomination was in conformity with provisions of Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

were re-arraigned. In the amended charge, the counts of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of false documents was increased from nine to 49. EFCC's lawyer, Seidu Atteh, informed the court that the defendants had fraudulently obtained N4.5 billion from the Federal Government between January 2011 and April 2012.

hairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, has said that the reason Nigeria is retrogressing is because leaders no longer work for the unity of Nigeria and do not care about the generality as long as they are comfortable. Coomassie, who is a former Inspector General of Police, made this known at the first Northern Nigerian Youth Summit, which he chaired in Kaduna yesterday. The theme of the summit was "Stronger Together", and it was aimed at restoring the old glory of north and preparing its youths for the leadership roles. The ACF Chairman advised the people of the North to put aside divisive issues like religion, ethnicity, language aside and focus on those that unite them as demonstrated in the recently concluded general elections, in order to continue to experience positive change. The former Police boss mentioned unemployment, insecurity, selfishness, integrity and lack of desire to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the region, as the bane of the north. He recalled that the late northern Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello’s ideology was rooted on youth empowerment, unity and tolerance. Commassie lamented that "things have changed in this country especially in the north. Employment is not available because our planners have not taken into account many variables as was the practice during the days of Sir Ahmadu Bello.’’ The Arewa leader recalled that "Sardauna was able to build a formidable north because he believed in justice, fair play and equality for all which has now become difficult for us to exhibit."

Rivers APC chairman escapes gun attack Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

here was a shootout on Monday evening at the residence of Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter. The sad event occured shortly after gunmen stormed the area in an attack that appeared to be targeted at Ikanya. The gunmen had opened fire on the security men at the chairman’s residence in Old GRA, Port Harcourt at about 8.45 p.m., but could not gain access into the

building as they were repelled by the security men. Reports say that gunshots rent the air in the area, and that the hoodlums were forced to flee the scene before normalcy returned. Efforts to reach Ikanya and some of his aides at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful. Similarly, when the spokesman for the state police command, Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was contacted, he said he was out of the state, and did not have the details of the incident.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, may 13, 2015

News

national

Ex-militants advise Buhari Donald Ojogo ABUJA

L-R: Financial Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Wolfgang Kollermann; Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Ekanem Madueke and Managing Director, Detlev Lubasch, during the company’s Investors Relations Forum in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

High cost of fuel, bane of Nigeria’s aviation — Experts Wole Shadare Johannesburg

viation experts drawn from aircraft lessors, airplane engine manufacturers, global financial institutions such as Ernst and Young, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Standard Chartered Bank among others have decried the high price of aviation fuel and taxes in African countries. They said that such high costs have stunted the growth of the sector in Nigeria. Partner, Ernst and Young, Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, said he could not

fathom why aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1 is not only expensive in Nigeria, reputed to be the seventh largest product of oil in the world, but even more expensive than in some other African countries that do not produce oil. They have, therefore, jointly called on the authorities concerned to address the problem as it is capable of ruining the efforts of the sector. In the international market price list for aviation kerosene, a gallon of aviation fuel which equals four litres of the commodity goes for $3.74 in Kano and $3.65 in Lagos. In Algiers, it is sold for

N34.1m debt: NDIC sues Doyin Okupe, two others Akeem Nafiu

he Nigerian Deposit Insurance C o r p o r at i o n ( N D I C ) , Liquidator of Gulf bank Nigeria Plc, in a debt recovery suit filed before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos, against the Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe and two others has filed an application to place the suit on an undefended list. Joined as co-defendants in the suit are; Value Trust Investment Limited, and a Director of the company, Mr. Ray Ahazie. NDIC, in the suit, is claiming from Okupe, the chairman of the company and other defendant the sum of N34, 168, 064. 51. as outstanding balance of a loan they took from liqui-

dated Gulf bank Plc. NDIC is also claiming the interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 per cent per annum from May 2007, until the final liquidation of the said sum. Consequently, NDIC is claiming the sum of N34,168,064.51, being the agreed outstanding indebtedness of the defendants; and interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 percent per annum until the final liquidation of the said sum. It is also claiming the cost of instituting this legal action. NDIC, in its statement of claim filed before the court on the 10th of July 2007 by its lawyer, Dr. I. Abiodun Layonu, stated that the defendants were granted a credit facility in October 2000, by Gulf Bank Plc, to finance the importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice.

$2.99, Cape Town $3.08, Cairo $3.08, Djibouti $3.18, Cotonou $3.65, Yaounde $3.75, Durban $3.83, Johannesburg $3.18, Dakar $3.74, Lome $4.21, Lusaka $3.21, Tunis $3.2, Uganda $3.74, Shangai $3.18. Others are Chad $3.74, Congo $4.99, Addis Ababa $4.21, Accra, $4.49. This is coming on the heels of consensus among the experts that Nigeria deserves to have a national airline. The President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had already engaged the services of a reputable

consulting firm on how to make the dream a reality. The Chief Executive of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, told New Telegraph in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, penultimate month that his airline was considering technical partnership with soon to be formed national carrier. They spoke yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa at the on-going African Aviation Summit tagged, “Air Finance for Africa” which tends to address myriads of problems bedevilling the sector in the continent.

SERAP sues FG over violation of IDPs’ rights Akeem Nafiu

he Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have dragged the Federal Government to the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja over what they described as “immense suffering of Internally Displaced Persons across the country.” Sued are the nation’s Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Bello Adoke. In the suit marked, ECW/CCJ/APP/15/15 and filed by SERAP's lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the plaintiff alleged “serious violations by the defendants of the human rights of Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) to life, health, adequate housing, personal integrity, privacy, fair trial, freedom of movement and residence, judicial guarantees, private prop-

erty and child’s rights as guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa and Principles 1-30 of the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.” In the suit, the plaintiff said the response by the Nigerian government to the conditions of IDPs was fragmented and inadequate, as illustrated by its closure of several displacement camps in central and northern areas of Nigeria. SERAP said the Nigerian government has continued to fail and/or neglected to respect, protect, fulfill and promote the human rights of IDPs by among others failing to meet their protection and assistance needs, including social and work relations, and their family dynamics, to provide health facilities to meet their physical and mental health needs.

group of ex-militants from the Niger Delta, Niger Delta Salvation Front has urged president elect, Muhammadu Buhari to be weary of persons they described as "self-serving political agitators who are craving political relevance at all costs". Besides, the group warned that any misdirected step by the incoming administration has the capacity to alter the relative peace in the oilrich Niger Delta region. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday and signed on their behalf by Comrade Victor Tamarapreye and Michael Akpodore, national coordinator and public relations officer respectively, the ex-warlords specifically took a swipe at those described as "political jobbers seeking revenge in

the region". According to the group, the intention of those behind such moves were war mongers whose desire is to push the region into another theatre of crisis with the aim of enriching themselves. "We are aware that some political agitators whose desire is to provoke needless crisis in the Niger Delta region have commenced moves to misdirect the incoming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari in order to engage in acts inimical to the peace of the region. "To this group of selfserving politicians who have suddenly turned agitators on the pages of newspapers, the only means to crave for relevance in the incoming administration is to vilify imaginary enemies and foes, as well as orchestrate disingenuous scenarios to create an atmosphere of crisis in the Niger Delta region."

Nominees emerge for Promasidor Quill awards Kayode Olanrewaju

o fewer than 17 nominees selected for the 2015 Promasidor Quill Awards for the seven categories of this year’s edition of the awards have emerged. The panel of judges, led by its Chairman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, converged on Eko Hotel Lagos last Thursday, to assess and score all the entries received from journalists across the nation. Other members of the panel are Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran journalist and television personality; Joseph Okonmah, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter; Reze Bonna, a trained Architect

and celebrated photographer; and Ray Echebiri, a British Chevening Scholar and a seasoned financial journalist. The various categories include Brand Advocate of the Year; CSR Report of the Year; Best Photo Story of the Year; Best Report on Nutrition; Best Report on Children; Education Reporter of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year. Cole, who chaired the session, said the exercise was challenging due to the high quality of entries assessed by the judges. He, however, disclosed that the judges had taken their time to attend to all details contained in each of the entries as they were determined to be fair to all contestants.

Commission alleges fake promotion, conversion letters for 406 staff Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

he National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has discovered fake appointment, promotion, conversion and upgrading letters of 406 staff who have been benefitting financially from the fraud. The irregularities were discovered during the staff audit and verification exercise to absorb and integrate about 1000 staff of the Department of National Civil Registration (DNCR) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation

(OHCSF) that were bequeathed to the NIMC. According to a statement from the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Abdulhamid Umar, the audit was part of the background checks regularly conducted by NIMC on its staff, to avoid compromising the National Identity Database (NIDB). At the initial stage, the audit turned up some fake and unverifiable appointments, promotions and conversion letters belonging to some staff of the defunct DNCR. Against this background and for the purpose of justice, equity and fair hearing, the defaulters were queried appropriately.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro Girl stabs brother to death over dishes

Hospital worker dies over inability to pay N3,500 medical bill

Joe Obende Warri

he Ogbe family in Ugbuwangue, near Warri, Delta State, was yesterday thrown into mourning when a 21-yearold lady, identified as Omasan, allegedly stabbed her brother to death. The family’s breadwinner, it was gathered, died over a decade ago leaving the responsibility of the family for Omasan’s mother. The lady, who a family source described as a ‘tomboy,’ had reportedly directed her younger brother, Laju, a student of Yonwuren College, to watch the dishes, which he spurned. The source added that Laju, the only male child of the family, insisted that he had already fetched water and was too tired to do additional chores. His response was said to have angered Omasan, which resulted in a fight. During the fight, Laju, a teenager, reportedly floored his sister and fled to the backyard, prompting his sister to chase him. She then ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, pursued him and stabbed him in the chest. “He fell on the ground and started screaming. He started calling for help and people rushed to the house to help him,” the source added. It was gathered that the deceased was rushed to the hospital, but he had lost too much blood before he got to the Central Hospital in Warri. The doctors on duty declared him dead on arrival. However, seeing the enormity of what she had done, Omasan was said to have attempted to flee before she was caught and handed over to the police.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

INHUMAN POLICY A man loses his life owing to a cold-hearted policy of the hospital where he was an employee Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

cores of health workers at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State yesterday staged a protest over the death of an employee of the hospital, Oluse-

gun Ososan, who lost his life over inability to pay N3,500. The N3,500 fee was allegedly imposed by the hospital’s management before treating any patient at the facility. Ososan, who worked at the hospital as gate-keeper until his death, fell ill and was rushed to the hospital last Friday. However, he was returned home because of the inability to pay N3,500 required for hospital cards and some sundry expenses. He died later at home. Witnesses said the gate-

keeper pleaded with the hospital management, promising to pay the money after he had been treated. The management was said to have refused his pleas. But miffed by the development, staff under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers Union, embarked on a protest which grounded activities at the hospital for about five hours. Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, the protesting workers accused the hospital management of insensitivity, saying it was unthinkable that such action

Kidnappers abandon another kid in Ogun Juliana Francis

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Commissioner for Health, Olaokun Soyinka

was meted out to an employee. One of the hospital’s workers, Oluwaseun Hameed, told journalists that the deceased could not be treated owing to financial constraint. Others, Folashade Oropo and Olubunmi Adekoya, who are friends of the deceased, condemned the action of the hospital management, stressing that it was discriminatory and against the interest of junior workers. Officials from the Ogun State Hospital Management Board led by Dr Isaiah Aiyegoro later went to the General Hospital to broker peace with the protesters. At a three-hour meeting held at the Iye Subomi ward in the hospital, union leaders accused the Chief Medical Director, Dr Adetola Ajoke, of high-handedness and inaccessibility. They also alleged that the cost of medical services at the hospital was higher than in any private hospital in the town. Aiyegoro, who led the state government delegation, declined comment on the outcome of the meeting with union officials, but only stated that it was an internal affair of the hospital which was not meant for public consumption. However, the Chairman, Ijebu Zonal Area of Medical and Health Workers Union, Oriade Bamidele, disclosed that the meeting resolved that the policy should be reversed immediately.

Gbadebo

four-year-old boy, David Gbadebo, who was abducted during service at First Baptist Church at Shomolu area of Lagos on Sunday, has been found. Family friends said he was found in Ogun State. David was said to be at the children section of the church when he suddenly went missing. His frantic parents were later called by the abductors who demanded N700,000 ransom. It was gathered that the

parents were still frantically trying to raise the money when they received a call from policemen attached to Owode Egbado Police Station. The couple was invited by the policemen to Ogun State. The police caller, however, refused to divulge to them that their kid had been found. They reached the police station to find David. Police told the parents how the kidnappers abandoned David around 1am at Seme boarder on Tuesday, with a tag which had his parents’ phone number

around his neck. It was gathered that no ransom was paid, but the reason the abductors abandoned the kid not yet known. “We have found him and we give glory to God. The kidnappers dropped him off around Ota where a Good Samaritan saw him and took him to Owode Egbado Police Station. “We were contacted from the station. I cannot talk more than this because this place is noisy. I’m on my way to church. Please call back by 8pm,” the boy’s father said.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

City Briefs Muhammad Bashir

Man dies in church

Kidnappers held in Kogi

Taiwo Jimoh

Lokoja

olice in Kogi State yesterday paraded three suspects, Muhammed Mayaki, Abdulaziz Sani, and Usman Abdulrahaman for allegedly kidnapping a Chinese working with Ceramic industry in Ajaokuta Local Government. Parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, said the suspects, including one Nda who was still at large, on April 27 kidnapped the Chinese and collected N5 million ransom from the company before releasing him. According to him, despite the release of the victim, the police still continued with their investigation. Ogunjemilusi added that the investigation paid off with the arrest of the perpetrators at the weekend. He said Nda, the gang leader, after collecting the ransom only submitted N3.5 million to the gang for sharing. The police also paraded one Amao Gbadebo for allegedly threatening to kidnap some management staff of ECOWAS Hospital in Egbe in Yagba East Local Government and in the process collected ransom from them.

Three million residents dodge tax –Fashola’s aide Muritala Ayinla

enior Special Assistant to the Lagos State governor on Justice Sector Reform, Lanre Akinsola, said more taxable residents in the state were yet to voluntarily perform their civil obligations. Akinsola, who also published a book on Personal Income Tax (PIT), said out of the estimated 21 million people in Lagos, about eight million were working, but less than five million people were in the taxpaying net. This, according to him, shows that about three million people are not paying taxes in Lagos, which is punishable under the law. Speaking after the launch of his book entitled: “Personal Income Tax Act, Principles and Cases,” Akinsola said the book was written to clarify the PIT law in 2011 as amended. He said: “For instance, if you don’t have a company, PIT is applicable to you, and it is the duty of state governments to collect the taxes. Everything that Lagos State Government has been doing is because of taxation.

embers of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), at Peace Estate, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos State, were stunned when a man dashed into their church, screaming for help and suddenly died within a few minutes. The man, Waheed Majekodumi, 32, was alleged to have run into the church, shouting, “Help! Help! I’ll die!” He was, however, said to have died before people could ascertain what was wrong with him. The deceased, who lived at Abule area of Ipaja and worked at a block making industry, had four kids, but divorced seven years ago and had since being living alone. Two persons, a woman and a resident pastor who were inside the church when the deceased rushed inside, are now being quizzed over Majekodumi’s mysterious death. The resident pastor, Popoola Oluwasumidotun, 27, and a member of the church, Folashade Ebun, who were both present on the fateful day, said they were shocked over Majekodumi’s sudden death. According to them, they had no hands in his death. Popoola said: “I’m the presiding pastor of the church and I also live in the church compound. On Thursday morning, I was about going to take my bath and prepare for a programme which holds in the church every

Thursday, when I heard Folashade, she is one of our members, who lives within the church premises – shouting pastor come, come and help. “I ran into the church auditorium where the shout was coming from. I saw her standing next to a man on the ground. I asked her what happened and who was the man. She said the man ran into the church shouting help! help! I will die and then slumped.” Popoola said he was shocked and confused and momentarily did not know the next step to take. But he quickly gathered his wits and rushed outside, asking if anyone around knew the man. He said: “Fortunately, I saw the husband of one of our church members. I asked him if he knew the man and he said yes. He said the man lived on Abule, a street not far from the church. Folashade and I went to Abule. We asked a few people if they know Majekodumi and they said yes. They described him as a drunk who lived in that neighbourhood. “Some of the people around came to the scene of the incident, checked him and confirmed him dead. I immediately had to call my boss, the owner of the church. I also called his son who is also a pastor. When his son came, he advised we go and report the case to the police.” Everyone trooped to the

The area where the church is located

Ipaja Police Station to make the report. Folashade, a mother of three, said she was sweeping when the late Majekodumi dashed into the church, calling for help. She said: “Initially, I thought someone was chasing him. I, however, later discovered he was alone. He fell to the ground. I quickly called the pastor, who also came out immediately. Truthfully, we have nothing to do with his death. No matter what, I have confidence in the God we serve that He will vindicate us.” Majekodumi’s relation, Chief Idowu Animashaun, said that he heard about the incident two days after it happened. He said: “Waheed lived a

ASUU, NMA warn against threats of more abductions Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have warned that more of their members could become vic-

tims of kidnapping, following threat text messages they got from unidentified persons. This is as they called on the Ekiti State Government and security agencies to quickly find a lasting solution to the criminal act. The NMA, particularly,

wondered why its members should be targets of abductors, despite their humanitarian services to the people. ASUU on its part faulted the manner security agencies are handling the abduction of a lecturer at the

1,262 Lagos drivers take drugs, alcohol

Idris

MuritalaAyinla

o fewer than 1,262 commercial drivers have tested positive to cocaine, marijuana and alcohol at nine motor parks in Lagos.

reckless life and drank too much. This was part of the reason I stopped him from coming to my home.” Majekodumi’s wife, Mujedat, said: “I was married to Waheed for eight years and I had four children for him. But in the later part of our marriage, he took to drinking and leaving home for as long as two months without asking how the children and I used to feed. I don’t believe anyone is responsible for his death.” The state Public Relations Officers, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that the case was currently been investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID).

Those tested represent the few drivers screened between 2012 and 2014 by the Lagos State Ministry of Health under its Motor Park Health and Safety programmes, introduced to address some

of the factors responsible for high number of deaths from road accidents. About 583 drivers suffered from diabetes and hypertension out of 2,465 screened at the parks. According to a report from the Ministry of Health, which contains the activities of the ministry, no fewer than 619 commercial bus drivers tested positive to cocaine, marijuana, morphine, opiate, ketamine and others. Out of this figure, 442 drivers tested positive last year alone. In 2013, 17 per cent of the screened drivers took drugs while driving within and outside the state. The per-

centage increased to 55 per cent in 2014. From the reports, it was gathered the number of drivers tested positive to using hard drugs while driving in 2014 is far higher than the same test conducted the previous year. For instance, in 2013, out of the 434 commercial bus drivers tested for hard drugs, 74 drive under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and the rest. Also, in 2012, of the 820 drivers screened for hard drugs intake, 215 of them tested positive, which represents 13 per cent, an indication that many commercial bus drivers have been tested

positive to alcohol intake while commuting passengers across the state. In 2013, of the 440 commercial bus drivers tested for alcohol intake, 226 of them tested positive, representing 51 per cent, while in 2012, of the 885 drivers tested, 215 were positive to alcohol intake while driving. Meanwhile, out of the 930 commercial bus drivers screened for diabetes and hypertension in 2014, at least, 220 of them were positive. In 2013, of the 576 screened for the same ailment, 130 were positive, while in 2012, at least 233 of the 959 screened tested positive to diabetes and hypertension.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dr Femi Omisore. At a joint press conference in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the bodies said that the police and the Department of Security Service (DSS) had not been handling the matter in most professional way. The ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Dr Alex Odiyia, said the administration of Governor Ayo Fayose must get rid of hoodlums for Ekiti to be peaceful and to forestall people from being predisposed to unwarranted attacks. He said: “The government should, as a matter of urgency, overhaul the entire police force and other relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of keeping peace in the state and more importantly the removal of or relocation of both service heads who find it difficult to unravel the root cause of our present predicament.”

12 News

wednesday, may 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south-west

NIMC workers' protest grounds Akure Babatope Okeowo Akure

orkers of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) a Federal Government agency, yesterday protested over unpaid salaries and the planned sack of the workers of the commission. The workers who were led by the Trade

Union Congress (TUC) in Ondo State, blocked the entrance to the commission’s office and adjoining roads in the state. For hours, the workers prevented the free flow of traffic along the road that lead to the state Federal Secretariat, Police Headquarters, Nigerian Immigration Service and National Population Commission offices. Leaders of the TUC carried placards bearing inscriptions like "We say

no to retrenchment of workers", "we demand for justice" NIMC is dying", "Onyeama must go" and "NIMC must obey court judgment", among others. It took the intervention of the state police command who dispatched a team of policemen led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to calm the fray nerves of the workers who were about going violent over the non cooperative attitude of the local chapter of the union in

fighting their cause. Addressing reporters, the state TUC chairman, soladoye Ekudayo accused the NIMC Director General of using an untransparent verification exercise to retrench workers and employ his own people, adding that three workers have just resumed at the Akure office at the expense of those to be retrenched. He said the national leadership of the union met for 14 times with the

NIMC management over the issue to no avail and advised the DG to obey a court judgement which ordered him to carry along the workers union in the verification exercise. Also speaking, the commission's chapter chairman of the association of senior civil servants Gbenga Abileko, said 33 workers would be affected by the retrenchment exercise and vowed that they would do everything to fight back.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose (right), addressing members of staff of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, during his visit to the hospital to sympathise with the staff over the kidnap of one of them…on Monday

Ekiti to seal hotels, buildings of kidnappers Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

o stem the growing tide of abduction of people, Ekiti State Government, said it would begin the sealing of any hotel or building used by perpetrators of the dastardly act. This and other decisions were arrived at during the meeting of the Security Council at the Governor's Office, AdoEkiti. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, warned hoteliers and landlords against accommodating criminals in the trade, saying the government would view them and the criminals as accomplices. The meeting was to proffer solutions to the spate of kidnappings in the state in recent weeks during which two persons were reportedly killed and five others abducted by unknown gunmen. The Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi,

was quoted as saying after the meeting that the council frowned at the high incidents of kidnapping in the state in the last one week and vowed not only to rescue the victims in the custody of the kidnappers alive, but to stamp out the activities in the state. "Landlords and hoteliers should know the kind of people they offer accommodation to, as laws will be enacted soon that will deal both with the criminals and their accomplices. "People in the state should cooperate with the government and the security agencies, as there will be strict security measures and check points in strategic places across the state," the statement read in part. The council also resolved that usage of tinted classes would be prohibited, while there would be frequent hotel checks, with a call to hoteliers to monitor their customers and offer information to security agents on any suspected person, saying any hotel linked to criminals would be sealed up.

Canada donates N8.90bn to boost vegetable oil production Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

anadian agency, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has earmarked an estimated sum of N8.90 billion ($4.45m) to boost indigenous vege-

table oil production and utilization of technology in the South-Western part of Nigeria and Benin Republic. The acting ViceChancellor of the Osun State University, Prof. Oguntola Jelil Alamu, who made this known in a press conference in

Women urged to access CBN N220bn empowerment fund Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

business group, Quintessential Business Women Association (QBWA), has urged women in Ekiti State to access the N220 billion special fund set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to enhance the small and medium entrepreneurs in the country. The CBN is allocating 60 percent of the fund to women to invest in small scale businesses under the arrangement. The National Presi-

dent of QBWA, Mrs. Shimite Katung, gave the advice while inaugurating the executives of the Ekiti State chapter of the association, led by Mrs. Oluyinka Olumilua, in Ikere-Ekiti yesterday. Katung, the presenter of a popular television programme 'African Pot' on the Nigerian Television Authority, said her group had been able to sign Memorandum of Understanding with banks in 29 states, adding that Kwara and Akwa Ibom states had been able to access the loan.

Osogbo yesterday, stated that the international research consortium would be coordinated by Professor Clement Adebooye of the Agronomy/Crop Physiology department of the university. He said, ‘’the project will be implemented in Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Lagos States in South-west Nigeria and the Benin Republic.’’

Atilade advises Buhari to prioritise health, education, welfare

hairman South-West Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has urged the General Muhammadu Buhari’s government to prioritise health, education and the people’s welfare, in addition to tackling corruption and security. Archbishop Atilade emphasised that these five problems were too germaine for the success of the APC government at the centre. The CAN leader, who is also the National President of the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), stated this in a press statement he personally signed and released in Lagos yesterday, stressing that health is wealth and should take priority in the scheme of things. Atilade listed some special areas of health delivery which he wants the government to delve into, saying, ‘’A situation where we depend on one form of healthcare (orthodox or allopathic) was not the best. There are other options like complementary alternative medi-care which our government needs to apply and see that is well established and controlled. People who are going to practice it are properly trained. They should be competent and experts to practice the alternative medicare.’’ The Federal College of Complementary Alternative Medicine in Lagos and Abuja should be immediately reopened for this purpose, he also suggested. The aspect of traditional medicine should also be looked into, according to Archbishop Atilade, stressing that all the countries of the world had been directed by the United Nations Organization (UNO), to recognize and fully support them.

Fashola inaugurates N1.3bn material recovery facility Muritala Ayinla

he move to generate stable power supply through waste in Lagos State, kicked-off yesterday as the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, inaugurated the first waste material recovery facility aimed at generating gas from bio-degradable waste and land fill conversion. This was even as the Governor commissioned court house named after former Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Samuel Ilori (rtd), to improve access to justice for the residents of Agege, Ogba and

its environs. Speaking shortly before inauguration of the facility, Governor Fashola, said that the N1.3 billion was funded by the West Africa Energy, saying that the company was expected to pay an average of 5 percent of the accruable revenue for the period of the agreement and on expiration of the project. He said, "I make bold to say that this first material waste recovery facility in Lagos Nigeria is to operate on the Built, Operate, Manage and Transfer, BOMT, partnership. It has tenure of 12 years.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Tribunal

National Assembly

Power tussle

Handover

APC plots to compromise judiciary on polls – PDP

Senate’s last-minute rush for passage of bills

How ambition, financial gains tore Chime, lawmakers apart

Council of State ratifies transition programme

Politics Ikimi

Sheriff

The defection of some founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the March 28 and April 11 general elections has proved a costly political gamble, write FELIX NWANERI, TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and WALE ELEGBEDE

t was a mixed bag for some founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who dumped the party for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the just held general elections. Formed in February 2013, the party is the result of an alliance by Nigeria’s four biggest opposition parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Osoba

Shekarau

Their costly gamble Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Though many did not give APC any chance of unseating the ruling PDP at the time, the party started showing signs of seriousness when it received approval from the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on July 31, 2013 to become a political party and subsequently withdrew the operating licenses of the merging parties. Top among those who helped midwife the APC, but could not stand the political heat in the build-up to the elections and had to call it quit, include former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; founding Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo and former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. The trio represented three of the four parties that merged to form the APC during negotiations and were signatories to the resolution that saw its emergence. Ikimi represented the ACN, Okonkwo stood for APGA and Shekarau represented ANPP. The fourth party in the alliance – CPC was represented by Garba Sadi. Besides the trio, others who jumped ship midway are former Governors Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Attahiru Bafawara (Sokoto) and Achike Udenwa (Imo); former Lagos State Military Administrator,

The departure of Osoba from the house he helped built was a disastrous and costly experiment

Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Also on the defectors’ list are legal luminary and long-time ally of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN); ACN governorship candidates in Adamawa and Kwara states in the 2011 elections, Marcus Gundiri and Dele Belgore. No doubt, the former APC chieftains must be grieving their losses now that the opposition party, against all odds succeeded in cutting short PDP’s planned 60-year-rule in the March 28 presidential election, but given the fact that politics remains a game of interest masquerading as contest of principles, the days ahead will determine if they will return to the house they helped built or will remain in opposition with the PDP. Segun Osoba: Lost battle to a godson For eight years, between 2003 and 2011, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba was in political exile from the state due to the overbearing political clout of his successor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of the PDP. In fact, it was believed in some quarters that Daniel muscled and ran Osoba out of town, thereby forcing the former governor to seek political ‘asylum’ under his former governor colleague, Senator Bola

Tinubu in Lagos. With the crisis in the ruling PDP in the state in the wake of the 2011 elections tearing the party apart, the Osoba-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) took the state by storm winning the governorship, the three senatorial districts and majority seats in the House of Representatives and state Assembly elections. Expectedly, Osoba emerged as the captain of the ACN victory in 2011 and he became the defacto godfather to the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. With high wired connections in both Ogun and Lagos states, the Egba chief was one of the arrowheads that midwifed the birth of the APC in 2013. In the wake of the merger of legacy parties comprising of the ACN, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), CPC and other smaller groups, Osoba headed the constitution drafting committee that birthed the APC, thereby making him a frontline foundation member of the party that subsequently dislodged the PDP from the presidency less than two years after its formation. But whether by accident or design, disagreement between the godfather and his godson, Amosun, over the composition of the state party executive sparked crisis and in one breath, the centre could not hold again for APC in the state. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

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

The APC national leadership had officially recognised the state executive loyal to the governor after both the camps of the governor and Osoba conducted parallel congresses and produced different executives in the struggle for party structures. The decision to recognise the Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji-led executive tactically stripped the former governor of powers and influence in the affairs of Ogun APC. Describing the non-approval of his factional executive which was led by Chief Olu Agemo as “provocation”, Osoba told his supporters and loyalists that, “you people are a moving vehicle and we have dropped the traitors and the betrayers. The fight is a political fight. Some people said we should go to court. I said this is not a judicial issue, it is political. If they (Amosun and his loyalists) are greater than us, let’s wait till the elections. We shall wait for them at the poll.” With various interventions to mediate in the feud between Osoba and Amosun hitting the brick wall, the veteran journalists moved his supporters and loyalists to the resuscitated Social Democratic Party (SDP). That decision proved costly for Osoba as his political credential and dynasty fell in one swoop. The monumental loss of the SDP at the general elections cast aspersion on Osoba’s over five decades of active politics and learning from the revered feet of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. For many analysts, the departure of Osoba from the house he helped built was a disastrous and costly experiment. It is also believed that the former governor and his party fell on the wrong side of public opinion. With a plummeting political career, it only remains to be seen whether Osoba will eat the humble pie and return to his first fold or maybe he is going to stick with his SDP. Tom Ikimi: Beaten in his own game A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Ikimi, who is known for his political sagacity was beaten in his own game by other leaders of the APC which he helped to midwife. The Edo State-born politician had hoped to lead the party to the 2015 elections as national chairman but the emergence of his kinsman at the party’s national convention, Chief John OdigieOyegun, put paid to that ambition. Ikimi blamed former Lagos State governor and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his botched move. In a letter titled: “APC, My Reflections” and addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, Ikimi derided Tinubu, citing betrayal and his knack for acquiring wealth at the expense of others, as reasons for his decision to leave APC and return to the PDP. But, Tinubu denied practically all that Ikimi accused him of, saying it was clear to everyone who had the interest of the party at heart that APC could not have a man of the former minister’s antecedents as chairman. According to Tinubu, as chairman of the NRC, one of the two political parties in the country

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Twists and turns for APC defectors

Bafarawa

under the military transition programme, Ikimi not only connived with the then military regime to annul the elections, terminate the democratic process and sell off his party, he became Abacha’s Foreign Minister, convincing the world that the heinous state murders like the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa were just acts. He further added that if Ikimi were to be the chairman of APC, the party would have to sleep with both eyes open less its chairman sold off the party before day break, adding that no matter what anyone may say about him (Tinubu), it is unlikely that he can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally light-weight individuals for important political positions. Teaming up with the PDP family in his home state, Ikimi was able to work for the success of the party in the National Assembly elections, winning two of the three senatorial seats in the state. However, they failed in returning the party to power at the centre as well as the state Assembly election. Ibrahim Shekarau: Lured into the PDP Before moving to the PDP, former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau is one politician considered by his supporters to be infallible. Until he was lured by the prospects in the PDP, Shekarau, who was the CoChairman of the Joint Committee that brokered and negotiated the first merger of political parties in the history of Nigeria, was a founding father of the APC, playing crucial roles. As a leader of the ANPP, the platform on which he contested the 2011 presidential election, Shekarau played a key part in the merger that resulted in the formation of the APC. It was reported that his sobering influence whenever the atmosphere became heat-

Ribadu

The former governor has been demystified and his reputation of not losing any election in Borno State has gone with the winds

Fani-Kayode

ed and tense during the merger talks was of a great significance as he used his oratorical skills and dexterity to help the committee navigate and manoeuvre through knotty sessions. Upon the consummation of the merger and the defection of Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso to the APC, the war of attrition between him and the governor picked up again. The two of them have been in a cat and dog fight in the last 16 years over who would control Kano State, both gaining and losing the ascendancy over time. Their rivalry started way back in 2002 when Kwankwaso as Governor sacked Shekarau from office as a Permanent Secretary and reduced him to the status of a classroom teacher. Later on Shekarau with the help of General Muhammadu Buhari who has tremendous political goodwill and followership in Kano State defeated Kwankwaso in a bitterly fought electoral contest to emerge Governor of Kano State in 2003. In 2011, Kwankwaso fought back and was returned as governor. With the handing over of the party structure to Kwankwaso, the former governor wasn’t ready to dine on the same table with his long-time foe and he promptly got a leeway of escape in the PDP and was duly compensated by the ruling party with Minister of Education, he later turned back to describe the party he helped formed as a ‘fraud’. At the elections, Kwankwaso masterminded a total sweep of every elective position in the state and PDP has no representation in the most populous state in the country. Like a pack of cards, Shekarau’s political empire, which he built and nurtured over the years is caving in, however, with the rumoured move for reconciliation between him and Kwankwanso already being championed by Kano

Emir, who knows if he would return to the APC. Nuhu Ribadu: No respite for antigraft czar The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be regretting the political move that saw him jump ship from the APC to PDP in August last year. Ribadu, who flew the PDP flag in the April 11 governorship election in Adamawa State, lost to the candidate of the APC of which he was a founding member. The former anti-graft czar was trounced by the Deputy Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Jibrilla Bindow in a contest that turned out a threehorse race against the belief that it would be between the PDP and APC. Bindow polled 362,329 votes to defeat his closest rival, Engr. Markus Gundiri of the SDP, who polled 181,806 votes. Surprisingly, Ribadu, who most bookmakers had tipped ahead of the poll, came a distant third with 98,917 votes. His dismal performance, perhaps, explained why he was quick to concede defeat midway into the announcement of the result. Though Ribadu’s defection to the PDP shocked most of his political associates and supporters then, it was claimed that he yielded to the pressure from the national leadership of the party and the Presidency to defect and contest the governorship election. But, he later justified his action, saying the APC was not better than the PDP in terms of the character of the people who constituted both parties. “In Nigeria, especially in politics, you can’t say that this is an exclusive party for the people who are thieves or this is for good people,” he said. He also said that his defection was not borne out of his desperation to realise his political ambition but was based on his patriotic

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

zeal to serve the country and its people. Despite the justification, some say that Ribadu’s defection had more to do with his governorship ambition and the alleged failure of the APC to give him the expected support and compensate him for his ‘sacrifices’ for the party. Ali Modu Sheriff: Caging SAS Popularly addressed as SAS, the former governor and senator from Borno State is no small fry in both local and national elections. In fact, he has a repute of incapable of losing any election in his state, especially with his feat of upstaging then sitting governor, the late Mala Kachalla in 2003. After serving out a term in the Senate at the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, he governed Borno State for eight years between 2003 and 2011, and he was a strong pillar of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), which later dissolved into APC. With the now defunct ANPP, Sheriff ’s political clout and sagacity especially in the NorthEast was in no small measure. He called the shot and single handedly directed affairs of the party nationally. Under Sheriff ’s watch, Borno was the only state in the entire federation that refused to give President Goodluck Jonathan 25 per cent during the 2011 presidential election. Even when General Muhammadu Buhari abandoned the ANPP to form his own Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Sheriff ’s political influence firmly kept Borno and Yobe in the kitty of the opposition APP/ ANPP/APC since 1999 until the party agreed to merge with other legacy parties. Giving his ranking position in ANPP, Sheriff became one of the leading patrons of the APC but his servitude could not last long as he dumped the party he helped formed and moved to the ruling PDP. For many analysts, the acceptance of SAS by the PDP leadership was one of the issues that precipitated the downfall of the ruling party owing to the toga of being the sponsor of Boko Haram append on Sheriff. Although it was reported that Sheriff dumped the APC owing to the battle of ego and irreconcilable differences between him and former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, the former Borno governor however said he joined PDP to quell Boko Haram in his state. As it stands, the former governor has been demystified and his reputation of not losing any election in Borno State has gone with the winds. His extranged political son, Governor Kashim Shettima, has demystified him. Only time will tell if he will go back to his former political abode. Attahiru Bafarawa: Humiliated by a subordinate Over the years, political analysts have come to see Bafarawa as one of the few politicians with a semblance of ideology in their minds. He was a local government councillor in charge of Education. In 1979, he ran unsuccessfully for election to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP). He was a member of the National Constitutional Confer-

Okonkwo

Marwa

ence of 1994–1995, during the military rule of Sani Abacha. He was a founding member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP – 1997) and the All Peoples Party (APP–1998). In 1999, he was elected governor of Sokoto State on the platform of the (ANPP), and was re-elected for the ANPP in 2003. He founded the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and became its presidential candidate at the 2007 elections. In the build up to the 2011 elections, the former governor sought the presidential ticket of the defunct ACN which Ribadu got. This forced him to re-unite with the ANPP. As a leader of the defunct ANPP, Bafarawa was one of the leading lights in the formation of the APC and the former twoterm governor and a grassroots politician in Sokoto State built the structures of the party in the state. However, the tide changed when his then deputy and governor of the state, Aliyu Magatarda Wammako, dumped the PDP to join the APC. He refused to accept the leadership of his former protégée, insisting that he cannot hand over his hard fought structure to Wammako, simply because he is the serving governor, pronto, he stormed off to the PDP. During the election, Bafarawa

National Executive Committee over anti-party activities, especially his role in the Anambra governorship election, which the party lost. In his reaction, Okonkwo said he stepped down his gubernatorial ambition for peace to reign in the party but instead of being hailed for the sacrifice, he was hunted and hounded. He consequently resigned his membership of the party, alleging that the party has no good intentions for the South-East people. He also accused the APC of scruffy promises, lack of internal democracy as well as clannish and sectional disposition of the leadership. “The conviviality, genre and comrade spirit I had hoped for among the progressives in the formation of this party has taken flight. What I see now is a gathering of non-progressives that do not have the interest of the party at heart hence my decision to quit the party,” his resignation letter read in part. Okonkwo’s return to the PDP however turned disastrous as his bid to return to the Senate to represent Anambra Central hit the rocks. He was defeated in the party’s primaries by the member representing Anocha/Njikoka/ Dunukofi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, who went ahead to win the senatorial poll.

Belgore

Gundiri

was beaten blue black and has now been folded and put in a tight box. How he will recover his political taste is a question that lies in the belly of time.

His dismal performance, perhaps, explained why he was quick to concede defeat midway into the announcement of the result

Annie Okonkwo: Losing on both ends Senator Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was the founding Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC before he jumped ship. His defection had shocked many at that time because he had relentlessly projected the APC at its formation as a national party when most of his South-East kinsmen saw it as a Hausa/Yoruba party. He had explained then that APC remains the only party that offers Ndigbo ample opportunity to actualise their presidential ambition. However, it was a new song for Okonkwo when the APC leadership opted for Senator Chris Ngige for the 2013 Anambra State governorship election. Even efforts to get him work for the party’s interest in the election failed when he declined his appointment as coordinator of Ngige Campaign Organisation. The consequence of this was his suspension from APC Interim

Achike Udenwa: Failed to unseat Okorocha Udenwa ruled Imo State between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the PDP, but shocked many observers when he dumped the party in 2011 for then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to contest the senatorial election. He lost the poll but remained in the party, and was part of those who brokered the merger deal that led to the formation of the APC. But like most politicians, who see politics as strife of interest rather than a contest of principle he dumped the party and returned to the PDP at unity rally in Owerri, Imo State capital in February 2014. The detour was after he lost out in a power game with Governor Rochas Okorocha over control of APC’s structure in the state. An early move by Udenwa and his supporters to take the shine off the governor by hoisting the APC flag in the state, however, triggered a battle for the control of the party in the state. This divided the party into two factions – Okorocha and Udenwa’s camps. Okorocha however beat Udenwa in the constitution of the interim state executive council of the APC in the state. Of the four key posts in the executive, the governor conceded only the position of secretary to the former governor’s camp while pocketing the positions of chairman, women and youth leaders. The last straw was the shutting out of Udenwa’s camp in the reconstitution of the state expanded executive council shortly after the formation of the APC. An agreement was said to have been reached for the ceding of some positions to members of the defunct ACN in the state, led by Udenwa, who moved with him to the APC. The former governor, against this backdrop needed not CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

16 Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tribunal: APC plots to compromise judiciary on polls – PDP Onyekachi Eze Abuja

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to compromise the judiciary to upturn the results of governorship elections in Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers states. The results of the governorship elections were declared by the Independent National Electoral

Shelle

Commission (INEC) in favour of PDP. But the party said yesterday that APC was plotting to also corrupt INEC officials as well as personnel in the nation’s security apparatus to deny PDP victory in these three states. National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, at a press conference said the aim of the incoming ruling party was to destabilise the PDP, take over some of its states and legislative seats so as to ensure that

Obanikoro

there is no strong opposition when it eventually assumes power. “As we speak, APC has resorted to instigating crisis, inciting the people while mobilising resources to arm-twist the judiciary ostensibly to torpedo the will of the people in these states,” Metuh alleged. He said part of the grand plan was to influence INEC and security personnel to bear false witness and doctor electoral materials against

the PDP at the tribunal. “This is in addition to sponsoring negative publications in some sections of the media, laced with false claims and distortion of election figures to suit their nefarious plans of swaying public opinion and the course of justice against our party in these states. “It is on this note that the PDP draws the attention of the judiciary, INEC and security authorities to the heinous scheme by the APC to drag their

Olohunoje

Guber aspirant sponsored failed ‘coup’ against me – Lagos PDP chair Wale Elegbede

s the crisis in the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, the embattled state chairman of the party, Captain Tunji Shelle, has described his purported impeachment by some members of the state executive as a ‘failed coup’. He stated that the party has initiated a disciplinary process against the renegades. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos alongside other members of the state executive, Shelle said the attempt against his position in the party is faulty and illegal, pointing accusing finger in a veiled reference to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as being behind the plot to remove him. On Monday, 34 members of the party’s executive led by the state secretary,

Wahab Owokoniran, impeached the PDP chairman and consequently appointed the party’s vice-chairman, Owolabi Olohunoje, as his replacement. According to Shelle, his opposition to the planned rigging of the party’s primaries marked the beginning of his present travails, stating that, “efforts were made to rig the primaries and I stood my ground to prevent illegalities. Up till now, the so-called opposition within the system has not accepted defeat at the primaries.” Answering questions on who sponsored the impeachment plot against him, Shelle said: “I don’t want to be direct in my answers but by implication, I suspect and I have enormous information because the members that carried out the impeachment saga belongs to a particular group and their leader must have been responsible for their action

because they eventually shared money at the end of their exercise. “They even panicked and forgot the list of their members. By implication, it is a fact that a failed aspirant sponsored the impeachment against me. They should know that the wages of sin is death and soon, I will forward the report of the disciplinary committee to the zone and the National Executive Committee (NEC), necessary disciplinary action will be taken against them.” Shelle explained that the emergence of M. Jimi Agbaje as the party’s flag bearer in the April 11 election was the best decision by the party, adding that the renegades and their leader were not happy with the people’s choice of Agbaje despite all entreaties made to them. “They were disappointed and have not stopped looking for ways to fight back. We have no regrets

presenting Agbaje and given another opportunity, I will do the same. We gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) a good fight yet this group did not relent. They want to hijack the party structure.” The state chairman also debunked allegations of misappropriation of campaign funds, pointing out that candidates of the party in the elections were mobilised directly and not through him. “I am a member of the NEC and as such they have no powers to remove or impeach me. They are therefore referred to Section 59 part 3 and Section 31 part 1 of the PDP constitution which clearly states the procedure to be taken before a member of my status can be removed. Their action is irresponsible. They tried to divide the party along personality lines, but thank God, I have all the leaders and members behind me,” he said.

institutions and men into these criminal plots. “We urge these institutions to closely monitor its officials involved in the elections and do everything within the law to safeguard their reputation against the acts of a few greedy and dubious individuals,” he said. According to Metuh, the aim behind APC’s desperation to take over the three states were based on its belief that “the states are strategic to the PDP and that taking them away will further weaken and undermine PDP and accelerate the quest for a one-party state in our country.” He, however, assured that PDP would use all means allowed by the law to ensure that the will of the people “expressed through the ballot box is not thwarted by desperate and greedy enemies of democracy.” “The PDP wishes to state in very clear terms that we will not accept any attempt by anybody whatsoever, especially the APC to manipulate the process and rob us of our clear victories in these states or any other state

for that matter.” Metuh warned APC not take its civility driven by patriotic zeal for peace, unity and harmony in the country for granted. He stated that PDP members across the country are able, willing and ready to defend their mandate in these states using all available instruments within the ambit of the law. “As a party that has made history by nurturing democracy for 16 years, and elevating it to a standard appreciated by the democratic community world over, we cannot fold our hands and watch while the gains are being undermined by the APC and its agents. “We note that the APC should be held responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states. We charge the people not to relent but to stand up and defend their mandates and use all means allowed by the law to ensure that their will expressed through the ballot box is not thwarted by desperate and greedy enemies of democracy,” Metuh stated.

APC challenges security agencies, service providers on job scam Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday challenged the security agencies and telecommunications service providers to fish out those who have been defrauding Nigerians by asking them to apply for federal appointments under the incoming APC government through a non-existent APC Screening Committee. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement said the call has become necessary because the scammers have persisted in their fraudulent ways, despite previous warnings by the party for them to desist. “These ‘419ners’ have a telephone number, an email address and a front Dr. Favour Idiodie who is supposedly the Screening Committee Secretary. It should therefore not be difficult for the security agencies, working with

the service providers, to fish them out and to make them face the full wrath of the law,’’ he said. APC repeated its earlier warning, contained in a statement issued on April 21, 2015, to Nigerians to beware of such fraudulent claims, saying the party has not set up any committee to which Nigerians should submit their CVs for screening and possible federal appointments. “As we wrote in our earlier statement, even when it is obvious that those behind this appointment scam are merely seeking to swindle innocent Nigerians, some desperate and gullible persons may still fall prey to their evil machinations, hence we have decided to once again alert Nigerians,’’ the party said. It said any information concerning appointments into federal posts will be duly communicated to Nigerians at the appropriate time through the usual communication channels.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

he Senate passed three bills which are critical to upgrading the welfare of Nigerian citizens and propelling speedy socio-economic development. The first, which was passed on Wednesday, May 6, was the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (Establishment) Bill, 2015. The bill was actually passed for second reading. The bill, which is being sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP- Cross River Central), seeks amongst other things to establish the National Agency for the Great Green Wall for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Great Green Wall Programme in Nigeria, management of drought, desertification and afforestation control measures and related matters. The bill was read for the first time on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday April 15. It is also imperative to note that Nigeria signed the Great Green Wall Convention in 2010. The bill is very necessary in contemporary Nigeria because climate change is one of the world’s most formidable challenges posing serious threat to global stability due to its negative impacts on the physical, biological and social environment. This phenomenon has direct impact on the dry land regions of Africa, causing frequent draughts, acute water shortages and degradation of natural resources base, as well as dislocation of socio-economic stability of communities in the region. The bill also seeks to coordinate efforts of agencies, organisations and institutions responsible for desertification towards the attainment of the objectives of the programme. It further seeks to build capacity, knowledge and skills at federal, states and local community levels for the effective implementation of the programme. The proposed legislation also intends to ensure effective liaison with the African Union Commission and the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall. It also seeks to monitor and ensure compliance with laws, rules and regulations on sustainable management of the natural resources in the affected areas put in place by government from time to time in consultation with states. In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba told the Senate that the thrust of the bill was to provide a Green Wall of trees or shelterbelts from Kebbi State to Borno State, which is a distance of 1,500km and 15km width to wedge the southward expansion of Sahara desert and improve land productivity. He said: “About 43 per cent of Nigeria’s total land area is under the threat of desertification, with the resultant deleterious effect on food security, sustainable livelihoods and social security of the affected communities of over 40 million people. This lead to the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) proposed in 2005 by Nigeria and adopted by the African Union in 2007”. According to Ndoma-Egba, the specific goal of the initiative is to address land degradation and desertification in the Sahara and Sahel regions, enhance food security and support communities to

Senate’s last-minute rush for passage of bills In less than one month from now, the lifespan of the 7th National Assembly will elapse. Then, Nigerians will do a proper appraisal of the stewardship of the apex legislative assembly. However, the Senate seems to be aware of this inevitable assessment and perhaps, critique from the electorate and is now making concerted efforts to pass as many pending bills as possible before it winds up. CHUKWU DAVID reports that the Red Chamber passed three major bills last week

Mark

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adapt to Climate Change. He also stated that 11 countries were involved in the programme, which include: Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. After his submissions, other senators made contributions to the bill. It was, however, observed that no single legislator spoke against the proposal; instead, all of them canvassed support for the proposal, while some noted that it ought to have been passed earlier to forestall some of the problems being faced in the country today in respect of desertification and other environmental problems. Contributing to the debate,

Senator Ali Ndume noted that the bill was a very important one and should be supported not only to pass second reading but to finally pass into law, saying: “We are now faced with drought in the country. There is acute water shortage everywhere in the country. States like Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe were not affected by desertification before now; but they are now in great danger of being affected.” Ndume warned that states like Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Kaduna could be affected, and therefore persuaded his colleagues to support the bill. He also told them that President Goodluck Jonathan was very anxious to sign

the bill, even if it was the lastz he would sign before leaving office on May 29. Also contributing, Senator Barnabas Gemade lamented that Nigeria initially took the project lightly because it is located on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, noting that other countries that fell within the desert region had taken the matter seriously. He said: “But countries that fall within the desert have taken it very serious. I believe that by establishing this agency, it would give the government the willpower to address the challenges posed by desertification and drought.” Senator Adamu Abdullahi, in his submission, noted that the proposed law would touch the lives of everybody around the region, and further observed that the financial plan of N522 million for the project would not be much to invest in such very important initiative in the interest of the country. Senator Chris Ngige from Anambra State also contributed to the debate. While supporting the passage of the bill, he, however, pointed out that it took too long a time before such critical bill was proposed. “This bill is a great bill; any bill that calls for good living is a good bill. I don’t know why the (Senate) Leader waited for so long to present this bill. This is an all-important bill and should have come earlier than now,” he submitted. Senator Joshua Lidani also noted that land degradation and desertification had persisted because the affected states did not do what they were supposed to do, lamenting that, “desertification caused farmers to encroach on forest reserves. Because of the lack of trees and forests in some places like Zamfara, people now resort to using coal to cook.” Senator Garba Babayo, on his part, called on the Federal Government to embark on public enlightenment to educate the public on the menace of felling trees and urged them to stop the act forthwith. He said: “Drought and desert encroachment is an important area that requires everybody’s attention. We must embark on public enlightenment. Government is no longer spending money to educate the public on the dangers and menace of cutting down trees.” Also speaking in support of the bill, Senator Gyang Pwajok said that there was a nexus between CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Gen. Buhari: The long-awaited messiah? (2) Ndubisi F. John-Ibelegbu

ment. Finally on this, I submit that the Youth Service Allowance should not be less than N45,000.00 monthly. Do we want our children to die of hunger in ‘strange lands?’

C O N T I N U E D F R O M M O N D AY

elow are other areas of downsizing, Since Chapter 14 of my book talks about a NATIONAL YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WELFARE SCHEME, why can’t our leaders be frugal. The problem is that they do not know how to arrange their priorities. In a nutshell, Nigeria can make do with a Unicameral Federal Legislature – with not more than 180 members. Six Zonal or geo-political Assemblies should replace the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Do we need 36 Executive Governors? Of course not! Six should suffice – to be assisted by 36 Deputy Governors. Mr. President, Governors, etc who get ‘Security Votes’ monthly should only apply for such when there is an Emergency which requires extra security funds. The in-coming President should set an example by rejecting so-called Security Votes which are not even accounted for. All salaries and Allowances for Political functionaries should be slashed by about 70 per cent. Obviously, Nigeria’s jumbo political emoluments, amidst mass poverty and sickness, are responsible for the political do-or-die mentality which pervades everywhere. We need to know those who actually love their country and are ready to serve on very little pay. Can Gen. Muhammadu Buhari summon extra courage to streamline things? He can begin with his Ministers. Anybody who does not like the ‘pay’ should please reject the appoint-

Igbo and Political oblivion I have already referred to some Chapters of my Historical, Military and Socio-Political book. It is a much sought after 20-Chapter, 430-page write-up titled POSTWAR NIGERIA, RECONCILIATION & UNITY…! (Ark Publishers, Nigeria, 2009). There can be no peace and progress when we decide to sweep authentic Nigerian History under the carpet. Without truth, there can be no reconciliation. The President-elect is entitled to a Complimentary Copy to enable him read Chapter 20. This could assist the policy thrust of his Party, the APC. In that revolutionary Chapter, near-foolproof Political and Electoral Reforms are available. I simply desire a safe Post, Office Box from his Aides. You may also wish to send him this email, if you have access to him. Chapters 1-5 of the book (Part One) are a must-read for all educated, young and not-so-young Igbos (specifically) and Nigerians (generally). As things stand today, Igbos are gradually going into political oblivion. From Vice-President, Igbos came down to Senate President. The highest Igbo Political position right now is Deputy Senate President. From 29th May, 2015, no Igbo person would be found wherever vital decisions about Nigeria are being made. If this is not political retrogression, then my name is Muhammad Ali. I hear our “leaders” are now begging, apparently on behalf of Igbo in Nigeria, for the sinecure, de-

grading and nonsensical position of Secretary to the Federal Government. This is just like being appointed a Minister. The Helmsman could wake up one morning and sack his SGF. Can anybody sack the Senate President or House of Reps Speaker, just like that? Of course no! Do you now get the point? So who is talking about Igbo Presidency? Not in 20 years! Knowledge is power! Of course, the Civil War ended a few decades ago. Thank God for that! However, if you think there was ‘no victor, no vanquished’, you are daft. The important thing for every Igbo person aged below 60 is to know what actually happened between 1960 and 1970. If you have children and they have not asked you that question, something is wrong. I personally do not desire another Biafra but our children, born or unborn, must not continue to bear the stigma of the 1967-1970 Biafra. To buy a copy of my book for your family is no big deal, or do you think it is? I had spent seven years writing this book. Early last year, I had done my utmost to reach Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State through his Public Relations Aide, Mrs. Henrietta Jacobs – and later through his Principal Secretary, Dr. Obi. A few months ago, I also wrote to Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State. My aim was to get them to buy or subsidies some copies for their young Civil/Public Servants as well as Political Aides. Well, I am assuming that these are Igbo leaders of tomorrow. Without knowledge, they will remain in the doldrums. Concluded • John-Ibelegbu (ndufosterjohn@gmail.com), 08052400349 (sms only)

Politicians’ morality question (2) Ndubuisi Ugah C O N T I N U E D F R O M Y E S T E R D AY

e said inter alia in a letter he addressed to the PDP chairman: “I had watched with dismay the party’s descent into cabalism and god-fatherism, as certain individuals became practical owners of the party’s structures and ensured that many persons with capacity and integrity had no opportunity to serve and remained shut out of governance.” In spite of the reasons adduced for the defections, Prof Jonah Onuoha of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), attributed the “prostitution” of Nigerian politicians to the absence of strong political party ideologies that made politicians to impulsively defect to a winning party. Onuoha, who is the Head of the Department of Political Science at UNN, said: “It is unfortunate that politicians in the country are materialistic, shortsighted and they do not know how to build an ideology that will strengthen the party and make it stand the test of time. “As a political scientist, I know both PDP and APC lacked strong political party ideology that can sustain members whenever the party loses an election.” However, a legal practitioner, Prof. Yemi Akinseye, warned the leadership of the APC to be wary of the gale of defections to the party, urging it to be

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, advised those defecting to the APC to rather form a formidable opposition cautious in admitting defectors to the party. Akinseye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, said: “We need a strong opposition. If after four years, Nigerians are not happy with the incoming administration, they can opt for another political party.” While many are of the opinion that the gale of defections had shown the highwire politics which played out before, during and after the elections, Senate President David Mark, said he was not contemplating defecting to the APC.

Mark, who spoke recently in Abuja at his 67th birthday celebration, also re-affirmed his unshakable loyalty to the PDP. “I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP. I will be the last man standing for the PDP; the party gave me the platform to be where I am today. I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party,” he said. On his part, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is Mark’s deputy, said he would not defect to the APC in order to retain his position. Ekweremadu said he would remain in PDP to rebuild the party, adding: “I can assure you that on PDP I stand. Count Sen. Ike Ekweremadu out of any defection to the opposition.” Commenting on the development, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said those, who deserted the party shortly after the presidential election, were “political gold diggers”. “It is the view of the party that only lazy people, those who are not committed and dedicated, will decamp one week after losing an election. We do not want political gold diggers, they can go to any other party; we need strong and dedicated members that will rebuild our party and win the presidential election. “The PDP is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that it returns to power in the next four years to save the nation’s democracy and re-channel our vision of a greater Nigeria,” Metuh said.

But the APC leadership, however, was worried about the gale of defections to the party, especially by prominent members of the PDP. APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, advised those defecting to the APC to rather form a formidable opposition so as to enrich the country’s democracy. “Many opposition party members have defected to APC just because they lost out; that is not good for the country’s political development. One would have advised that opposition members should stay where they are and form a formidable opposition party,” he said. Buhari also expressed similar concern when he told APC members that they had nothing to fear as a result of the gale of defections. In spite of the claims by defectors, the real reasons behind the defection are quite obvious. In line with the popular axiom, “success indeed has many friends, no one likes to be associated with failure.” However, observers are of the opinion that despite the defections, the incoming Buhari-administration should launch pragmatic initiatives that will improve the living standards of all Nigerians. Consequently, they posit that the incoming government should necessarily evolve realistic measures to boost Nigeria’s economy and enhance the standard of living of its citizens. Concluded • Ugah, is member of staff, New Telegraph

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

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The Ondo ban on local gin

ntil April 13 and 15 when ‘mystery’ deaths invaded OdeIrele, an agrarian community in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, sale and consumption of ethanol otherwise known in the community as Ogogoro (local gin) had thrived for ages. Indigent inhabitants had feasted on the product until when the mystery deaths were linked to the product. Ogogoro until a ban was placed on its consumption and sale, was a common product found in various joints in the community being commonly displayed in every nook and cranny. While alcoholic drinks such as beer in different sizes and shapes were not as profitable as the ‘local gin’, the community preferred ‘ogogoro’s to any other drinks following their passion for it especially at parties. But all died following the embargo placed on it by the government of Governor Olusegun Rahman Mimiko on April 27. The Mimiko led government banned the sales and consumption of the product in the community as a result of the 23 deaths recorded even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) linked the deaths to pesticide poisoning. Is the banning of ‘Ogogoro’ in the state by the Ondo State Government panacea for the

The question is: when did it now become so toxic that everyone must run away from it? mystery deaths even when the agencies saddled with the responsibility of monitoring consumption of foods and drugs were yet to carry out sufficient research on the legality or otherwise of the product? Obviously, government’s decision on the sale and consumption of Ogogoro cannot be the antidote for whatever deaths already linked to the product as no scientific prove was established. It is on record that WHO concluded that ‘current hypothesis on the cause of the event is herbicides as tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection’. Apparently predicating its findings on WHO, the government through its Health Commissioner said that the results from post-mortem conducted on victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.

Consequently, a total embargo was placed on ‘Ogogoro’ when the government said its action was to prevent the spread of the deaths as ‘toxicology report about the strange disease that killed some people in Ode-Irele confirmed that the death was caused by ethanol poison and not any viral infection. It said: “Our clinical analysis reveals the fact that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning. We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that the locallymade gin is prohibited.” Although its findings did not include the inputs of NAFDAC and the NDLEA, the government’s action had indeed robbed the community of its economic power without any viable option in this era of mass unemployment especially in the agrarian community of OdeIrele. There is no obvious justification for banning Ogogoro in the name of stopping deaths when there had not been any empirical proof that it was found in the post-mortem carried out on victims’ bodies even without inputs by NAFDAC and NDLEA. Such ban can only be justified when the agency saddled with the responsibility of monitoring consumption of foods and drugs had carried out sufficient tests to arrive at that

conclusion. This was not stated by the government. Instead, the government only rushed to a conclusion and deprived the community of its economic power, banning the product that had been consumed by the people over the years is bizarre as ‘cutting of the head cannot be the cure for headache’. The question is: when did it now become so toxic that everyone must run away from it? Government should not run the people out of business. The ban on the sales of the product is capable of ruinning the community out of business. What the government can do in this regard is to isolate and deal with an identified source of the contaminated product rather than a blanket ban on the sales and consumption of the product. After all, its ban may not make the product available but instead, would only make it thrive and be consumed underground by the community whose life had been dependent on the product. Making it illegal has not really made people keep it at arms-length even as a visit to the community at the weekend showed that the ban had no or little effect on the people. ‘Ogogoro’ was openly displayed at strategic places in Ode-Irele. So, government’s blanket ban can be seen as a sheer waste of time, with no enforcement of the law.

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

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

he book “Sustaining Marital Bliss is a must read book for married couples and especially spinsters who are ripe for, or gearing up to settle down for a happy married life. The book, which is written page by page out of life experience coupled with biblical quotations, is parked full of stuffs about marriage counselling. “Sustaining Marital Bliss”, which has nine chapters and 80 pages, focuses on Biblical teaching on marriage, particularly as it relates to Christianity. The book can be read in less than an hour because most of the chapters are very short. However, even without picture illustrations; it is an inspiring book that should be on every shelf. Although each testament can be read in less than three minutes, the benefit lasts for a life time. It is one singular move of writing by a tremendously talented person who has dug into his roots and projected the history of his extraordinary journey into life. In the book “Sustaining Marital Bliss” you find out in chapter three how the author was discriminated upon by her friends who got married at an early age shortly after secondary school and she was busy pursuing her dream. It got to a stage that one of her best friends has to write her telling her that they are no longer in the same category or class any longer just because she is married, hence the end of that relationship. According to the author, even while pursuing her education, suitors were coming but that did not deter her from her ambition, despite the insult and humiliation to get married by all means. “But eventually, as God would have it , in the course of my serving the nation for one year in one of the federal ministries, I met my husband whom God has destined for me and today we are happily married and doing very well,” she added. All the chapters in the book are very interesting and a must read, but chapter five, titled “causes of delay in marriage,” where the author specifically pointed out some specifics like personal desire and choice, character and

Book Review

Making marriage work

Title: Sustaining Marital Bliss Author: Helen Foster Publisher: Glorious Believers Home Counseling Organisation, Ibadan Pages: 80 Year of publication: 2008 Reviewer: Yusuf Shuaib pride, spiritual marriage, the signs of spirit marriage and way out, soul tie covenant, ghost of the past, marriage to family idols, environmental forces or wickedness, household wickedness and failure to recognize or carry out the call of God; summing it up with Evil manipulation, witchcraft attacks and evil curse from the family, is a chapter that must be taken note of by all spinsters and bachelors alike who do not intend having challenges and delays in getting married. From all indication, the book which is a milestone achievement will remain constantly as a sign post that will encourage many spinsters who will be patient to read and re-read chapters four and five as many times as they can in an effort

Maiden edition of Niyi Osundare’s International Poetry Festival holds in Ibadan Tony Okuyeme

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

to achieve the ‘marital bliss,’ which they will come across in chapter six of this book, not to mention the factors that affect the home negatively, captured in chapter eight. Foster is a graduate of Business Administration and Management. She is also a successful career woman who has displayed her talent and potentials in the media industry, with a vision to impacting on her both her generation and upcoming generations. The highly gifted young lady loaded with words of wisdom, knowledge, intersession and prophesy is a prophet by calling and a counselee to the Holy Spirit on matters concerning the church, nations, individuals, herself and family, is happily married to Mr. Peter Foster and wonderfully blessed.

Osundare

he maiden edition of the Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival which comes up in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on May 26-27, 2015, will feature traditional Nigerian and contemporary poetry presentations, including, esa, ijala, ekun iyawo, iwure as well as music, dance and drama. The two- day historic event, which has continued to win support from stakeholders in the book publishing industry as well as the creative and academic world, will also offer literary scholars, students of secondary and tertiary institutions a unique opportunity of meeting the celebrated writer who will be coming in from his United States of America base where he is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at the University of New Orleans, Lakefront, New Orleans. The nation’s pioneer university, the University of Ibadan, which is also Professor Niyi

Osundare’s alma matter, is a partner in the festival which is to honour the poetry icon who is a multiple awards winner, Chairman, Organising Committee, Dele Morakinyo said in a statement. His words: The event will also provide a platform for better understanding of the great works of the poets as eminent scholars and experts in literature will discuss his writings, style and content at two sessions devoted to such in depth engagements. “In addition to all the foregoing, publishers and booksellers will have the opportunity to take stands to exhibit their titles to the gathering of literary giants expected at the festival. The organizers expect that more individuals and corporate organizations will want to be counted in by supporting the celebration of a Nigerian who keeps projecting the nation excellently across the globe where he is highly respected for his advocacy for humaneness in governance and literary prowess.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

The Mega City ...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

MY CITY, MY WORLD

LIFE IN THE CITY

The incoming administration should 27 fly higher – Orajekwe

Lagos’ Carnival of glamour, elegance 23

Tyrants of Oshodi-Apapa road Apapa-Oshodi, usually referred to as Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, is of great importance and strategic to the economic wellbeing of not only Lagos State but the country as a whole. It offers access to and from the two main international entry points of the country which are of huge socio-economic importance. But commuters continue to groan as fuel tankers have taken over the road, thereby making free flow of movement a nightmare. ELIJAH SAMUEL reports

A chaotic scene at Coconut Bus-Stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

rom the ceaseless outcry of helpless Nigerians, who reside and have business transactions to conduct in the area, it seems they have been left on their own to continue to shoulder the pains and trauma which have become common features of Oshodi-Apapa

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

Expressway. The fuel tankers have completely taken over as they now find it convenient to permanently use the stretch between Coconut and Sanya Bus-Stops as their parking arena, while waiting for their turn to lift fuel in many of fuel depots that are domiciled in the area between Kirikiri and Tin-Can Ports. Apparently, the tanker drivers and their assistants now have to sleep in their vehicles while keeping watch. The situation can be described as the mother of traffic jam as the government, especially the state, seems to have no answer to the inflexible traffic dilemma on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. Determined not to be confined to the abyss of lamentations, commercial bus operators now have a way out: they have found solace in running against traffic on

It has been hell on this road. It wasn’t like this in the past

Apapa-Oshodi side of the road. Unlike the situation before when LASTMA officials tried to apprehend offenders at Cele Bus-Stop, they now engage in dangerous driving, facing vehicles coming from Apapa and Mile 2 without restriction, thereby giving way to some security agencies and touts to exploit the situation. But they cannot go beyond Coconut BusStop where all the passengers would have to alight. Passengers going further into Apapa would have to continue from there on a motor bike otherwise called okada. The okada riders also use the situation as an opportunity to make brisk business as a result of surge in the number of commuters in the area. However, different shades of views are being displayed by commercial bus operators and commuters as the

traffic hardship lingers. Helen Nwabueze, is a clearing and forwarding agent, who inevitably had to be at Apapa Tin-Can Ports Friday morning to see to the conclusion of a process which was commenced a few days earlier. She seldom travels on that route for the fear of being held up in the traffic. And if she had her way, she wouldn’t contemplate going in that direction. But with the importance of the assignment at hand, she had no choice. “It wasn’t like this on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in the past but since the concentration of lifting fuel by tankers from all over the country shifted to this part of the nation, it has been hell on this road. This morning, I just had to come down because CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Another scene of the gridlock

Hell of a road CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

of the importance of the business I have at the port. Otherwise, I would have left the work for my boys,” she said. “It is really tough coming or to drive through this place, but the respite we now have is the operation of the okada operators. You can see the chaos that now characterizes this axis. It needs a radical solution to end this suffering,” said another commuter, Ben Madu, who decried the suffering being unleashed by the tanker- influenced traffic logjam. Gbenga Ishola, who was waiting at Coconut Bus-Stop to bargain for a relative cheap fee of okada transportation into Apapa-Wharf also bemoaned traffic jam as it is affecting so many things apart from the fuel that has induced the logjam in the first instance. “This is a nightmare that should go away. It is not only fuel business that runs on this axis. There are other vital businesses that should not be allowed to suffer here. The loss is just unbearable. There must be a quick resolution to this suffering. You can’t make a straight journey from anywhere into Apapa because of the bad traf-

fic: you have to hop from bike to bike. The farthest away any bus can get, even though they are running against traffic, is this Coconut Bus-Stop,” he lamented. Surely, it is not the best of time for the commercial bus operators. For most of them, their losses are abating as they struggle through to meet up with their daily targets even now that the perpetual traffic has been compounded by another round of traffic situation. Nkem Oliver, a commercial bus driver complained bitter that, “we can no longer meet up with daily target because of the trailers and tanker menace on this route, they have taken over everywhere. My route is Airport to Apapa but we cannot operate anymore on this route; the only option left for us is to take oneway from Cele Bus-Stop to Coconut Bus-Stop. Nobody dares to go beyond Coconut: As you can see, it’s not just possible because tankers have taken over everywhere on both sides. Sometimes, we have to stop at Mile 2 or Berger Bus-Stops because of them. The government has to intervene and

Commuters struggling their way out of the traffic logjam

The affected car mart at Berger Bus-stop

It has caused a lot of damages and deaths for the people

Finding way out of the gridlock

solve this problem once and for all because we are really suffering on this route. The tanker drivers are mean and unyielding; it is only government that can handle them,” he said. Another driver, Akeem Gbolagunte, seemingly has resigned to fate as he summarily declared that, “this is what we see on this route and we take it as it comes because we cannot seat down without working.” Although a few of the tanker drivers accosted displayed indifferent and unfriendly dispositions to talk on their plight, it seems that there exists an indoctrination in the league of the tanker drivers not to talk to the press. Nevertheless, the effect of the stalemate caused by their activity seems to be multifarious as other traders around the axis of Coconut, Westminster are counting the gains of the bedlam. Rashidat Abdullahi, a trader in beer and other types of liquor, now relishes the rise in her daily income because she enjoys high patronage of customers patronising her business shade at Coconut Area .This is because there is now a surge in the volume of drivers wanting to lift fuel from the depots around the place. She told New Telegraph that, “you may say it is rowdy but it is from this rowdiness that I am making my huge profit. Some of those drivers come around to relax here.” If Abdullahi and others are making gains from the difficult traffic situation, it is not so for the motor dealers of Berger and Westminster axis. The dealers are lamenting the misfortunes which have been unleashed on their trade because of the fuel-loading activities in the area. Abom Nwaonicha, the Vice Chairman of Sunki Motors Association at Berger on OshodiApapa Expressway, bemoaned the lingering traffic logjam caused by uncontrolled parking of fuel tankers which have been brought to lift fuel from the many fuel depots located in Apapa axis. “Since the tanker drivers started coming to Apapa to lift fuel, we have been witnessing a situation where customers find it difficult to come and patronise us. I think the solution to this lingering traffic problem caused by fuel tankers is to relocate these terminals outside this area. The government can look at places like Badagry where there is abundant and convenient space. It is complicated around here where all the whole tankers in Nigeria come to this area, where we have residences and other businesses that must be given enabling envi-

PHOTOS: ELIJAH SAMUEL

ronment to operate and survive.” Chukwunonso Nwosu, another car dealer lamented their losses which is being occasioned by the continual situation in which fuel depots continue to be domiciled in Apapa which is also strategic for its accommodation of the country’s busiest seaports. “For over two years that this traffic has continuously persisted on this Oshodi-Apapa, the stream of customers has drastically reduced. This is not a good experience for us: it has caused a lot of damages and deaths for the people who have had to go through this road. You can’t explain and convince anybody that they should come to patronise us. They wouldn’t listen; they have in fact abandoned us because of the traffic logjam that has characterised Oshodi-Apapa. He also suggested that “the government should build refineries and resuscitate the existing ones so that the perennial fuel problem can be stopped. A situation where people travel from the North, the East down to Lagos to lift fuel is not acceptable in this country, with all its resources. If refineries are built in these regions, there won’t be need for people to come and choke up Lagos.” The ongoing traffic chaos needs the urgent intervention of all the stakeholders so that the avoidable hardship being unleashed on the residents and the business community can be taken away. The state government is helpless as the beleaguered expressway belongs to the Federal Government. This has further emboldened the recklessness of the tanker drivers. As it is, the situation is beyond the state traffic control agencies even as many agree that Lagos residents cannot continue to be held to ransom. This again, has brought to the fore the issue of building and resuscitating the existing comatose refineries. It is being suggested that these refineries should be decentralized in a way that all the regions of the country will have no need to travel down to Lagos to lift fuel. Also, the imperative of evacuating the traffic logjam must be seen and embraced as the prolonged stay of those drivers on the road could attract epidemic. The reason is that the tanker drivers and their company of assistants, who are confined to the traffic for several days and weeks, have virtually turned everywhere around them into toilets: they defecate and urinate indiscriminately along that whole stretch they now occupy. It does not portend wellness for the megacity.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

A cross-section of Participants at the Lagos carnival

Lagosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; carnival of glamour, elegance Muritala Ayinla

he Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos came alive last Sunday as culture, glamour, elegance and style took the centre stage. Hundreds of youths from various communities, resplendent in different colourful and attractive costumes displayed the rich culture of Lagos at the 2015 Lagos carnival. The various contingents of participants went in a procession through different routes like Bourdillon Road-Giwa Barracks- Falomo RoundaboutAwolowo Road,-King George V Road-Bamgboseâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Campos Square- Catholic Mission Street to the Tafawa Balewa Square. As early as 9:25 am, hundreds of residents thronged the expansive Pavilion of the Tafawa Balewa Square to catch a glimpse and participate in the colourful display of the carnivals. Spectators filled up the entire sitting capacity of the pavilion. The youths, who were decked in different beautiful attires and costumes displayed their dancing skills as they moved round the TBS. Acrobatic dancers, ball joggers, skaters, magicians, clowns also added colour to the carnival with each of them displaying their skills

Colourful display of costume by Agege group at the carnival

to the admiration of spectators. The event also provided avenue for hoodlums, pick-pockets to carry out their trade. Some of the participating adult Carnival groups include, Lafiaji, Epetedo, Oko Faji, Locomotion, Obalende, Isale-Eko, Ogba, Woro Group, Ikeja, Emerald, Surulere, Ilasamaja, with many of the members made up of predominantly the youth. Eminent personalities at the

Attractive costumes displayed Lagos rich culture

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

event included: the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire; Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi; All Progressives Congress Woman leader in the South West, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson and several tourists from within and outside the country. Addressing the large crowd of spectators and participants, the State Governor, Mr Baba-

tunde Fashola (SAN) urged all of the sponsors, the participants, the designers and manufacturers of the costumes to continue to work hard to expand on what the present administration has done. He expressed the hope that the participants in the 2015 Carnival have all enjoyed themselves in spite of the deCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos feisty carnival

Participants from different groups at the Lagos carnival

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

CO N TI N U E D FROM PAGE 23

lays prompted by the shifting of the elections that the present administration was determined to hold the carnival none the less. The governor stated that this year’s edition was the last time he would be addressing the carnival as the Governor at the annual event, expressing optimism that at next year’s carnival, the Governor- Elect, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, would be present to keep the tradition going. He said: “We have built a

Many young people need to dance, sing, display and have fun

great team and it couldn’t have happened without you so for me, it is time to say thank you all very much, you have been wonderful over the years and it is also time to say bye- bye, God bless you”. The governor described the day as a great family day where all the children, parents could come out, dance, sing, display and generally have fun, stressing that a nation that has so many young people need many more of this kind of activity to expend the energies that it has and to channel them to productive purposes.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, addressing fun lovers and tourists during the 2015 Lagos Carnival

Goodbye, my people! Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State holds his last public interaction as his tenure comes to an end. Muritala Ayinla reports

ast Thursday was remarkable for residents of Lagos, especially those familiar with the 100 days account of stewardship of the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola. As early as 8:30 am, hundreds of residents comprising members of the State Executive Council, eminent citizens including former administrators of the state, traditional rulers, party chieftains, traders and other stakeholders, gathered at the expansive Blue Roof, LTV 8 Agidingbi, to listen to the activities of the governor in the last 100 days. The occasion was the last edition of 100 days which also coincided with the 2,900 days of Governor Fashola. Addressing the audience, Fashola said that he would be leaving the state better than he met in 2007, adding that he has fulfilled all his electoral promises by touching the lives of every Lagosians directly or indirectly through policies and massive infrastructural renewal. He insisted there was hardly anyone in the state who has not benefited from series of projects executed and policies of the state government in the last eight years, even as he solicited support for his successor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, saying he would need such support greatly. He asked Lagosians to assess the impact of his reforms to enable them make accurate assessment of his administration’s performance in the last eight years. Beginning with Works and Infrastructure, the Governor,

who disclosed that his administration constructed 362 new roads representing 353.255 kilometres and rehabilitated another 3,320 roads representing 673 kilometres, asked residents to confirm the claim saying it would deepen democracy in terms of what it has delivered, and why they must do their part to nurture it. He also sought to know how the new bridges built within the period such as Okota, Lekki, Agiliti, Falomo Ramp, Isheri/ Ijegun and Ejigbo bridges, as well as the 28,460 street signs with street names and the installed 28,329 road signs have helped residents in the reduction of travel time and better maneuvering through traffic within their locations. Fashola said that many lives have been saved through many policies introduced to improve the transportation sector, saying that restriction of the commercial motorcycle operation on the highways in the state has improved the lives of more residents. On the beautification of the environment and mitigation of the effect of the climate change, the governor said his administration has planted over five million trees and created over 196 Parks which should result in cleaner and oxygenated air. On his achievement in the education sector in the last eight years, Fashola noted that a number of residents have benefitted from the education policies. Noting that the children’s learning condition and environment would have improved as a result of all the aforementioned innovative pol-

There was hardly anyone who has not benefited from series of projects

icies, he expressed delight that about 55 per cent of residents now prefer to have their children in public schools, adding that the percentage of pass in WAEC for five subjects in one sitting with English and Mathematics has moved from an average of 7 per cent in 2007 to 45per cent in 2014. In the Health Sector, Governor Fashola announced that 10,534,398 persons have benefited from the use of the 277 Primary Health Care Centres, while 21,964,021 persons visited the 27 General Hospitals as well as the State’s University Teaching Hospital in the last eight years, adding that the State’s Maternal and Childcare Centres at Ikorodu, Ifako Ijaiye, Isolo, Gbaja, Ajegunle, Amuwo, Alimosho have helped to reduce infant and maternal mortality from 1,636 to 818 deaths per 100,000 live births. The governor, who said the state played host to 26 free health

Fashola acknowledging cheers from the crowd

missions during the period, added that 70,000 surgeries were performed and 200,000 eye glasses were given out while 3,327,523 people were screened for Hypertension, Diabetes, HIV, Visual Impairment and Malnutrition (in Children) in places where the missions were held. On housing deficit in the state, the Governor said he has not only built houses where many new landlords have emerged under the Lagos HOMS scheme but also provided 20,000 free canister of LPG cooking gas and burner under Government’s clean energy initiative. He added that the government’s street lighting project which has covered 242 streets in communities and Local Government amounting to 316 km. Governor Fashola said 170 fishermen, including members of the 17 strong co-operatives in the state, have benefited from fishing and agriculture inputs that the government provided annually, adding that government has also established new farmer’s marts and is currently producing 1,100 bags of rice daily from its rice mill in Imota and over 3,300,000 eggs daily in its poultry farm. Recalling his promises to the electorate as contained in his inaugural speech in 2007, Fashola, who said the assessment of his performance was not in his place to make, declared, “in another 21 days, our Governor-Elect will take over from where I stopped as I will have reached my destination. It has been a wonderful journey, with ups and downs, but I dare say, with many ups, and fewer downs”. According to the Governor, “This 100 day reporting forum has been most useful to our team. It has kept us on our toes; it has kept you involved and it has helped us deepen democracy by improving people’s participation”. In his welcome remarks, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, expressed gratitude to Lagosians for their support, saying the 100 days forum has provided an interactive platform for exchange of ideas and information between the government and the governed in the last eight years.

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

What we want from Ambode, by business owners From their battered experiences in the hands of the officials of the outgoing administration, many can’t wait for the inauguration of a new administration which they hope will offer succour to their bruised business adventures. ELIJAH SAMUEL captures their expectations from incoming Governor Akin Ambode’s administration in the state

oseph Adebajo, Chief Executive Officer, Kay-Joo Computers & Educational Limited What any businessman will require from the government is an enabling environment. Enabling environment is characterized by so many factors which are germane to the success of any business. There must be constant power supply because most business requires this, to function effectively. Another factor is good roads which make business to be accessible to clients. This is very important because if the roads are bad, the seller or service provider may lose customers or clients who may not be willing to under the stress of getting to where the business or goods are domiciled. Again, funding is another area where business men find challenges in order to be successful. So the government’s assistance is expected in this regard which could be through a microfinance bank or a governmentappointed bank which will make credit facility available to assessed businessmen. The fourth factor is the issue of multiple taxes which stifles businesses in the state. It is important that the incoming administration of Ambode look seriously into growing the micro economy of Lagos which, with the right enabling factors and policies, will eventually grow into big businesses. Noble Anyanwu, CEO, Noble Masters Technical Ventures

Again, multiple taxation is unleashing excruciating effects on businesses. We pay for business registration, business premises permit, lock-up shop, liquor licence, food permit etc. Besides, the activities of those tax officers are a drain on the state income because they perpetrate lots of fraud in the name of working for the government; sometimes when you pay, they won’t give you receipt. The government should be smart to block the leakages. Also, the government should help to eliminate the menace of the ‘area boys’ in the state. When you bring containers of goods to be offloaded, these boys will swoop on you demanding for money for huge sum of money. At every bus stop and on every trip, you find touts also known as agbero harassing to collect money from commercial bus conductors. Why are we allowing this? It is megacity, let the state government do something to salvage this ugly trend in the megacity that they profess it to be. Chinedu Udeoyiibo, Stationery Merchant

The new governor, Akin Ambode should please administer the state without sentiments and address the problem of multiple taxes, the excesses of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade in the state. These highlighted issues should be looked into because they are affecting the gains that are accruable in our businesses. We have discovered that it is not what Gov. Fashola told the KAI officials to do is what they are doing: they are generating money into their purses and not for government. Ekene Nwabuo, Clothing and Shoes Merchant

money. When you manage to pay sometimes you may not get you goods back from them. The taxes and payments we pay to state and local governments is also a strain on our businesses. It wasn’t like this during Bola Tinubu’s time. Let Governor Ambode look into these areas and help our businesses grow. Festus Simon, Fashion Accessories Dealer

Although Governor Fashola has really tried in making his mark in the state but there is a lot of areas where the people are made to suffer unduly. I want to say that the APC had a tough time to win Lagos not because of poor performance but because of the excesses of LASTMA and KAI agencies in the state. For us, we have really suffered so much from them: they will just come around and pack away our goods even when they are displayed within your shop. We know that they are told to stop street-trading but what about the people in their shops and business premises. Another area that Ambode should look into is the issue of accommodation rent fee, either for residential or business. Although they have laws guiding the issue of rent, but they are not implementing it as most landlords still charge outrageous fees. I voted for Ambode because I was made to believe that his administration will not be like Fashola. So, let him do what will make the residents feel they have a government that has concern for the people’s wellbeing and prosperous business environment. Onye Samuel, Foodstuffs Trader

What I think the incoming administration in Lagos should focus on is how to help the business people deal with the incessant power and fuel problems which are crippling businesses in the state. Because of the cost of production, the prices of paints are soaring. This is affecting sales and so many other things as far as doing business in the state is concerned. Chukwujeku Onwughalu, Club Owner

The new administration should look into the issue of indiscriminate tax collections in the state. Ambode is an account; let him see what can be done to eradicate multiple taxes on businesses in the state. The masses are feeling the brunt of multiple taxes on businesses in the state. Chima Mark, Boutique Operator

Governor Akin Ambode should look into the problem of touts and LASTMA excesses. They are making the atmosphere unsafe for customers to come and do business. The government should try to re-orientate LASTMA and KAI officials so that they don’t continue to give the government bad reputation which can be costly to the government if not curbed and uprooted. Olushola Joseph, Home Accessories Dealer

During the campaign, Mr. Akin Ambode promised loan facility to artisans and the businessmen: we are expecting it. It should not be like the case when you are asked to open accounts with the conventional banks in other to access loan facility. Once you open the account, they start using your money and won’t give you the loan. But the government should do an assessment of the business and the people. This will ensure that it is only those that are genuinely in business that can truly access loan facility, and to ascertain the stipulated needs for which the loan is needed. It is important also that the government should eliminate ‘middlemen’ syndrome in the process so that the loan can be given directly to the beneficiaries. Even after granting the loan, the government should carry out regular visits to check on the businesses.

There are so many things that we have suffered in this outgoing administration of Fashola that we will not want to continue in the new administration of Mr. Akin Ambode. The havoc of KAI on businesses in this state is notable. For instance, in a place like this, we pay more than N1million per year for rent, how are we expected to recoup what we have spent if we are not allowed to display our goods so that potential buyers can see what we have in stock inside the shop. These KAI officials will just come and pack our goods to Alausa and demand that we pay heavy sum of

Let the new governor govern with good conscience and help make the atmosphere more comfortable for the business people so that we can see the gain of our struggle in business. Rashidat Oyekola, Paints Dealer

All I can say is that we expect Governor Akin Ambode to follow the footstep of Governor who has performed very creditably. He should strive to do more and excel.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Our Expectations

The incoming administration should fly higher – Orajekwe Ezurike Ugochukwu hief Morcare Orajekwe is a pharmacist who has seen Cmany parts and sides of La-

Recent look of the abandoned old Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi

Part of the unkempt premises

Shelter for rodents, roaches When federal governance ended in the Centre of Excellence, many of the Federal Government’s buildings and notable complexes that had played vital roles were vacated, seemingly without plans of what would become their lot. Over two decades later, ELIJAH SAMUEL writes on the abandonment which a few of the observed abandoned structures have become in Lagos State

n the past, at least from the country’s independence till the early 1990s when the relocation of important ministries, parastatals, agencies and the likes from Lagos to the new Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja was being effected, Lagos served as a very important rallying centre and a beehive of national and international activities. Although the relocation of the seat of Federal Government to Abuja somewhat diminished the politicalhub status of the state, the burden of having to continually accommodate decrepit structures and complexes left behind by the Federal Government’s multifarious units persists. Not a few of the abandoned structures, which played prominently in important government businesses and landmark socio-political and economic activities before the movement of the seat of national governance to Abuja, are now shadows of former glories. An assessment visit undertaken by the New Telegraph to see some of the abandoned structures, discovered arrays of Federal Government abandoned properties in Lagos State. The former Federal Secretariat Complex in Ikoyi, the Trade Fair Complex along LagosBadagry Expressway, and the old National Stadium in Surulere amongst others, are all in despicable state. From a few meters away, the sight of building rows competing with extending trees belies the reality that the place which once stood as the centre where human resources were being marshalled and deployed for the business of running the country by the Federal Government. A close walk by the fence reveals the decrepit state to which the former Federal Secretariat Complex had sunk. From a close range of visibility, the expansive premises has been taken over by weeds, trees, birds and a few squatters, who were seen lurking within the complex. Outside the complex is a thriving workshop of artisans like auto mechanics, auto electrician, panel beater etc. But for the stalemate which persists

between the state government and a concessionaire company which had attempted to convert the old secretariat into a residential area, the complex would have been saved from its present deplorable state. “You can see the way we have been so wasteful in this country. The ideal thing would have been that the Federal Government disposed the structures outright at the time it was relocating to Abuja. Now, does this ruinous state into which the complex had been left to wallow make sense? I think what the government should now do is to see how this complex can come alive by way of ensuring productive occupation,” lamented Isaac Maduka, a systems control manager of a company around the complex. Another concerned citizen, an immigration officer, who spoke under anonymity, decried the eyesore which the once-gurgling complex now constitutes in the area. He said: “It is really a shame and it doesn’t portray us very well as prudent people. That we can leave such important structure to degenerate into the eyesore that we now have is debilitating to our collective sense of priority and judgment. Without any more hesitation, let the Federal Government rescue the complex from total ruin and find a way to put it into good use of the public.” Unlike the former Federal Secretariat, the fate that befell the former National Stadium in Surulere is such that had derailed the original use for which the over 40 year-old monument was put. The primal sport centre is now a den of unapproved activities which have severally been highlighted in the media in the time past. Yet, another important structure which has been affected by the relocation is the Trade Fair Complex on Lagos-Badagry Expressway which has now been deployed to uses other than the initial purpose for which it was established. Apart from a part of the complex being occupied by traders, the main bowl now fre-

quently serves as centre for hosting of social and religious events. A spare parts dealer at the complex who identified himself as Desmond Chiejina told New Telegraph that although they (traders) are benefitting from the benevolent disposition of the Federal Government, which released a section of the expansive land for their occupation, it is good that the place is put into effective use of the original purpose. According to him, “we are at the Trade Fair on the generosity of the Federal Government to accommodate our businesses but it is still good that the government comes and put this place in proper shape because the complex is supposed to be an international arena for trade exhibitions.” Invariably, these abandoned structures of the Federal Government which cost multi-billion Naira of the tax payers money would have been deployed into continuous beneficial use for the good of the country and Lagos particularly, but for unnecessary bureaucracy and festering animosity which had existed between the Federal and the state governments, due to different political affiliations, these abandoned properties have been left to emerge as the den of reptiles and rodents as well as haven for miscreants and other unwanted tenants. This, at best, can be described as monumental act of wastage as public funds had, in the first instance, been used in the setting up of these places. As it is presently, it is wise that the incoming General Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government which had cultivated a sing-song campaign against corruption and wastefulness, should take inventory of all its abandoned or underutilised properties, whether on the island or the mainland of Lagos State, so that prudent decision can be taken as regards their conversion for other beneficial public use, or given onward transfer to the state which is controlled by the same political party, or better still put on outright sale.

gos. He has lived in the Centre of Excellence for 42 years. He has seen all sides of Lagos. According to Orajekwe, Lagos was full of life and peaceful especially in places like Ikoyi, Surulere and Orajekwe Ikeja. A clear contrast of today’s Lagos. He recounted Lagos as very peaceful, though with few urban settlements. People moved about unmolested.” Orajekwe said Governor Fashola has tried, and that the expectations are that Akinwunmi Ambode , Governor, should surpass his records as Fashola surpassed that of his predecessor. He believes the footing the incoming governor has, Fashola never had it. Since the resources are still there to work with, at the blast of the whistle he should start. There shouldn’t be excuses. “There have been rapid changes in Lagos in the last 8years. In no mistaken terms, Lagos and Nigeria has changed in the last 16years because even when we praise Fashola for his performances in eight years, some people started the journey and laid the foundation on which he is building. Even in States where we cry for non-performance, they all started in vacuity based also on resources available to their states. The military left us with no plan for the future in 1999.” He added, “Fashola has done his own best which hasn’t benefited all sides anyway; my prayer is for the incoming man to fly higher than him and raise the bar. He has no excuse not to exceed the performances of Fashola. Oshodi, Mushin and Ajegunle are habitable today because Fashola paid a price.”Orajekwe aligned to the thought that there are many parts of Lagos that are more remote than ancient villages. Places like Ikorodu, Seme, Owode, Epe, Ijegun/Ijegemo etc. some don’t have electricity. “We want the breeze of mega city to blow on all Lagosians this time without exclusion.”

Ambode should tackle unemployment Ruth Okocha ercy Ajayi a teacher with a priM vate school prays Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor-elect to tackle

corruption and to appoint capable, Mercy accountable and are committed at heart to the people; he should also tackle housing issue because Lagos landlords extort tenants a lot. The landlords in Lagos ask tenants to pay agreement fee, damage fee etc. which is almost half of the house rent itself. Also, there are quacks in teaching profession likewise other professions. Individuals who are not professional in the field make the professional teachers unemployed. I believe if these quacks are cleared, then there will be more employment opportunities for the professional teachers. She also prayed Ambode to tackle issue of touts posed as NURTW members in bus stops across Lagos State as they not only disturb the drivers but the passengers, he should wipe them off totally from the streets of Lagos. He should provide adequate power supply for Lagosians and look into the issue of school fees increment of Lagos State University. “He should reduce it from what it is now to what it was before. He should also construct good roads and provide different routes leading to a particular area to ease congestion. Many of the water cooperation in Lagos supply us with unclean and unsafe water, maybe due to inadequate equipment or non-chalant attitude from the government workers especially. Ajayi urged the governor-elect to employ capable hands to ensure proper maintenance of water and government property. Considering the wellbeing of the people, she said he should equip general hospitals with good and necessary medical equipment so that the sick people can receive treatment in Lagos instead of being flying to other countries. “He should provide employment for graduates and more skill acquisition centers for youths seeking admission. Also make education affordable for every common man in Lagos state while serving the nation with an uncorrupt mind void of tribalism as Lagos is a multi-ethnic state so that God and the people will be by his side always. God bless Lagos State and Nigeria.

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

MEGA CITY EVENTS The Sun newspapers held its Outstanding Performance Exit award recently at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

L-R: Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; wife of Katsina State Governor, Mrs, Fatima Shema; Governor Ibrahim Shema; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Managing Director, The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina at the event

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose (left), with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 11, Mr. Musliu Obanikoro, during PHOTOs: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NIPR Lagos held its Stakeholders’ Conference at the Julius Berger Hall, UNILAG in Lagos

Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management and Services, University of Lagos. Prof. Duro Oni and Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter, Mr. Joseph Okonmah, at the event

L-R: Hon. Adenike Shobajo; past Chairperson, NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun and Dr. Ifeoma Amobi, at the 2nd NIPR Lagos Stakeholders’ Conference PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

UPCOMING EVENTS

Behance Portfolio Reviews #7 Organiser:Akinwande Ayodeji Date: May 16, 2015 From 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Venue: CKDigital | Web Design Company - Lagos, Nigeria 52 Shipeolu Street, Palmgrove Somolu, Lagos Nigeria

Lagos“Breaking # SoulTies”Seminar

Organiser: Karis Ministries Date: 16 May 2015 From 10:00 - 16:00 Venue: NECA Event Centre Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Street Central Business District, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

FCT Watch

Revenue leaks at NIPC, ITF, NISTF as staff protest

The Investor

Money

Gwarzo’s confirmation and operators’ recapitalisation

How effective is naming and shaming of debtors?

Norwegians tangle over sale of war boats to Nigerian militant

Maritime

Business What's news

Capital market investors lose N105bn in one week Shareholders in companies quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) have lost a total of N105 billion in the last one week following sustained offloading of shares by both local and foreign investors.

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Mobile apps key to modern businesses, says report A new report by an Information Technology firm, Oracle Corporation, has revealed how central the deployment of mobile apps have become to modern businesses in ensuring better engagement with their customers.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Head of Service , Lagos State, Mr. Olalekan Akodu; Director- General, Lagos State Pension Commission(LASPEC),Mr. Rotimi Hussain and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. Folasade Adesoye, at LASPEC 8th Pre-Retirement seminar for core civil servants due to retire in Lagos. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

OBSTACLE Illegal trade facilitation and government policies reduce Custom’s revenue Bayo Akomolafe

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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

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has missed its revenue target by N678.24 billion in the last four years, New Telegraph has learnt. Waivers and smuggling were said to be liable for the fall in revenue targets. In 2011, the service projected N607.10 billion, but it collected N741.84 billion and in 2012, it forecast N872.22, but raked in N850.88 billion. Also, in 2013, NCS targeted N1, 007.10 trillion but it generated N833.49 billion while in 2014, N1.255 trillion was anticipated but N977 billion was generated. In 2014, the service attributed the N243 billion (23 per cent) revenue forecast short fall to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Customs miss revenue target by N678.2bn • Attribute losses to waivers, smuggling Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), waivers, concessions and exemptions. It noted that N136.48 billion of import revenue was conceded from the amount to support domestic industries. N8.15 billion was also conceded to ETLS. The NCS said that it made some 31,590 seizures, running into billions of naira, from

N1.17bn Total value of various hard currencies seized by Customs at airports in three years

smugglers between 2010 and 2014. The seizures comprised of restricted goods, false declarations, non-declarations and prohibitions. Investigation also revealed that general merchandise, arms and ammunitions, poultry products, rice, textile and articles, vehicle and vegetable oil contributed to the revenue short fall. In 2010, the service recorded 3,923 seizures; 2011 - 5,748 seizures; 2012 - 6,147 seizures; 2013, 8,238 seizures and 2014 7,534 seizures. A document obtained by our correspondent revealed that the 2014 seizures were dominated by rice, comprising 35 per cent

of the total count. The service linked the growth in rice seizures to government’s fiscal policy of 110 per cent import tariff increase on husked brown rice and semi milled or wholly milled rice In 2014 alone, 17,436 cases of infractions were discovered, about 67 per cent more than the 10,423 recorded in 2013, However, NCS recovered N41.55 billion in 2014 from the infractions. In addition, it seized N1.17 billion in various hard currencies at airports in three years. A break down revealed that in 2012, the service seized N266.77 million; 2013, N490.96 million and 2014, N419.45 million.

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N222 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N338 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N248

l Foreign Reserves – $29.677bn as at 7/05/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N214

Business | News

NEGATIVE

Sell-offs trigger slide in equities Chris Ugwu

hareholders in companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have lost a total of N105 billion in the last one week following sustained offloading of shares by both local and foreign investors. Expectations by some market watchers that the peaceful elections would drive investor optimism to galvanise the stock market activities in second quarter seems to have been dashed, as the stock market sustained losing streaks for a week. The local bourse, which stepped into the 2015 on an unfavourable note with key measurement indicators tilting southwards, finished the first quarter with a loss of N760 billion. Available statistics, however, showed that the peaceful presidential elections that saw former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari emerge as a winner, ignited excitement in the capital market community. This had led to a gain of N906 billion in market capitalisation, translating to a positive start for the second quarter of this year. Nigerian stocks had surged the most since March, leading gains among world equity markets, after Buhari won a vote that marked the first peaceful shift in power since the end of colonial rule in 1960. However, activities on the floor of the Exchange have recently continued to skew downward, as the market, which opened high after the elections began to dwindle. The stock market, which closed at N11.767 trillion in market capitalisation and 34,649.38 in index on April 4, 2015 closed on Monday 11th at N11.662 trillion and 34,341.88 index points. This depicted a loss of about N105 billion or 0.9 per cent. Even good earnings being posted by some quoted companies could not rescue the stock market from limbo, as sell pressure continued unabated, raising concerns in the investment community. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, had said that factors leading to the decline in local investments were both external and internal. He said the trend was likely to continue until the sec-

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Capital market investors lose N105bn in one week ond quarter of 2015. He explained: “The factors driving the bear run seem to be the declining oil prices; depleting re-

serves; termination of quantitative easing and likely further tightening of monetary liquidity by the Central Bank of Nige-

ria (CBN). These factors are most unlikely to reverse soon” The Head, Research and Investment, BGL Plc,

Mr. Femi Ademola, also h said that he did not expect the situation to change soon. He noted: “Last year, a

lot of retail people came to the market because of what they saw in 2012 and 2013. In one of those years, a major company returned more than 1,000 per cent, which was a good attraction. Unfortunately for them, they have made losses again and may want to run away once more.”

L-R: Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dharnesh Gordon; Chairman, Mr. David Ifezulike; Company Secretary, Mr. Bode Ayeku and Executive Director, Mr. Syed Saiful Islam, at the company’s 46th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

SMARTPHONES

Smartphones remain young people’s device of choice for accessing mobile apps Kunle Azeez

new report by an Information Technology firm, Oracle Corporation, has revealed how central the deployment of mobile apps have become to modern businesses in ensuring better engagement with their customers. The Oracle survey, obtained by New Telegraph, revealed that millennials are unlikely to use a company’s products or services following a poor app experience. The study reveals that nearly 55 per cent of millennials say a poor mobile app experience would make them less likely to use a company’s products or services. According to the report titled, “Millennials and Mobility: How Businesses can Tap into the App Generation,” 39 per cent of millennials would also be less likely to recommend a company’s products or services to others following a poor app experience. In the same vein, 27 per cent admit it would even give them a negative view of that organisation’s products or services altogether. The findings make it clear that if companies cannot pro-

Mobile apps key to modern businesses, says report vide current and prospective customers with engaging mobile app experience that also accurately reflects the values of their brand, they risk alienating the millennial generation and seeing their competition pull ahead with a more convincing mobile offering. Vice President, Mobile Strategy and Product Management at Oracle, Suhas Uliyar, said, “An engaging and personalised user experience has become the new weapon in the battle to attract and retain millennial customers. “Businesses that cannot add value for customers with a more convenient, functional, and relevant mobile experience have little chance of coming out on top.” The study also shows that millennials are turned off by unsolicited communications in the form of push-notifications that aren’t relevant to their individual needs, but are happy to receive support in the form of value-added communications from businesses. Seventy-three per cent “like” the ability to purchase a company’s product or service using a mobile app. Likewise, 71 per cent like the ability to manage billing for services, and 65 per cent like being able to flag issues or complaints

to a business via a mobile app. That said, more than half (56 per cent) would prefer not to receive push-notifications. The same percentage rarely acts on the push-notifications they do receive, even though nearly 50 per cent admit these are personalised to them. According to Uliyar, “The ability to manage bills or flag service issues to a company via a mobile app implies an agreedupon relationship between a customer and brand or service provider. “The story is completely different in the case of pushnotifications. Organisations will need to provide app-based services that deftly tread the line between helpfulness and overbearingness if they want to tap into young peoples’ affinity for using mobile and tablet apps without alienating them.” A region-specific breakdown of the survey reveals that young people in APAC are miles ahead in their app use across the board, most notably so when it comes to apps for work and more “serious” functions. Nearly three times as many millennials in APAC than in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) rate their work apps as absolute must-haves, with a similar ratio holding true for security apps. In addition, while millenni-

als around the world have each downloaded between 20-25 mobile apps on average, 40 per cent of those in APAC have paid for as many as five of these, compared with roughly 25 per cent of those in EMEA and North America. For millennials in APAC, mobile apps are not just “niceto-haves”, they are necessary resources in their day-to-day lives. Also, young people in this region are constantly on the lookout for new innovative apps and, encouragingly for businesses, are willing to pay for applications that deliver a valuable experience. On a global scale, the research points to a telling discrepancy between smartphone and tablet app use among millennials. While young people use tablets on a considerable scale, smartphones remain their device of choice for accessing mobile apps. For example, 61 per cent of millennials have uploaded media content using a smartphone app, nearly twice as many as have done so with a tablet (35 per cent). When it comes to transferring money to a friend, 48 per cent have used a smartphone app to do so, versus 22 per cent that resorted to tablet apps.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

FCT Business Watch Revenue leaks at NIPC, ITF, NISTF as staff protest the payment of the 33 per cent pension increment to its former staffers. While making the announcement, Abubakar said he was extremely pleased that they have finally found an amicable solution to the matter. “The picketing of our office by the pensioners has also afforded them to see what the management has been doing and the efforts that have gone into resolving the matter,” he said. He also lauded a team that was sent by the National Union of Pensioner (NUP) led by the Deputy National Secretary, Joseph Okunade. He added that the NUP team, through the picketing, had contributed to finding amicable solution to the logjam.

Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

hree agencies of government – the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria Social Trust Fund (NSITF) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) may differ in objectives and core responsibilities to an extent. However, the three organisations have one common battle confronting them within a span of one-week labour and staff unrest. In one week, Abuja metropolis witnessed protests, picketing and disruptions of official activities at headquarters of these agencies. The incidents led to crippling of business activities within these establishments, causing unprecedented loss of man-hour and a substantial loss of revenue to government. If data from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is anything to go by, one can begin to imagine the effect protest in NIPC, NISTF and ITF has in respective organsiation and the economy at large. NIPC Executive Secretary held hostage Frequent users of the ever busy Aguiyi Ironsi Way, were embarrassed in the morning of Tuesday April 21, when hundreds of staff of Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) staged a protest in front of their head office. All official engagements were put off for the better part of the day at the commission due to the staff protest, which started as early as 8:am. Protesting NIPC staff barricaded the Commission’s main entrance gate, carrying placards demanding for outright sack of the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Saratu Umar, for her highhandedness and poor working condition. The protest was the second in less than one year of Umar’s tenure. She has been having unending labour/welfare issues with staff. Umar was a senior manager at the Nigerian -Export –Import Bank (NEXIM) before she was appointed May last year to head NIPC after the tenure of Engr. Mustapha Bello expired. Addressing the media at the entrance gate, the Vice Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Comrade Oluwatosun Adamson Ayinde, accused the Executive Secretary of highhandedness, noting that “she is not ready to act and has not been carrying staff along. “She has piles of unattended files on her table staying for over two to three months and they are not attended to. Staff have endured enough hardship under her. Staff are made to travel with their personal money without being reimbursed.” Other allegations leveled against the NIPC boss include:

Chukkas-Onaeko

Abubakar

Issuing of query to 50 staff in one day, furnishing of her office with about N30 million and arrogation of excess powers to herself. The Executive Secretary, however, denied the allegations. She said some key directors in the agency, who were indicted in a recent audit, were behind the protest at the agency’s headquarters. Umar said the audit findings showed that monies running into hundreds of millions of naira were misappropriated by the directors. She said it was the fear of being exposed that gave the directors the vent to resort to stirring up the staff of the agency to protest and ask for her removal. For now it is still peace of the graveyard at NIPC. NISTF pensioners follow suit On Monday April 27, 2015, pensioners of the Nigeria Social Trust Fund (NSITF) shut down activities at the institution over non-payment of their 58 months’ pension arrears. The protesters alleged that the Fund’s management refused and neglected to pay the approved increase by the Federal Government since July 2010. They barricaded the complex, obstructed vehicular movements in and out of the establishment. The Deputy General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Joseph Okunade, said that the protest was held against maltreatment of NUP members. Okunade said they had talked to them, written to them and taken different approaches but they turned a deaf ear, hence their protest. But in a quick reaction, NSITF said it did not owe its ex-workers, explaining that NSITF does not have the powers to pay pension and that Trustfund could only pay pension with the approval of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Lack of adequate facilities at the centre had made them spend about four years for a two-year programme

The Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs of NSITF, Aliu Zubairu, who spoke for the Fund, said that the pronouncement of a 53.37 per cent increment by the Federal Government in July 2012 fuelled agitation for pension increment by pensioners. He hinted that the only increment that had taken place was the 33 per cent for the military and that no government agency or parastatal has implemented the 53.37 per cent. Zubairu said, “It was in September 2014 that the relevant government agency released a circular approving the increases of the emoluments of public service pensioners by 33 per cent. So the issue of NSITF not paying approved increases since 2010 is mischievous. The increase was granted in September 2014 and NSITF could not have owed money not approved by the government.” While assuring that NSITF has not defaulted in the payment of pension to its ex-workers, Zubairu noted that what the pensioners were agitating for was increment on their pension, which has not been approved by PenCom. He added that all its ex-workers were paid their pensions on the 20th of every month even before workers are paid their salaries. “We are committed to effect the 33 per cent increase. Our actions reflect this commitment. Our several meetings with all stakeholders including Pencom reflect this. However, we cannot operate outside the law. We invite all concerned to join the Fund in finding a lasting solution to the issue rather than engage in actions that could distract the Fund from concentrating on the delivery of its mandate,” he stated. On his part, the Managing Director of NSITF, Munir Abubakar, announced that the Fund had raised a committee to ensure

Disruption at ITF Hundreds of Students of Model Skills Training Centre, an institution run by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), on Tuesday, April 28, disrupted activities at the corporate headquarters of the institute located in Abuja. In their numbers, students barricaded the gate to protest what one of them, George Nosakhae, described as the absence of training facilities at the nation’s foremost skills acquisition centre. Before the invasion, they had earlier sent a letter to the National Assembly calling for a full scale investigation into the activities of the ITF. In the letter of protest dated April 28, which was acknowledged by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the students called for a thorough investigation into activities at the training facility. The students alleged that lack of adequate facilities at the centre had made them spend about four years for a two-year programme. In a swift reaction, the Director General of ITF, Juliet ChukkasOnaeko, while addressing newsmen, described the situation as unfortunate and uncalled for, adding that the management of ITF has assured the students that they would graduate them when they have completed their modules. She said plans were in progress to procure more equipment for the training facility, adding that this could only be done when the budget is passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President. Chukkas-Onaeko described the problem faced by the students as an inherited problem which she has been tackling since she came on board May last year. The ITF DG expressed her empathy with the students and assured them that the management of ITF was doing all within its power to ensure the quick purchase of the needed equipment for their training, adding that the Institution couldn’t make procurements outside their budget.

Business | The Investor

he issue of raising working capital to a new minimum for the operators of the Nigerian capital market has continued to be of great concern to the market regulators, operators and other stakeholders. While other financial sectors of the Nigerian economy have been compelled to recapitalise in resent times, the last recapitalisation exercise for market operators by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was in 2004. Attempts have been made since the last exercise but they have met a brick wall. In 2008, the SEC in collaboration with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) directed the firms listed on the Exchange to increase their capital base from N20million to N1billion. It was the believe of the regulatory bodies that the firms would be able to meet the requirements to boost the market. But the issue generated a lot of controversies; pitching market operators against the regulators as the former considered the amount too outrageous. Market analysts were of the view that the directive started the first major capital market crash even before the spill over effect from Europe and America in 2008, as operators tried hard through different means to meet the capital requirement. The fall out was a run on various accounts of shareholders in different stockbroking firms, because they did not know the company that would survive the recapitalisation policy. Consequently, shareholders were giving orders to their stockbrokers to sell at any price so as to recoup their investment before the dateline. New requirements However, given the transformation ongoing in the capital market with increased volume of transactions, the board of SEC under the leadership of the immediate past Director General, Ms. Arunma Oteh in pursuant to section 313(6) of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, on December 19, 2013, issued a new capital requirement for capital market operators with December 31 as deadline for operators to recapitalise. Following the amendments, the capital requirement for broker/dealer was increased from N70 million to N300million. For broker only, the capital requirement was increased from N40 million to N200 million; while for dealer, it was raised from N30 million to N100 million. The minimum capital requirement for Issuing House was also raised from N150 million to N200 million; while that of underwriter went up from N100 million to N200 million. For a registrar in the Nigerian capital market, the minimum capital requirement rose to N150 million from N50 million; while for those in trustees business, the capital requirement was raised to N300million, from N40 million. Furthermore, the minimum capital requirement for rating agency was increased from N20 million to N150 million; while the capital requirement for corporate investment adviser remained unchaned at N5 million. From an initial capital re-

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gwarzo’s confirmation and operators’ recapitalisation Recapialisation of capital market operators has been on the card since 2008. But now that Mr. Mounir Gwarzo has been confirmed as the DG of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), would he agree to further extend the exercise? Chris Ugwu reports

the level of compliance has gone up but we are determined to keep to that September 30, no shaking, no going back. There is no going back and we are happy the way we are receiving responses from all the capital market operators,’’ he said. Current level of compliance According to reports, about 302 capital market operators have so far complied with the new capital base, as directed by the apex capital market regulator. The latest data from the SEC showed that out of 449 registered capital market operators, 302 operators have met the new capital base, representing 67 per cent compliance, while 144 operators are yet to meet the new capital requirement.

Gwazo

CEO, NSE, Oscar-Onyema

quirement of N500,000 every individual investment adviser is expected to have at least N2 million as capital; while fund/ portfolio manager’s minimum capital requirement was raised from N20 million to N150 million. These developments however, received a public outcry, as most stock brokers faulted the move, suggesting that the stock broking firms’ minimum capital should be determined by the level of business they want to do. Extension Due to consistent appeal by market operators for extension following massive sell-offs that had characterised the local bourse and concerns among market watchers that transactions in equities might not rally back in the 2014 in line with expectations by market analysts. Coupled with the drop in oil prices at the global markets and build up to general elections, the regulator extended the deadline for minimum requirement for all capital market operators to September 30, 2015 as against the initial December 31, 2014 date. The commission had acceded to the clamour for extension, citing recent economic developments as the reason for the decision to shift the deadline. SEC explained that the decision was taken after its Board met on December 22, 2014, to review the status report on the level of compliance with the new minimum capital requirement. SEC, which said its Board expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by all operators, particularly those who had complied with the new requirements, noted that 262 capital market operators had so far met the new

capital requirement. While it commended the commitment of all stakeholders to building a world-class capital market for the country, the regulator said, “The Board, however, took cognisance of the effect of the global economic situation and approved an extension of the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements by nine months, to September 30, 2015.” The decision followed sustained clamour by operators for the extension of the deadline, which was announced in December 2013.

Gwarzo should jettison the recapitalisation process now and restore investors’ confidence

Regulators’ stance The new DG SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo had while receiving members of the Council of the NSE in his office in Abuja last January, said the commission would revisit the issue of recapitalisation of operators in the nation’s capital market in June 2015. Expectations were that by June, the factors that led to the current impasse, such as the steady decline in oil price and uncertainty of general elections across the country, would have been over. Anticipations that the deadline may be further extended by the new leadership was dashed as Gwarzo recently noted that September 30 deadline for new minimum capital requirement for market operators would not be extended. The Director-General, who said the commission had no plans to extend the deadline, noted that it has come to stay. He said that the capital requirement would be implemented vigorously. “The deadline is still September and progress is being made,

Operators’ perception As the September deadline approaches, some operators have renewed calls for an extension, noting that insisting on the deadline and withdrawing the licences of those who could not meet the deadline would throw the market into crises, especially as the Exchnage had performed poorly this year. The reasons cited for the extension included lack of investors’ confidence, the dwindling prices of crude oil and the impact on the economy, especially the forced devaluation of the naira and the hike in interest rates. The Managing Director of Perfecta Securities Limited, Mr. Emma Eze while setting agenda for the new DG, said SEC should put aside the recapitalisation of stockbroking firms that is currently being pursued and first restore investors’ confidence. “He should put aside the recapitalisation process for now, the issue of new capital requirement will not reactivate the market, what will reactivate the market is restoration of investors’ confidence. Local investors’ confidence is number one because foreign investors are not helping the market. What concerns foreign investors is profit. Recapitalisation would be easier to embark upon if there is positive sentiment in the market,” he said. A senior operator on the condition of anonymity pointed out the fact that equities had depreciated significantly in value as investor sentiments had been negative for most of the year due to political and economic concerns. Conclusion Although, the future of the local bourse is still cloudy due to several factors leading to persistent low investor confidence, there is a need for stockbrokers and the authorities at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Exchange (NSE) to engage in a healthy dialogue to resolve key market issues with a view to ensuring that the market operators and regulators reach workable modalities for implementation of the policies.

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

LEAKAGES

The new administration must do everything to block financial leakages Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the background of the revelation by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister For the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the country had to borrow to pay salaries, financial

How incoming govt can tackle revenue deficits, by experts experts have urged the incoming administration to urgently devise fresh means of generating and saving revenue. Experts, who spoke at the post-election discussion series forum organised by BudgIT, a Civil Society Organisation, in Lagos, said although the country is currently passing through financial

difficulties, the situation presents an opportunity for the restructuring of the economy. Speaking at the event, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, noted that contrary to general believe, the Nigerian economy was not

dependent on oil rather it was government revenue that is dependent on oil. He stated that with oil contributing over 70 per cent of government revenue, the sharp drop in the price of the commodity has adversely affected the economy thereby making it imperative for the incoming administration to look for new ways

L-R: Managing Director, HarvestField Industries Limited, Mr. Martins Awofisayo; Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Bayer Environmental Science, Mrs. Adjo Mfodwo; Country Group Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Sylvestre Jobic and President, Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN), Mr. Ayo Ogunyadeka, during a stakeholders training and seminar on pest control in Lagos . PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

AfDB presidency: Female candidate seeks end to capital flight

he Finance Minister of Cape Verde, Cristina Duarte, who is the first woman to stand for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), said the lender should encourage wealth generated in Africa to stay on the continent. Duarte, 52, who has managed the West African island nation’s economy since 2006, is one of eight contenders to succeed Donald Kaberuka when he steps down at the end of his second five-year term in August. She said, “The main challenge in Africa, the first challenge to African policymakers, is to retain the wealth that Africa loses every year.” She cited a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa report which estimated illicit flows of money from Africa could be as much as $50 billion a year. The AfDB’s governors, which include finance ministers and central bank leaders from across the continent, will choose Kaberuka’s successor on May 28 during the bank’s annual meetings in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital of Abidjan.

Nigeria is backing its agriculture minister, Akinwumi Adesina, to head the bank, which lends to African governments and companies working on infrastructure projects and other programmes. South Africa is supporting the candidacy of Thomas Sakala, a Zimbabwean national who has worked at the AfDB for 31 years. One way African policymakers can attempt to create and retain more wealth at home would be to enact laws that promote value-added industries, Duarte said. “To increase Africa’s local value components within global value chains we need to have an empowered African private sector,” she said. “To empower the African private sector, we need financial systems that are robust.” Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands off the west coast of Africa, achieved an average per-capita economic growth rate of 7.1 per cent between 2005 and 2008, according to the World Bank. Tourism is the main driver of the economy. The exclusion of women

from sections of African economies must end, the minister said. “There are some countries in Africa today that still deny property rights to women,” she said. “If you deny property rights you deny access to financing, if you deny access to financing you deny economic opportunities.” Women’s empowerment “is not only a human right, but it is also an economic issue for Africa today, and for a structural transformation,” she said. Adesina has said he aims to increase private sector lending to curb widening inequality on the continent, while Sakala has said governments must raise more money domestically for infrastructure projects to help spur economic growth. Other candidates for the top post are Ethiopian Finance Minister Sufian Ahmed; Chadian Finance Minister Kordje Bedoumra; Jaloul Ayed, a former finance minister in Tunisia; Mali’s Birama Boubacar Sidibe, a vice president of the Islamic Development Bank; and Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Samura Kamara.

of generating fresh funds. The NBS boss said the incoming administration should focus on increasing revenue through a more effective tax administration system. He said, “What the government should do is to create a comfortable bouquet of incentives to make people pay and disincentives to encourage people not to avoid paying.” He further counseled that if the new government should consider raising taxes, it should move from direct to indirect taxes such as Value Added Tax (VAT). He, however, pointed out that the most effective way of ensuring that taxes achieve the desired goal, is for the government to increase taxes when the economy is bullish and save the extra revenue that it would make during this period to enable it get through bearish periods when it should tax less. However, responding to Kale’s comments, financial analyst and Chief Executive Officer, RTC Advisory Services Limited, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, contended that while everyone should pay tax, the level of tax compliance in the country was low because people believe that top government officials were not paying their fair share of taxes. He said the country’s tax rates are not realistic, as they are too high and are a burden on individuals and corporate organisations.

The expert advised the incoming administration not to consider raising taxes as the country’s tax rates are already too high. He noted that corporate income tax was currently above 30 per cent, adding that it was a struggle for many people to pay their personal income taxes. Agbaje argued that the incoming administration will succeed in generating more revenue not by increasing taxes but by extending the tax net and reviewing the rates so that most people who currently don’t pay tax will be encouraged to imbibe the habit. He said: “The wealthiest people in Nigeria are in government but they pay taxes based on their official salaries.” Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Proshare Nigeria, Mr Femi Awoyemi, argued that instead of considering raising taxes, the incoming administration should focus on blocking leakages in the system. He emphasised that the country was losing so much through leakages and corruption, pointing out that if this could be addressed, so much money would be saved and there would be no need to raise taxes. Awoyemi noted that the government would find it difficult getting people to pay taxes because most people believe that the authorities do not use the funds to build key infrastructure.

Arab bank provides $20m to facilitate Africa’s imports

he Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) has sealed a $20 million financial support deal with the West African Bank of Development (BOAD) to assist goods importation from Arabian countries, according to a release from the community financial institution. President of BOAD, Christian Adovelande, and General Director of BADEA, Abdelaziz Khelef, inked the convention governing the financial assistance, recently at the headquarters of the BOAD in Lome. According to the release, the financial resources will help BOAD finance West African Economic and Monetary Union (Uemoa) member

states’ goods importation operations from Arabian countries. “This support will contribute to the strengthening of BOAD short-term financial facilities provision and to the enhancement of UEMOA member states enterprises’ competitiveness”, Christian Adovelande said. Another financial support to the amount of $15 million is under negotiation and will help finance Small and Medium Size enterprises (SMEs) in the West African economic and monetary union (UEMOA) countries, the release said. BOAD is the financial institution of Uemoa, a sub-regional community of eight countries sharing the same currency CFA Francs in the West Africa.

Business | Money

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently gave banks and discount houses a three-month deadline to publish the list of their bad debtors. Would this be more effective than the similar exercise carried out in 2009? Tony Chukwunyem reports

espite the controversy that the exercise generated when it was first carried out in 2009, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) still clearly believes that naming and shaming bank debtors is an effective strategy for curbing Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the financial sector. This is obvious from the circular, which the apex bank issued to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Discount Houses a few weeks ago, directing the financial institutions to give delinquent debtors a three-month period of grace beginning from May 1, 2015, after which the names of individuals and companies whose debts remain nonperforming should be published in at least three national dailies. In the circular which was signed by the Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins and titled, “Recovery of delinquent credit facilities”, the regulator said it had noticed an increase in the level of NPLs in the industry and that it had decided to introduce measures to curb the problem. According to the directive, delinquent debtors are those whose accounts have been classified lost and include persons, entities, directors, subsidiaries and other related parties. It further stated that in addition to having their names published in newspapers, the bad debtors would be “blacklisted and banned from participating in the Nigerian foreign exchange market and the Federal Government securities market.” 2009 list of bad debtors The banking watchdog then under the leadership of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had undertaken a similar move six years ago as part of efforts to resolve a banking crisis triggered by a massive accumulation of about N2.2trillion NPLs by lenders. In a bid to get debtors to repay their debts, the CBN published lists of those that owed N100million and above. One such list, which featured the names of prominent Nigerians and politicians showed that this class of debtors owed five out of the 25 then licensed banks N450 billion. However, many of the companies and individuals whose names appeared on the lists disputed the CBN’s figures, either claiming that they owed far less than what was published or that they were not in anyway indebted to the banks. The CBN argued at the time

MD Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola

CEO Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo

How effective is naming and shaming of debtors?

that it obtained the figures from the banks’ books and that it should not be blamed for any errors. The resolution of that banking crisis cost taxpayers N400billion and also led to the establishment of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which eventually acquired the bad loans. More significantly, in the aftermath of the resolution of the 2009 crisis, the CBN also introduced a prudential limit of 5.0 per cent for the industry, leading to predictions in some quarters that NPLs would not trigger another crisis in the short to medium-term.

Oil price slump fuel NPLs’ growth According to the December 2014 Financial Stability Report (FSR) released recently by the CBN, there was a slight improvement in the quality of bank assets as NPLs declined by 4.14 per cent to N363.31 billion at end-December 2014, from N379.01 billion at end-June 2014. At 2.88 per cent, the NPL ratio however, remained within the prudential limit of 5.0 per cent. However, the report stated that sustained low oil prices may result in an increase in NPLs, given that the exposure to the oil and gas sector accounted for 25.70 per cent or N3.24 trillion of the total credits of N12.63 trillion at endDecember 2014. Bankers’ Committee’s concern But even before the release of the FSR, the Bankers’ Committee had revealed at the end of its meeting in Lagos last month that it was concerned about the increase in NPLs, dropping the hint that the industry was considering publishing the names of delinquent debtors. Speaking at the event, Di-

The funds these people borrow belong to depositors and it is wrong for them not to repay

rector, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, stated that the level of NPLs at N42.86billion was worrisome, even though it was still within the tolerable limit. The CBN Director disclosed that the volume of NPLs represented 3.5 per cent of the N15 trillion-industry loan book, stressing that there was a need to prevent it from hitting the five per cent set limit. She said, “We noticed that some debtors are not ready to pay up on their loans and one thing that we may do is to stop them from getting access to foreign exchange. Another thing is to publish the names of these borrowers that have refused to pay. We believed that in doing this; we will continue to ensure soundness in the banking sector. “We don’t want it to go beyond five per cent and we felt that urgent steps need to be taken to prevent it. We don’t want to go back to the bad situation of the past. What we are doing is to prevent these chronic borrowers from derailing the system. Some of them and their companies do go from bank to bank, but we are all out to stop them. “The loans we are talking about are not the ones that AMCON bought. The list we published in the past received positive responses and we believe that this one too will make them to come up and pay their loans.” Banks gear up to expose debtors Indeed, with the three-month grace period for the debtors commencing on the first of this month, New Telegraph findings reveal that banks have started notifying customers affected by the directive to take steps to restructure their debts. According to industry sources, in the last few weeks some bank customers

have repaid part of their debts in a bid to avoid being on the soonto-be published bad debtors’ list. Specifically, the Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, confirmed at an interactive session with financial journalists recently, that the lender had started writing to its customers about the CBN directive. Suleiman stressed that aside from acting in compliance with the CBN’s directive, Sterling Bank was keen to live up to its reputation of taking a tough stance against delinquent debtors. He said, “Of course, at the end of the grace period, we will comply with the CBN directive and publish the names of delinquent debtors. But we have also always shown that we have the courage to take such debtors to court. The funds these people borrow belong to depositors and it is wrong for them not to repay. Standing up for justice is expensive and takes time but we believe that when people borrow and refuse to repay and they get away with it because the bank does not want to go to court, that sends the dangerous signal to other borrowers that they can also borrow and not repay.” Similarly, the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, was reported by a national daily as saying that lenders were committed to tackling bad debtors. “Our focus at the Banker’s Committee was more collaborative with the general direction of the economy and to protect our depositors’ funds. What we are saying as bankers is that people cannot continue to act with impunity. You don’t go from one bank to the other taking loans you do not intend to pay,” he said. “Genuine business people and agents of development, if they borrow money and their business is experiencing challenges, they should collaborate with their banks to find solutions. But, where people become chronic debtors, moving from one bank to the other, borrowing monies they do not intend to pay, we as bankers jointly say no.” How effective? But while the banks are eager to publish the list of bad debtors, reaction to the move was mixed in industry circles as the New Telegraph found out. While most analysts contend that the measure would help to check the impunity of delinquent debtors, others question its effectiveness, citing the fact that the jury is still out on the success or otherwise of the CBN’s publication of debtors’ lists in 2009. According to them, instead of publishing debtors’ names, the CBN and the banks should follow already established procedures to ensure that debtors pay their debts. For instance, in a chat with this newspaper, Senior Financial analyst at Delta Associates, Festus Mordi, argued that the publishing the list of delinquent debtors may not lead to the recovery of the loans, which should be banks’ primary objective. As he put it, “In 2009 Sanusi tried this strategy, how much were they able to recover?”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Australia, Norway to partner NIMASA p.36 Three Norwegian civil servants have been arrested in Norway in connection with the sale of 35 years old decommissioned war boats to an individual with a history of violence in Nigeria. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

Maritime

First African container liner berths at Tincan Port p.37

Norwegians tangle over sale of war boats to Nigerian militant

he illegal sale of decommissioned boats by top Norwegian civil servants has landed them in trouble. The country’s lawmakers, who were at a loss over the shady deals, ordered the arrest of three Norwegian civil servants involved in the illegal transaction and corruption. The ships include: Six fastspeed Hauk-class guided missile boats, now re-armed with new weapons and KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft allegedly used for anti-piracy patrol in the Nigerian waters. Already, a parliamentary disciplinary committee enquiry has been set up to look into the sale of a fleet of decommissioned naval battleships and combat boats. The country’s Foreign Minister, Borge Brende, explained that the sale and export of the vessels were still not known and the state prosecutor has been ordered to seek possible criminal violations. The country’s Defence Chief, Mr. Haakon Bruun-Hansen, had admitted that military officials did not adhere to due diligence before selling the decommissioned ships. Although he was not the Chief of Defence at the time the battle ships were sold to CAS Global, Hansen, the admiral, however, apologised to the country’s lawmakers for selling the boats to a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo. His predecessor, Harald Sunde, who was in-charge when the deal was struck, apologised for the dirty transaction, saying he was disappointed over all the mistakes made. Ekpemupolo was the leader of one of the several militia groups in the Niger Delta region that led a devastating campaign of violence against the Nigeria government for several years. It was revealed that Tompolo in 2012 received at least six decommissioned Norwegian battleships, a Norwegian newspaper, Daglabet, had declared. It was learnt that the sale was hatched through a shell maritime security company based in the United Kingdom, CAS Global. CAS Global was used to evade a requirement by Norway that

Three boats acquired by NIMASA to fight pirates

arms dealers obtain export licence from their country’s foreign affairs ministry, the report added. He said: “The fact that the vessels have landed in Nigeria under Nigerian flag reflects a breakdown in our systems, and I apologise for that.” He, however, blamed the breakdown of due diligence in the sale of the vessel to a reorganisation at the defence department’s logistics organisation (FLO), at the time the transactions were made. It was noted that Ekpemupolo runs Global West Vessel Service, which handles maritime security for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). It would be recalled that after the deal became public in December 2014, the Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, claimed the vessels were purchased as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy. He said that the navy had rearmed the vessels to enable it effectively carry out its anti-piracy patrol. Akpobolokemi had said: “As an arm of the government responsible for maritime safety, security and regulations amongst others, we work in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies to use their men and arms to patrol and provide safety of the country’s water ways, as mandated by the global body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).”

The fact that the vessels have landed in Nigeria under country’s flag reflects a breakdown in our systems

He noted that the ex-militant, Ekpemukpolo, bought decommissioned gun boats and not warships for the Nigerian Navy. The director general noted that the boats were for the purpose of combating piracy, oil theft and other sea crimes. Akpobolokemi added that the decommissioned boats were provided for the Navy on behalf of NIMASA. Ekpemukpolo sits on the board of Global West Vessels Specialists Limited (GWVSL), a company the agency awarded a multi-million dollar contract to provide anti-piracy platforms, while NIMASA maintains a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navy on anti-piracy, oil theft and other sea crimes. The contract to GWVSL was signed in February 2012 and is renewed annually based on satisfactory performance. The director general, who defended the action, said: “It is obvious that those who are involved in oil theft and sea crimes are the ones sponsoring the report that Tompolo bought warships. That is sheer blackmail and we will not yield to blackmail. “When pirates are ravaging somewhere in the sea, you won’t have to wait for bureaucratic processes to provide bunker. It is a time-bound action. The involvement of a private company in providing platforms for us is one of the best decisions we have ever made in this agency. Now, we have absolute coverage of the Nigerian waters and can respond

to any distress call anywhere in our waters. “What we have are boats that were acquired for the Navy and the guns mounted on them right now are mounted by the Nigerian Navy. They are manned by the Navy. Honestly I don’t know what to do to make our people happy anymore.” He said the involvement of a private company in the acquisition of maritime platforms had enabled the agency deliver on its mandate as the securer of the country’s coasts. But Ekpemukpolo, however, denied his involvement in the war ships deal, noting that the rumours were part of attempts to tarnish his image. In a released by his spokesperson, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Ekpemukpolo said the blackmail was coming at a crucial time that Nigeria was facing serious security challenges and the most decisive moment for the nation, which was the 2015 election. “For one, the initial reaction was to just ignore this cheap blackmail and forge ahead with personal commitments but the propensity with which these lies are daily peddled requires that a bit of clarifications is given to the Nigerian public. “Clearly, the intent of those behind the malicious media report is to weigh me down, paint me as someone with the desire to wage war against the Nigerian state by painting a picture of an arms build-up in the Niger Delta as 2015 approaches,” he said.

Business | Maritime

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Australia, Norway to partner NIMASA on capacity devt TRAINING Nigeria seeks expertise from other countries Bayo Akomolafe

ustralia and Norway have resolved to partner with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in the provision of technical support and human

capacity development. The Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Angela Tierney, who was on a visit to the agency office in Lagos, said that her country would be willing to work with NIMASA in building the requisite capacity for the industry. The Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Rolf Ree, also said that his country was ready to provide a technical support to NIMASA towards realising the full potential of the Nigerian

maritime industry. The agency’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi , in a release, said that the Australian High Commissioner and the Norwegian Ambassador separately met the Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, on capacity building. Akpobolokemi explained that the agency would appreciate partnership with major maritime nations such as Australia and Norway in the area of capacity building.

He said: “Australia is a nation that enjoys high respect among the comity of maritime nations and partnership with your country will surely help us realise the potential of building a competent workforce that is poised to take the Nigerian maritime sector to greater heights.” Also in a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador, Akpobolokemi noted: “The support so far given the Agency by your country has been of immense benefit to the

maritime sector locally.” He urged them not to relent in their support, as such would continue to help growing maritime nations like Nigeria. The director general assured the Envoys of an improvement in monitoring Nigeria’s maritime domain in real time using a satellite surveillance system that covers the whole of Nigeria’s coast and the Gulf of Guinea. This progress, he said, should attract more commercial ac-

tivities from around the world. Meanwhile, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Danjuma Dabo, has stressed the need to overhaul the agency. He noted that there was sufficient ground to believe that the agency had allowed partisanship to germinate. Dabo said: “We have no reasons to believe some of those stories that NIMASA is this or that; but our empirical observation shows that the agency is partisan. “Personally, I will not support anyone to speak anyhow on NIMASA, except such statements are backed by facts and figures. “I am talking as an industry expert; as somebody who has been there before. But when I was there the agency was not partisan. Not at all. NIMASA was never partisan when we were there. We all did our work professionally. We made sure every worker did his work professionally. And when we left, we left as professionals leaving behind, a very vibrant agency.”

Ship owners scrap 52 vessels in four months

ata by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has revealed that 52 capsize ships with a total 8.4 million dead weight were scrapped in the first four months of 2015. The council noted that since the beginning of the year, demolition had gone up for all of the ship sizes within the dry bulk segment with capsizes topping the charts. Last year, it said that 25 capsize ships totaling more than 4.2million dead weight (dwt) were scrapped. With not even half of the year complete the numbers have already more than doubled. The council’s Chief Shipping Analyst, Mr. Peter Sand, said: “The numbers are hastily approaching the level of 2012 where a record total of 70 capsize ships were scrapped. “The increase in capsize scrapping comes at a much needed time for the market. Looking at the development so far this years the fleet growth has actually been negative, with a reduction of 0.8 per cent.”

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

First African container liner berths at Tincan Port NEW PLAYER New shipping line to respond to international trade in Morocco and W’Africa countries Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

container ship, MV Orient Spirit, has made its first call in Lagos at Terminal C of Tin Can Island Port. The ship is privately-owned by MNM African Shipping Line. The shipping line has ap-

pointed two subsidiaries of Sifax Group Sifax Shipping Nigeria Limited and Sifax Ghana Limited, as its official agents in Nigeria and Ghana respectively. The liner, which made its first call at Barcelona port recently with MV Orient Spirit, has begun a fortnight service in West Africa. The African container line would also service ports in Barcelona, Sagunto, Tangier, Casablanca, Agadir, Nouakchott, Dakar, Conakry, Lagos, Tema and Abidjan. It was learnt that the emergence of the shipping line marked the beginning of a new actor on the African mari-

time and logistics landscape, which aims to respond to international trade in Morocco and West African countries. Speaking on the relationship with Sifax Group, Mr. Manal Guemmah, MNM’s Director of Commercial and Marketing, said that the appointment further validates the experience, integrity and high business rating that it enjoys in its areas of operations. He said: “MNM’s market entry strategy involves forming alliances with organisations and businesses that share similar business vision and philosophy with our company.

Sifax Group has distinguished itself in Nigeria’s maritime industry for about three decades. Its experience is solid while its drive for excellence and success is inspiring. We are highly privileged to enter into this partnership with Sifax Group both in Ghana and Nigeria.” On his part, the Head, Shipping, Sifax Group, Mr. Henry Ajoh, expressed the readiness of the company to deliver the excellent value that had become its trade mark over the years. He stressed: “This partnership with MNM would deepen our participation and contri-

bution in facilitating international trade across Africa and Europe. We have been deploying all our resources and expertise to make the business venture a massive success. We have had extensive discussions with importers, exporters, local agents and government agencies in order to achieve all set objectives.” The Sifax Group has appointed Olumuyiwa Akande as its new Corporate Affairs Manager. He took over from Mr. Oliver Omajuwa, who has been promoted General Manager, Shipping.

Expert advises Buhari on appointments in maritime COMPETENCE Only professionals can drive Nigerian maritime

for mer Consultant to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Captain Solomon Omoteso, has advised the president elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to appoint professionals to drive the nation’s maritime industry. He said that the desired change, which the Nigerian maritime industry stakeholders were envisaging from General Muhammadu Buhari may not materialise if the incoming President fills the boardmembers slots with only contractors and politicians. The consultant also pleaded with Buhari to always consider first, the options of those still in service and those with relevant experience as parastatal arrowheads, before rewarding politicians and political associates who totally lack the desired competence. Omoteso noted that it was the wholesale appointment of different categories of contractors as board members that had weakened most parastatals’ output. He urged the incoming President to ensure the appointment of quality industry operators and core stakeholders into the government parastatal boards, particularly for parastatals in the maritime industry. Omoteso tasked professional bodies in the industry, particularly the Maritime Law Association; Master Mariner Association; and Marine Engineers and Surveyors to demonstrate their preparedness to assist in pushing the country forward. He noted: “Government maritime parastatals often spelt clearly the qualifications of those who shall be on the boards. “This has been one of our major problems in the maritime industry. The board is often very weak. A situation

where a board could not make meaningful contributions to important issues within the first six or seven months is not in the best interest of the country. “If you have a board of directors in NPA today, where for the next seven or eight months, some are still visiting the port because they don’t know what the port is all about, such would not be in anyone’s best interest. “Or if you assembled board members that are contractors; and you then cap it with a Managing Director who is seasoned, the lapses would still show.” He used the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) as a good example, noting that the country had made such mistakes in the past Omoteso noted that the first mistake was when an outsider was made the managing director. “You knew what followed. Now that they are bringing another one we should not be surprised if the same thing happens. “If you bring a board of directors that are contractors and they are lucky to have a seasoned managing director, if at the end of the day you also appoint executive directors that are politically biased, what do you want the managing director to do? “So, we should also be talking of a succession programme like it’s being done in vibrant parastatals. It’s not being done in NIMASA. They bring them from nowhere, so they also get nowhere!” Noting that the board means a lot, he said when a remarkable board is appointed, there is the tendency that the board will divide into sub-committees to monitor different aspects of the organisation. The consultant said that the president -elect should go back to the drawing board to examine these board members in order to see who should or should not be a board member. “Establishing these boards may be the starting point and then we can make headway,” he stressed.

Some containers stacked at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa for cleaance

Customs impound N250m fake drugs in Owerri l182 vehicles, 780 bales of second-hand clothes

he Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, an anti-smuggling unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Owerri, has seized a total of 1,777 cartons of fake and sub-standard drugs, Super mebendazole and levamisole hydrochloride, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N251 million. The fake drugs, according to its Area Controller, Dimka Victor David, came into the country without NAFDAC registration, manufacturing batch numbers and expiration dates. This implies that the importers have no value for human life. Dimka, who also displayed 193 bales of fairly used jumbo school bags seized by his men and 780 bales of second hand clothing impounded on the Eleme/Aba road, warned against buying of used and expired tyres, often criminally smuggled into the country. Other seizures are fur-

niture, 599 bags of 50kilogramme long grain parboiled rice and 182 flashy vehicles. Dimka explained that the truck conveying the super mebendazole tablets was impounded on the Benin/ Edo expressway, following a tip off by some patriotic individuals. The comptroller noted that the drug baron on sighting NCS officials at a close range, fled into the bush and escaped on foot. The driver of the truck was, however, arrested and is now helping in the investigation. He said that the contraband had been handed over to the Directors of NAFDAC in-charge of Imo and Edo states, Messrs Mammael Victor and David West on behalf of the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, for further investigation. He expressed concerns over the rampant cases of smuggling of illicit, unregistered, controlled drugs and contraband goods in

the country despite the obvious severe consequences on those arrested. Dimka regretted that while many Nigerians preoccupied themselves with ideas to move the nation forward and acquire decent means of livelihood, few others shamelessly engaged themselves in acts capable of bringing the nation to ruins. He warned smugglers, their agents and collaborators to turn a new leaf before the long arm of the law catches up with them. The comptroller said that the Nigeria Customs Service was better equipped, informed, trained and mobilised to dislodge smugglers wherever they operate. He appealed to members of the public with useful information about smugglers to always make them available to the nearest Customs command for necessary action, pledging that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

WEDNESday, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Sani Malami, presenting an award to Chairperson, Katagum Traditional Birth Attendants, Hajia Kuwa Adamu, at the Bauchi State Mamaye Launch and Performance award presentation held in Bauchi.

L-R: Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Oladimeji Oduyebo; Executive Director, Children Emergency Relief Foundation (CERF), Mrs. Abosede Oyeleye and Head, Human Resource, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs. Adejoke Alli, at the cheque presentation to CERF, as part of Fidson’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) programme for scholarship in Lagos.

L-R: Mr. Olushola Obikanye; Acting Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Kaduna, Mrs. Folashade Adigun; Chairman of Tractor Owners & Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN), Alhaji Danladi Garba; Head of Department, FCMB, Mr. Kudzai Gumunyu and Mr. Kamardeen Usman of the Agric Business Department, at the handing over of 67 units of tractors, financed by FCMB, to the Association in Zaria, Kaduna State.

L-R: Member, Junior Chambers International (JCI), FESTAC, Paul Nwachukwu; member, Jemmynat Oyindamola; matron, Beth Torrey Home; Mrs. Veronica Obi; President, JCI, FESTAC, Oluwatoyin Atanda and Vice-President, Olubukola Agbaje, during the club’s outreach to mentally-challenged children in Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

Photo | News 39

L-R: One of the judges of the contest, Alhaji Sikiru Agboola of SK Sensation Band; Yoruba movie actor, Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri); Brand Manager, Goldberg, Mfon Bassey; Yoruba movie producer/actor, Odunlade Adekola and Splash FM on air personality, Bayo Faleke, at the quarter final of the ‘Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam’ selection in Ibadan.

L-R: Member-elect, Eti Osa Constituency 1, Lagos State House of Assembly, Kasim Alimi; Member-elect, Nsit/Ubim Constituency, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiiok Luke and Member-elect for Eti Osa Constituency 2, Lagos, Gbolahan Yishawu, at the Induction Certificate Course for Legislators of the State’s Houses of Assembly in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Managing Director, Zeph Associates, Mr. Tochukwu Nwosu; Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ikpoki; Managing Director, Correspondence Limited, Mr. Mike Ojiakor and General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, at the 2015 MTN Golf Championship dinner in Lagos.

President of Rotary Club District 9125 of Jos, Mr. Santos Larab (left), presenting tri-cycle wheelchairs to the physically challenged persons in Jos. PHOTO-NAN

40 Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate’s last-minute rush for passage of bills CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

climate change and national security, observing that bush burning has become a common standard, which must be discouraged, saying, “felling trees has also become a very common thing and ought to be discouraged, as well. This bill is timely and should be speedily passed.” In his remarks, Senate President David Mark pointed out that any problem that negatively affected 43 per cent of the

nation’s population is serious enough to be given urgent attention. “I hope the agency would do what the bill has asked it to do in practical terms. Members of the agency must be on ground to do what they ought to do,” he said. The bill was unanimously passed by overwhelming voice vote and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Agriculture for further legislative inputs. The committee was mandated to report back

to the Chamber within one week. Oil and Gas Export Free zones Bill The Senate also on Thursday May 7, passed the Oil and Gas Export Free Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Odion Ugbesia (PDP-Edo Central), provides for the designation and establishment of oil free zones and sub-zones, which will act as catalysts for economic growth and

development in Nigeria. Ugbesia, while reacting to the passage of the bill, explained that it would provide strong legislative background for the authority of the oil and gas industry to function properly and legally for better results for the country. He said that the bill, when signed into law, would make it compulsory for the appointment of the board chairman to be subjected to Senate approval, unlike the current practice whereby the

chairman was appointed without recourse to the parliament. Apart from this, the other feature captured in the bill is that tax holidays will be enjoyed fully by the operators of oil and gas in the industry because free zones all over the world observe tax holidays. This in itself provides the opportunity for free zones to contribute to the growth of the economy. It will also encourage industrial development in the country. The sponsor of the bill

lamented that the oil and gas industry in the country had been negating the global best practices in its operations over the years due to the absence of proper legal framework to regulate the operations of the industry. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary on that day, said that the passage of the bill is a major milestone in the quest to improve the oil and gas industry in the country, and therefore, commended his colleagues and other stakeholders in the industry for their efforts towards ensuring the passage of the bill. He said: “We know that the oil and gas is a major contributor to our economy and as a responsible legislative house, we will continue to partner with government and on behalf of our people improve the governance of this very vital sector. What we have done today is essentially a discharge of this commitment and I want to thank you all for ensuring that this bill is passed.” AMCOM (Amendment) Bill, 2015 Another important bill which was also passed by the Senate last week Thursday was the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Amendment Bill 2015, which was sponsored by Senator Bassey Otu (PDPCross River South). The amendment bill seeks to clarify the scope of AMCON’s powers to achieve intended objectives without undue interference with its ability to do so. Also, if signed into law by the President, the bill will enable the organisation to purchase nonperforming loans from Deposit Money Banks (DMPs) and recapitalise technically insolvent banks, as well as enhance availability of credit to critical sectors of the economy. Commenting on the passage of the bill, Ekweremadu explained that the commitment of the Senate to the passage of the bill was to facilitate the sustenance of a stable economic system in the country. With this seeming commitment by the Senate to fast track passage of pending bills in the last lap of this Assembly, it is expected that more bills would be passed and transmitted to the President for assent before the expiration of the 7th National Assembly next month.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

UWAKWE ABUGU writes on the political impasse between Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and some members of the state House of Assembly

How ambition, financial gains tore Chime, lawmakers apart

efore now, the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in Enugu State has been smooth-sailing. However, the serenity between the two arms of government has been tampered within the last one month, thereby bringing out curiosity in political pundits who have continued to observe the sordid drama that has pitched former allies against themselves in the Coal City State. In the past eight years, precisely since May 29, 2007, there has been a seamless operation of governance among the executive, the legislative and the judicial arms of government in the state. And critical observers had continued to look on with some measure of cynicism while admirers of Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been the chief driver of the rosy companionship have never stopped hailing the lawyer and former Attorney-General of the state as a man full of appropriate wisdom to have been able to navigate the very murky waters of politics without rancour. However, that invincible outlook has now become history just at the twilight of the governor’s administration. But arguably “stubborn” as ever before even in the face of these conflagrations that have critically marred the relationship he had enjoyed with the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, and the leadership of the House, the governor came off clearly unruffled, talking tough and taunted the dramatis personae on the other side of the debacle. In fact, Chime called their bluff when he declared last week Monday that the lawmakers lacked the capacity to muster a quorum that can impeach him legally in line with the provisions of the constitution on removal of a state governor. In the same manner, with all the elements of surprise on the part of the onlookers, especially in the past few weeks, Speaker Odo continued to preside over plenary and other sessions of the House for the sole purpose of hitting Chime below the belt. In fact, penultimate Monday, the day the crisis degenerated to a point of confusion and pandemonium, the Majority Leader of the 24-member legislature, Hon. Sunday UdeOkoye, a known ally of the Government House, called the governor names while the speaker berated the state’s helmsman for allegedly intimidating the lawmakers. Odo had also led the state Assembly into hassling Chime’s aides, ‘dragging’ some to the floor of the Assembly’s chamber to answer queries on certain allegations against the administration and even issued warrants of arrest on the state AccountantGeneral, Paschal Okolie. It even further deepened to calling in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to audit the financial dealings of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education

Chime

Odo

Board (ENSUBEB) and giving legislative order for the freezing of the accounts of the board. The foregoing scenarios are offshoots of several factors that crept in and gradually severed the relationship between the governor and some leaders of the state Assembly. How and why things fell apart Two principal issues came to the fore as the reason the governor and the speaker parted ways. One of such factors is the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election in the state, which produced Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Governor-elect. Ugwuanyi was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the ruling party in the state. Odo had passionately sought to be governor in this coming dispensation. A good number of the political pundits in the state thought he had a good chance of getting Chime’s endorsement having played a major role to stabilise the administration in the days of the governor’s long absence from the country owing to ill-health. And it was rumoured in several quarters that he exuded confidence in plunging into the race on that basis. And it seemed a plausible path of reasoning since he could have worked with Chime’s former deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, to remove the governor constitutionally during that controversial period but he chose to align and work with the governor’s former confidant and erstwhile powerful Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who held the administration till Chime returned. It was alleged that in powering his ambition, Odo had tacitly tipped Ude-Okoye, his present partner in moving against the governor, to be his running mate for the governorship race. Although it is now history that the dream of the speaker and majority leader of the House could no longer be realised, it seems part of their present dispositions could be linked to that failed bids. Last Monday when Chime held a long session with some journal-

He wept in my house. He cried o! So, he has been looking for a way to recoup his election expenses

ists at the Government House, Enugu, he made references to this factor. The governor accused the speaker of embarking on a vendetta mission along with UdeOkoye because they could not be governor and deputy. Chime had said: “The speaker ran for the office of governor. He came to me for endorsement after he had started pasting his posters all over the place but I told him to remember the method in our PDP family, that he should get endorsement from his Enugu North senatorial zone. “When we met with the people, they almost unanimously endorsed this present governor-elect. I now invited the speaker to my residence and reminded him of our earlier discussion on the matter and he said yes. And he wept in my house. He cried o! So, he has been looking for a way to recoup his election expenses but coming to me was a wrong place because I advised him early enough not to continue to campaign after our candidate had been endorsed,” the governor posited. Interestingly, the second factor is linked to the first one. There has been a controversy surrounding an N11 billion loan request by the governor which was approved on November 13, 2014 by the Odoled legislature for the purpose of finishing some on-going capital projects in the state. Chime also explained his administration’s new request for a revalidation of that approval. According to him, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) which is giving the facility to refinance earlier ones given by another commercial bank had sought a new status of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) for the loan and demanded a new approval by the assembly prompting the return journey to the House. However, the governor alleged that the present hostilities against him was attributable to his refusal to give in to financial demands made by some members as a condition for approving his request for the loan. Yet, he shocked his audience when he revealed that on meeting

the brick wall in the financial demands of the House, he returned to the bank which has eventually given a waiver and allowed his government to access the fund already being used for financing projects currently under completion. But on his part, Speaker Odo who is leading the opposition against Chime explained the genesis of the problem. According to him, “the genesis of the problem in Enugu State is the rejection of the N11 billion loan that the governor forwarded to the House and the Assembly turned it down. That was just the genesis of the problem. And then, thereafter, the governor has been hunting members of the House of Assembly as if he is hunting some fowls.” The speaker did not mention that the same loan had been approved last November as the governor claimed and showed a copy of the House resolution. Again, whereas the speaker alleged that the governor forged a supplementary appropriation bill of the state for 2012 and tried to make the House approve it in 2015, Chime denied the allegation and said the appropriation bill for that year was published as a public document and that what the House was alleging was strange to him. Moreover, he said it was within that period that he was absent and presumed dead by some media reports and that he couldn’t have forged a supplementary bill by that time. Odo had alleged in an interview that the bill was to the tune of about N12 billion but the governor further explained that what happened with the year’s budget was an adjustment of the capital and recurrent expenditure in view of the quantum of important capital projects embarked on by the government. Although in the gale of allegations and counter-allegations from both sides, the governor’s side has not mentioned the specific amount demanded by the House, especially the speaker and the majority leader. Sources close to the Government House said some legislators may have asked Chime to part with a whopping N500 million as a condition for revalidating the loan. Yet, unknown to newsmen and most members of the public, it was not a fresh N11 billion loan request that was before the assembly but the old one of last year. Initially, there was a public outcry against the governor when the controversy broke out and the House was reported as turning down a fresh N11 billion loan by the governor. Odo had stated that his group moved to stop the loan in public interest reasoning that Chime’s government that was winding down did not have to leave such a debt that would be repaid by the incoming administration in the next three years. Chime maintained that it was pecuniary interest that has guided the present revolt against his adCONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Council of State ratifies transition programme Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Council of State yesterday ratified the programme of both the transition committees of the outgoing government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the incoming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari for the final transfer of power on May 29. The council, which comprises all former presidents and heads of state, past Chief Justices of the Federation, the 36 states governors and leaders of the National Assembly, met with Jonathan at a valedictory session in Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State who was joined by his Benue State counterpart, Mr. Gabriel Suswam said on May 22, there would be prayer marking the ceremony while an interdenominational church service would be held on May 24. According to him, May 28 remains the handover of notes to the incoming government at a dinner while the next day, the Buhari administration will be inaugurated. Also on May 28, the

lJonathan leads president-elect on tour of Aso Rock May 28 president will conduct the president-elect and the Vice-President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, around the Aso Rock to familiarise them with the environment in the seat of power. Aliyu said there would also be a lunch and a gala night on the same day of the inauguration. Explaining further on the issue of the handover notes on May 28, Aliyu said: “It is only a technicality. Technically, May 29 is for the man taking over. “For handing over documents, you don’t wait until that May 29 because after the inauguration, the transition committee may continue. If you recall, when President Jonathan came on board, he inaugurated the General Danjuma’s committee to look at all the documents that were handed over to them and make recommendations. So it is a continuous thing. “Invitations have been sent out to all the presidents of African countries, including presidents and prime ministers of the G8, multilateral heads like the United Nations, Commonwealth, ECOWAS, African Union. We expect a beautiful ceremony on the May 29.

How ambition, financial gains tore Chime, lawmakers apart CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

ministration. In fact, while answering a question during the interaction at the Government House, the governor was emphatic when he told reporters: “You should go and ask them why now? They are the ones that are the criminals because some of these things for which they are accusing me were consummated during my first term in office. So, why now?” Intervention of the Governor-elect Some 24 hours after the turmoil, there was a sudden reign of calmness in the political terrain charged to an all-time high by the executive-legislative muscle flexing. The new positive development came as the governor-elect of the state, Ugwuanyi, hosted the feuding lawmakers who had split into rival camps in the wake of the hostility with Chime. On that occasion, the leaders of the two factions of the Assembly came together, parleyed to resolve

the crisis and finally agreed to observe a ceasefire in the next two weeks. The meeting was held in the Enugu residence of the Governor-elect. They also dined and wined together. One person each from the two factions spoke to affirm the outcome of the truce meeting. Hon. Michael Onyeze representing Ignoeze North 1 constituency spoke for the Odo faction while Hon. Joseph Ugwumba representing Enugu-East rural constituency spoke for the Chinedu Nwamba faction. They stated that within the period of ceasefire, the Assembly complex would remain shut and can only be accessed when there is an emergency of public interest requiring the attention of the House. Though a ceasefire has been brokered by the Governor-elect, it is only left to be seen whether the tranquillity would be permanent or would fire up another round of bickering between the two arms of government.

Jonathan

Suswam also said during the meeting, the council decided that going forward, there should be a template in which all transition committees must follow on handover to new administrations. “The council decided that henceforth there has to be a template in which transition will follow, we have never had it. This is the first time one is going

Buhari

to be developed, so that there is no speculation as to what needs to be done as everything will be in a template. “There is a transition whether it is from the same party to the same party or from one party to another. It is the same template. You will recall that we have never had a template in which to follow and how we go about

our transition but what is going to happen this time around is going to be permanent.” According to him, the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), also briefed members on the security situation in the country, including the issue of Boko Haram and the level of successes recorded so far by security forces.

Suswam said: “The summary of what the NSA presented to council was to say that Nigeria is now better prepared than it was three years back in fighting any form of insurgency because outside the immediate surrounding countries, the international community have also keyed in to give serious assistance.”

Senate Presidency: Ilorin Emirate backs Saraki Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he quest by Senator Bukola Saraki to become the next Senate President of the 8th Assembly received a boost yesterday from his home front as the umbrella organisation for all socio-cultural associations in Ilorin Emirate, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), threw its weight behind the lawmaker. National President of IEDPU, Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, who addressed newsmen on the issue in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, called on “all political leaders and groups across the nation to seriously consider Kwara and specifically Senator Saraki for the exalted position of Senate President for the sake of equity, fair play and justice.” Adi, who declared that Saraki is eminently qualified for the position, also decried what he termed marginalisation of Kwara State in the North Central, pointing out that it is only the old Kwara State which makes up Kwara and Kogi that has not been fortunate and opportune to occupy such exalted positions He said: “While the old Benue Plateau has produced the longest serving Head of State, three Senate

Presidents including the incumbent, the small part of old NorthWestern state (now Niger) has produced two Heads of State, it is only old Kwara State which makes up of Kwara and Kogi that has not been fortunate and opportune to occupy such exalted positions. “While the union is apolitical and will remain so for the overall development of our people, it is incumbent on us to react to issues that affect our people as presently constituted and the future generation. It is in view of this that we wish to make our position clearly stated. “Nigerian nation as we all know is composed of tribal and linguistic nationalities which compete from time to time among themselves for national leadership and control. The political parties have always been conscious of this diversity and try to manage the situation reasonably and amicably for the purpose of moving the nation forward. It is therefore not strange for the political parties to put into consideration the socio-cultural heterogeneity when considering political positions. “We are therefore deeply concerned that within northern political arrangement to which Ilorin Emirate squarely belongs with all commitment and loyalty, the area is continuously being marginalised for unspecified reasons. “It is rather surprising that the

candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for the post of Senate President could become controversial despite his unparalleled nationalistic posture for which we have reasons. “First, he has successfully governed his heterogeneous state for eight years during which he performed creditably well as chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). Indeed, it was due to his administrative sagacity and political dexterity that the novel body of NGF became glamorous, enviable to the extent that its chairmanship has become competitive. “Second, Senator Bukola Saraki is noted for fairness, equality and adherence to principle of shifting political offices. For example, against all odds despite the fact that Ilorin Emirate (Kwara Central) has about 60 per cent voting population in the state, he supported the shifting of the governorship position to another senatorial district, thereby denying his own sibling looking for the same position. “Third, Saraki like his father is a bridge builder, highly detribalised and listening politician. On different occasions, the union had had cause to disagree with government policies at the state level and the gentleman had regularly shown understanding and maturity in handling such matters.”

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

to be reminded that it was time for a rethink if he is to remain relevant in the state’s politics. Though Udenwa did not contest for any elective position in the March/April general elections, his collaboration with the PDP leadership in the state to unseat the Okorocha-led APC government failed. Mike Ahamba: Lost PDP, APC governorship tickets When Ahamba (SAN), a long time ally and lawyer to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, dumped the APC for the PDP, his argument was that the decision was based on a well thought decision to dump “ a sinking ship and join a more progressive movement, devoid of deceit with purposeful leadership quality.” The renowned legal luminary also accused the APC of not publishing its manifesto after more than eight months of existence, thereby keeping its membership and the polity in a blindfold as to its true objectives; inviting governors into its fold for the purpose of using them to secure funds for election purposes and lack of concern for the wellbeing of the generality of the society, particularly the less privileged. The catalogue of accusations, notwithstanding, it was said that Ahamba jumped ship when members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (a party formed by Buhari), he led to APC were shortchanged in the distribution of offices in Imo State, and when it was clear that his governorship ambition would not fly. The same ambition failed to fly even with his return to the PDP even when Ahamba described the party as one not parochialised either ethnically or religiously. He was beaten alongside others in the PDP governorship ticket by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who eventually lost to Governor Okorocha. Fani-Kayode: Attacking and defending Jonathan Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was a member of APC as at the time the party was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2013. FFK as Femi Fani-Kayode is fondly called, was an active member of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and a card carrying member of the PDP. Since he left Obasanjo’s cabinet in May 2007, Fani-Kayode remained one of the vocal voices on national issues. He was one of the critics of President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration and his discomfort for the president and PDP leadership made him to announce his defection to the yet to be registered APC on May 27, 2013. He said his decision to join APC was based on his conviction on the need for positive change in the country as the Jonathan administration has not lived up to expectations. But to the surprise of many, Fani-Kayode on April 8, 2014 returned to the PDP. He said he dumped the opposition party based on the alleged plan by APC to field two Muslims as presidential candidate and running mate for the 2015 general elections. He

Godsons demystify godfathers pate in the April 11 governorship election. With APC victory at federal and state levels, Marwa and Gundiri may be in political oblivion for the next four years.

Udenwa

also listed religion and sympathy for Boko Haram terrorist group on the part of the opposition party among others as reasons for leaving the APC. Prior to the 2015 general elections, Fani-Kayode was appointed Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation. He was at the forefront of the PDP campaign defending the Jonathan administration and attacking the opposition APC, especially its leaders like General Buhari and Tinubu. With the failed re-election bid of President Jonathan, FaniKayode has said he will remain in the PDP. The former minister will now spend part of his time defending the corruption charges against him court being pressed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Buba Marwa/Marcus Gundiri Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa and Engr. Marcus Gundiri were founding members of the APC in Adamawa State. Marwa was the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct CPC while Gundiri flew the flag of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011. Marwa was a former Military Administrator of Borno and Lagos states during Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha’s regimes. He ventured into partisan politics after forceful retirement from the military. Prior to the 2007 general elections, the former military administrator declared his interest to run for the presidency but the bid was unsuccessful. He was later appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa by late President Umar Yar’Adua in 2007. Marwa in 2010 also declared his intention to unseat former Adamawa State governor, Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako. He took part in the PDP gubernatorial primaries and lost to Nyako. Dissatisfied with the conduct of the primaries, he left the PDP to CPC. He took part in the party’s primaries and emerged as CPC flag bearer but lost to Nyako in the main election. Gundiri, an engineer turned

Ahamba

politician, who hails from Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State was a DirectorGeneral and Commissioner of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development between 1978 and 1991 in the defunct Gongola State. He was also appointed Deputy Director and later Director in charge of all Federal Government dams and reservoirs in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources between 1999 and 2009. With the merger of three opposition parties that led to the emergence of the APC, many people had thought that Marwa and Gundiri would benefit from the process but the mass defection of five PDP governors and other political gladiators to APC changed the calculation. The defection of former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and Nyako to APC forced Marwa and Gundiri to move to the PDP in pursuit of their gubernatorial aspiration. Declaring for PDP on March 30, 2014, Marwa accused APC national leadership of handing over the party structure in the state to Nyako who only joined the APC after its formation. The former Military Administrator said his supporters were marginalised during the APC membership registration in the state, adding that he would not accept a situation where the state governor who came from PDP, would just take over the party structure from “the original founders in the state.” He therefore promised to dialogue with the PDP so as to ensure he got a fair deal in the party. Gundiri was on the same page with Marwa as he also condemned the decision of APC national leadership to hand over the party’s structures in Adamawa State to Governor Nyako. Marwa and Gundiri’s adventure in the PDP was not sweet as they thought it would be. Both lost the opportunity of picking the party gubernatorial ticket on two occasions; 2014 supplementary governorship election and 2015 governorship election. While Gunduri succeeded in picking the SDP governorship ticket, Marwa could not partici-

The owner of a home need not be displaced to give any false sense of friendship to a stranger

Dele Belgore: Parting ways with the progressives Belgore, a lawyer turned politician, is a former ACN governorship candidate in Kwara State. He was part and parcel of the process that led to the formation of APC. Belgore, who became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001, joined partisan politics in 2010 and contest for Kwara State governorship ticket on the platform of ACN. He won the party’s ticket for April 2011 poll but lost to the PDP candidate, Abdulfatai Ahmed, the incumbent governor. After the election, he was actively involved in the methamorphosing of the ACN to APC before defecting to the PDP in pursuit of his aspiration to govern Kwara State. Prior to the defection of former governor of Kwara State and now Senator representing Kwara Central, Senator Bukola Saraki; his successor, Governor Ahmed and many other PDP chieftains to APC, Belgore was calling the shot in the state APC. But the entrance of the PDP members into the party divided the APC into two factions led by Saraki and Belgore. With APC national leadership support, the party’s structure was handed over to Saraki. The development forced Belgore and his supporters to dump APC for PDP. Announcing his defection, Belgore said the expectations and the anxieties of the people have been dashed by happenings in the APC which they laboured to nurture to a party of choice in Kwara from its ACN days. He added that his group rejected alliance of politics of patronage, denial of meritbased opportunity and running the state like personal assets. “APC leadership had in seeking to satisfy a few; alienated the rank and file, and many soul of the party. The owner of a home need not be displaced to give any false sense of friendship to a stranger. No positive change was possible where the authentic people have to coexist with the same elements that the people of Kwara wanted to dislodge. “We are joining hands with other like-minds in the PDP, who were unjustly shut out because of their progressive bent to endear the party to the people of Kwara. Together we will work to advocate and bring about economic liberation, equal opportunity for all and positive development to our dear state and its people,” he said. Belgore later took part in the PDP governorship primaries and lost woefully to Senator Simon Ajibola who also lost the April 11 governorship election to Governor Ahmed, the APC candidate. Apart from losing the governorship election in Kwara, PDP also lost the presidential election, and this has practically sealed the hope of Belgore getting any juicy appointments at federal or state level, which he would have automatically get in the APC administration if he had remained in the party.

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Forex dealers finalise proposals on relaxing CBN rules

ARBITRAGE

Dealers move to resolve problems of liquidity and speculation Tony Chukwunyem

oreign exchange dealers yesterday confirmed that they were finalising proposals to persuade the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ease restrictions on

forex trades to revive the secondary market. Reuters news said two members of the Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA), revealed that the apex bank was aware that they were finalising proposals, “to find a way to resolve the problem of liquidity and curb speculation.” The CBN scrapped the

Retail Dutch Auction System (FDAS) window on February 18, a move that sharply reduced liquidity in the interbank market and discouraged foreign investors from buying equities and bonds. Since the closure of the RDAS window, the naira has been stable at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM)

where it has traded against the dollar at between N197 and N199.50. However, after appreciating against the dollar in the aftermath of the peaceful outcome of the elections, the local currency has dropped to N223 to the greenback. Analysts point out that a relaxation on the interbank restrictions would

of expectations. “Watch out: this rally may not last. The risks for a reversal in recent commodity price trends are growing,” said analysts at Barclays. “There is a huge disconnect between the price action in physical markets where differentials are signalling oversupply and the futures markets where all looks rosy,” it said. The bank’s oil strategist, Miswin Mahesh, said a glut of excess oil is emerging in the midAtlantic, with inventories rising at a rate of 1m barrels a day (b/d). Angola and Nigeria are sitting on 80million barrels of unsold crude and

excess cargoes are building up in the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Morgan Stanley echoed the concerns, warning that speculators and financial investors have taken out a record number of “long” positions on Brent crude on the futures markets even though the world economy keeps falling short of expectations. “We have growing concerns about crude fundamentals in the second half of 2015 and 2016,” it said. Shale producers in the US are taking advantage of the artificial surge in prices to hedge a large part of their future output, more or less guaranteeing that the US will

continue to pump 10m b/d and wage a war of attrition against high-cost producers in the rest of the world. A comparable dynamic is playing out in the copper market, where net long positions have jumped 60per cent since the start of the year and helped power the longest rally in copper prices since 2005, even as industrial output grinds to a halt in China. The warnings come as a draft report from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) painted a gloomy picture of the energy industry, predicting that oil would never again touch $100 over the next 10 years.

likely mean a swift drop in the naira currency. The news agency quoted South Africa’s NKC Independent Economists as saying; “The naira exchange rate has remained unsurprisingly stable following the introduction of the ‘order-based’ sys-

tem in February.” Although the CBN is yet to make a statement on the issue, sources confirm that it welcomes the FMDA’s proposals and may reflect this at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on May 19.

Access Bank sees April Oil, metals rally may be short lived, banks warn inflation unchanged

he big global banks have begun to warn clients that the blistering rally in oil and industrial commodities over recent weeks has run far ahead of economic reality, raising the risk of a fresh slump in prices over the summer. Barclays, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank have all issued reports advising investors to tread with care as energy and base metals fall prey to unstable speculative flows on the derivatives markets. Oil has jumped 40 per cent since January even as the US, China and the world economy as a whole have been sputtering, falling far short

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$29,673,640,254

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 8/5/2015 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

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

cent compared to the previous month – weakest rise since 2013. Food prices will likely be supported by decrease in imported inflation. “Core inflation is likely to post a slower increase of 7.3 per cent compared to 7.5 per cent recorded the previous month, due largely to relative stability witnessed by the naira. The naira traded at N198.99/ US$ on average in April compared to N199.36/ US$ in March.” According to the bank, an unchanged inflation rate will lead to the CBN continuing with its current monetary policy as well as having a positive impact on the real rate of return in fixed income markets. In addition it could also result in positive returns from naira-denominated fixed income assets attracting foreign portfolio inflows, which may help stabilise the exchange rate.

UBA grants Kenya Power firm $10m loan

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

nalysts at Access Bank’s Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) have forecast that the inflation rate for April 2015, will remain flat at 8.5 percent; same level its was in the previous month. In a note issued by the lender, it stated, “The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is likely to release inflation figures for April 2015 in the coming days. The Economic Intelligence Group forecasts inflation rate (yearon-year) to remain flat at 8.5 percent. Our methodology adopts an autoregressive analysis of past prices, while it recognises all the assumptions used by the NBS in its computation of monthly Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI).” The bank further stated, “The Headline index is expected to be driven by decrease in both food and core indices. We see food index rising at a slower pace of 8.5 per

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he United Bank of Africa (UBA) said it has granted a $10million loan facility to the Kenya Power company to upgrade its infrastructure to distribute 5,000MW by 2017. The financing according to a statement, will be used to boost the capacity of transmission lines, upgrading existing substations and constructing 37 new ones, while also installing new equipment in the power grid. According to Kenya Power, this is part of a syndicated loan from a number of lenders to finance the planned infrastructure expansion by the firm, the country’s sole power distributor. Kenya Power’s Managing Director, Ben Chumo, said, the “Completion of these capital investments on time is critical for long-term viability of our company. It will also make

Kenya attractive as an investment destination.” In the recent past, industrialists have complained of power outages occasioned by aging infrastructure, leading to increased cost of production as companies have been forced to install stand-by generators. This has made locally produced goods less competitive in the regional markets. UBA, according to the statement, entered the Kenyan market five years ago and has now ventured into financing the local power sector. “We remain committed to a continued relationship with Kenya Power and other key players in the public sector to take on similar or larger projects especially in energy and the infrastructure sector,” noted the Chief Executive of UBA Kenya, Isaac Mwige,

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

12-May-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,259.11

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

1.26 1.96 2.21 2.30 3.05 4.13 4.45 4.76 6.71 8.84 13.55 14.03 14.53 15.20 19.18

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.82 13.81 13.78 13.78 13.77 13.77 13.75 13.74 13.73 13.63 17.09 17.66 18.32 15.52 13.95

13.69 13.72 13.70 13.70 13.64 13.68 13.64 13.66 13.67 13.57 17.03 17.58 18.22 15.45 13.90

99.08 102.14 92.68 91.47 92.54 106.81 78.07 106.06 111.34 102.84 89.06 73.44 50.59 68.06 88.03

99.23 102.29 92.83 91.62 92.84 107.11 78.37 106.36 111.64 103.14 89.36 73.74 50.89 68.36 88.33

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 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.03 1.02 1.58 1.94 2.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.66 2.85

11.89 16.79 15.79 16.45 16.64

99.56 100.47 100.24 101.08 97.38

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

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.07

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.30

4.44

15.83

98.93

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.39

3.23

15.45

99.05

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.66

4.46

18.19

97.50

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.66

3.48

17.21

98.93

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.94

1.00

14.79

92.16

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.20

1.00

15.24

98.41

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.64

1.79

15.57

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

15.59

97.38

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.03

1.00

14.79

98.64 99.50

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

96.66

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.01

1.00

14.79

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.01

4.78

18.57

92.92

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.20

1.00

14.78

101.19

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.64 4.53 2.60

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.78 14.75 14.78

101.41 99.19 99.93

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.15

1.00

14.77

99.94

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.55

1.00

14.73

95.42

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.64

1.00

14.73

100.96

‡ /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

3.30

1.44

15.21

98.25

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.33

1.00

14.77

100.51

99.44

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 441.00

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.27

1.00

12.05

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.33

1.00

12.63

99.78

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.41

2.63

15.08

99.60

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.38

1.00

14.98

97.57

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.46

1.34

15.21

98.77

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.39

1.00

14.78

96.48

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.41

1.88

15.82

103.37

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.66

1.00

14.79

101.65

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.83

1.00

14.79

104.75

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.83

1.00

14.79

101.75

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.36

3.00

16.77

93.05

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.94

2.29

16.08

99.43

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

2.02

6.11

19.90

97.08

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.64

2.16

15.94

100.07

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.51

2.76

16.49

95.61

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.64

2.14

15.85

102.35

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.39

1.00

14.85

85.41

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.39

1.00

14.85

91.99

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

157.51

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.75

1.00

14.78

89.90

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

14.74

86.06

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.93

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.29

5.09

107.10

108.12

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.32

4.02

102.35

103.25

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.55

5.41

105.33

106.28

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,573.89

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.07

4.09

101.38

103.35

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.34

99.80

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.29

9.26

91.42

93.91

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.22

6.75

96.31

97.69

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.08

97.18

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.54

9.98

94.24

96.00

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

8.76 10.41 9.01

8.76 10.05 9.01

97.21 95.04 94.48

97.21 96.58 94.48

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.14

9.46

92.88

95.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,519.19

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 9 23 30 44 51 58 65 72

FIXINGS Maturity 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 7.17 9.23 9.35 9.94 10.61 10.30 11.11 10.80

Offer Discount (%) 6.92 8.98 9.10 9.69 10.36 10.05 10.86 10.55

Bid Yield (%) 7.18 9.28 9.42 10.06 10.77 10.47 11.33 11.04

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.9583 13.9014 15.2007 16.2730

Rate (%)

OBB

10.79

O/N

11.17

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.75 11.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.74 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.84 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

8.50 10.00 12.1493

200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,259.11

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

14.53 15.20 19.18

18.32 15.52 13.95

18.22 15.45 13.90

50.59 68.06 88.03

50.89 68.36 88.33

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

2.63

11.89

99.56

2.00 2.66 2.85

15.79 16.45 16.64

100.24 101.08 97.38

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.03 1.02 1.58 1.94 2.15

Agency 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 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Business | Financial Market News

FMBN

***LCRM

WEDNESDAY, 2.27 MAY 13, 2015 16.79 NEW TELEGRAPH 100.47

Stock market down by N77bn SEC to operators : TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.07

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

on gains recorded in the active during the30-Jun-09 day ‡ /Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 BIG PLAYERS 19-Apr-10 A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 10.00 LAGOS previous week to 19-APR-2017 take (measured by turnover 30-Jun-10 ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 profits. volume); with 472.02 milUBA Plc and 30-Dec-10 ‡ /Agusto EDO 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 Consequently , the Alllion shares worth N2.3 30-Sep-11 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 Sterling Bank Plc NIGER Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR 14.00 NIGER226.39 II 4-OCT-2018 billion exchanged 04-Oct-11 Share Index dipped by in09-Dec-11 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† 09-DEC-2018 drive volume in the *EKITI basis points14.50 orEKITI 0.66 per vestors in 1,593 deals. 12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 14-Feb-12 cent to close15.50 at ONDO 34,115.49 Volume in the banking ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 14-FEB-2019 banking sector 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 as against 34,341.88 re- sub-sector was largely Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 in corded the previous day, driven by activities 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN IIcapi10-OCT-2020 the shares of UBA Plc while the market 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 talisation of 15.00 equities de- and Sterling Bank 31-Dec-13 Plc. Stories Chris Ugwu A-/Agusto;by BBB+/DataPro KOGI KOGI 31-DEC-2020 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 preciated by14.50 N77 billion Also, other financial 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 sub-sector of the finanhe Nigerian eqor 0.66 per cent. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE uity market yesMeanwhile, a turn- cial services sector, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION terday tumbled over of 525.9 million boosted by activities in Corporate Bonds further as the shares worth N3.3 billion the shares of FBNH Plc, 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC followed with a turnover bears maintained domiin 4,364 deals12.00 was recordFLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 nance, producing 26 losed in the day’s trading. of 28.8 million shares valBB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO ers and 18 gainers. The banking sub sec- ued at N142.2 million in 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH Bargain hunters have tor of the financial ser- 678 deals. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 continued to leverage vices sector was the most Shares of Berger *C & I LEASING Nil

*DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

16.00

4.44

15.83

98.93

0.39

3.23

15.45

99.05

30-Jun-16

0.66

4.46

18.19

30-Jun-16

0.66

3.48

17.21

98.93

19-Apr-17

1.94

1.00

14.79

92.16

97.50

30-Jun-17

1.20

1.00

15.24

98.41

31-Dec-17

2.64

1.79

15.57

96.66

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

15.59

97.38

04-Oct-18

2.03

1.00

14.79

98.64

09-Dec-18

2.01

1.00

14.79

99.50

12-Dec-18

2.01

4.78

18.57

92.92

2.20 promote 1.00 101.19 next n an effort to list to14.78 be uploaded 02-Oct-19 2.64 1.00 14.78 101.41 good corporate govermonth. 22-Nov-19 4.53 1.00 14.75 99.19 nance practices and The 12-Dec-19 2.60 1.00 14.78 Director 99.93 Gen10-Oct-20 1.00 reposition the3.15Nigerian eral of14.77SEC, Mr.99.94 Mounir 27-Nov-20 5.55 1.00 14.73 95.42 capital market for develGwarzo, had said that 31-Dec-20 5.64 1.00 14.73 100.96 31-Dec-20 1.44 15.21 98.25would the commission opment, the 3.30 Securities 06-Jan-21 1.00 14.77 100.51 do anything to compel and Exchange3.33Commission (SEC) yesterday operators in the market directed all registered to obey the rules guidcapital market operators ing it. This, according 17-Aug-15 0.27 1.00 12.05 99.44 to him, informed the (CMOs) in Nigeria to up09-Dec-15 0.33 1.00 12.63 99.78 decision to tighten the date their registration 06-Jan-16 0.41 2.63 15.08 99.60 29-Sep-16 1.38 1.00 97.57 information. noose14.98 on market infrac25-Oct-16 1.46 1.34 15.21 98.77 In a notice2.39obtained tions 14.78 and other miscel30-Sep-17 1.00 96.48 30-Nov-17 1.41 1.88 15.82 capital 103.37 from the Commission’s laneous market 09-Apr-18 1.66 1.00 14.79 101.65 official website, it advised crimes. 09-Sep-18 1.83 1.00 14.79 104.75 all registered capital mar“We must implement 09-Sep-18 1.83 1.00 14.79 101.75 22-Sep-18 3.36 3.00 16.77 zero tolerance 93.05 ket operators to check the the SEC 18-Oct-18 1.94 2.29 99.43 list and formally report policy16.08 in a decisive and 17-Feb-19 2.02 6.11 19.90 97.08 any change(s)2.64of status far-reaching manner. 01-Apr-19 2.16 15.94 100.07 14-Nov-20 2.76 16.49 therefore 95.61 We are dedifferent from5.51what the 30-Dec-21 2.14 15.85 102.35 list contains,6.64 not later termined to eliminate 30-Sep-24 9.39 1.00 14.85 85.41 sharp14.85practices, than two weeks 30-Sep-24 9.39from the 1.00 91.99 deter notice. malpractice and change “You are also re- behaviour by ensuring quested to note the gaps that both the instituin11-Feb-18 your registered intional14.78 and personal 2.75 1.00 89.90 costs formation and of any wrongdoing are 01-Feb-21 4.75 provide 1.00 14.74 86.06 required details,” the extremely high. The Exchange, in an effort commission said. SEC directed that to achieve a world-class Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price any change(s) relating capital market, also reto address, name, email,Prices iterated its commit& Yields directors, CEOs was ment107.10 to maintain zero 28-Jan-21 5.29 5.09 108.12 expected to be commu- tolerance posture on 12-Jul-18 4.32 4.02 102.35 103.25 dealing member firms nicated on SEC Form and quoted companies 7 12-Jul-23 while that relating to 5.55 5.41 105.33 106.28 resignation and transfer on violations of rules of sponsored individuals and regulations. This is should be communicat- on the back of the Exed on SEC Forms 2A and change’s determination 19-May-16 6.07 4.09 101.38 2B respectively . to shift gears to103.35 drive in25-Jul-17 7.34 7.34 99.80 99.80 novations centered on inThe Commission af02-May-18 10.29 9.26 91.42 93.91 firmed creasing visibility 08-Nov-18 that any 7.22 new in6.75 96.31 global 97.69 22-Apr-19 7.08 7.08 97.18 97.18capital formation submitted in for the Nigerian 21-May-19 10.54 9.98 94.24 market in the96.00 current the present month would 07-Aug-20 8.76 8.76 97.21 97.21 reflect he said. 96.58 24-Jun-21 on the 10.41updated 10.05 year,”95.04 14-Feb-19

5.40

Unilever shareholders get N378m dividend A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

0.30

30-Sep-15

Update registration information

Paints Plc led the5.73gain15.50 10.00 57.00 ers’ chart, appreciating 13.75 25.73 by 5.04 per cent to close at 14.00 25.00 N10.00 per share. 30.81 Conoil 14.00 14.00 Plc and Fidelity 9.00 Nigeria 14.50 13.73 Bank14.00 Plc followed with 10.20 15.50of five per 27.00cent a gain 15.50 15.09 each 14.50 to close at 80.00 N39.92 and N1.89 per share 14.75 25.70 re14.75 . 10.78 spectively 13.50 87.50 On15.00 the flip side, 5.00 shares 14.50 of ETI Plc led the4.55 losers 4.56 with 15.00 a loss of 9.71 per cent to close at452.88 N21.01 441.00 per share. Portland Paints Plc plunged 4.96 10.00 2.50 per cent to close at18.75 N3.64 12.00 per share, while RT 14.00 0.42Bris13.00 15.00 coe Plc dropped 4.95 per 14.25 5.53 cent 13.00 to close at 96 kobo 20.00 18.00 0.64 per share.

31-Aug-15

2.54

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.01

94.48

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.14

9.46

92.88

95.88

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

Unilever industry . DANA II 1-APR-2019 16.00 Nil hareholders of *DANA 15.25 NAHCO IIthe 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Plc at their Nigeria Addressing shareholders, NAHCO 90th 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR UBA Annual General Meet- Chairman of the company , His 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC ingA/GCR (AGM) yesterday STANBIC in Lagos Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, said 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 IBTC approved N378.330 million that the tough business decisions TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE proposed by the company as taken in 2014 evolved a Unilever TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION dividend for the year ended Nigeria that is better placed to Supranational Bond December 31, 2014. This rep- thrive10.20 within the ever-increasing IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC resented 10 kobo per AfDB ordinary ‘volatile, 11.25uncertain, AFDB 1-FEB-2021complex and Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P TOTAL VALUE share ofOUTSTANDING 50 kobo each. ambiguous’ operating environTOTALshareholders, MARKET CAPITALISATION The who gave ment the company had to contend their approval, also urged the with. Description Rating/Agency Issuer company to improve its perforAchebe, however, said that going forward, the company would mance in the incoming year. FGN Eurobonds profitability. Despite the harsh operating focus on long-term 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P environment, the company postHe said: “Having taken signifiBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 ed BB-/S&P revenue of N55.754 billion for cant learning from 2014, we will theBB-/Fitch; 2014 financial year, compared be more aggressive driving 6.38about JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P with N60.004 billion recorded the down costs and actively finding TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE previous year. CAPITALISATION savings throughout all facets of TOTAL MARKET Gross profit also stood at our value chain. Corporate Eurobonds N20.170 billion as against N22.450 “Our ambition is to continue 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I billion in the similar period of to deliver value to7.50 allMAY stakeholders 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 2013. and positively affect our communi6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC The expressed ties by leveraging6.00 onNOV the 08,Unilever 2018 B+/Fitch;shareholders B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.25Plan APR 22,(USLP).” 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH PLC Sustainable Living confidence in the future ofBANK the May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC company , pledging to support its Speaking on 8.75 ways to reduce 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC unclaimed efforts toB/S&P sustain leadership inBANK thePLC IIthe company’s 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUNdivi24, 2021 B-/Fitch; ACCESS #{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

dend, the chairman said 01-Apr-14 16.00 Unilever 4.50 14-Nov-13 15.25 had continued to intensify efforts 2.05 30-Dec-14 16.45 to drive the implementation of 30.50 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 electronic dividend and electron30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 ic bonus payment system and re- 161.53 duce the prevalence of unclaimed 157.51 dividend and share certificates. He11-Feb-13 implored shareholders to 12.00 10.20 complete the e-dividend 10-Jul-14 11.25 and e-bo- 12.95 nus application forms and submit 24.95 21.93 to the registrars. Responding to questionsOutstanding at Value Issue Date Coupon (%) the meeting, the Managing Di- ($mm) rector, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, said the company would do all6.75it could to 500.00 07-Oct-11 ensure that it reduced operating 12-Jul-13 5.13 expenses to an appreciable level in 500.00 the current also ensure 500.00 12-Jul-13 year and 6.38 that the company opened more1,500.00 markets for its products in order1,573.89 to increase its revenue. He also gave an assurance to 19-May-11 7.50 shareholders that the company 500.00 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 would09-May-13 always put their interests 300.00 6.88 first, adding that all the institu08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 22-Apr-14 6.25 tion’s engagements would lead to 500.00 21-May-14 bountiful dividend in8.75 the nearest 200.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 future.24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

12-May-15

3,519.19

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ Money Market professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount Bid Yield (%) Tenor (%)of the Information. the accuracy,DTM timeliness, completeness,Maturity performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of(%) the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on theRate basis NIBOR

9 23 30 FGN Bonds 44 51 58 Rating/Agency 65 72 79 86 93 107 114 121 135 142 NA 156 205 219 240 247 254 261 268 275 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 282 289 TOTAL MARKET 296 CAPITALISATION 310 317

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

Rating/Agency 331

Issuer 7-Apr-16

345

21-Apr-16

7.17 9.23 9.35 9.94 10.61 10.30 Description 11.11 10.80 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.77 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.18 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.46 10.34 9.35 31-AUG-2017 11.54 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.99 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 11.88 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.43 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.05 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.97 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.99 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.96 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.76 13.33 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.86 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.48 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.70 13.19 13.80 13.49 13.09 13.46 13.39

6.92 8.98 9.10 9.69 10.36 10.05 Issue Date 10.86 10.55 16-Aug-13 10.52 27-Apr-12 9.93 27-Jul-07 10.21 10.09 31-Aug-07 11.29 30-May-08 11.74 29-Jun-12 11.63 23-Oct-09 12.18 13-Feb-15 11.80 27-Jan-12 12.72 14-Mar-14 12.74 28-Nov-08 12.71 22-May-09 13.51 13.08 20-Nov-09 13.61 23-Jul-10 13.23 18-Jul-14 13.45 12.94 13.55 13.24 12.84

Description

13.21 12.99

5-May-16 13.16 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.91

359 Agency Bonds

Bonds

15.24

Issue 15.24Date

13.14

13.24

7.18 9.28 9.42 10.06 10.77 10.47 Coupon (%) 11.33 11.04 13.05 11.02 15.10 10.43 9.85 10.75 10.66 9.35 11.97 10.70 12.49 16.00 12.43 7.00 13.06 15.54 12.71 16.39 13.99 14.20 14.09 15.00 14.17 12.49 15.17 14.69 8.50 15.39 10.00 14.96 12.1493 15.27 14.69 15.50 15.15 14.73

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 10.9583 13.9014 15.2007 16.2730

4,582.44

OBB

10.79

O/N

11.17

Tenor

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 476.80 NITTY 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 9.4698 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 11.0330 300.00 30-May-18 3M 11.3213 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 13.1917 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 14.3044 98.31 13-Feb-20 12M 14.9751 600.00 27-Jan-22 524.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 591.57 199.0000 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 279.50 18-Jul-34

REPO

TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 1.26 3M 1.96 6M

Rate (%)

Bid10.75 Yield (%) 11.00 13.82 11.25 13.81 11.50

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1M Yield 2M (%) 3M 13.69 6M 13.72 1Y

2.21 13.78 13.70 2.30 13.78 13.70 3.05 13.77 13.64 :Benchmarks 4.13 13.77 13.68 * :Amortising Bond 4.45 13.75 13.64 µ :Convertible Bond 4.76 13.74 13.66 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 6.71 13.73 13.67 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 8.84 Mortgage Bank13.63 13.57 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 13.55 Finance Corporation 17.09 17.03 IFC: International 14.03 17.66 Management 17.58 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.53 Aviation Handling 18.32 Company 18.22 O/N: Overnight 15.20 15.52 15.45 UPDC: UAC Property Development 19.18 13.95Company 13.90

NOTE:

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

197.74 197.84 Price 201.93 201.81 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 Bid Price Offer Price 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21 99.08 99.23 206.28 213.47 102.14 102.29 220.29 226.27

92.68 92.83 91.47 91.62 92.54 92.84 NA :Not 106.81 Applicable 107.11 ^ : Market Prices 78.07 78.37 # : Floating Rate Bond 106.06 106.36 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 111.34 111.64 103.14 ‡ : Bond102.84 rating under review 89.06 89.36 †: Bond rating expired 73.74 N/A :Not 73.44 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 50.89 50.59 68.06 68.36 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 88.03 88.33 UBA: United Bank for Africa

4,259.11 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.03 1.02 1.58 1.94 2.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.66 2.85

11.89 16.79 15.79 16.45 16.64

99.56 100.47 100.24 101.08 97.38

15.13 15.11

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 FMBN Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

322.07

Modified Duration Buckets

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

1,409.48

31-Aug-10 41.39 30-Sep-10

1,207.63 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 648.67 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

1,124.68

33.03 30-Jun-11

871.07

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 3,294.51

3,405.23

30-Jun-09 25.58 19-Apr-10 100.00

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

3<5

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

Market

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 1,438.22 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

Weighting by Mkt Value

12.50

Bucket Weighting

8.50

13.00 43.65 14.00 36.66

2.16 0.41 4.86 0.33

15.50 19.69

5.73 0.26 57.00 1.00

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

31-Aug-15 19.22 30-Sep-15

0.30 13.79 0.39

38.74 30-Jun-16

13.68 0.66

30-Jun-16 42.04 19-Apr-17 100.00

0.66 14.89 1.94 14.21

30-Jun-10

10.00 100.00 13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.64

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.02

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.03

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.01

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.01

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.20

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.64 4.53 2.60

1.20

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

4.44 104.8453 3.23

15.83 1,174.68 15.45

110.6014 4.46 3.48 77.8799 1.00 99.8486 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

1,103.59 18.19 17.21 1,094.61 14.79 1,128.28 15.24 15.57 15.59 14.79 14.79 18.57 14.78 14.78 14.75 14.78

YTD Return (%)

98.93 6.0326 99.05

8.9890 97.50 98.93 8.6982 92.16 6.9275 98.41 96.66 97.38 98.64 99.50 92.92 101.19 101.41 99.19 99.93

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has fixed judgement on the suit filed by the former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, challenging the election of Chief Dave Umahi, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the December 8, 2014, primary election of the party for July 7. The court had adopted the written addresses of counsels to Chukwu and Umahi. Earlier in his address, counsel to the former

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Ebonyi PDP primary: Chukwu, Umahi know fate July 7

Minister, Mr. Ikoro N. Ikoro, contended that there was no governorship primary in the state. He argued that there was a directive from the National Secretariat of the PDP that primaries should not be conducted in the state, which he claimed was published in some dailies and was echoed by Governor Martin Elechi, whom he described as leader of the party in the state. ‘’The headquarters of the party had put Ebonyi

State primary, on hold and some people came and held primaries, claiming it was valid. ‘’If our client went and contested in the primary knowing that it has been shifted what will now be his locus to come to court and say this primary is illegal? ‘’You cannot approbate and reprobate. You cannot say that something is illegal or it did not happened and at the same time participate in it’’, he said.

He urged the court to nullify the election of Chief Dave Umahi, as candidate of the PDP in the just concluded general elections. Counsel to Chief Umahi, R. O Nweze, however, argued that there was valid governorship primary conducted by a committee sent by the National Secretariat of the party to the state and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents. He noted

that the appeal panel set up after the exercise did not receive any petition from Chukwu, over his grievance. He maintained that Chukwu, boycotted the exercise and therefore has no locus standi to institute the suit as he cannot question the primary he did not participate. He urged the court to dismiss the suit. The Presiding Judge, Justice Maureen Oyetenu adjourned the matter to July 7, 2015 for judgment.

Accord agriculture priority, Ezeemo tells Buhari Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

media proprietor, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, owner of Orient dailies has advised the incoming administration of Gen.Muhammadu Buhari to give priority to agricultural sector of the economy as well as ensure the diversification of the petroleum subsector to create more jobs, gurantee food security and boost nations economy. Ezeemo made the call during an interview with journalists shortly after visiting the management of Sam Egwu’s farm at Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State. According to him, The over dependence on oil by the country, encourages mono economy, placing the economy in jeopardy. He said the development needs to be redressed by the incoming administration. Noting that his visit to the farm was to acquit himself with the type of farm equipment put in place to enable him expand and improve on the scope of his farm. “I want to embark on a full scale agriculture now that the world is facing serious recession due to the oil glut that is why I decided to visit Sam Egwu’s farm to widen my experiences. “A first hand information of the workings and management of the farm would go along way in assisting me to go into big time agriculture in order to contribute to the war against hunger. “I, therefore, enjoin Nigerians especially politicians, to go agriculture to create job opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths and, at the same time, help boost the nation’s economy,” he said.

Protesters at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri…yesterday.

Anxiety in UNIZIK over protest against alleged admission scam Pamela Eboh Awka

letter purportedly written by the presidents of the Students Union Government, Mr. Noble Eyisi, to the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, over some alleged anomalies in admissions has led to the build-up of anxiety over possible protest by the students. Though the school se-

curity has made efforts to stop the document from further circulation, the effort was said to have little effect, as students had already circulated the letter to people within the university community. In the letter, several allegations were leveled against the VC by the SUG, most of which bothered on alleged corruption. One of the allegations by the SUG was that for the first time in the history of the institution, first year students were

asked to pay the sum of N7,500 as a fee for ‘Biometric Capturing”, adding that with about 6000 students admitted this session paying the said amount, the sum of N45 million was realized. While demanding what the money was meant for, the students’ union president demanded to know how the students union dues paid annually were utilized. According to him, the students, who are the sole owners of the money, have been demanding

to know how much is in the account. The letter read in part, “Our dear VC, the students are the bedrock of any university. We demand that you take us as your utmost priority. As this is a federal institution and in view of the trending change and zero corruption in Nigeria through our president –elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, we demand a transparent system and a complete students- oriented government.”

Jonathan, others mourn Azikiwe Anule Emmanuel and Pamela Eboh

resident Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the family of Nigeria first President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, over the passing away of his first son, Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe. The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati extended condolences to the government and people of Anambra State, and the immediate family of the deceased. Jonathan said he believed that the late Azikiwe, who was also the Owelle of Onitsha, lived a fulfilled life by sustaining the humanitarian and leadership legacies of his father as a mobiliser, leader, philanthropist and a highly respected voice in his community. The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant the soul of the departed peaceful rest, and comfort the family he left behind. Meanwhile, condolence messages yesterday continued to pour in for the family of the deceased. In a message of condolence, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said, “Owelle Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe was a great follower of the political philosophy of his late father, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.” He said: “The deceased was firmly committed to the principle of political negotiation based on balance of interests. In the last general elections, he advised that Ndigbo should discuss with everybody and keep all options open. May his Soul rest in peace.’’ The Azikiwe family yesterday formally announced the death of Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe. The head of the Azikiwe family, Nwamulunanma Azikiwe, told journalists that with the announcement, burial arrangements would begin soon.

FMC workers commence another strike Steve Uzoechi Owerri

or the second time in less than two weeks, workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) yesterday brought activities at the

health facility to a standstill, protesting the alleged high-handedness of the management of the centre. The protesters, numbering over 900, alleged that the proposed privatization and outsourcing of key units at the medical centre were largely driven by personal gains instead of public good. Speaking to newsmen,

the union’s (NUAHP) Chairman, Mr. Ezeugwu Clifford, maintained that there was no justification or genuine rationale behind the planned privatisation of the medical centre. He explained that yesterday’s protest was informed by the queries issued to union leaders over their stance on the PPP deal. It was learnt that Dr. An-

gela Uwakwem, the Medical Director of the FMC, Owerri, had featured on a radio programme where she explained the motives behind the PPP proposal and made assertions which the union viewed as inconsistent with the realities on ground. Some leaders of the union also appeared on the same radio pro-

gramme dismissing the claims and assertions of the Medical Director as not being the true reflection of the situation on ground. Consequently, the management of the FMC, issued queries to some leaders of the NUAHP over the divergent views canvassed on the radio programme.

48 News

wednesday, may 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south - south

Don’t test our will, Rivers Assembly warns commissioners

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, yesterday warned commissioners and other appointees of the state government that the House summoned last Monday not to test the will of the House, saying that members would do the needful on the issues concerning the state. Kwanee, who spoke yesterday when three of the nine commissioners that were summoned appeared, said the House was out to serve the people and nothing else, and urged those who could not make it to appear. The lawmakers had rigorously debated whether or not to question the three commissioners or adjourn till tomorrow when other commissioners promised to be available. The commissioners that were present were George Tolofari (Transport); Austine Wokocha

(Power) and Tamuno Gogo (Budegt and Planning). But as the House adjourned till tomorrow, Kwanee, who presided in the absence of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemabama Amachree

kwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, last weekend in Dubai, bagged the Middle EastAfrica Investment Round Table (MEAFRIC) Award for Good Governance in Africa. Presenting the award to the Governor, the Executive Secretary of MEAFRIC, Ambassador Victor Walsh, described Akpabio’s achievements as outstanding. He expressed the conviction that “Akwa Ibom State has become a leading example in state and regional development in Africa.” Receiving the award, Akpabio, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, in company with the Special Adviser, Bureau of Technical Matters, Engr. Etido Inyang, dedicated the award to God and the people of Akwa Ibom who gave him the mandate to lead the state as governor. He commended the organizers of the event for creating a platform for the discovery and appreciation of African leaders, who have contributed to the growth and development of the continent.

the House… no matter how short the days are, we will continue to make laws until May 29, 2015. At the next sitting, the House would like to get all those invited present.” Kwanee said that three commissioners, including

that the Finance Commissioner, informed him why they could not appear before the House, an explanation that forced the House Leader, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, to move for an adjournment, explaining that the commissioners

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe; wife of the Vice-President-elect, Mrs. Dolapo Oshinbajo and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, after receiving their awards for African Women of Worth, at the seventh edition of the African Women in Leadership Organisation Conference 2015, in Lagos.

Clement James

Akpabio bags MEAFRIC award in Dubai

said: “Whatever I need to do to strengthen our democracy and put smiles on the faces of our people, I will do it. We will be remembered for what we did as lawmakers. “Nobody should attempt to try the will of

Calabar

istrust between students of the Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA), University of Calabar and the Director of the institute, Dr. Felix Akpan, over alleged nonrelease of their results is causing uneasy calm as the students are bent on seeing the director leave the institute. The students, especially those offering Diploma courses in Public Administration, Personnel Management, Local Government Administration, among others, have been at loggerheads with the

Lecturer, students on collision course over results director some time now. But the issue is getting out of hand as the students are claiming that records of some students, who had paid school fees before and after the examination, were not delivered early to the institute as proof of payment, thus accusing the director of withholding their results. One of the protesting students, a 200 Level diploma, who refused to give her name for fear of reprisal said: “We paid school fees and our results

Group faults bill to scrap DESOPADEC Gabriel Choba Ughelli

he founding members of Host Communities of Nigeria oil and gas (HOSTCOM) in Delta State, yesterday faulted the proposed bill being sponsored by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to scrap the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). The HOSTCOM leaders and founders also criticised Chief Wellington Okirika, former chairman of DESOPADEC, for supporting the bill to scrap the commission. The founding mem-

bers, who spoke through Chief Moses Irimisose, accused Wellington Okrikira, of betraying the host communities saying; “Okirika has betrayed us for whatever reason best known to him, because if he now thinks the bill was right, what stopped him from implementing it when he was chairman of DESOPADEC under Uduaghan's administration?” The leaders faulted Okirika's claim that DESOPADEC was an interim arrangement, noting that Edo, Ondo, Rivers and other states were not operating same commission as an interim arrangement as wrongly claimed by Okirika.

were not computed even when we have shown receipt of payment.” She added; “On the pretext that she did not see our receipts, the director will force us to re-sit our exams and complaints to several quarters have not yielded any positive response. Up till now, the 2011 set, who had long graduated, have not had their results approved; even those who had been admitted into other schools have suffered the same fate.”

But reacting to the issues raised by the students, the Director, Dr. Felix Akpan, who spoke with our correspondent on phone said: “I took over the institute in October last year and whoever is telling you that trash is telling you nonsense. Since I took over, I have been trying to clean up the mess in that place and this is the first time the students are seeing their results being published. I am trying to get all the lecturers publish the results.

50 cult members in police net in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

o fewer than 50 people suspected to be members of rival cult groups have so far been arrested following police raids in parts of Benin, the Edo State capital. At least 39 members of the groups, suspected to have unleashed terror on residents of the city and suspected members, at the peak of the renewed attacks, were arrested and paraded last week by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi. The arrest of more sus-

pects followed intensified manhunt by operatives of the command for fleeing members. The over three weeks bloody clashes left more than 25 persons, including aged parents of members dead within New Benin, Dawson, New Lagos axis and adjoining areas of the city where the activities of the suspects have taken its toll. Edo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Stephen Onwochei, told New Telegraph yesterday that the command was leaving no stone unturned in the manhunt for suspected members of the rival groups.

were on special assignment. But the Deputy House Leader, who originally moved the motion for the suspension of the three council bosses, and the summoning of the commissioners, wanted to know the kind of assignment that would prevent them from taking questions from the lawmakers. He said: “I took pains to present these issues yesterday. There were salient issues I raised. If we want to screen people for positions and appointments, even if they are in America, they would rush down here. “What special assignment are other commissioners doing now? We should take on those that are present. We should ask them one or two questions instead of asking them to leave. The ones that are not here should come and explain to Rivers people.”

Rivers’ workers intensify protest over salary arrears Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

undreds of workers in Rivers State yesterday intensified the protest over their salary arrears as they marched round the state’s secretariat, calling on Governor Rotimi Amaechi to pay them. The protesters, who sang and danced to tunes supplied by a band that followed them to some buildings in the secretariat, complained that the governor decided to abandon them at “this critical period when he should reciprocate their gesture.” The protesters said they decided to mount a separate protest and let the world know that they were being owed, because the organised labour in the state has failed to act on their behalf, just as they complained over government’s denial of owing them arrears. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Tony Ochiagha, of the Nigerian Civil Servants Union (NCSU), said the workers were being owed two months’ salaries and that it would shortly turn to three months. “What we are doing today does not come under the umbrella of any union. Those who are supposed to speak for us have abandoned us. They are pursuing their own personal interests.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

News 49

NORTH

Plateau declares curfew in seven council areas Musa Pam Jos

ollowing the incessant attacks and killings in some local government areas of Plateau State, Governor Jonah Jang, yesterday ordered the restriction of movements in seven out of the 17 local government areas of the state, declaring a curfew

from 10.00 pm to 5.00am. The government, in a statement issued in Jos and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mr. Christopher Bello, said the affected councils are Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos East, Mangu, Wase, Langtang North and Langtang South. The curfew is to take effect in the seven local govern-

ment areas with immediate effect and security agencies were yesterday directed to enforce the order and step up surveillance across the state to curtail attacks on people. However, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been directed to provide relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the affected areas and take record of

same. Bello also urged the citizens to always be security conscious and report any suspicious movements of persons to security agencies. According to the statement, “The Plateau State government has ordered the restriction of movements across farms and communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos East, Mangu, Wase, Langtang North and South

local government areas. “This urgent and drastic action has become necessary to end the recent crisis and wanton loss of lives and property in the affected areas. It is imperative to remind citizens to always be security conscious and report any suspicious movement of persons to security personnel.”

PDP chieftain sets agenda for Buhari, Ortom Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

L-R: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku; Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Zonal Business Head, Public Sector, North West, Ecobank Nigeria, Sani Shuaibu Adamu, during Ecobank management’s courtesy visit on the emir in Kano…recently.

frontline chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, yesterday set an agenda for the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the Benue State Governorelect, Dr. Samuel Ortom, urging them to fight corruption to a standstill. He said doing so should start with arresting those who have stolen the country’s wealth and stashed same in foreign accounts and recover same for the development of the country. Shuluwa, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists in his Makurdi residence, also described PDP supporters defecting to the All Progres-

Bauchi workers on Speaker seeks withdrawal of police strike over pay delay from Niger Assembly Mohammed Kawu

ublic workers in Bauchi State yesterday said they are embarking on strike over the non-payment of their salaries. The Chair man of the Nigeria Labour Cong ress (NLC) in the state, Hashimu Mohammed Gital, on behalf of the labour union, gave the directive for the commencement of the strike. He said: “All workers in the employment of the Bauchi S t a t e g o ve r n m e n t are hereby directed to stay away from their duty posts and remain at home with effect from 12.00am on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 until they get further directives from the organised labour. Gital spoke at a press conference in Bauchi that the directive for the workers to commence on strike followed the decision of labour at its meeting on Monday. He said the earlier meeting between

the state government and the organised labour on the payment of workers’ salaries ended in a deadlock, which necessitated the commencement of the strike. The chair man said labour had reliably gathered that the failure by the government to pay outstanding salaries of two months was deliberate. He added that the last federal allocation for Bauchi State was used for the payment of severance packages of outgoing political office holders, leaving the workers helpless.

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

cute shortage of drinking water yesterday hit Sokoto, the Sokoto State capital and its environs. The shortage has become a source of concern to many as it has paralysed economic and social activities in the city. Reports said the situation has forced people to continue to search for

DanAtori MINNA

he Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Isah Kawu, has warned the state Commissioner of Police to withdraw his men that were stationed at the Assembly complex or face the wrath of the House. Kawu, while briefing journalists yesterday at the Assembly’s quarters in Minna, warned his predecessor, Adamu Usman, to stop parading himself as the speaker of the House. He said: “The continued deployment of policemen to the Assembly complex is an infringement on the right of

the legislators. “I have two things to say, the first one is to tell the Commissioner of Police to order his men out of the gate and allow members carry out their constitutional responsibility. “The second is to tell my predecessor to stop parading himself as the speaker.” He further said: “We have not received any court order preventing members from going into the Assembly complex. The only court order we received was getting the House not to move any motion against the governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu. “This act by the police itself is an infringement on the House from carrying out its responsibility. As the

speaker, I have information to pass to the House that will be of benefit. “The Police Commissioner should order his men out of the gate for the House to continue to do its job.” He said that his predecessor, Adamu Usman, was enormously impeached by 20 out of the 25 members of the House. According to Kawu, “The court injunction ordering us to stop the impeachment of Usman came after the impeachment. It is our word versus theirs; the court injunction came after the act. If anyone has evidence of the House receiving it before the act, let him or her come to us.”

Water scarcity hits Sokoto water for their domestic uses. Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that the problem was as a result of the failure of the state government to settle the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) that was owing the state water board about N54 million for the

energy supplied to the board. According to a reliable source close to the Sokoto Water Board, who did not want his name in print, electricity supply to the board was disconnected following its failure to meet its financial agreement with KEDCO. Our correspondent

The statement also urged residents of the state to go about their legitimate activities as “Government has already taken decisive steps to avert future occurrence.” It will be recalled that hundreds of people have been killed in the last two weeks across three local government areas of the state.

gathered that some people within the metropolis resorted to the use of available water from the Sokoto River as an alternative for their domestic needs. However, when contacted for comment, no official of the District Office of the KEDCO was willing to comment on the issue.

sives Congress (APC) as political ‘prostitutes,’ who have lost all sense of direction. He said the PDP lost woefully in the just-concluded general elections because of the level of ‘impunity’ it exhibited through the imposition of candidates and the blatant sidelining of party structures and elders by state governors, including the gross mismanagement of campaign funds that accrued to the state. The Vice-Chairman, PDP Elders’ Forum said President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governors, including Gabriel Suswam, wielded so much powers and were not ready to listen to any advice from elders of the party, a development he said had contributed to the fall of the PDP administration.

Emirs pay farewell visit to Lamido Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

igawa State governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday commended traditional rulers in the state over the cordial relationship existing between them and the state government in the last eight years. Speaking while receiving a powerful delegation of the five emirate councils in his office, who have come to pay him farewell visit at the Government House, Dutse, Governor Lamido expressed delight over their visit, stressing that his administration is proud of the emirs’ numerous contributions at different fora. He said: “Government is proud of you at all times due to your constructive advises, mutual understanding, and co-operation. Therefore, I call on you to extend same gesture to the in-coming government for accelerated development.” He thanked the emirs for their foresight and solicited for forgiveness, saying as individuals, we are bound to make mistakes.

50 News

WORLD | News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

AFLPM presidency: First Lady Another quake kills 42 in Nepal denies plans to rig out Buhari’s wife Anule Emmanuel

irst Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has denied allegations that she is plotting to frustrate the emergence of the wife of Presidentelect, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari as president of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM.  There has been reports suggesting that the First Lady hosting of the 8th African First Ladies Peace Mission Summit in Congo was a grand plan in this regard. In a statement

by her Special Assistant on Media, Ayo Adewuyi, the First Lady said “Our attention has been drawn to various newspapers and social media reports alleging that Nigeria hosting of 8th Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission Summit on May 15, 2015 is a grand design by the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan to either “rig out” or “deny” the in-coming First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari the opportunity to assume the Presidency and host the said summit in the absence of the incumbent.”

According to the statement: “We would have ignored this barrage of uncharitable fallacies, but for the fact that the mischief makers have not relented in their efforts to deceive the unsuspecting members of the public with lies and half truth, hence this clarification to set the record straight.”  It would be recalled that Nigeria’s Hajia Turai Yar’Adua was elected President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission during the 6th Summit in February 2008 in Congo Brazzaville for a term of two years.

new earthquake killed dozens of people yesterday and spread more fear and misery in Nepal, which is still struggling to recover from a devastating quake nearly three weeks ago that left more than 8,000 dead. The magnitude-7.3 quake, centered midway between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, struck hardest in the foothills of the Himalayas, triggering some landslides, but it also shook the capital badly, sending thousands of terrified people into the streets. Nepal’s Parliament was in session when the quake hit, and

frightened lawmakers ran for the exits as the building shook and the lights flickered out. At least 37 people were killed in the quake and more than 1,100 were injured, according to the Home Ministry. But that toll was expected to rise as reports began reaching Kathmandu of people in isolated Himalayan towns and villages being buried under rubble, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Tremors radiated across parts of Asia. In neighboring India, at least 16 people were confirmed dead after roof-

tops or walls collapsed onto them, according to India’s Home Ministry. Chinese media reported one death in Tibet. The earthquake that hit April 25 killed more than 8,150 and flattened entire villages, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. At least three people were rescued yesterday in Kathmandu, while another nine pulled to safety in the district of Dolkha, the government said. Rescue helicopters were sent to mountain districts where landslides and collapsed buildings may have buried people, the government said.

Health strike imminent as NUAHP issues ultimatum over welfare Appolonia Adeyemi

he National Association of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) under a new leadership has issued a seven-day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government over welfare and other pending issues. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 6TH Triennial Conference of NUAHP which held in Uyo, Akwa

Ibom State between May 5 to 8, when Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, a dietician emerged the union’s new national president while Obisesan Ayinde, a medical laboratory scientist clinched the position of the group’s general secretary. Among other demands, NUAHP called for the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as done for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the same sector since January 2014, the payment of arrears on skipping of

CONHESS 10 since year 2010 and the promotion of NUAHP members from CONHESS 14 to 15, which has been pending for over 10 years. According to the communiqué signed by Ogbonna and the immediate past President of NUAHP, Felix Faniran, the ultimatum which takes effect on May 11 will end on May 17. “By 8.00am of May 18, if the government fails to address these and other demands, the industrial action will commence throughout the nation.”

Senator Girei calls for Muazu’s resignation   Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

enator Abubakar Girei has said that the entire leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) should accept responsibility for the party’s defeat in the last elections, just as he advised that the blame game should stop.  Girei, who aspired for the governorship of Adamawa State, also said that the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu

Muazu and the entire National Working Committee (NWC) should relinquish their positions to pave the way for the PDP to be re-positioned. The gubernatorial aspirant, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Kaduna, added that the party’s defeat was an act of God and that more efforts were needed to be put in place to strategies for 2019.  According to Gire, although the PDP’s defeat was an act of God, the national leadership must accept full responsi-

bility for the humiliating defeat. The governorship aspirant reminded that ‘’those who claim that they have a tenure to serve should be reminded that the party members and indeed Nigerians know how each and every one of them came on board. ‘’ Girei warned that if the NWC members refuse to resign honourably, party members who are committed to the future success of PDP will have no alternative than to pass a vote of no confidence and sack them all.

Nigeria has highest illiteracy rate in Africa, says Dara Ebere Ameh

he very low literacy rate in Nigeria has been identified as a hindrance to the realization of one of the main objectives of the Nigerian Book Fair, which is ‘to enhance literacy and add value to the Nigerian book and knowledge industry’. That was the view of

the keynote speaker Prof. G.G. Darah of the Delta State University, Abraka, at the International Conference of Nigeria International Book Fair 2015, which took place at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka. With the theme of this year’s fair as African Youth Empowerment through Book for

Sustainable National Development, Darah explained that Nigeria has the largest population of people without basic education. “By 2013, Nigeria had 34 million adults who have not had the benefit of basic education. There were also 10.5 million children of school age who were not enrolled.”

A Mexican rescue worker at the site of a building that collapsed in an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday.

Burundi protests rage ahead of crisis talks

urundi police opened fire on protesters yesterday as President Pierre Nkurunziza defied international pressure to end a controversial third term bid, ahead of a regional summit to address the crisis. One protester died in fresh clashes with police on the streets of Burundi’s capital Bujumbura, while two others were reported killed overnight in a grenade explosion. The latest deaths bring the number killed in more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations to over 20 and come as East African

leaders prepare to hold an emergency meeting in Tanzania today. Over 50,000 Burundians have fled into neighbouring nations since the unrest began. Leaders of the five-nation East African Community made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda as well as Burundi are due to meet in Dar es Salaam. Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the US top diplomat for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield are also expected to attend.

Yesterday police in Bujumbura opened fire on protesters in an apparent attempt to scatter crowds who wanted to attack the house of a police officer. An AFP journalist at the scene also saw two other people with gunshot wounds, one of them a boy of around 10, hit in the arm. In another part of the capital, officers fired tear gas to break up a crowd of some 200 youths. While the police have ripped down barricades on main roads, side streets in key opposition areas remain blocked, guarded by angry demonstrators.

US nurse celebrates 90th birthday at work

he oldest working nurse in the United States got a warm reception from her colleagues as she turned 90 last week. Her co-workers had gathered in a corridor at the Tacoma General hospital and she was presented with flowers and a tiara. The governor of Washington, Jay Inslee had a special message for Ms. Rigney which a colleague read out: “Florence SeeSee Ri-

gney, our nation’s oldest working registered nurse, SeeSee turns 90 years young tomorrow and still run circles around colleagues half her age after more than six decades of service as an operating room nurse.” Mr. Inslee added that. “She has built a tremendous legacy of service over the years and her continued engagement in nursing is a testament to her unceasing energy and compassion

for those in need.” SeeSee has witnessed incredible advances in technology and have helped care for countless patients.” The 90-yearold still works two days a week at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington State, US and joked: “90 years ago I came into this world and here I am. I did my CPR yesterday! I know I’m a pain in the you-knowwhat. Thank you all. Ms Rigney said

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

News

International Sport

League Rendezvous Hostile stewards in Akure

Toure: I have to fight against racism

Dike, Oshoala boost Super Falcons camp

Juventus ready for Madrid –Barzagli

Sport Ajibade Olusesan

former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, strongly believes that national team players have shrugged off the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup and are now ready to ensure Nigeria will play in the 2017 edition of the tournament. The Bnei Yehuda of Israel goalie who was in goal when Nigeria failed to pick the ticket to the 2012 finals said that the team would make it to the 2017 tournament just as they bounced back to qualify and win the 2013 edition of the competition in South Africa. He said that although it was not going to be an easy task for the team because of Egypt who are also in their group, he was still optimistic that the three-time champions will pick the sole ticket from the group ahead of the seventime champions. Aiyenugba said: “I believe Eagles will qualify this time despite the fact that we have Egypt in our group. It is normal for people to be worried maybe because we did not qualify for the last edition. It was so painful and the players would feel the pain even more. I have been in this position before and I know how painful it is not to qualify for a major tournament. “But we must continue to

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

Features

Did you know? That the difference in Lionel Messi’s age and Christiano Ronaldo’s age is 869 days. The difference between their sons’ ages is also 869 days.

AFCON 2017

Eagles will qualify, says Aiyenugba support the team, they will come good this time, remember that a year after we failed to qualify, the team went all the way to win the cup, they can still do it.” However, the former Enyimba of Aba player has not given up hope of returning to the squad after more than four years out of reckoning. He has not been recalled since the team played a 2-2 draw with Guinea in 2011. Many Nigerians questioned the goalkeeper’s performance in that match which ultimately cost Eagles the ticket to the 2012 AFCON. Aiyenugba who has continued to do well for his club in Israel said he was optimistic of staging a comeback and he has maintained communication links with the coaches of the team. “I believe I can still return to the team. I have been speaking with Coach Ike Shorunmu and constantly let him know that I am still available any time my country needs me,” he said.

Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike in contention for the ball with an unnamed Ethiopian player at the 2013 AFCON

Top stars arrive Thursday for Okpekpe Race

ll the invited foreign athletes confirmed for Saturday’s 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpekpe,Auchi,Edo state, will arrive on Thursday (tomorrow) according to organisers of the race. Race coordinator,Yusuf Ali, said all the athletes except Foimi Justilin of Cameroun would arrive Lagos between 5.30am and 12 noon on Thursday. Foimi was expected in Lagos late Tuesday evening from Douala,Cameroun while Morocco’s Lahbabi Aziz is expected to jet in at 5.30am tomorrow.

Also expected in Lagos today are three former winners of the annual Obudu international mountain race, Abebe Dinkesa, Hunegaw Yismaw and Genet Yalew who will jet in aboard Ethiopia Airline flight number ET 901 at 12.30pm. Meanwhile, Ali has assured that Saturday’s race will be very different from the two earlier editions because of the international recognition it has received. “As you all know the Okpekpe 10km road race is now one of the few races the International Association of Athletics Federations has desig-

nated as one of the leading road races around the world. In fact, we have only three of such in Africa,’began Ali,a two-time IAAF World Championship long jump finalist. “The Okpekpe race is now an IAAF bronze label race and what this means is that all rules regulating the organisation of the race as layed down by the IAAF must be strictly enforced. “For example, the number of nations that must participate in a bronze label race must be at least four and we have satisfied this requirement by having athletes from

Cameroun, Morocco, Kenya and Ethiopia who have ran faster than the standard set by the IAAF for the year. “We are also going to ensure the specified number of doping tests is carried out after the race while in the area of prize money, the gender equality rule is also followed such that what the male winner earns is also what the opposite sex will get” The Okpekpe 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and Edo State Government.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dike, Oshoala boost Super Falcons Camp

Dike (right) in action for Falconets

FEDERATION CUP FIXTURES Wednesday matches Enyimba vs Nasarawa Feeders Cardinal FC vs Remo Stars Junior Spotlight vs Lobi Stars Zabgai FC vs Niger Tornadoes Heartland FC vs Bizi Cashless FRSC FC vs Sharks FC Idah United vs Spotlight FC Kurmi Market vs BJ Foundation Kano Pillars vs Zara FC Plateau Utd vs Shooting Stars Akwa Starlets vs Kwara United ABU FC vs Ajiroba FC Giwa FC vs Kukuruku Dragons Kaduna Utd vs Enugu Rangers Makwada vs Jigawa Stars El-Kanemi Babes vs Abia Warriors Gabros FC vs Chuson FC Nembe City vs Bayelsa Utd J. Atete vs Sunshine Christ Ambassadors vs Prime FC FC Abuja vs Wikki Tourists Tornadoes Feeders vs Shinkafi Utd Doma United vs Jalingo Inter FC vs Dolphins

boxer: Kogi shifts screening

he Kogi State chapter of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria has shifted the screening of budding talented boxers in the state to Friday, May 22. The state chairman of YSFON, Alhaji Nnda Umar Collins, explained that the shift was due to poor turnout last Saturday with only seven attending the screening exercise. He explained that the state and the organisers resolved to hold the screening on May 22 with the hope of young boxers into the state boxing team. Earlier, Alhaji Umar said the exercise scheduled to take place at the Kogi Township Stadium is open to boxers within the age of 13 to 23. According to him, Kogi will alongside at least 12 states participate in the proposed Nigeria Grassroots Boxing League which will be sponsored by the manufacturers of energy drink - Bullet.

uper Falcons invitees, Courtney Dike and Liverpool striker, Asisat Oshoala, have both arrived camp of the team ahead of the World Cup in Canada. Dike arrived 4 am Tuesday morning, while Oshoala landed Monday night. Dike, who plays for Oklahoma State University, was part of the silver-winning U-20 Falconets to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada last year. An excited Dike said after her arrival: “I feel super excited to be here because it’s been a while since I’ve been with these girls. I have grown a lot as a player, especially from the last U-20 World Cup, so I am excited to bring my skills here and

PWC-Lagos Chess4Change Grand Slam debuts

he maiden edition of the Lagos State Chess Association Chess4Change grand slam event sponsored by PriceWaterhouseCoopers holds today at the Kings College, on Victoria Island, Lagos. Chairman of LSCA, Fela Bank-Olemoh announced that the event targeted at secondary schools in the state will hold over three days ending on May 15th and explained that the partnership with the foremost

accounting firm began last year with enlightenment campaign aimed at generating interest in the sport amongst students of secondary school age. “We began this program with series of events such as the chess tutorials that had seasoned chess coaches teaching the students the basics of the moves and rules of chess. We also had the mentorship program during which representatives of PWC also interact with the students discussing

Serie A newcomers keep tab on Joel Obi

ewly-promoted Serie A side Carpi are considering signing Inter Milan’s Nigerian international midfielder, Joel Obi, when the transfer season opens in the Summer. According to Inter Milan website, Inter-News.IT, Carpi manager Fabrizio Beavers wants the 23-year-old Nigerian to be a part of his side who will be playing in the Serie A for the first time in the club’s history.

Beavers wants to emulate Empoli who managed to stay up in the Serie A this season thanks to the idea they used in strengthening their squad by picking up young Italian players owned by the big teams in Italy, and Obi who can play as an offensive or defensive midfielder falls in that category. However, it remains to be seen if Inter Milan will sanction an outright sale or accept to loan him but with his con-

tract set to run out next season it is possibly they will want to sell depending on how he fits into manager Roberto Mancini’s future plans. There are also reports a co-ownership deal mostly practiced by Serie A teams might also be another option in Carpi’s bid to unite Joel Obi with Jerry Mbakogu at the newly promoted Serie A side.

Sunshine apologise to Shooting Stars Bet9ja to sponsor Nigeria Charles Ogundiya

he management of Sunshine Stars of Akure has tendered unreserved apology to the General Manager and Coordinator of Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Mr. Rasheed Balogun and Mr. Dan Fulani, for the unruly behaviour of their fans during their match. In a release signed by Oluwole Kayode on behalf of the president of the club, Sunshine Stars management maintains that the club takes an exception to such an unsportsmanlike conduct of the fans. “The security personnel and other stakeholders were caught

unawares by the action of the person that ran into the state box. “We sincerely apologise for the embarrasement and we hope that the harmonious relationship between our clubs (Sunshine and Shooting) continues as we are partners in the establishment of a credible Nigerian league in tune with international best football practices. “Messers Balogun and Fulani were former members of staff of our club who had in the past contributed to our development and we still see them as part of the family which is why the incident is very regrettable. Once again we sincerely apologise, we are truly sorry,” the statement added.

women football league

hopefully, help the team. “It’s a huge honour being in the Super Falcons. The U-20 experience was great; some of the players are still here and I am excited to play with them. I am equally excited to meet the new players as well and learn from the ones that are more experienced than I am. I also relish the fact that I will be playing against the United States where I live.” Meanwhile, Liverpool striker, Asisat Oshoala was also full of expectations of going back to Canada to excel with the Super Falcons. “It’s good to be back with the team. I look forward to the World Cup in Canada to excel with my team. It feels really good,” Oshoala said.

he Nigeria Women Football League has concluded arrangements to partner the KC Gaming Network proponents of the Bet9ja as the title sponsors of the league. Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, said all the arrangements have been concluded for signing of the memorandum of understanding. “Discussions have reached the final stage with KC Gaming Network, the owners Bet9ja to come into the League as our title sponsors. We are now set to

make it public and the memorandum of understanding would soon be signed,” she said. Chairman of the KC Gaming Network, Kunle Soname, said: “Our girls have been the most successful among all our national teams. They have been to the entire FIFA Women World cup from inception in 1991 to date. “We felt that the best thing is to support the League that has been producing these players who have been projecting the image of this country positively.”

issues that affects young persons of their age group and there was the mini chess challenge that was organised to put them in tournament mood”, Fela explained. Participants have been drawn from Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Government College, Victoria Island and Kuramo Senior Secondary Schol, Victoria Island. The others are Falomo Senior Secondary Scool, Ikoyi, Akande Dahunsi Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi and Kings College, Ikoyi.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

Heineken stages UEFA Champions League cocktail

G Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal (left) shielding Juventus striker Carlos Tervez from the ball during the 2-1 first leg defeat in Turin

uests at the famous Heineken House Lagos will enjoy an exhilarating mix of football entertainment and a unique Heineken-based cocktail blend (today) Wednesday. In this ninth consecutive year of Heineken’s sponsorship of the world’s best club football tournament, Heineken House Lagos is open to Heineken fans to watch matches on every UEFA match night. The splendid venue in highbrow Ikoyi regularly attracts Nigeria’s entertainment celebrities and the occasional global football superstar. It is a football cocktail. The theme for this year’s campaign, ‘Champion the Match’ is born out of the insight that men know that UEFA Champions League match nights are worth a little more effort to make it memorable. For Ms. Bisi Olajude, an oil com-

Juventus ready for Madrid –Barzagli

head of their Champions League semifinal second leg on Wednesday evening against Real Madrid, Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has declared his determination to progress. The Serie A champions hold a slender 2-1 lead over Real Madrid from the first game in Turin, meaning that a draw would

be enough to see them through to the final. Barzagli told Spanish newspaper AS that Massimiliano Allegri’s side has no intention of letting their advantage slip. “We are completely focused,” he admitted, “because of the importance of the match.” “Real [Madrid] could do it, so we will have to give everything on

the field.” “Getting to the final would be a great achievement for us,” Barzagli continued, “especially as few people imagined Juve would get to this stage. We have always believed in the dream, and have managed to get this far.” Should they be able to progress, it would be Juventus’ first Champions League final in 12 years.

Hazard wins writers’ award

Murray

Murray considers withdrawing from Italy

ith his body worn down after winning consecutive clay-court titles, Andy Murray is considering withdrawing from the Italian Open. “I’m practicing again and I’ll decide. It’s obviously been a long couple of weeks,” Murray said on Tuesday In the past two weeks, Murray won his first clay title at the Munich Open, then beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s Madrid Open final for his first Masters trophy on the surface. He added: “I made my schedule based on my performances on clay in the past couple of years and I never played that well on clay. So I didn’t expect to play eight matches in the space of 10 days,” he added.

den Hazard has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. Hazard, who was named PFA Player of the Year last month, won 53 percent of the media vote after a season which saw him start every Premier League game for Chelsea, scoring 14 goals and eight assists. PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane was second in the vote with Hazard’s Chelsea team-mate John Terry third. “The list of truly world class players on the Football Writers’ Association roll of honour is a long one and Eden Hazard is a worthy addition,” FWA chairman Andy Dunn said. “A creator, a goalscorer and the hardest of workers, Hazard has been a constant source of threat for the Barclays Premier League champions.

pany business development executive, this is the ideal place to watch UEFA Champions League matches. “It’s very secure, I love the beautiful ambience and the type of people that you interact and network with.” And tonight, she’s enjoying the football action while sipping an exotic cocktail drink: secret ingredients have been blended with Heineken beer to produce something truly special. “I have to take this drink home with me. I never knew you could produce something like this with Heineken. I think I can taste kiwi in it. It’s very nice!” Yesterday Bayern Munich played host to Barcelona on the return leg of their semifinal tussle. The Santiago Bernabeu duel see the defending champions, Real Madrid, attempting to up turn the 2-1 defeat to Juventus, in the return leg of the semifinal battle.

Arsenal will bounce back against Manchester United

ack Wilshere says Arsenal will recover immediately from Monday’s disappointing defeat to Swansea City by beating Manchester United. A mixture of impressive goalkeeping from exGunner Lukasz Fabianski and poor finishing cost Arsene Wenger’s men dearly at the Emirates Stadium, as Bafetimbi Gomis’s late header saw the Swans run out winners. The defeat ended Arsenal’s 10-match unbeaten run and hindered their hopes of finishing second as, although with a game in hand, they sit

three points off Manchester City with an inferior goal difference. Next up for the Gunners is Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to face a United side still in contention to finish third and Wilshere called on the team to claim all three points and finish the season on a high. “We’ve been there in the FA Cup this season and won, so we know what it takes,” the midfielder told the club’s official website. “Our confidence will be high going there, but we’ve got to perform.”

Hazard

“But it is not just his trickery, his pace, his artistry and his marksmanship that make Hazard such an invaluable component of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea squad, it is his durability. Hazard has started all 36 Premier League matches and, considering the particularly close attention he receives from opponents, that is a feat in itself.”

Swansea’s Gomis heads home against Arsenal Monday night

Real players support Bale – Ancelotti

Ancelotti

arlo Ancelotti insists Gareth Bale is happy at Real Madrid and has dismissed suggestions the rest of the squad are ignoring him. Bale enjoyed a successful first season at the Bernabeu, winning the Champions League with Los Blancos, but he has struggled for form this year, resulting in some stinging criticism of the 25-year-old.

In the wake of his disappointing performance in the Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Juventus, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett suggested his team-mates were deliberately ignoring him. Ancelotti, however, has brushed of the claims and has questioned the agent’s motives.

“Bale’s agent has never seen a training session and does not know anything about Bale’s relationship with his team-mates,” Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday. “Bale likes his teammates and his team-mates like Bale. I really don’t know what he was trying to achieve because Bale is happy at Madrid.”

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian League Rendezvous

with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

08098042287

Hostile stewards in Akure

he constant harassment of visiting teams and fans by some hoodlums at the Akure Township Stadium remains a source of worry to fans and players of Sunshine Stars. According to a journalist from the state who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, the most annoying part was the involvement of some of the stewards within the stadium. At the weekend, during Sunshine 2-0 victory over Shooting Stars, the Gen-

eral Manager of the Ibadan side, Rasheed Balogun, and team coordinator Dan Fulani were said to have been harassed by one of the stewards, popularly called Mario. “Some of the touts that were converted to stewards so that they will not cause trouble are the ones that always harass the opposing teams,” the journalist said. “We have been playing well away from home and our players and officials have not been assaulted, so why must we embarrass our visitors, especially the GM who was once a manage-

Match Day 8 results FC Taraba 3-3 Gabros FC Enyimba 0-0 Giwa FC Bayelsa Utd 2-2 Dolphins Lobi Stars 0-0 El-Kanemi Akwa Utd 0-0 Wikki Tourists Sunshine Stars 2-0 Shooting Stars Abia Warriors 2-0 Kwara Utd Kano Pillars 2-0 Sharks Rangers 1-0 Heartland Warri Wolves 4-1 Nasarawa Utd

ment member of our team.” It would be recalled that Balogun was the Team Manager of the Akure Gunners two seasons ago before joining Shooting Stars. League Rendezvous could also remembered how the Media Officer of Heartland of Owerri, Cajetan Nkwopara, was harassed by some of the touts in steward uniform, who tore his clothes to shreds. A player who also spoke with League Rendezvous on condition of anonymity called on the management of the team to call the stewards to order.

Sharks’ Jamiu Alimi (right) vying against Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh during a league match

Lobi players need time to develop – Imenger

obi Stars of Markurdi Team Manager, Barnabas Imenger, has said the problem with the team has more to do with the players. Speaking with New Telegraph on the telephone, the former Nigeria international said the club had been using young and inexperienced players to prosecute their matches. “Not that we do not have

a good team, the bulk of the players are very young and inexperienced,” Imenger said. “Also, we have the problem of funds, a situation that forced the management to rely on these young players instead of buying established stars. “We just have to wait for these players to develop and get used to the Nigerian league, but I can

tell you that we are not far from our best.” Speaking further, he said the management was making efforts to secure the services of three good players to beef up the team. Imenger added: “The Vice-Chairman of the club, Dominic Iorfa, is currently looking for money to recruit some players to boost the team. “I am sure before the close

of the transfer window, some players will join the team and the team will rise again. “I can also tell you that injuries have been a major problem with the team and when some of the injured players return, things will change for the better.” Lobi Stars are yet to win a game this season and are currently bottom of the league table with six points from eight matches.

Tennis league set to serve off in Nigeria

with Ajibade Olusesan 0706 537 7853

Murray backs Nadal to succeed in French Open

ndy Murray insists it would be a mistake to write off Rafael Nadal as a clay court force and expects the Spaniard to still be favourite for a 10th French Open. World No. 8 Murray stunned Nadal 6-3, 6-2 to win the Madrid Open on Sunday, his first Masters title on clay and a second clay title in a week. It was also the Scot’s first victory over the Spaniard on clay in seven attempts, but he believes Nadal will still be the man to beat in Roland Garros at the end of the month. “I think there were periods of the match where he played like he usually does, but there were also periods where he made more mistakes,” said Murray. “On that court (in Paris) he has only ever lost one match, so when the French Open comes round he’ll be one of the favourites. It is maybe closer than it’s been in previous years, but I wouldn’t write him off.”

etter days are ahead for Nigerian tennis players as the International Tennis Academy has concluded plans to introduce league into the sports calendar in the country. According to the proprietor of the academy, Godwin Kienka, several top players will represent their clubs in a league that will last for about 30 weeks and will be played in different centres across the country. “We are going to have

about 30 weeks of tennis introduced into the Nigerian tennis calendar where the winning team will get N5m the second-placed side N3m the third-placed team N2m and the team that finishes in fourth place N1m. “We hope that we can even offer a better package to the participating teams with more sponsors coming in but for the moment the players are excited about it, we are also excited about the tennis league, and we hope

Quadri relishes blades series

Aruna Quadri with JOOLA officials at the unveiling of the blades series

that by next year when the second edition takes place, the whole country would stand and take notice. Kienka said that the first phase of the tennis league was going to take a roundrobin format with the eight teams divided into two groups – Blue and White. According to the coach, these teams will play a minimum of three playoff matches and the top two from the groups will qualify for the semi-finals. The

semi-finals will determine who gets to play in the final and the third and fourth place playoffs. “The teams are very excited because it is going to take tennis to places such as Onitsha, Asaba, Kaduna, Abuja; places that we’ve never had such high level tennis in the country. So we are taking tennis to every nook and cranny of Nigeria and that will get better as the league progresses,” he said.

Ajibade Olusesan

port in my career and this is another wonderful thing they have done. The company is the leading table tennis kits manufacturing company in the world and whatever products they have are of top quality and this is another of their master class,” he said. A statement by Joola read: “the experiences with the new plastic ball and the individual requirements of the ITTF star 2014 were put together to develop the new Aruna blade series, which now, after intensive tests, represent an innovative highlight in the JOOLA blade section. “Aruna Off is the current blade of the JOOLA top star, which he already used at his sensational performance at the World Cup 2014 in Düsseldorf.”

nternational Table Tennis Federation Star Player, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, has described as sensational the production of a table tennis blade on his name by Germany-based Kit giant, Joola. The manufacturing company, last weekend, unveiled the Aruna Off blades series in a new promo tagged Play with the blade of the ITTF Star 2014 Aruna Quadri! The player told our correspondent that he was delighted to have a blade developed in his name and was confident it would further enhance his career. “Thank you for congratulating me on this and I am grateful to God for another wonderful thing in my career. Joola has been a pillar of sup-

Sport 55

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015

TOURE I have to fight against racism Manchester City’s Ivoirian midfielder Yaya Toure speaks on his desire to make football an all-inclusive game during the launch in Zurich of the FIFA’s AntiDiscrimination Monitoring System for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. “The first time I was discriminated against, I was shocked. I was younger, so it was difficult to take in. Every time I touched the ball there was a chant, there were monkey sounds – it hurt a lot. After, I would think to myself I have to fight against this, I have to show I am stronger than this.” Some of the negative experiences

throughout Yaya Toure’s career lend weight to his position as a consultant on the FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination. The Côte d’Ivoire captain was amongst a panel of speakers from across the world of football at Wembley Stadium to discuss FIFA’s Anti-Discrimination Monitoring System for the 2018 FIFA World

Cup™ Preliminary Competition, implemented as part of a range of projects in the hope that future generations of footballers will not experience discrimination. “To be involved is an important thing I want to be a part of,” Toure told FIFA.com. “I have been involved with a lot of things relating to discrimination and racism in football and I think now I’m the voice of the people. I want to try to give them a voice and adjust that for them so they can express these things.” Toure shares the belief that everybody has a right to play free from discrimination or prejudice. “In this sport, on the pitch or wherever else we are doing our job, it is very important people know we are human beings, we want to be treated the same way,” the Manchester City midfielder said. “Football is about togetherness and happiness. My point of view is to show them they need to change or else there will be a radical sanction. I have full trust in FIFA. We know this is difficult but with education we hope to tell people a good way to act. We want to express ourselves, we want to enjoy life.” Federico Addiechi, FIFA’s Head of Sustainability, agreed with Toure’s message, and said that the Anti-Discrimination Monitoring System for the World Cup qualifiers was the first step on a journey to Russia. “The monitoring system is one of the activities that is part of the plan for 2018 and beyond,” Addiechi explained. “This will focus

on the World Cup qualifiers and the FIFA Confederations Cup. We will start analysing the monitoring system itself so we will have an improved system for the finals, where the idea is to have a system for every match of the World Cup. We have a responsibility because it is our event. The World Cup is an event that has to be for all.” Making the World Cup, and football as a sport, as inclusive as possible takes effort from a number of key partners and organisations, and Piara Powar, Fare’s Executive Director and a member of the FIFA Task Force, made clear that the collaborative effort between his organisation and FIFA will not be easy. “It’s very difficult actually,” Powar said. “Our approach will be to have a series of partners. The outcome could be that there will be associations banned or asked to play behind closed doors. There will be some pain as a result of this process, but there must be a realisation that without that pain people will not be able to understand how to tackle those issues. [To identify high-risk matches] we have a matrix which consists of between six to eight points of analysis, which includes national history or tensions, stadium and type of players that constitute that particular national team.” The difficulty of the task ahead was not lost on Howard Webb, referee of the 2010 World Cup Final and also a member of the FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination.

Countdown to FIFA U-20 World Cup

Awoniyi hat-trick sinks Hoffenheim Ifeanyi Ibeh

second half hat-trick from Taiwo Awoniyi was all the Flying Eagles needed to overcome the U-23 team of German Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim, in a friendly match played on Tuesday in Germany. The tie ended 5-2. The match, one of three matches lined up for the Flying Eagles ahead of their campaign at the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, served as an opportunity for coach Manu Garba and his technical crew to decide who would make the final 21-man list for the World Cup scheduled to begin on May 30. Players such as Wilfred Ndidi, Musa Yahaya, Saviour Godwin and Kingsley Sokari, who were not part of the team’s victorious march to the title at last March’s African U-20 Championship in Senegal, were given a chance to prove their mettle against the German side, and they all impressed with Saviour grabbing one of his side’s goals. Godwin shot the Flying Eagles into the lead only for the German side to level things up after some poor defending from the Nigerians. Chidera Ezeh, who was part of the team to Senegal, restored Nigeria’s lead but the Germans

once again restored parity as both teams headed into the break level at 2-2. The second half got off to a slow start but Awoniyi’s introduction, with 35 minutes left on the clock, proved to be the turning point of the game as the 17-year-old went on to grab a hat-trick. The Flying Eagles will next take on Nurnberg on Friday before rounding off their training tour of Germany with a game against Freiburg on May 19. Nigeria will compete against five-time champions Brazil, North Korea and Hungary in the first round of the U-20 World Cup.

Success (Left) in action for Granada

Success faces U-20 World Cup blackout • As Simon hits camp May 25

Awoniyi

ranada’s Isaac Success might be omitted from Nigeria’s final 21-man list for the FIFA U-20 World Cup unless his team communicates to handlers of the Flying Eagles on, or before, Thursday. While the team’s coaches are willing to include Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Gent’s Moses Simon in their final 21-man list based on their current form for their clubs, they are uncertain about Success who

has not played for Granada in the last two weeks. The coaches are also angered by the blackout they have received from his Spanish first division club, who are yet to reply to any of the series of mails and reminders sent to them by the Flying Eagles. Although Success trained last week with the Spanish side, there are reports that he is nursing an ankle injury although his representatives have since dispelled such fears.

Meanwhile, Gent of Belgium striker, Simon, has confirmed that he will arrive the camp of the Flying Eagles on May 25, five days before the kickoff of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. According to SL10.ng, officials of the Belgian club spoke with the coaches of the Flying Eagles to ask that the 19-year-old be allowed to play in all of their Belgian League playoff games before teaming up with the Flying Eagles a day after their final playoff game against Anderlecht.

On Marble I have been impressed with the

urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

World Record

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The Guinness world record for the Most species of fish caught on fly rod in one year was set by Ken Niles (USA), who caught 85 different species of fish using a fly rod on in one year.

Confab: The opportunistic appropriation

here is an uncomfortable correlation between the fate of the report of the 2014 National Conference and the struggle for the validation of the June 12, 1993 elections. In the case of the June 12, 1993 elections, forces that had nothing to do with the struggle for its actualization or revalidation or at best played a peripheral or insignificant role in the struggle appropriated it, slanted it and gave it a coloration that almost defeated its essence.

Some of the June 12 political opportunists gave the struggle an ethnic and religious coloration when in actual fact the struggle had a national appeal and character. Some of them wickedly and unconscionably used the struggle to negotiate contracts and appointments for themselves when in actual fact they never believed and or participated in the struggle. Some of them used the struggle to secure asylum for their friends and cronies when in actual fact they were in bed with the forces that annulled the election. The sad aspect of it is that the opportunistic elements that appropriated the June 12 struggle branded the real June 12 activists as reactionary elements purely on account of ethnic and religious considerations. The ethnic and religious slant given the June 12 struggle blunted the edge of the struggle as the real progressive elements that sought the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 election could not morally, politically or geographically justify their support and insistence on its revalidation. The same forces, characters, opportunists and interlopers that appropriated the June 12, 1993 struggle, almost buried it in the heap of ethnicity, saw an opening in the present regime and canvassed the convocation of national conference. They designed it in the way and manner that suits their political fancies and the dark forces they represent. With the conclusion of the 2014 National Conference, they appropriated its Report and have more or less reduced it to worthless heap of documents. Maybe the reelection strategy of these forces collapsed and the appropriation of the Report of the National Conference for political purposes and campaigns became inevitable. The tragedy of this appropriation is that even those that resolved to take a second look at the report of the 2014 National Conference have hardened their position and resolved to consign it where previous reports are consigned. Come to think of it, I accepted the nomination to represent civil society groups and organizations at the 2014 National Conference willingly and without compulsion. I knew from the beginning that there is a possibility that the proponents of the conference wanted to use it as a platform to advance their political interests in the 2015 elections given the timing of the conference which was uncomfortably too close to the election period. However, some of us felt that strategically and tactically, it was important to have a robust civil society representation at the National Conference to prevent its use as a platform to foist evil on the country. We also felt that it was important to advance Nigerian democracy and frustrate the machinations of those that want to use the platform to smuggle in things that are constitutionally and legally odious. Unfortunately, we did not bargain for certain things that took place at the National Conference and I dare say that without the robust intervention and resistance of civil society groups, the labour movement, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, some members of the Newspaper Proprietors As-

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only)

Justice Idris Kutigi

Bolaji Akinyemi

sociation of Nigeria; progressive elements, intellectuals and activists nominated by the various States and organizations, the enemies of Nigeria would have foisted on the country a Pandora box of strange constitutional resolutions that would set the country on the part of anarchy and lawlessness. Pedestrian as it may sound; some of the delegates who could not properly decode the machinations of the drivers of the National Conference contended that the composition was deliberately skewed in favour of a part of the country. However, my own simplistic analysis of the composition of the conference indicates a contrary position as the composition was carefully contrived to secure certain posi-

tions that will be advantageous for electioneering campaigns. Yes, the composition was skewed but it was skewed in favour of a party line and ideological direction. A substantial number of those nominated and imputed as Elder Statesmen, retired military and security personnel, Nigeria Youths Organization, National Council of Women Societies, Socio Political/ Cultural and Ethnic Nationalities Groups, Representatives of the geo-political zones, former Political Office Holders and Federal Government Nominees had a clearly partisans and party loyalty agenda and not necessarily geographical or ethnic loyalty. Some of them only capitulated to ethnic and religious loyalties when their main agenda of foisting a new constitution on the country failed. Clearly, they did not read the mood of the nation. Furthermore, some of delegates came to the National Conference with a shopping basket full of arrogance and absolutes. They thought people would be bullied on account of some perceived hold on power. It soon dawned on all that no segment of the Nigerian nation can get any proposal passed at the Conference without the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian people as represented by all the interest groups and stakeholders. Those that watched the live proceedings of the National Conference noticed that some delegates bluntly refused to address issues tabled before the National Conference. Rather at every opportunity, they eulogized the President for convoking the National Conference. They spoke to the camera and positioned themselves for appointments, anointing and to be favoured in the choice of candidates for positions in their parties. Some of them played the ostrich in discussions on critical issues. It was only during the work of the various Committees of the Conference, outside the glare of the Camera that some of them spoke their minds and made contributions based on their conscience, their training, experiences and world outlook and this enriched the work of the Committees

Unfortunately, we did not bargain for certain things that took place at the National Conference

and led to the solidity of some of the recommendations. This posture is also reflected in the compromises made at the National Conference. I therefore find it disheartening that some people, out of political exigency decided to appropriate and hawk the report of the 2014 National Conference at political rallies and negotiations towards and during the 2015 elections. Having lost their main agenda at the National Conference, some of us thought that these people will leave the recommendations of the National Conference as a national project for the next regime. Rather, some of these merchants sold the dummy of State creation to some political zones insisting that only their party being the convener of the Conference can create states for them. Others falsely claimed and sold to those without knowledge, the dummy of having secured all that they canvassed at the 2014 National Conference when in actual fact all the geo-political zones left the National Conference “sad and happy”. Sad in the sense that they never secured anything based on their own agenda and happy in the sense that they got something even if they could not really understand the complexion of what they got. That is the beauty of democracy and federalism. You gain some, lose some, negotiate some, concede some and you are happy and sad at the same time. I am fully aware that the APC as a Political Party boycotted the 2014 National Conference. They contended that the time was not auspicious and that the agenda was suspicious. I am also aware that the States controlled by the APC nominated and sent delegates to the National Conference and all the Governors have a clear idea and report of what transpired at the National Conference. My take is that the incoming government should in the national interest set up a technical/policy committee to review the report of the 2014 National Conference. The Committee will in the main aggregate, isolate and analyse the report of the various National Conference Committees as well as the recommendations from the Conference. In approaching its assignment, it is important for the Committee to cluster together and analyse the reports and recommendations of Committees whose reports are non contentious, non divisive and with little or no political undertone. These include the report and recommendations of the Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources; Public Service; Energy; Science, Technology; Transport; Public Finance; Civil Society Organizations, Labour, Youths and Sports and Religion. The reports and recommendations of contentious committees can also be clustered and analysed and the main contentious issues in them isolated. The reports and recommendations include those of the Committees on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government; Political Parties and Electoral Matters; Politics and Governance; Social Sector; Devolution of Power; Economy, Trade and Investment; Land tenure Matters and National Boundaries; Citizenship, Immigration and related Matters and Environment It is important for the new government to rise above the opportunistic appropriation of solid work done by the Nigerian people for partisan political gains and considerations. Our people are in a hurry and will not be averse to cleaning up and using some positives from the outgoing regime to engineer a positive change in the polity. Nigerians want a speedy resolution of some of its serious national challenges especially in the area of energy, public finance, employment, economy, trade and investment. Our hope and prayer is that the incoming government will use and utilize the human and material positives in our nation for political and economic advancement.

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