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Vol. 2 No. 441

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BUHARI, THE BEST OF TWO EVILS, SAYS SOYINKA }41

Federation Account revenue drops by 50% Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

oordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-

Iweala, yesterday warned the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to brace up for tough days ahead. According to her, with revenue to the Federation

Account dropping by as much as 50 per cent since January, the Buhari administration will encounter cash flow crisis in the implementation of the 2015 N4.49 trillion budget. She told reporters at

NEW TELE

GRAPH

The Meg a City WEDNESDAY , MAY 6, 2015

...EXCLUS IVE LAG OS MA GAZIN E

the presentation of the highlights of the 2015 budget in Abuja that because of the 50 per cent drop in cash, the Federal Government has been managing the economy on a

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MY CITY, MY WORLD I pray for Lago touts – Ovie s without

LIFE IN THE CITY Extortion ists on the prow l

When h becomeomes prisons

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Page 21

eight pages of mega city

APC lawmakers to pick leaders High fence

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State Rehab

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Centre, Ikorod

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lParty chiefs meet lGovs seek Buhari's help to pay workers

Quick Read

Editorial A crowd protesting the impeachment move by the Enugu State House of Assembly against Governor Sullivan Chime in Enugu...yesterday.

Fayose: Mu'azu sold out to APC lI'll not engage gov in verbal exchange - Mu'azu }4

More gory tales from Sambisa }19 Dangote keen on buying Arsenal FC }54

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwabushi

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

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, 73, representing 66 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 6, 2015

News

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC lawmakers to pick leaders Donald Ojogo and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

head of its meeting to forge a consensus on the zoning of National Assembly leadership positions, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may eventually allow senators and House of Representatives members of the party to choose their leaders. The party, which commands the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly in the forthcoming eight legislature, has been mired in a crisis over the deadlock on which geopolitical zones will produce the Senate president and House speaker. While the Senate presidency has pitted the North-East against the North-Central, the SouthWest and the North-East are jockeying for the House speakership. The APC leadership has not been able to ratify an earlier agreement worked out by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party that had zoned the Senate presidency to the North-Central and the House of Representatives speakership to the SouthWest. A top official of the party told New Telegraph yesterday that the party leaders were worried about the crisis and might just allow the lawmakers to decide on their leaders. This, he added, was necessary, to prevent a gang-up of aggrieved lawmakers to choose leaders contrary to any agreed zoning formula. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had faced a similar situation in 2011 as its lawmakers ignored its zoning formula that conceded the House speakership to the South-West and the deputy to the NorthEast to pick Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, from NorthWest, as speaker and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, from the South-East, as his deputy. The lawmakers executed their rebellious plot with the connivance of their colleagues in the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties that formed APC. Since the zoning crisis broke out, the PDP, which is now the minority party in the next legislature, has also been plotting to re-enact the Tambuwal syndrome in the National Assembly. But the source said party leaders were expected to meet yesterday night to break the deadlock to ease

the emergence of National Assembly leaders. Among those in the race for the Senate presidency are Senators Bukola Saraki (North-Central), George Akume (NorthCentral), Ahmad Lawan (North-East) and Danjuma Goje (North-East). The tussle for the House speakership has turned out to be a straight fight between Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (South-West), Hon Yakubu Dogara (North-East) and Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin(North-West). There has been intense lobbying by various camps for their candidates

to clinch the positions. Another source, who spoke on the zoning crisis, said compromise would be pursued at all cost. "Politics is all about compromise and lobby; in this case, I think compromise will be pursued at all cost so that our party can have smooth take-off in governance. Remember this is the first time a sitting president will be defeated, not just a sitting president being defeated but the ruling party also defeated by the opposition; so we are making efforts to ensure that syndicates within the party are carried along," he stated.

Meanwhile, APC ggovernors-elect yesterday decried the present economic situation in the country. The governors expressed worries over the non-payment of workers' salaries and lamented that it might continue if something was not done by the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, on assumption of office on May 29. The governors and the newly-elected ones who attended the meeting with the Buhari were: Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Rauf Aregbesola

(Osun), Abubakar (Bauchi) Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bindow Jibrila (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Simeon Lalong (Plateau). The governors had on Monday night met at the Imo State Governors' Lodge where they agreed on what to present Buhari. Okorocha, who chairs the APC Governors' Forum, told reporters after their meeting with Buhari that they discussed the state of the economy

with him. "We have come to notify the incoming president of the challenges ahead of him. As it stands today, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries and even the Federal Government has not paid April salary and that is very worrisome. By May and June, salaries will be in cumulative of three months," he said. Buhari, who held a closed-meeting with the governors and the incoming ones, expressed worry over the non-payment of salaries despite the huge revenue Nigeria has earned since 1999.

President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (fifth right); Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (fifth left); All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (fourth left); and the party's governors and governors-elect, after a meeting with Buhari in Abuja…yesterday.

Fayose: Mu'azu sold out to APC Adesina Wahab and Onyekachi Eze

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday pointedly accused National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, of selling out the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections. Fayose, in a statement that opened another vista in the blame game triggered by the party's clobbering in the general elections, said he had evidence of the “unholy” alliance between Mu’azu and the APC leadership and would release it when the time is ripe. The PDP suffered its worst electoral misfortune, since 1999, in the general elections, losing the presidency and the National Assembly to the APC. It also lost many states

to the incoming governing party. Fayose, in a statement by a media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, stated that in a sane clime, Mu’azu ought to have quit for leading the PDP to its first national electoral failure. He said: “How do we explain the PDP losing so scandalously in Bauchi State, despite the presence of the national chairman, Federal Capital Territory Minister and the state governor? “I am even more particular about the national chairman because he sold the party to the opposition. I have cogent evidence of his unholy alliance with the opposition before the elections and if they go any further, I will expose all his underhand deals. “In saner climes, when a war commander leads his troops to an embarrassing defeat, such a commander does not need anyone to

tell him that he needs to leave the war front for another commander to take over. “I want to say it again that I have no apology for calling for the resignation of the National Working Committee (NWC) members, especially the national chairman. After all, someone resigned his position as the national chairman for Alhaji Mu’azu to assume office. “Lastly, let me say it categorically that they can only attempt to destroy this party for the moment, not forever. Sooner or later, they will all fade away and PDP will rise again.” While describing the attack on his person by the NWC as unfortunate, the governor said it was sad that the NWC members, especially the Mu'azu, were refusing to allow new people to manage the party after managing it into its first national electoral

failure. Fayose said his call for the dissolution of the Mu’azu-led NWC of the PDP is in good faith and in the overall interest of the party. The governor, who also challenged the NWC to provide evidence of money released to him to prosecute the last elections, added that “only N30 million was received for the last two elections and to the glory of the Almighty God and support of Ekiti people, we won all elections outright. I, therefore, demand for the mode with which money was released to me by the NWC.” But Mu'azu declined to respond directly to Fayose's allegations, saying he has no reason to engage him in a verbal attack. Mu'azu said his decision was in obedience to the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to halt any more attacks and

counter-attacks in the aftermath of the elections. In a statement yesterday by his Press Secretary, Tony Amadi, the national chairman said the Post-Election Review Committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu had just been inaugurated and should be allowed to do its work. "Similarly, the national chairman, having worked hard for the governor's election, still have confidence in him and therefore will not take part in any verbal confrontation with a governor that he has high regard for," the statement added. The Ekweremadu committee was inaugurated yesterday with Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Theodore Orji (Abia) absent. The three governors CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015

News

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps consider PIB next week Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives is to commence consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) next week. Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who disclosed this at yesterday's plenary announced that clean copies of the report of its ad hoc committee on the bill has been circulated to lawmakers. It will be recalled that the ad hoc committee, led by the House Chief Whip, Hon. Ishaku Mohammed Bawa, had presented the report in March 2015 after almost three years of its assignment. The committee had scrutinised the whole 363 sections and annexures of the original bill and made some amendments and recommendations. The 23-member ad hoc committee had held public hearings in the six geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which afforded stakeholders and general public the opportunity to make contributions to the law.

The original bill covered salient areas such as establishment of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, incorporation of National Gas Company, establishment of petroleum directorate and National Asset Management Company, as well as imposition of new tax regime such as Nigeria Carbon Tax. In the report, the committee recommended the “complete removal” of section 191 of the bill that gives the president discretional powers to grant petroleum licences and lease and instead proposed biddings for the award of licences. On the powers of the minister of petroleum,

the committee retained the conventional powers of the minister under section 6 of the bill but recommended the removal of powers of the minister either to serve as chairman or to recommend to the president the appointment of chairmen of boards of such agencies. The committee also amended section 174 recommending that 30 per cent of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) shares be sold through public offers at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as section 185 proposing that 49 per cent of Nigerian Gas Company shares be sold through public offers

at the stock exchange. The report recommended creation of Frontier Oil Services Agency in sections 193 to 217 to step up exploration activities in various Frontier Acreages of Nigeria’s oil industry which comprises, among others the Anambra, Sokoto, Benin, Chad and Benue Basins. The Frontier Oil Service is to be funded through taxes from oilproducing operations, as well as national budgetary allocations in a dual funding strategy aimed at strengthening the agency and its operations so as to broaden government’s revenue base. This is captured in sec-

tion 209. Also, in the report, oil production measurement is to be made at the flow station and not at the point of export. Under section 116, the Petroleum Host Community Fund is created to benefit any community where oil facilities and installations such as pipelines, depots and refineries are located. Under section 203, the committee retained environmental remediation funds, which obligates petroleum investors to pay adequate compensation for the remediation of environmental damage. The House had, in its resolution of November

15, 2012 constituted the ad hoc committee on PIB with the mandate to look into the bill and make recommendations on how or what form to pass the bill into act that will provide for legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the nation’s oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said Nigeria is losing due to the nonpassage of the bill and appealed to the National Assembly to pass it before the end of the 7th Assembly. She disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from reporters after a budget session with the House.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

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PORT HARCOURT

KANO

29o C 26oC Thunder Storms

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Federation Account revenue drops by 50% CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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ENUGU

L-R: Finance Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Mark Rutten; Human Resource Director, Mr. Victor Famuyibo; Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde and Sales Director, Mr. Hubert Eze, after the company’s Pre-Annual General Meeting press conference in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

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month-by-month basis by adopting what she called front-loading, a borrowing programme to manage the cash crunch. Nigeria has borrowed N473 billion within the budgeted allowance of N882 billion for 2015 to finance recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads, she said. Besides, no single fund has been released for capital projects in this year’s budget while recurrent expenses have been kept on track. Describing the 2015 budget as a difficult and responsible one, the minister stated that the revenue inflows, especially within the first and second quarters of 2015 nose dived drastically. "As you know, I have been honest with you since the current economic problems started. I would like to repeat: we have serious challenges, things have been tough since the begin-

ning of the year and they are likely to remain so till the end of the year. We have serious challenges, but we also have strengths and if we do the right things, we can keep a steady course and emerge out of the current situation. "I want to remind you that the revenue of Nigeria is following a pattern that is like a curve. At the beginning of the year, the revenues were quite low from the non-oil sources. It was in the middle of the year that the corporate taxes came in. We had a very low (revenue) in the first half and a higher in middle and at the end of the year, it was low again. So, the first half of the year was very challenging because of the additional low receipts. We have 50 per cent cut in oil revenue. This has made the cash flow situation very difficult and you know that we have repeated over and over again that January, February, March April and

May, we have been managing the situation like that. It was something that was very difficult since the beginning of this year," Okonjo-Iweala said. However, she stated that despite the challenge, the government has managed to keep the economy stable to the point that the economy, which is projected to grow by 4.8 per cent this year, is doing much better than those of many other oil producing countries. She added that one other thing that was going well for Nigeria is in the area of agriculture and inflation that have remained stable on a single digit rate. The minister used the occasion to clarify the subsidy status in the 2015 budget, saying that the National Assembly approved N100 billion for petrol and N45.52 billion for kerosene as proposed by the executive. She said the budget passed by the National Assembly slightly varied

from what was sent by the executive as the legislature passed a benchmark oil price of $53 per barrel, $1 higher than what was contained in the budget proposal. This will bring extra revenue of N54.25 billion to the Federation Account, she stated. Asked whether the budget would be appended to by President Goodluck Jonathan as passed by the National Assembly, she said: "The president will look at it in a few days and decide whether to assent to it or not; but we will give him our recommendations." Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified that deficit financing of budgets is a widely accepted principle provided in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and is widely accepted in fiscal practice. The bank, in a statement by its Director of Corporate Communica-

tions, Mr. Ibrahim Mu'azu, said the clarification was necessary to correct the erroneous reports in the media that the Federal Government overspent the budget by N365.35 billion during the second half of 2014. According to the CBN, the financial stability report from which this misleading conclusion was drawn clearly states “…. the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an overall deficit of N365.35 billion or 0.8 per cent of GDP, as against the proportionate budget deficit of N482.10 billion for the second half of 2014. The deficit was financed mostly from privatization proceeds”. This means that the Federal Government had initially projected to run a budget deficit of N482.10 billion during the second half of 2014. However, the actual outcome turned out to be much less than projected at N365.35 billion.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015

Rice importers owe FG N36bn –Adesina

lDenies granting waivers Philip Nyam Abuja

inister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday disclosed that rice importers in the country were owing the Federal Government N36 billion from unpaid import duties. He, however, denied allegations that he granted waiver to some foreign rice importing companies. Adesina, who made this disclosure while testifying before the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee investigating allegations of abuse of waivers and debt owed through rice importation, said contrary to the allegations, he blew the whistle on the N36 billion debt early this year.

It will be recalled that a foremost rice importing firm, Olam Nigeria Limited had, on Monday, told the ad hoc committee that out of its N3 billion import liability debt, the minister had written them, notifying the company of 50 per cent relief. Adesina, who was summoned by the committee, explained that he was transparent in all his transactions, insisting that no company is above the law and that any company that owes the Federal Government any amount must pay it. "When it comes to the issue of public policy, transparency and public probity are crucial, and I have always done that. I raised the issue myself that allocations were made to certain companies and they have to pay.

"At the time I issued the statement, I said to the Customs that the amount owed the Federal Government was N36 billion. I don't know when the hunter becomes the hunted," he told the lawmakers, ostensibly dissociating himself from the blame of waiving certain amount to one of the debtors "When we started the rice policy, we wanted to encourage the local producers. We jerked up the price. We have two tariffs: importers 10 per cent duty, 60 per cent levy. Investors will pay 10 per cent duty, 20 per cent levy, because we want to encourage them. "In the last three years, we have been above to reach well over three million farmers. It is a huge success for us. We have to manage the import level and that's why decision

was made to manage the import. I chaired the meeting, even though I was not feeling fine. "The last supply was 1.3 million metric tonnes. Our total demand is about five million. The criteria was set clearly. We wanted to favour those that are producing locally," he said. Adesina, however, challenged his accusers to mention any favouritism done in respect of the rice allocation. He said: "If anybody got allocation by begging the minister, or anybody sent anything to my account, let them come out here and say it. That is how transparent we were in that policy. "We said anybody that imported above the quota must have to pay it, and must pay 10 at 60, not 10 at 20. We are not banana

republic. I am in charge of policy, but I don't collect money. Customs is there to collect. That is why I said anybody that owes must pay." On accusation by the local rice millers that one foreign company is subverting the policy by the Federal Government, the minister said: "Nobody is above the law. Even if you got a letter today from the minister, it doesn't mean that it's complete until we finish that process." In his presentation, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, who also runs a rice mill in Benue, alleged

I'll not engage Fayose in verbal exchange - Mu'azu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa State Governor-elect, Senator Umar Jibrilla Bindow, on arrival of Atiku from South Africa in Abuja...on Monday.

Reps reject motion for fuel subsidy removal Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday rejected a motion seeking the removal of fuel subsidy in the country. The motion was sponsored by Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve (PDP, Kogi), who drew the attention of lawmakers to what he called "a national embarrassment necessitated by needless disagreement.” Leading debate on the motion, Karimi said: "The fuel scarcity that has persisted for about four weeks

now has become a national embarrassment for us as a nation, despite our status as the 6th largest oil producer in the world. "As we speak, PMS sells in most places at the rate of N120 and N150, depending on where it is available, which is against the official pump price of N87. "Marketers and government have continued to trade blames and nobody seems to be accepting responsibility. Whereas marketers claim they are being owed lots of subsidy arrears, government claims otherwise. "Major oil marketers

and dealers are laying different claims to what government is owing them.” Attempts by the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, to support the motion did not yield result. He said: "As a nation, we have spent huge amount of resources on subsidy where fuel marketers are holding us to ransom. The crux of this matter as I understand it, is purely based on impulse. "Impulse in the sense that they can wake up anytime they want and stop fuel importation and distribution because somebody wants to be seen as

relevant all time due to our lack of refining capacity. "For how long shall we continue to be held hostage by our own people? How long shall we continue to pay subsidy when our refineries are lying comatose? How do we develop our economy and invest in refineries if we continue to pay huge amount on subsidy claims that in most cases are not even tenable?" Ogor queried. When the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session put to question the motion, it was voted against.

that some companies are killing Nigerians by their glaring antics in the market. Aondoakaa, who declined to name the company, said: "This particular company doesn't pay duty, undermines duty, and undermines Customs. I want to know how the new government will allow them to continue to circumvent the process." Chairman of the committee, Hon. Leo Ogor, said the Nigerian Customs should not heed any interference from the political class in overlooking what is owed the Federal Government as part of the import duty.

were appointed to serve in the committee set up by the party leadership to investigate PDP loss at the general elections. Their absence further lent credence to insinuations that PDP governors have scheduled a meeting for today to push for the resignation of members of the National Working Committee (NWC). But the PDP National Publicity, Mr. Olisa Metuh, blamed their absence on communication gap. Metuh explained that Akpabio, having called Mu'azu, who told him he would be coming back to the country next week, thought the inauguration had been shifted till next week. The governors met last week and passed a resolution calling on the NWC members to resign for failure to lead the party to victory. The governors, after their scheduled meeting today, will proceed to the State House for another round of meeting with Jonathan to determine the next line of action. A source said they might push for the sack of the party leadership despite the truce said to have been brokered on Sunday by Jonathan. But at the inauguration of the 17-man post-election committee in Abuja, Mu'azu charged them "to look at the funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were properly done.” Mu'azu, who was represented by the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, also told the commit-

tee to identify the remote and immediate causes of the relatively poor performance of the PDP in the general elections. The committee, which has three weeks to submit its report, is also expected to review and determine the adequacy of the structures for the general elections and how those structures functioned and "to propose a road map for the party to recover its past glory and definitely win the general elections in 2019." Oladipo had earlier noted that the loss of the party in the presidential election was a good commentary on the PDP's democratic credentials. He added that in spite of the observed lapses at the just-concluded elections, the fact that Jonathan congratulated his opponent even before the election result was released, was unprecedented. Oladipo announced Alhaji Adamu Mina Waziri, as acting secretary of the committee pending the recovery of Senator Walid Jibril who, he said, was indisposed. Ekweremadu observed that the pains and disappointments of members of the party were well founded, especially given the enormous hopes and prospects the party holds as a pan-Nigerian movement for social, economic, and political transformations. "Thus, it is not a loss for the PDP only, but a loss to the great people of this country that the party lost the steering at the time it had laid a solid foundation through the Transformation Agenda of the present administration," he added.

News

wednesday, may 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Energy crisis worsens amid gas shortage Adeola Yusuf

Houson, Texas

nationwide power blackout is looming for Nigerians, who are just coming out of

US Consul General hails Nigerian journalists Mojeed Alabi

atisfied with the media coverage of the 2015 general elections, the United States of America’s Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, has commended the nation’s journalists for their roles, saying their contributions to the success of the elections could not be overemphasized. Hawkins made this remark yesterday in his speech in Lagos during a programme organised by the Consulate General’s Office as part of activities marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day. The programme with the theme; Assessment of the News Media’s Performance Covering the 2015 Election, according to Hawkins, was aimed at reflecting on the opportunities and challenges the elections offered the Nigerian media and towards encouraging journalists to achieve the best on the job.

fuel scarcity, which has curtailed movements and raised transport fares. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), supplier of gas to thermal plants, gave this hint at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas. Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, said that the nation is being faced with “a perfect storm for a much reduced generation,” which Nigeria would grapple with “over

Abuja

ormer Managing Director of Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company (NSMPC), Emmanuel Okoyomon, has prayed the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division to set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which on Monday granted an order to extradite him to the United Kingdom for trial. Pending the hearing and determination of his appeal, Okoyomon has also moved to stall any possible attempt of the government to whisk him away to the United Kingdom by filing a motion for stay of execution of the judgement. In a Notice of Appeal filed through his counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), Okomonyo formulated four grounds why the decision of the Federal High Court should be upturned. In ground one of the said Appeal Notice,

Escravos-Lagos pipeline between escaravos and Ojidi and Warri has been down after the vandalisation. It has taken us this long to repair the pipeline because, first of all, the elections meant that the JTF could not provide security for our people to go in there and access. “So it was only after the elections that the people can now go-in there and work is on-going right now to effect that repair. So, with the loss of that pipeline at the moment,

we are losing close to 120-150 million cubit feet per day of gas, which has been the case for the last eight weeks or so.” Ige said: “In addition to that, the Trans Forcados pipeline was attacked about four weeks or three weeks ago, there was an attempt to repair it but when we try to bring back that online, we noticed further leakage, which I believe has just been fixed or is being fixed right now. With the Transforcados pipeline out, we are

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations (PACIR), Chief Emeka Anyaoku after a breakfast meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday

Ex-MINT boss asks appeals extradition order Tunde Oyesina

the next couple of weeks.” Ige, who spoke on the sideline of the conference, said that Nigeria is “losing close to 120-150 million cubit feet per day of gas, which has been the case for the last eight weeks or so,” at a “time that the hydro generation is at the lowest.” Fielding questions from newsmen, he said: “We are having quite a lot of issues that are interlinked with the power sector; for the past two months, one leg of the

he contended that the learned trial Judge erred in law when he ordered his extradition to Great Britain to stand criminal trial. He noted that there is no subsisting Act of the National Assembly or treaty between Nigeria and Great Britain upon which the decision of the court was premised. He also submitted that there was also no Order made by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria applying the provisions of the Extradition Act. Cap E25, LFN 2004 to Great Britain as envisaged by Section 1(6) of the Extradition Act, Cap E25, LFN 2004. The appellant further submitted that the order for the Extradition was not supported by any legislation. The appellant also submitted that court erred in law when he held that the Extradition Treaty between Great Britain and the United States of America signed at London on 22nd November, 1931 is applicable to Nigeria.

2015: Agbaje gets tribunal's nod to inspect election materials Akeem Nafiu

he Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal has granted leave to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 11, 2015, governorship election in the state, Jimi Agbaje, to inspect all polling materials and documents used in the election.

Agbaje had petitioned the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC). The respondents in the suit are: INEC, Ambode, APC and the INEC Resi-

10, 606 tested positive to HIV in Lagos Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

t least, 10, 606 persons tested positive to the HIV out of the 58,792 that were tested for the deadly virus in all the public hospitals in Lagos State in the last one year. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this, also said that no fewer than 10, 224 Lagosians were discovered to be suffering from diabetes and hypertension out of the 42,908 screened by government owned hospitals within the period.

Briefing journalists on the activities of the state's Health Ministry, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this, said, 340 pregnant women were also discovered to be HIV positive out of another round of 28,736 pregnant women screened for the virus. The Commissioner added that in the year under review, 2,975 HIV positive clients were placed on antiretroviral, ARV treatment while 1,066 HIV positive pregnant women and 745 HIV exposed babies were placed on ARV.

dent Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State. The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, while granting the leave in a ruling on a motion ex-parte filed by Agbaje’s lawyer, Clement Onwuenmunor also ordered INEC to provide certified true copies of all polling documents.

losing gas supply from Ubein, from Sapele and from NPDC, which is a significant one. So, right now, we are also losing gas from Escravos and that is a significant amount of our supply capacity that is down on the western side. “On the Eastern side, you know we have had largely evacuation issues. Even though we are able to supply gas to Okpai power plant, the power sector evacuation challenges do not make us to evacuate all of that power. So, Okpai sometimes is not been able to operate at full capacity. We are able to supply to Ibom power but Ibom power has been operating at about 50 per cent capacity for quite a few months now. Although the gas is there, the power plant is not working at full capacity. We are able to supply gas to Alaoji but the Alaoji power plant is not able to evacuate power because when Alaoji is on, you cannot be able to evacuate Alaoji and Calabar. “It is a combination of issues, this is the time that the hydro generation is at the lowest; we have lost 300MW from Shiroro as a result of hydro going down. So, bringing all these together is almost like a perfect storm for a much reduced generation.” He said that this situation would only improve after a couple of weeks, when the repair work is expected to be completed on the gas pipeline and the nation begins to witness rainfall. “I believe that power will improve over the next couple of weeks, as we repair the pipelines and we also receive the rain storm, and of course some of our projects that have been commissioned, which the outages had earlier affected will be back on stream. So, you should be able to see some improvements in the next couple of weeks."

DSS promotes Marilyn, Ogar Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Department of State Services (DSS), has promoted its spokesperson, Mrs Marilyn Ogar, to the "second highest rank in the Service." New Telegraph gathered that Ogar was elevated to the position of Assistant Director; a rank in the Secret Service that. is next to that of Director, which is the highest. Though, the Service is headed by the Director General (DG), who is assisted by National Direc-

tors, it was learnt that the position of DG is not a rank, as the appointment is made from among the Directors. In the same vein, Ogar's position as Deputy Director, Public Relations, was not a rank, but an appointment. What is not clear, however, is whether she will continue to occupy her position as spokesperson, by virtue of her elevation. Ogar, a graduate of Languages from the University of Calabar (UNICAL), enlisted in the State Security Service (as it then was) in 1988.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY,MAY 6, 2015

Akeem Nafiu

ustice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, will, on May 21, rule on an application filed by MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, owners and operators of DStv, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain a suit filed by two Lagos-based lawyers, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, over the company’s new subscription rates. The two lawyers had, in a class action, dragged MultiChoice to court to challenge the increase in the subscription rates.

News

NATIONAL

Dstv: Court rules on jurisdiction May 21 The judge fixed the date after parties in the matter have canvassed arguments for and against the application. In his arguments over the application, MultiChoice lawyer, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), disclosed that the plaintiffs did not comply with Sections 96, 97 and 98 of the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act, which makes it mandatory for them to obtain the leave of court before filing the processes and then, have their writs of summons endorsed by

the court. He added that the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act was superior to the rules of the court. Furthermore, the silk noted that as it is, there was no law upon which the cause of action was predicated upon. According to him, it is not the business of the court to rewrite the existing agreement between his client and its customers. “There is an existing agreement between MultiChoice and its customers.

Neither the government nor the court can regulate prices in a free market economy like that of Nigeria “, he said. However, Onigbanjo’s arguments was opposed by the defendant’s lawyer , Yemi Shalma. Shalma, while urging the court to discountenance Onigbanjo’s submissions, maintained that the filing of the plaintiffs’ processes was in order. After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till May 21, for ruling

on the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit. Earlier on, during yesterday’s proceedings, the judge had declined to entertain the request of a human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, to argue his motion for joinder. The lawyer had sought to join as a party in the matter and also represent himself.

Abuja

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Insurers’ Association Director (NIA), Mr. Sunday Thomas; Director-General, Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), Dr. Rotimi Hussain; Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi and Chairman, Enterprise Trust Insurance Brokers Ltd. Mr. Paschal Egerue, at the 2014 Businesstoday Online Insurance and Pension Industry awards in Lagos … yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

NLC charges FG to end fuel scarcity Abuja

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged the Federal Government to act decisively and intervene immediately to end the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country. The labour body said government must ensure the restoration of regular supply of the products. NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement issued yesterday, said government must accept and take full responsibility for the current scarcity, which it must end immediately. “We are worried at the sustained scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol in nearly all parts of the country for several weeks now without any successful intervention by government or its agencies in the petroleum industry. It has been tougher in the Federal Capital Territory and now the South West and some other states are also experiencing the scarcity.

This painful experience Nigerians have been subjected to have been exacerbated by the embarrassing tirade between the fuel marketers and the Federal Government represented by the Coordinating Minister on the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the actual amount owed the marketers. This protracted haggling by this major stakeholders, even on the total amount owed, points to a conspiracy that perhaps, the scarcity may have been ignited by those clamouring for the removal of subsidy on petroleum. Our position on this has

not changed as we remain opposed to the removal of petroleum subsidy. If government is truly owing marketers, they should pay them immediately as the long queues at fuel stations has led to loss of lots of productive hours since workers are either unable to get to work or spend long hours searching for fuel. The scarcity has also led to sharp practices with workers paying between N120 to N130 per litre at some filling stations. For those commuting by public transport, they now pay more to get to work even when there are no increases in salaries.

Cross River State delegation to the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday sought his assistance in the recovery of its lost oil wells. Cross River State had gone to the Supreme Court against Akwa Ibom State over 76 oil wells. The Court had ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom State. But yesterday, the case of the lost oil wells was presented to the President-elect by the Cross River people. The delegation, led by Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma Egba, also requested the President-elect to revisit the issue of cession of Bakassi to Cameroun. President Olusegun Obasanjo had, in 2012, ceded Bakassi in cross River to

Abuja

s the race for the speakership of the House of Representatives intensifies, one of the contenders, Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin has raised the alarm that some federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) want to undermine whatever zoning arrange-

ment that would evolve. Jibrin told a team of newsmen in Abuja that the plot, orchestrated by an aspirant who wants to be speaker, is already to the knowledge of the APC leadership for which he said necessary sanction shall be invoked. The chairman, House Committee on Finance, said although he was in the race to win, he will abide by

Cameroon after the International Court Justice (ICJ) ruling in Hague. Egba, who spoke to journalists at the Defence House in Abuja after their meeting with the President-elect on what their mission was, said, “You can see that I led a delegation of very eminent Cross Riverians. It is a non partisan delegation. Some of them have had relationship with His Excellency, the President-Elect since the civil war days. Just to congratulate him and to discuss a bit about Cross River State. “We raised the issue of the vulnerability of Cross River State; the peculiar challenges that we face as a people; the debt profile; the loss of Bakassi, the loss of oil wells; the poor state of our infrastructure and the loss of visibility in national politics. Those were the issues that we discussed”.

Jonathan appoints Daniel, Obada, Bamaiyi NAHCON: Jonathan appoints new others varsities’ councils chairmen chairman, national ormer Governor of Governing Council, FedFOgun State, Gbenga eral University, Kashere, commissioners Daniel, and former deputy governor of Osun State and a former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada were, yesterday, appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as chairmen of governing councils of some federal universities. They were among 12 chairmen of governing councils for the 12 new federal universities inaugurated yesterday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. While Daniel was appointed Chairman,

Gombe State, Obada was appointed Chairman, Gover ning Council of Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State. Former Chief of Army Staff under late General Sani Abacha regime, General Ishaya Bamaiyi was also appointed as the Chairman, governing council of Federal Polytechnic for Oil and Gas, Boni, Delta State. However, both Daniel and Bamaiyi were absent at the presentation of letter of authority to them by the Minister of Education.

Speakership: Rebel aspirants plotting to undermine APC –Jibrin Donald Ojogo

While addressing the court on the issue, Adegboruwa said, “We have filed a motion for joinder as coplaintiff to support the action. We have also applied to conduct a search in the court’s file and we are only informed that approval has not been given for us to join. We are at the moment getting the process into the court’s file”.

Cross River seeks Buhari to recover oil wells Johnchuks Onuanyim

Yekeen Nurudeen

whatever zoning formula adopted by his party. Although Jibrin did not mention any name, he disclosed that the party leadership has taken note of the plot by a lawmaker, who desires to be speaker to the effect that he would call the bluff of whatever zoning arrangement by the APC and contest the position, saying the lawmaker intended to benefit from a

possible Tambuwal magic in 2011. “I want to say it without any contradiction that the Tambuwal scenario cannot happen under the present circumstances. In 2011, it happened. I was in the tick of everything that took place. We did everything that we did, and we have no regrets of apologies. But it is not going to happen this time around.”

Chukwu David Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan has appointed a new chairman and seven new National commissioners for the National Hajj Commission ( NAHCON), the body overseeing Hajj operations in the country. This was contained in a letter he forwarded to the Senate yesterday, asking the Upper Chamber to confirm the appointees. Jonathan nominated Abdullahi Lugga Mohammed as the new chairman of the Commission, while Yusuf Adebayo from North Central, Abdullahi Modibbo Saleh from North East and Adeyemi Ademola from South West were nominated as new National Commissioners . Others are Adamu Mohammed from North Central, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed from North West, Danjuma Salihu Usman from North East and Ibrahim E from South East .

WEDNESDAY,MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro LAWLESSNESS

Cult groups, brandishing guns, now hold Benin, Edo State by the jugular Juliana Francis and Cajetan Mmuta

Cult members kill son, mother, others

he ongoing cult war in Benin, the Edo State capital, has created fear in the minds of the residents. In the last couple of weeks, at least 20 people have been killed by rival cult groups, said to be fighting over some candidates in the just concluded general election. Again, on Monday night, a man, his mother and another woman were also shot to death by cult members. The hoodlums murdered the women when they stormed the homes of their targets in a reprisal attack. Many frightened residents of Benin have fled their homes in the last three weeks over the incessant attacks. Most of the frightened politicians loyal to the main political parties whose actions were directly or indirectly linked to the upsurge in the cult war before, during and after the general election were said to have left the state. It was gathered yesterday that the armed men stormed Virginia Junction close to Murtala Muhammed Way, Benin, about 8pm on Monday in search of one of their targets said to be a 25-year-old man. The gunmen were said to have gone to the store belonging to the mother of their target but when they asked the woman about her son’s whereabouts said she did not know. Not satisfied with the woman’s reply, the armed men rushed to the man’s residence. They met him at home and shot him dead.

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

34-year-old farmer, Ariyo Fadipe, was yesterday arraigned before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for alleged theft of items estimated at N500,000 from the property of

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

File picture of Governor Adams Oshiomhole addressing some suspected cult members arrested in Edo State

The cult members returned to the woman’s shop and shot her dead. But a youth leader in the state, Mr Tony Adun aka Tony Kabaka, yesterday raised the alarm over the spate of cultrelated killings in parts of the state. He said the worrisome situation had led to the sudden death of not less than 20 people in the past two weeks. Adun, therefore, called on

the state government and the state House of Assembly to urgently set up a Task Force on Cultism to stem the tide. In another development, at New Benin area, gunmen shot the mother of their target when they could not find him at home. A witness said yesterday that the woman was shot at close range. But Adun told journalists that he would volunteer him-

self to ensure that the capital was rid of hoodlums. He said: “We must fight these people before they kill everybody in this state. What is happening now is that small boys have gone crazy for nothing, killing and nothing is being done to stop them. “We can stop them if government does something drastic, by passing a law setting up the task force and also passing a law prescribing death penalty

for cult members.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Stephen Onwochei, said on the phone yesterday that some arrests had been made while several arms were recovered from the suspects. Onwochei said the command had made necessary arrangements to engage all stakeholders including schools and civil society groups to carry out extensive campaigns against the cult war and to prevent wards, students and other actors from the scourge. He noted that the main challenge in curbing the raging battle was the ongoing strike by judicial workers and courts. This, according to him, has stalled proceedings at the courts. The PPRO warned those involved to retrace their steps as the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them, no matter how highly placed in the society. Meanwhile, a police source said the police had arrested 18 people for allegedly belonging to two rival cult groups. They were picked up in their various hideouts following the death of several people in cult clashes in the state. The source said that the clashes were between two rival groups, Ite and Eiye confraternities. Disturbed by the incidents, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Samuel Adegbuyi was said to have rushed down to Benin from Abuja. The suspects were arrested by a team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Kenneth Ebrimson.

Farmer arraigned for theft of Daniel’s N500,000 property former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel. Daniel’s property is a hotel under construction at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital. It was gathered that the farmer has a farmland close to the property. The police prosecutor, Inspector Famous Edigbue, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometimes in April 2014 about 6p.m. He said Fadipe burgled the Golf Resort Hotel be-

longing to Daniel and stole several items valued at N500,000. Edigbue added that the accused stole 300 pieces of 32-inches plasma televisions, two coffee table plated with gold, 40 pieces of three horse power air conditioners, 30 pieces of B205 swivel chair and 20 C63 bar tables. He said: “The accused, a farmer, whose farm is close to the Golf Resort, burgled the building where all the items were stored and went there from time to cart away

the items. “The police through a tip-off traced the accused and caught him in the act with four 32-inches plasma televisions.” The prosecutor added that the offences contravened sections 516, 410, 411 (2) and 390 (3) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun State, 2006. Fadipe, who had no fixed address, however, pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of burglary and theft.

Daniel

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY,MAY 6, 2015

Triplets’ mother cries out for help Dominic Adewole Asaba

“M

y brother, no amount is too small for me in this situation. Even N10 will be appreciated and the donor’s intention will be highly respected.” With these words yesterday in Atuma-Iga in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state, Mrs. Ifunnaya Okofor, a 28-year-old mother of four, pleaded for help to keep her triplets alive. She was married to Mr. John Okafor, an AtumaIga-based automobile panel beater, over 10 years ago. Although, God has blessed them with four bouncing baby boys Uchenna, Ikechukwu, Oluchukwu and Nndubuisi the need to have a baby girl compelled them to further seek the face of God. But two weeks ago, God in His profound mercy proved His worth with His abundant blessing when Ifunnaya was delivered of three baby girls at the General Hospital, Okwe, in Asaba, under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s

Mrs Okofor and her triplets

free-medical healthcare delivery scheme. Ifunnaya, who hawks the popular Igbo food,

called Abacha (African salad) said a letter, routed via the office of the lawmaker representing Os-

himili Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, Princess Pat Ajudua, has been forwarded to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social and Community Development, Mrs Betty Efekodha, for possible assistance. She said while effort was on to reach out to the wife of the governor, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, she was begging for assistance from Nigerians. But the father of the triplets who has not recovered from the shock of having to train seven children has called on well-meaning Delta State citizens, public spiritedindividuals and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to help him. He said: “The children are now at the mercy of God. Since we gave birth to them two weeks ago, we have been living on hand outs from neighbours. Each time I behold the triplets, I see God’s favour radiating from their eyes, I am encouraged, even as I believe that God will definitely see us through the burden of bringing them up.”

Erosion threatens Anambra community Pamela Eboh Awka

alpable fear has enveloped Amikwo in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State as gully erosion is threatening to wipe out the community. Already, many streets in the community have been cut off while the residents can no longer drive into their houses as roads have been rendered impassable. Also, the easy to ride tricycles known as Keke NAPEP and commercial motorcycles no longer ply the area while car owners park their vehicles and resort to trekking anytime they want to go out. The streets mostly affected include Rebecca Nwobu, Evans Ebbe Close, Comrade Obi Ochije Close and Annuncia-

tion Road. When our correspondent visited the community, it was observed that some operators of shopping malls have abandoned them to flood which often destroy their goods. It was discovered that owing to the sloppy nature of Amikwo, flood channels from various parts of Awka metropolis empty into the community. But because the flood does not find escape route, it flows into people’s houses and takes over the streets. The drainages constructed by the state government for easy flow of flood are mostly used as refuse dumps. This, naturally, blocks the drainages. For instance, most of the flood channels through which water should flow out of Amikwo, including the

ones on Zik Avenue, Sammy Sparkle Plaza at Obunagu, Meniru Nwobu Street and Gbalingba Market, are completely blocked, while flood from Amawbia town goes into the streets. It was learnt that officials of the state Ministry of Environment had visited the area many times, but nothing has happened yet to avert the ugly scenario. The councillor representing Amikwo in Awka South Local Government, Mr Kelue Dike, said that several efforts he had made in the past to attract the attention of government to the area failed, adding that his people were still expecting response. He said: “I want to make a humble appeal to our amiable Governor Willie Obiano to come to the rescue of my community, which is part of

the commercial nerve centre of the state capital.” Dike said he had also written several letters to the chairman of the local government over the matter. According to him, the chairman has been complaining of lack of funds to tackle the project. A resident of the area, Comrade Obi Ochije, also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the people living in Amikwo. Ochije said that he had spent a lot of money to control the menace, but said that it was not something an individual could handle. He said: “This is the level erosion menace can easily be controlled before it becomes a national problem like the Nanka and Agulu erosion sites that had sacked many communities over the years.”

City Briefs UNILORIN Xtian Fellowship holds conference in Lagos

he University of Ilorin Christian Union Alumni Fellowship (UCUAF) will hold its 2015 Regional Conference on May 9 in Lagos. Its National President, Pastor Adewale Champion, said in a statement that the theme of this year’s conference was: “Divine Empowerment.” According to the statement, speakers at the event include Rev Sam Aboyeji, Bishop Samuel Alawode and Rev Abraham Akinola; while it will be hosted by City Harvest Church, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos. UCUAF was founded to support members in meeting their spiritual and physical needs. Champion urged members across the country to endeavour to attend the conference for spiritual refreshment and reunion.

Aladura churches set agenda for Buhari

he United Aladura Churches (UAC) has called on the in-coming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to immediately tackle the problems of unemployment, power, insecurity, health and education as soon as it is sworn in on May 29. Speaking at a briefing to kick-start UAC’s 10th anniversary, the association’s spokesperson, Mother Capt. Yetunde Ukiri-Esho, said God is at work in Nigeria. She said: “That is the reason why the elections were peaceful and there was no post-election violence. That, in itself, is an answer to our prayers. “People’s expectations from this government are high, that is why Buhari must never go to sleep. People want to see changes in their situation as soon as possible.” The UAC, however, gave kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan, who it described as a man of peace, for matching his words with action when he said his ambition was not worth shedding Nigerians’ blood for. According to the 10th anniversary programme, a seminar entitled: “The role of Aladura churches in Nation Building,” will hold on May 7, at the Salem Evangelical Church, 211, Ikorodu Road, Lagos by 10 a.m. It will be followed on May 8 by indoor games for youths of the Cherubim and Seraphim churches, Celestial Church of Christ, Church of the Lord (Aladura) and that of the Fellowship of Christ Disciples – the churches that make up the UAC, at the same venue. Also, a Thanksgiving Service will hold on May 9 to round up the activities at the same venue by 11 a.m.

God ordained my arrest, says robbery suspect John Edu

Okorie

robbery suspect arrested at Satellite area of Lagos for dispossessing victims of their valuables using a toy gun, said police would never have been able to arrest him, if God had not designed it. The suspect, Stanley Okorie, 20, apparently a very religious man, said that God was trying to tell him that he had taken enough from victims and that he needed to stop. He said: “God wanted me

to stop this life of crime that was why he allowed the police to arrest me.” According to him, he took to robbery because he desperately needed money to rent an apartment. Okorie, who was arrested on March 28, is being quizzed by detectives at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos. A police source said: “The suspect belongs to a two-man gang of armed robbers. They used to go on highways to rob

passers-by and motorists of their phones and valuables.” When Okorie was arrested, police recovered a toy gun from him. His partner in crime, Chigioke, however, escaped with a genuine pistol used during operations. The police said that Okorie was arrested after information got to them about a robbery on Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Okorie, an orphan, said after his parents died, he came to Lagos for greener pastures. Okorie said he was the third

among five kids. He said he and his siblings could no longer cope with life in the village, thus his sojourn to Lagos. According to him, he to Lagos with a man in his town and got a job as a driver in a company. The suspect said he later met one Tochukwu, a fellow driver in the company, who later initiated him into robbery. Okorie claimed he got attracted to Tochukwu after he noticed the way the man was spending lavishly, especially at eateries.

12 News

Why I want to be speaker, by Lagos lawmaker Tony Okuyeme

he League of Journalists Ikorodu (LJI) has endorsed S.O.B Agunbiade for the position of Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. Members of the League, led by its President, Otumba Dare Odufowokan, who paid him a courtesy visit at his campaign office in Ikorodu, while congratulating Agunbiade for his victory at the April 11 election, described him as a worthy son of Ikorodu and Lagos State, given his antecedents and achievements in the House. They noted that Agunbiade’s aspiration for the Speakership of the House of Assembly is a good development, noting that the Ikorodu division deserves to produce the Speaker. Fielding questions from members of the League, Agunbiade, member representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, Lagos State House of Assembly, said that his position as regards the leadership of the House is that of a crusader who is articulating for virile leadership that would be able to steer the ship of the Lagos State House of Assembly and do it more effectively than Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforuji has done.

APC will retake Ekiti — Group Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

group in Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Ekiti APC Restoration Group (ERG), has said the party will retake the governance of the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 governorship poll in the state. The group also said the ongoing impeachment travails of Governor Ayo Fayose is self-inflicted. The group praised Nigerians for making it difficult for the PDP to rig the outcome of the presidential race which produced General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the APC. The Ekiti APC Restoration Group in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, said it recognised the need to urgently mobilise resources towards strengthening the party and motivate all party stakeholders within the party with a view to reactivating its formidable election winning machinery in the state.

wednesday, may 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south-west

LASU crisis: ‘Blames crisis on students, ASUU, others' Muritala Ayinla

he hope of thousands of the Lagos State University, LASU, students for the reopening of their school before Governor Babatunde Fashola leaves office on May 29, 2015, was yesterday dashed as the state government insisted that it would not accede to the demand of the unions for the sack of the university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa. The Government said

it was illogical for the students and Academic Staff Unions of the University, ASUU, to ask the state government to suspend the Vice-Chancellor without any genuine and cogent reason, saying "employee can't call for the sack of the Managing Director". Briefing journalists on the scorecards of the state's Ministry of Education in the last one year, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga also chided the students

for allegedly engaging on rampage over power outage on their campus. Olukoga said: "LASU is being shut for over a month. Yes! The crisis is that you can't dictate to your employer to sack anybody. When they came that they don't want the VC. We said: Look, it is wrong to say that we should send the VC packing that if we want to do convocation or anything in LASU we should appoint the Acting VC. If you have company and one of your employees wakes up one day and said

sack the MD. The crisis of LASU is just overbearance of the students and the lecturers' unions. They really need to be talked to. I can't see a reason why a student will fight because there is no light. Do they have light in their homes? They don't and the government would only try to provide whatever it could provide. Let's be realistic with ourselves!" On the PhD certificates saga, Olukoga blamed the lecturers for refusing to clear their 'fake certificates', which he said, were

erroneously obtained. “The problem is that 19 lecturers were found to have obtained fake PhD certificates. It is a matter of academics, not that of the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor. They have to resolve it themselves. As I am talking, 17 of the certificates have been cleared, one of the only two remaining refused to be cleared because he is a unionist and the chairman of LASU-ASUU and he said that his own certificate is with Femi Falana."

Oyo workers appeal to Ajimobi over unpaid salaries Sola Adeyemo

IBADAN

L-R: Osun State House of Assembly member-elect, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye; Deputy Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Akintunde Adegboye; Speaker of the House, Najeem Salam and Director, Odua Investment Company Limited, Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, at the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected candidates into the state House of Assembly at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Media Centre, Osogbo, Osun State

cademic staff from various tertiary institutions in Oyo State, under the aegis of the Joint Action Forum of Academic Staff (JAFAS), have pleaded with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, to ensure prompt payment of their four months outstanding salaries. In a communique jointly signed by representatives of the workers after a meeting held in Oyo, a copy of which was made available to the New Telegraph in Ibadan yesterday, the lecturers congratulated the governor on what they described as his well-deserved victory at the just concluded governorship election, while wishing him a very successful tenure.

Strike:UCH doctors,managements' parley deadlocked Ósun guber race: Supreme Court doctor attended to them, sue of skipping grade lev- fixes hearing for tomorrow Sola Adeyemo president of the Asso- el even after the Federal IBADAN

ive days after about 600 resident doctors of the University College Hospital embarked on strike, a meeting called yesterday to resolve the impasse between them and the hospital management ended in a deadlock yesterday. With many patients waiting in vain as no

ciation of Resident Doctors in the hospital, Dr. Lukman Ogunjinmi, who addressed the press in Ibadan, said that the hospital management reached an agreement with the doctors on the issue of casualisation of doctors, but that the strike would continue after the management refused to commit itself on the is-

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE STEWARD VESSEL INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above name MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Wole Oladiyun 2. Wale Adebayo Odusami 3. Chinenye Mabel Achinonu 4. Christopher Okechukwu Achinonu 5. Chidinma Nnennaya Uzowulu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To evangelise in prisons and police station. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: MADUKA OKOLI ESQ 8/10 Broad Street, Lagos. 08033127357

Government had given a directive to the effect. Ogunjimi said, “We actually want the public to know that we are with them and that money is not the issue, but rights of the resident doctors. We want Nigerians to prevail on the hospital management to do the needful so that we can go back to work.

Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

earing of the appeal filed by the gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore to challenge the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9th Governorship Election

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE MASTER KEY ZION CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above name CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Apostle Joseph Okorie Umoafia — General Overseer 2. Elder Udeme Okon William 3. Pastor Ubong- Abasi Evans Bassey 4. Evangelist (Mrs) Grace Joseph Umoafia 5. Evangelist Emmanuel Joseph Umoafia 6. Evangelist Victory Peter Etim — Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus C hrist. Throughout the word 2. To promote welfare programs for the less priviledged 3. And to do such other lawful things as may be considered to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Barr Victor Ukpe No 1 umoren lane , Uyo, Akwa Ibom State 08026037001, 07066094696

in Osun State, has been fixed for Thursday, May 7, 2015 by the Supreme Court. It will be recalled that Omisore had earlier dragged the governor before the State Election Petition Tribunal and the Federal Court of Appeal, where he claimed that the people of the state massively voted for him at the poll and that the result was manipulated by the APC and the state INEC. Omisore and his political party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), had filed 14 grounds of appeal and formulated nine issues for determination. His prayers in the petitions were, however, dismissed by the court before he headed for the Supreme Court which will begin hearing on the case tomorrow. In an appeal notice issued by the Supreme Court, dated 30th April 2015 and dispatched to all the parties concerned, the court maintained that it would begin the hearing of the appeal by 9am tomorrow (Thursday).

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

General elections

Governance

Soyinka: Buhari, the best of two evils

A deputy governor’s miscalculation

Politics Who takes charge in the 29 states that had governorship elections on April 11? FELIX NWANERI, TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and WALE ELEGBEDE report on the new governors expected to pilot affairs of their respective states between 2015 and 2019

The new helmsmen

gramme at INSEAD, France. A corporate strategist and an experienced private sector player, Emmanuel has wide experience in various bluechip organisations that spans over two decades. The organisations include Price Water House, Diamond Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. He was Audit Manager at Price Waterhouse Coopers; Chief Financial Officer, Zenith Bank Plc; Group Head, Income Optimization, Financial Control & Strategic Planning Department and General Manager, Zenith Bank Plc. He was an Executive Director on the Board of Zenith Bank Plc from December 2006 until his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Akwa Ibom State in July 2013. The Akwa Ibom governor-elect polled 996,071 votes on the platform of the PDP to beat APC’s Umana Umana, who had 89,865 votes. He promised to bring his experience and global connections to bear in the governance of the oil-rich state.

he 2015 general elections have come and gone, but it did not fail to live up to the pre-polls rating that it would be the most contentious in Nigeria’s political history. From the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections to the April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections, it was fierce contests for the various elective positions up for grab. But after the dust over the elections settled, it was shock and surprises in the camps of most of the political parties that participated in the exercise, especially the two leading ones – ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Not only that most political bigwigs and godfathers failed in their hitherto enclaves and strongholds, an incumbent president (Goodluck Jonathan) was defeated for the first time in Nigeria’s history. The elections also saw the defeat of some incumbent governors, and emergence of 20 new persons as states chief executives in the 29 states where governorship polls held. Nine others returned for their second term. Of these, the APC had 22, leaving the PDP with nine. Ibikunle Amosun – Ogun For Senator Amosun, his reelection was a torrid experience. He fought battles from within and outside his party. His former allies ganged up against him, picked

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

el-Rufai

Wike

their own candidate and plotted his fall but he remained resolute in the battle against him which was interestingly led by his former political godfather, Chief Olusegun Osoba. The three leading political parties in the election and the forces backing them are no rookies in politics; they all have strong-footing in the sand of politics. The PDP was powered by a senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu; Social Democratic Party (SDP) had a former governor of the state, Osoba behind it; while Amosun’s APC enjoyed a taciturn support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. With the exodus that greeted his party, the APC, last year, some analysts gave Amosun a slim chance of returning as governor, but after the first round of elections, it

Ambode

Okorocha

Okorocha is a man of humble beginning. Many hardly believe that he was once a street trader

became obvious that the governor and his party had their calculation right. After the contest, the state Returning Officer, Prof. Duro Oni returned Amosun elected after polling 306, 988 votes against Gboyega Isiaka of the PDP, who garnered 201,440. The incumbent governor won 11 local governments, Isiaka had 9, while the SDP and its candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi did not win any local government. Udom Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom Born on July 11, 1966, in Awa Iman, in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel is an alumnus of the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1988. He also attended the Advanced Management Pro-

Rochas Okorocha – Imo Born in Ogboko, Ideato South local government area of Imo State in 1962, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha is a man of humble beginning. Many hardly believe that he was once a street trader. He was also once a teacher while on part time studies at the University of Jos. He later left teaching and school management to set up the Rochas Group of Companies in 1987. The group is a conglomerate with interests spanning real estate, construction, commerce, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, finance, aviation and banking. A man of many parts – politician, philanthropist and business man, one thing which stands Okorocha out is his large heart. He made his debut in politics when he contested and won election as a member of the National Constitutional Conference in 1994 to represent Ideato North/South Federal Constituency. Though his political life has been viewed by some with mixed feelings, he has remained dogged and resolute in the pursuit of his political career. A founding member of the PDP, Okorocha’s quest to lead Imo State did not start with the 2011 elections. He contested the governorship primaries of the PDP in 1999 but lost to Chief Achike Udenwa, who eventually won the election. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tambuwal

Ugwuanyi

Bindow

Okowa

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

Strategy Committee in the government of Senator Liyel Imoke. His knowledge of the workings of the outgoing government, perhaps explains his optimism that he can run Cross River State as a business model.

State since 1999.

obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1979 and Government Teachers’ College, Dogon-Daji, where he obtained the Teachers Grade 11 Certificate in 1984. He then proceeded to Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he studied Law, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991. He completed his one year compulsory legal studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and was called to the Bar in 1992. Tambuwal started learning the legislative ropes in 1999, while working as Personal Assistant on Legislative Affairs to Senator Wali, the then Senate Leader and who he defeated in the governorship poll. In 2003, he decided to run for a legislative seat as representative of the Kebbi/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency and was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the then All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). Few months to the 2007 general elections, he defected to the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), alongside the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa. After failing to get the party ticket, he dumped DPP and swung back to the ANPP, where he eventually succeeded in picking up a ticket for the election. But again, when the ANPP governorship candidate for Sokoto State in the 2007 election, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko dumped the party for the PDP, Tambuwal also followed suit and got re-elected. Tambuwal has held several offices in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. In 2005, he became the Minority Leader of the House; Deputy Chief Whip in 2007 and became Speaker of the House in 2011. On October 28, 2014, Tambuwal formally defected from the PDP to APC. He later took part in the APC governorship primaries and emerged as the party candidate. Tambuwal on April 11 defeated his former boss, Senator Abdullahi Wali to win the governorship poll.

From parliament to Govt Houses In 2003, he ran for the presidency on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) but could not go through the primary election. He was later invited to join the Federal Cabinet by President Olusegun Obasanjo. On leaving Obasanjo’s cabinet, Okorocha formed and registered a political party, Action Alliance (AA), but he left the party in 2007 to contest the PDP presidential primaries. He emerged runner-up to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In 2011, he rallied what was left of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and defeated the incumbent Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP. He has been re-elected for a second term after defeating the candidate of the PDP and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, after a supplementary election as the first balloting failed to produce a winner. Okorocha polled a total of 416,996 votes out of the total 806,764 votes cast in the election. Ihedioha had 320,705 while Emmanuel Ihenacho of APGA came a distant third with 28,434 votes. Ben Ayade – Cross River Prof. Ayade is the senator representing Cross River North in the National Assembly. He won the April 11 governorship election on the platform of the PDP with 342,016 votes ahead of Odey Ochicha of the APC who polled 53,983. The academic-turned politician is the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Marine Transport, Petroleum Downstream, and Drugs/Narcotics/ Crime. Born on March 2, 1969, Ayade studied at the University of Ibadan; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Delta State University, before becoming a lecturer. An environmental consultant, he was at different times chairman of the Ecological Fund and International Institute of Environmental Research. He worked on Groundwater Remediation in Nigeria, and invented a sewage treatment plant based on solar energy and won an award from the government of Japan for outstanding research on Global Warming in Africa. He was also member of the Nigeria Association of Petroleum Engineers and the Cross River State Poverty Alleviation Board. Before his election into the Senate in 2011, Ayade served as a member of the

Nasir el-Rufai – Kaduna Mallam el-Rufai is Governor-elect of Kaduna State. He won the April 11 governorship election on APC’s platform, scoring 1,117, 635 votes to defeat the incumbent governor and PDP candidate, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, who polled 485,833 votes. The governor-elect was born on February 16, 1960. He attended the prestigious Barewa College for his secondary education and obtained a Bachelor in Quantity Surveying degree with First Class Honors from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also had a LL.B degree from the University of London and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. el-Rufai started his career by establishing a Quantity Surveying and Project Management Consulting firm in 1982 with three other partners. From November 1999 to July 2003, he was the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Secretary of the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) where he spearheaded the privatisation of many government-owned companies. He served as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from July 16, 2003 to May 29, 2007, during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration. As a minister, he presided over a real estate boom backed by the radical transformation of infrastructure and land use practices of the FCT. At various times during his tenure as minister, he oversaw the Federal Ministries of Commerce (twice) and Interior. The administration of late President Umaru Yar’adua appointed el-Rufai to the National Energy Council in September 2007, due to the belief that he could contribute positively to the underachieving power sector of the country. He resigned the appointment in June 2008. In September 2014, el-Rufai announced his intentions to run for Governor of Kaduna State on the platform of APC. He took part in the party’s primaries, won and eventually emerged as Kaduna governor-elect. His victory marked the first time the PDP will lose a governorship election to an opposition party in Kaduna

Ifeanyi Okowa – Delta The medical doctor-turned politician has a rich political background which has its footing at the grassroots. He was secretary to Ika Local Government Area and later chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Area (1991-1993). He was also Delta North coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). He joined the PDP in 1998, and assisted former Governor James Ibori’s campaign in 1998/1999. He served as a Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources (1999-2001), Water Resources Development (2001-2003) and Health (2003-2006). In 2007, Okowa resigned to contest the PDP governorship primaries for Delta State, but did not succeed. After the elections, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG). In 2011, he was elected senator to represent Delta North. He won the governorship election with 724,680 votes, beating Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party (LP), who scored 130,028 and O’tega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), 67,825. Born in Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State on July 8, 1959, Okowa attended Edo College, Benin City (1970-1976) before proceeding to the University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery, graduating in 1981 with an MBBS degree. After his National Youth Service, he worked with the then Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a medical officer before he veered into private practice as director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke in 1986. He said his government will focus on agriculture, infrastructural development, youth empowerment as well as to build on what the achievements of the outgoing administration. Aminu Tambuwal – Sokoto Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, will assume the office of governor of Sokoto on May 29. He emerged as governor-elect during the April 11 governorship election on APC’s platform. Tambuwal polled 647,609 votes while the runner-up and PDP candidate, Senator Abdallah Wali, had 269,074 votes. The Sokoto governor-elect was born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal Village in Sokoto State. He attended Tambuwal Primary School, Sokoto State, where he

Nyesom Wike – Rivers The immediate past Minister of State for Education, who won the Rivers State governorship election on the platform of the PDP, polled 1,029,102 votes to beat his main opponent, Dakuku Peterside of the APC, who had 124,896. Born on August 24, 1967, Wike trained as a lawyer and hails from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. After a brief stint with private legal practice, he was elected twice as chairman of Obio/Ak-

Politics

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Bagudu

por council and served two terms in office (1999-2002) and (2004-2007). While in office as council chairman, Wike also served as deputy president, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in 2004 and was later elected the association’s president. He also represented Africa as a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Local Governments Forum. Between October 2007 and May 2011, he served as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and was appointed the Director-General of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s re-election Campaign Organisation. The governor-elect of the oilrich state has promised to run an open government that will guarantee a new Rivers State, and where opportunities for growth would be open to all. Akinwunmi Ambode – Lagos Ambode, born on June 14, 1963 was elected as the 14th governor of Lagos State during the April 11 governorship election. He won the election on APC platform, scoring 811,994 votes to defeat his closest challenger and the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who scored 659,788 votes. Born at Epe, Lagos, Ambode began his primary education at St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute-Meta, Lagos. He passed the National Common Entrance in Primary 5 and gained admission into Federal Government College, Warri, where he made history recording the second best result in the entire West Africa in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination in the Social Sciences in 1981. He attended the University of Lagos, from where he graduated with honours in Accounting at the age of 21 in 1984. He became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at 24 and had a Masters’ degree in Accounting specialising in Financial Management, also at the University of Lagos, via a Federal Government scholarship. In 1998, he was awarded the United States’ Full bright Scholarship for the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship programme at the Boston University, in Massachusetts on Public Leadership with emphasis on Finance and Accounting, as a result of his commitment to public service.

Ayade

Ambode had a remarkable career in the civil service. He began his career at the Lagos State Waste Disposal Board, now Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, in 1985 as Accountant Grade II and joined the Local Government Service in 1988 as Assistant Council Treasurer, Badagry Local Government. Between 1991 and 1996, he worked in various capacities as Auditor, Somolu Local Government and Council Treasurer in Alimoso, Somolu, Mushin and Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government areas. In December 1999, he was transferred to the Lagos State Government Civil Service and was appointed acting Auditor-General for Local Governments in 2000, an appointment which was in 2001 confirmed by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2001, going down in history as the youngest person to be appointed Auditor-General in Lagos State at the age of 37. He became the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance in 2005 and was in 2006 given additional responsibility as Accountant-General for Lagos State, thus putting him in charge of all the state’s financial activities. Ambode voluntarily retired from the Lagos State Civil Service in 2012 as the first ever Permanent Secretary/Accountant-General to do so and upon retirement, founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited, a public finance management consulting firm providing public finance and management consulting services to government at all levels. Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia The former General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) won the Abia governorship after a rerun, as witnessed in neighbouring Imo State. Ikpeazu polled 264,713 votes to beat his closest challenger, Alex Otti of APGA, who garnered 180, 882 votes. Born on October 18, 1964, Ikpeazu hails from Isialaukwu, Mbato Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. He graduated from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) where he studied Clinical Biochemistry. From August 1984 to August 1985, he served as a clinical biochemist in the medical laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology

Lalong

The governorelect of the oil-rich state has promised to run an open government that will guarantee a new Rivers State

Masari

(RSUST), Port Harcourt for his national youth service. He returned to the University of Maiduguri for an MSc degree in Biochemical Toxicology and graduated in 1990 and obtained a Ph.D in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar. Between 1994 and 1996, he served as Administrative Manager with Cash Bond Investments and Credits Ltd, Lagos. He later joined the services of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as Lecturer 1 in the Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, and rose to Head of Department by 2001. He was also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Ebonyi State University College of Basic Medical Sciences, between 2000 and 2002. In 2002, Ikpeazu served as the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. This marked his entry into politics. He also served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State. He was appointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During his tenure, he facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the NBTE. In 2011, he was reappointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held till 2013 when he was appointed the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu Popularly known as Gburugburu, Ugwuanyi is a member of the House of Representatives. He represents Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State on the platform of the PDP. He defeated Okey Ezea of the APC by 482,277 votes against 43,839. Ugwuanyi was born in March 1964 and hails from Orba Town in Udenu Local Government Area of Nsukka zone of the state. He holds a Bachelor and Masters degrees in Business Administration from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Before venturing into poli-

tics, Ugwuanyi was the General Manager of Premier Insurance Brokers Limited, Enugu. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2003, and is the Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport. His emergence as the PDP governorship candidate was not without rancour as after the party’s primary election, another aspirant, Senator Ayogu Eze, went to court to challenge the legitimacy of Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the PDP’s flag-bearer. Eze’s petition was finally dismissed by Justice Evoh Chukwu of an Abuja Federal High Court, who ruled that Ugwuanyi’s election in the primary election was legitimate and legally binding. Ugwuanyi has promised to run a people-oriented government. Dave Umahi – Ebonyi The governor-elect of Ebonyi State was born in January 1964, and hails from Uburu Clan, Ohaozara Local Government Area. He was deputy governor before his election. He polled 289, 867 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sir Edward Nkwegu of the Labour Party, who had 124, 817 votes. Umahi had his university education at Anambra State University of Science and Technology where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1987. After his National Youth Service programme, he worked with SCC Nig. Ltd, an Israeli Company and rose to the position of Project Engineer. It was there that his managerial and technical competence was brought to bear as he supervised the historic Umuahia Water Project and the Ndiegoro Aba Flood Control measures between 1989 and 1990. Between 1990 and 1993, he was the General Manager of Norman Engineering and Construction Limited, which he co-founded with Dr. Ombo Isokarari. He was at different times chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig Ltd; Fucus Investment Nig. Ltd and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd. He made a foray into politics when he was first appointed acting chairman of Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP in 2007. He was later elected the substantive state chairCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Making of new helmsmen C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

man in 2009, a position he held till 2011, when he became running mate to Governor Martin Elechi in the gubernatorial election, which they won. Given his vast experience in both the private and public sector, Umahi believes that he has what it takes to put an end to the increasing poverty in Ebonyi State as well as to restore peace and order. Mohammed Abubakar – Bauchi Mohammed Abubakar is the Governor-elect of Bauchi State. Born on December 11, 1956, he attended Native Authority Primary School, Jos and Tudun Wada Primary School, Kano, from 1963 to 1969 and had his post-primary education at Government College, Kano, between 1970 and 1974. In 1974, he enrolled for the one year programme of the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, after which he gained admission into the institution to study Law in 1975. He completed his studies in 1978, and attended the Nigeria Law School from 1978 to 1979. Abubakar emerged as APC governorship candidate during the party’s primaries last December. Bauchi State is a PDP state and with the state governor, Isa Yuguda and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu calling the shots, political pundits thought that Abubakar may not scale through. But the outcome of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Bauchi State changed the calculation as APC swept the state, winning the senatorial and House of Representatives seats. APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, also won the presidential election. Buhari’s victory, no doubt, had an effect on the governorship election. Abubakar polled 654,934 votes while Governor Yuguda’s favourite and PDP candidate, Mohammed Jatau secured 282,650 votes. Jibrilla Bindow – Adamawa Senator Bindow is the Adamawa Governor-elect. He won the election by defeating the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Markus Gundiri and PDP candidate, Nuhu Ribadu. He scored 362,329 votes while Gundiri and Ribadu had 181,806 and 98,917 votes respectively. Bindow, who is currently the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, is a businessman and industrialist. He was reportedly dragged into senatorial race in Adamawa North District prior to 2011 elections by several groups who called on him to challenge the then incumbent, Senator Mohammed Mana. He took part in the PDP senatorial primaries and defeated Mana. He was later elected into the Senate during the April 9, 2011 senatorial election to represent Adamawa North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber. Bindow was among the PDP senators who dumped the ruling party to pitch tent with the APC. He contested and won his party’s governorship primaries. His emergence as APC flag bearer for the April 11 elections was worthy of note base on his ability to defeat an aspirant sponsored by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the primaries. Few days to the governorship election, Buhari; APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Atiku and other party leaders were in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to campaign for him and

Amosun

Shettima

Ajimobi

Dankwambo

Yari

Ahmed

other candidates of the party.

PDP, who polled 17,700 votes.

Ibrahim Geidam – Yobe Geidam was elected as deputy governor of Gombe State in the 2007 governorship election, but the death of his boss, Mamman Ali, paved the way for him to be sworn in as governor on January 27, 2009. Geidam was born on September 15, 1956 in Bukarti village, Yunusari Local Government Area in the old Borno State. He attended the Borno Teachers’ College (BTC), Maiduguri from 1974 to 1979, where he obtained a Teachers’ Certificate. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1981 and 1983, earning a Diploma in Accountancy and later returned to the institution to earn a BSc in Accountancy Degree in 1990 and became a member of the Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria. As an accountant, Geidam worked in several government ministries in the old Borno State and present Yobe State. In April 2007, he was elected deputy governor of Yobe State on the platform of the ANPP and was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He became governor in January 27, 2009 following the death of Governor Ali. Geidam was elected as governor on April 26, 2011 and re-elected on April 11, 2015 on APC platform. Geidam scored 334,847 votes to defeat a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri of the

Kashim Shettima – Borno Governor Shettima, who succeeded his estranged political godfather, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in 2011 has been reelected as governor of Borno State on the platform of the APC. He polled 610, 352 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Gambo Lawani, who scored 34,005 votes. His first coming as governor (2011) was however by accident as Engr. Modu Fannami Gubio, who was elected as the ANPP governorship candidate was shot dead by gunmen, and Shettima was elected during the party’s second primaries. Born on September 2, 1966 in Maiduguri, Shettima attended Government Community Secondary School, Biu between 1978 to1980 and Government Science Secondary School Potiskum, Yobe from 1980 to 1983. He studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri, graduating in 1989 and also obtained a Masters’ Degree in Agricultural Economics from University of Ibadan in 1991. Shettima served as commissioner in different ministries before becoming governor in 2011 – Finance and Economic Development; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Education; Agriculture and later Health.

Ibrahim Dakwambo – Gombe Governor Dakwambo was born on April 4, 1962. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1985 with a degree in Accounting and obtained a M.Sc in Economics from the University of Lagos in 1992. He began his career with Coopers & Lybrand in 1985, and worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria from 1988 to 1999. He was Accountant-General of Gombe State before he was appointed Accountant-General of the Federation on April 20, 2005. He held the office until he resigned to contest for the Governor of Gombe State in 2011. Popularly known as the Talban Gombe, Dankwambo was re-elected on April 11 on the PDP platform and he is expected to steer the ship of the state for the next four years. He scored 285,369 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Inuwa Yahya of APC, who had 205,132 votes. Samuel Ortom – Benue Dr. Ortom, Benue State Governor-elect was born on April 23, 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. He attended St. John’s Primary School, Gboko and St. Catherine’s Primary School, Makurdi for his primary education. He obtained an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management from the Benue State University in 2001 as well as Master

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Umahi

Udom

Ganduje

of Public Administration in 2004. Ortom crowned his educational pursuit with a Doctor of Philosophy from the Commonwealth University, Belize, through distant learning. From 1999 till date, Ortom has served in different political positions. He was Treasurer of the All Peoples Party (APP) and later State Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the PDP, all in Benue State. He was also the Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State in 2007 and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2011. He was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of State for Industry and Investment. In his quest to govern Benue State, Ortom was among the seven ministers that resigned from President Jonathan’s cabinet last year to contest for PDP governorship ticket in their respective states. He contested and lost the gubernatorial ticket to Governor Gabriel Suswam’s anointed candidate, Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor. And unlike some of his colleagues who remained in PDP after losing the party’s ticket, Ortom dumped the ruling party for APC, and eventually emerged as its governorship candidate. He polled 422,932 votes while Tarzoor had 313,878.

point during his campaign, studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and was later called to Bar. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) from University of Jos. He was a former two-term member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, representing Shendam Constituency in the state assembly. He later served as Speaker of the Assembly. Lalong took part in the APC December 8, 2014 governorship primaries. He won the primaries with 2,222 votes to defeat four other aspirants. Despite the PDP’s popularity and Governor Jonah Jang’s influence on Plateau State politics, Lalong defeated the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok to break 16 years of the party’s rule in the state. Lalong polled 564,913 votes while the Pwajok got 520,627 votes.

proceeded to University of Ilorin and earned a BSc in Chemistry (1986). He also has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He started as a lecturer and later became Acting Head of Department at Federal College of Arts and Science, Sokoto between 1986 and 1990 before venturing into the banking profession. Among the financial institutions where he worked are District Savings and Loans, Guaranty Trust Bank and Societe Generale Bank. Ahmed served as Kwara State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development between 2003 and 2009, and later Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development. He was also Treasurer of the Forum of Commissioners for Finance in Nigeria for six years, and chairman, Budget Formulation Committee and Economic Team of Kwara State. He won the 2011 governorship and succeeded Dr. Bukola Saraki, his political godfather. He won the 2015 governorship poll by defeating the PDP candidate, Senator Simon Ajibola to be re-elected for a second term. Governor Ahmed had 295,832 votes while Ajibola polled 115,220 votes.

District on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). After one term in the Senate, he contested in 2007 for the governorship of Oyo State on the platform of the ANPP but lost. He contested again in the 2011 elections on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was elected governor of Oyo State.

Abubakar Sani Bello – Niger Niger State Governor-elect, Abubakar Bello is the eldest child of former military Governor of old Kano State, Col. Sani Bello (rtd). Born on December 17, 1967, Bello attended St. Louis Primary School, Kano and Nigerian Military School, Zaria for primary and post-primary education. He attended University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a BSc in Economics in 1991. After his one-year national service, he worked in different private and public sectors before he was appointed as Niger State Commissioner for Commerce and Investment by Governor Babangida Aliyu in 2009. He resigned from Aliyu’s government in 2010 and went back to private business. Last year he joined the governorship race and won the Niger State APC gubernatorial primaries. In the battle that was a contest between two ex-military officers’ sons; Bello and Umar Nasko of the PDP (son of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, General Gado Nasko), the former emerged tops with 593,702 against the latter’s 239,772. Simon Lalong – Plateau Barrister Lalong, the Governor-elect of Plateau State adopted “change and all inclusive governance” as his selling

Umaru Tanko Al-Makura – Nasarawa Governor Al-Makura, who ran on the platform of the APC, polled 309,746 votes to defeat the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and former Minister of Information, Laraban Maku, who got 178,983 votes to be re-elected governor of Nasarawa State. Born in 1952 at Lafia, Nasarawa State, Al-Makura attended Dunama Primary School, Lafia (1959-1966), Keffi Teachers’ College (1967-1971) and former Government Teachers’ College of Education, Uyo (1972-75). He also bagged a Bachelor of Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1978. In 1980, Al-makura became the Youth Leader of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Plateau State and was elected to the Constituent Assembly of 1988-89, representing the Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency. He was also a state secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in Plateau State (1990-1992) and founding member of the PDP in Nasarawa State in 1998. Prior to the 2011 governorship election, Al-Makura defected to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) after failing to get the PDP gubernatorial ticket and was elected governor after defeating an incumbent, Aliyu Akwe Doma of the PDP. Abdulfatah Ahmed ¬– Kwara Ahmed, a banker-turned politician, has been re-elected to govern Kwara State. He was first elected governor of the state in 2011 on the platform of the PDP. Ahmed was born on December 29, 1963 in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He attended Government College, Funtua, Kastina (1973-1978) and the School of Basic Studies of Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara State Polytechnic), Ilorin (1978-1980). He

Abiola Ajimobi – Oyo It was expected to be a keenly contested battle especially when history is also hanging as factor in the battle for the Agodi Government House, but Governor Ajimobi, who faced the biggest test of his political life by squaring up against two of his predecessors in office, emerged tops. Ajimobi in the process made history by breaking the 39-year-old second term jinx which former governors like late Bola Ige, Chief Kolapo Ishola, late Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala failed to accomplish after their first term in office. He polled 327,310 votes to defeat Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party (AP), who scored 254,520 votes and Christopher Alao-Akala who got 184,111votes. For analysts, Ajimobi was able to surmount several odds before and during the elections. Unlike before when the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu called the shot on who presides over the state, there was no godfather to point political direction for the Ibadan people and as such, he (Ajimobi) had to stand up and provide leadership despite having three of the leading candidates coming from Ibadan like him. A former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Shell Petroleum Nigeria, Ajimobi left the oil sector in 2002 after 26 years and was elected in 2003 as a Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial

Abdullahi Ganduje – Kano The governorship election in Kano State was a straight battle between two arguably powerful politicians in the state. Beyond the candidates standing for the election, the state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and former governor, now Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau have been locked in a battle of wit and if anything, they were prepared to settle their scores at the April 11 election. At the end of the raging tussle, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje of the APC ably backed by his boss, Kwankwanso had the last laugh in a landslide victory against Alhaji Sagir Takai of the PDP. Ganduje polled 1,546,434 votes to PDP’s 509,720. With Kwankwaso stepping down from the governorship seat and heading to Abuja as senator, it is expected Ganduje will manage and inherit his boss’ vibrant political structure across the state. During the election, the backing of his boss’ political group, Kwankwasiya, was the brain behind his landslide victory. Ganduje is not a greenhorn in politics; he has been in the course for almost 30 years. Apart from serving twice as deputy governor, he had a stint in the academia and had also served as sole administrator of Abaji Area Council and chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, all in Abuja. During the military era, he also served as commissioner in various ministries in Kano State. In 2003, after their ouster from office as Kano State governor and deputy, Kwakwanso appointed Ganduje as Special Adviser (Political) when he was appointed Defence minister by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and later the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad River Basin Commission. Ganduje holds a PhD in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan. He started his education at the Qur’anic and Islamiyya School at his village, Ganduje. He also attended Dawakin Tofa Primary School, Government Secondary School, Birnin Kudu; Advanced Teachers’ College, Kano, where he obtained the National Certificate of Education and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Still on the xenophobic attacks Adewale Kupoluyi

n the last few weeks, South Africa has been in the news for the wrong reasons going by the inflammatory statement allegedly credited to the Zulu king, Goodwill Swelithini, describing foreigners as ‘lice’ that should be ‘plucked out and left in the sun’. The Zulu king was joined in the folly by a son of the country’s president, Edward Zuma, who also raised an alarm that foreigners were taking over the country’s fortune. The main message by both public figures suggest that foreigners living in their country should be blamed for the prevailing high crime and unemployment rates in South Africa. South Africans have been up in arms against foreigners in their country, mostly black immigrants since 2008, including Nigerians by unleashing mayhem on them. If care is not taken, such hostility could become the defining feature of the line of relationship between Africa’s most industrialised nation and the rest of the sub-Saharan Africa. The series of violent attacks have resulted in the death of about 10 people, who were either stabbed, lynched, wounded or set ablaze right in their places of abode while many others, who were lucky to survive have been displaced and rendered homeless. The world also watched in horror, gangs of weapons-wielding youth descended on hapless people by killing, maiming and destroying their property. Shops and restaurants were reportedly looted with the law enforcement agents accused of looking the other way. If anything, the unwillingness of the security agencies to act by nipping the violence in the bud has emboldened the attackers. It is unfortunate that this act of wickedness should be happening to other African countries let alone Nigeria, a brother-nation that spent a lot of resources to consistently fund the anti-apartheid struggle by ensuring that many South African students enjoyed scholarships in our universities. Yet, the frosty relationship between South Africa and

Nigeria since the end of apartheid in the early 1990s can best be described as that of contempt by the former towards the latter. Apart from South Africa, we recall Nigeria’s enormous official and individual’s contributions to the liberation of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola. Since the collapse of apartheid, South Africa businesses have blossomed in Nigeria leading to the repatriation of huge profits home on an annual basis. We recall too that such hostility played out some years back when some South Africa-bound Nigerians were turned back at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, for allegedly attempting to enter the country without the possession of valid yellow fever vaccination cards. At that time, the flimsy excuse given by the South African authorities attracted a retaliatory action, as Nigeria turned back about 130 South Africans after their plane had touched down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Not only that, the humiliation Nigerians face when applying for South African visas is unbearable, when nationals of similar countries that supported apartheid, are selectively allowed to enter into South Africa without entry visas. I recall that my trip to South Africa last year was almost truncated due to unnecessary visa delays until a high powered diplomatic intervention. At the end, I managed to get to the venue of the programme in Cape Town, the day the event was officially commencing! Many people believe that excuses given for the xenophobic attacks about jobs are not convincing and speculative. The trouble-making South Africans are said to be irked by the business competition offered by foreigners and Africans who seem to be more successful than they are. Due to South Africa’s ‘culture of entitlement’, the entrepreneurial spirit and hardwork so evident in immigrant communities has also become a source of resentment for them. The ‘culture of entitlement’ that tends to propel South African natives to become lazy and complacent, believing that many of their unemployed township

dwellers cannot do much on their own to improve their situation without state assistance. Not only that, immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia are also feared and hated because they do much better than their South African counterparts. For instance, these immigrants - out of sheer business ingenuity - co-operate with each other by forming business networks to buy goods together in bulk and undercut competition by excelling as entrepreneurs. Regrettably, most of those carrying out this crime of xenophobia were products of apartheid system of the 1980s, which did not allow them to go to school at the climax of the segregation system that prevented black South Africans to mix with the white South Africans. The native blacks were disallowed from attending same schools with the whites just as they were deprived from enjoying the most basic amenities of life the white South Africans took for granted during the discriminatory white minority rule. Is it not worrisome then to know that most of the South African blacks spearheading the attacks today neither refused go to school nor be employed after the apartheid era? And why are they transferring aggression on other Africans by accusing them of depriving them of jobs and other economic opportunities? From all indications, there appears not to be tangible reasons to justify the attacks over the years rather than to say xenophobia could have been borne out of envy, inferiority complex and hatred for non-South Africans. Similarly, a-2009 study by the International Organisation for Migration, concluded that the xenophobic attacks were often frequently sponsored, organised and led by aggrieved local business owners, based on their alleged selfish gain and wanting to consolidate their community political power influence. King Zwelithini’s provocative utterances have undoubtedly fuelled the latest impasse. • Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, @AdewaleKupoluyi, adewalekupoluyi.blogspot.com

Post-election violence, NYSC and me (1) Omowunmi Adeniyi and Olaboludele Simoyan

he elections have come and gone. The last set of elections took place on Saturday the 11th of April 2015. And thank God the post-election violence in Election 2015 was reduced to the barest minimum. Unlike what happened in Election 2011 when I was serving as a National Youth Service Corp member in Bauchi State. I was one of the victims of post-election violence that occurred four years ago in 2011. Here is my story and my fellow youth corpers story. And my name is Omowunmi. On the 18th of April, 2011 one of my fellow corpers and friend, Tomisin Teidi (who also happened to be my course mate when we were in the University) called me to assist him with the beans he was cooking on that fateful morning. We were serving in Giade Local Government in Bauchi State. Some of us were resting and relaxing in their rooms after a busy weekend working as ad-hoc staff for INEC during Election 2011. While Tomisin and I were cooking, we received an alert from police officers of the presence of some irate youths in our local government (GIADE) who were burning down churches, properties as well as killing people especially strangers and non-indigenes. The police officers told us to run to the police station for safety as the incensed youths were planning to head for the NYSC lodge to

attack and kill us. A few minutes after we got into the police station a crowd of young Giade men arrived at the front of the station. They had gone to the youth corper’s lodge and met it empty so they figured that the only place we could go to for safety was the police station. They had the guts and the effrontery to tell the police officers to send us the NYSC members out and hand us over to them, as their mission was to deal with us. The D.P.O (Divisional Police Officer) instructed the other police officers not to shoot at any of the outraged youth so they were only shooting bullets into the sky and throwing teargas in order to scare the mob away but they refused to go away. After a while the Giade youths picked stones and were stoning the police station. The police officers eventually ran out of ammunition and called for reinforcement from divisional headquarters in another local government but all effort proved abortive. When the incensed youth realized that the police were no longer shooting into the sky and throwing teargas. They soon figured that the policemen had run out of ammunition. We ran from one room in the police station to another for safety. We were terrified! We were scared stiff ! Some of us were in tears! We were saying our last prayers. We called our families bidding them farewell because by this time there was little hope of us getting out of this horrifying situation alive.

My battery was down I had to borrow a friend’s phone and put my SIM card in it to call my parents. I was crying on the phone telling them that they may not see me again. And I said my farewell to them. They said I should tell them what was happening. I was crying when I told them we were being attacked by a mob of Giade youth. I told my parents to pray for me that the chances of us making it out alive was slim. Eventually the mob set the police station ablaze while we were still inside and shortly afterwards the roof caved in. Now we were trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea! We were trapped between the irate youth and the burning building! Where do we go? Where do we hide? Where will we all end up? How soon will we all die? How quickly will death make its way towards each one of us? How suddenly will the hand of death snatch us away from this our earthly existence? How can we beat death at its own game? How many of us will make it alive through this “broad daylight” nightmare? These were some of the questions that were running through my mind. We were petrified to say the least, knowing fully well that the mob was waiting for us to run out into them. The angry Giade youth were ready for us with their ammunitions of machetes, swords, knives, stones, heavy sticks etc. After saying our last prayers and giving our family members farewell messages over the phone, we eventually had no choice but to run out when the police

station got engulfed with fire. We had been smoked out of the police station to encounter death face to face! When we finally ran out of the station, we ran into the enraged Giade youth and they pursued us with vengeance, hitting us all over with their ammunition (machetes, swords, knifes, stones, heavy sticks etc.) while we ran aimlessly with no sense of direction. It was a terrifying, horrendous experience that I wouldn’t want even my enemy to go through! As I ran for my life, panting and breathless wondering how to out run my pursuers, some of the angry youth finally caught up with me. They stoned me several times, hitting heavy sticks on me and suddenly I felt a machete on my head and another one on my arm after which I dropped to the ground and started bleeding profusely from my head and arm. I became weak after losing so much blood. And I could no longer get up to run for my dear life. While I lay helplessly on the ground, a group from the mob surrounded me and kept hitting me heavily with sticks with the singular motive of wanting to take the last breath out of me, I pleaded for mercy but they simply ignored me and acted as if they didn’t hear! Suddenly two unknown men ran swiftly towards my direction to rescue me but the angry young men refused to spare me. The two unknown men forcefully lifted me from the ground. • Adeniyi and Simoyan, survived the attack in Giade.

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More gory tales from Sambisa

he name did not really connote all the terror that follows it today. Sambisa was a tourist attraction with a Games reserve, full of elephants, lions, hyenas and leopards that could be viewed from caravans. Sambisa forest stretches beyond the notorious mountainous area in Gwoza which was used by Boko Haram as den. That is 60 kilometres SouthEast of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. You find Sambisa in Yobe, Bauchi ,Gombe and even Kano. Insurgency turned Sambisa into a place of terror. Even the wild animals would be afraid to come near their home following the orgy of violence perpetrated by humans. They might as well query those of us who believe animals are lesser beings. The terrorists in the forest are more blood thirsty than all the predators put together. In April 2014, hundreds of bashful girls were abducted from their school in Chibok and ferried to the jungle. Many of them are yet to be accounted for ,more than a year after the kidnap. It seemed the area was impregnable. Until very recently. On April 28, Nigerian troops captured four Boko Haram camps, freeing 300 girls and

women. They achieved more on April 30 when they conquered other territories and freed 234 more females. Most of them looked unkempt and malnourished. That is nothing compared to the hell they went through. There were stories of humans being stoned to death for refusing to flee with the terrorists. Many of the women were married off, more used as sex slaves. Quite a number watched as male members of their families were put to death in the most horrifying of circumstances. Insurgency has exposed a lot of atrocities. Villages are wiped out either for being supportive of the military or on grounds of religious affiliation. At times, it was difficult to understand the terrorists. They slaughtered as many Christians as fellow muslims. They killed or deposed emirs and destroyed mosques, alongside churches. There is a remarkable trait of ISIS in Boko Haram. Their methods are similar in many ways. Before ISIS burnt a young Jordanian air-force pilot alive, Boko Haram had beheaded a Nigerian air-force Wing Commander. The same fate befell a soldier and so many others who were regarded as informants.

While soldiers continue to put fire on the terror group, in search of the Chibok girls, the freed females are not so free from harm. According to the United Nations Population Fund[UNFPA], about 214 of them are pregnant. Pregnancy is just part of the trauma they may have to live with. There will be medical tests to determine if they are also infected with Sexually Transmitted Diseases[STDs]. Nigeria’s Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin who is Executive Director,UNFPA put it bluntly,”Cosequently, since we have discovered that the magnitude of the challenge on ground is huge and there aren’t sufficient human resources to cope with this, we have sought for foreign assistance in human resources to help in the recovery process for these women and young girls,” he said. Osotimehin’s concern painted a true picture of life after the ordeal.” There is no doubt that these women and their children had gone through so much since they were abducted or kidnapped and it would definitely take a lot of effort to give them the needed psycho-social support in order to re-integrate them into the real lives they had been used to prior the abduction.” In all these, the military also

deserve some credit. In the last couple of months, the heat has been on the insurgents who have turned from the hunter to the hunted. Inspite of the challenge of topography, the tide has turned favourably in the fight . With the air-force bombarding the terrorists from the air and ground troops advancing from all flanks, it does appear the end is almost near for Boko Haram activities in the Sambisa forest. While we commend the military for their efforts, more should be done for the rescued females so that they will be able to start live anew. The National Emergency Relief Agency[NEMA] has waded in with food and materials. That is just one out of so many steps towards rehabilitation. Many of the women are widows, having watched their husbands sliced to pieces in the forest. The girls are fatherless as well. They all cannot live by bread and butter alone. They need hope for tomorrow. It will not be too much to put the girls in schools while their mothers are provided with job opportunities to fend for the little ones. Government must ensure that even if the scars of abduction do not go, there will be something to cling on in future.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

o the beautiful, strong African woman this is your book. It is a tribute to you. At the same time it is a clarion call to the woman endowed with the rich ebony, chocolate, coffee and ivory colors of mother earth. Its essence is to let you know that you have great worth and value before your Maker. When He fashioned you, He ensured that you were woven with His grand wisdom, intricately designed with your assignment in view and carefully planted in the place of your significance. Part of the original plan for your life was to be strong in the knowledge of His love for you and to fulfill His purpose. The plan becomes distorted by painful emotions and this 209-page book divided into three parts to help women overcome a whole range of painful emotions in a clear and concise manner. Using case studies, Part One shows women how to step out of denial and understand the painful emotions raging within them. Part Two examines how to actually overcome these painful emotions and then Part Three goes a step further to discuss the elements of a new life and how to unleash your God-given potential. The workbook at the end of the book lends practicality to the whole process. Overcoming Painful Emotions: A Guide is theologically accurate and yet a practical book with true to life stories that will touch your heart. It was written by Debola Oni, a Career Direct Consultant and lawyer and published in March 2015 by Dayspring Helps Ministry. It is a self– help book and an indispensable tool for lay counselors. There are no pretensions. It is authentic in its flavor, written by a Nigerian for her African sisters, though with a universal appeal. Don’t allow painful emotions to mar your future. These painful emotions drain your energy and distort your Godgiven vision. They are drawbacks and prevent you from maximizing your potential in Christ. The whole continent is awaiting you to step out of the doldrums into a life anchored solely on Jesus Christ. In spite of what has tried to put you

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Book Review

For a better you under you can rise up and beat all odds! You can choose to walk in freedom from the effects of painful emotions and let the virtue tucked away in you ooze out like the smell of a rare and expensive cologne. You can stop the darkness by switching on the light; not only for you to walk in, but for others to also bask in. Nothing can stop you unless you allow it. Enough of blaming the tradition, your shortcomings and the events and people in history who tried to drown you; you can succeed no matter how daunting it appears. You can win and you must win over anger, fear, guilt, bitterness, hatred and all other painful emotions. As the author of this book notes in a statement, “A Blue Print For Overcoming Painful Emotions is a companion and readership delight irrespective of religion, race, tribe, culture and belief ”.

Title: Overcoming Painful Emotions: A Guide Author: Debola Oni Publisher: Dayspring Helps Ministry Pages: 209 Year of publication: 2015 Reviewer: Ayodele Muyiwa Taiwo

SONTA 2015: LOC extends submission of abstracts

Ayakoroma

he local organizing committee (LOC) for the 2015 edition of the annual International Conference of Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) has extended the deadline earlier set for the submission of abstracts. A statement released by Caleb Nor on behalf of the Conference Convener and Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who is also a Visiting Associate Professor at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK),

stated that the new deadline for submission of abstracts is now Sunday, May 10, 2015, while submission of full papers stills remains June 30, 2015. The extension, according to the statement, is expected to give little more time for theatre scholars and others who wish to present papers at the conference but could not meet the 30th April, 2015 deadline earlier fixed for the submission of abstracts. The LOC also implored interested persons to visit the SONTA 2015 website: www. sonta.nico.gov.ng or go to www.nico.gov.ng and click on the link to get detailed information about the conference. Meanwhile, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma has again been scheduled to serve as Keynote Speaker at a two-day conference on Media Studies in Ibadan, Nigeria, in honour of a foremost Nigerian film scholar, Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi. A call for Submission of Abstracts and full papers for the conference, released by a CoConvener of the conference, Professor Onookome Okome of

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, stated that the programme is scheduled to hold at the African Studies Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan from 22-24 October, 2015 and had 27 April as deadline for Submission of Abstracts, while due date for full papers is 1st June, 2015. With the theme: “Media Studies in Nigeria: Genesis and Detours,” the conference and its book of essays are not just expected to celebrate Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi, a poet and film scholar with deep knowledge in the areas of film theory and criticism, but will have a number of essays devoted to the role he played in the making of the Ibadan School of Media Studies. For the conference, contributions are solicited on the broad theme of media history in Nigeria and Africa, sociology and aesthetics, and essays that privilege the intersection between popular cinema and the more traditional African cinema of French expression. Titles and abstracts for the conference are expected to reach the conveners, Onookome Okome on ookome@ual-

berta.ca or Marcel Okhakhu on marcelokhakhu@gmail.com. It will be recalled that at the boom of media scholarship in Ibadan, Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi recorded an extraordinary performance in media history and performance in Theatre Arts, where he became an exchange student at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, Philadelphia, USA respectively; and immediately after his return, he was said to have taken a position at the University of Ibadan and has since tutored and mentored many scholars in media studies, including the conference conveners, Professors Onookome Okome and Marcel Okhakhu, Professor Femi Shaka of the University of Port Harcourt, as well as NICO’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, among scholars. Ayakoroma is expected to deliver a keynote paper at the conference alongside Professor Jonathan Haynes of Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, New York, United States of America, who pioneered intellectual studies on Nigeria’s Nollywood.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

The Mega City

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

Pre-colonial Nigerian cities and kingdoms were well fenced and fortified, primarily to prevent annexation, and as a show of wealth and strength. But today, many Lagosians have become prisoners in their own homes, no thanks to the state of insecurity in the country. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU reports.

MY CITY, MY WORLD

LIFE IN THE CITY

I pray for Lagos without touts – Ovie

Extortionists on the prowl

When homes become prisons

High fence of Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre, Ikorodu

demola Fatokun, a Lagos resident, would not forget in a hurry, a nasty experience he had a long time ago. Precisely, it happened in the year 2010, on a Sunday morning. He stayed in a house that was fenced round with cement block

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

with a height of about 11feet. The fence was so conspicuously high that it would be difficult for any person to easily gain access to the compound, unless through the entrance gate. Around 9:00am, a gang of four young men gained access into the compound that morning. As they came in, one of them stood by the gate, while the three made way to the rooms. Immediately, two of his grown up children playing football inside the compound got wind of the situation, and wanted to raise the alarm for help. They stopped suddenly at the sight of a gun brandished by a member of the gang. Fatokun was commanded to lay face down. He narrated that one of the kids could have jumped through the fence if not for the height of the fence. More so, if the front fence had been low for people to see through, the situation could have been nipped by

Advantage of a low fence outweighs that of a very high fence

passers-by or even the men of the Nigerian police in the area that claimed to have passed through the street within the time the hoodlums held them hostage. “The boys had a field day. Because of the high scale fence that imprisoned the building, they had no fear of any challenge to their criminal activities. They robbed and beat us mercilessly; they even wanted to rape my wife and my daughter before God touched their hearts against that. They went to my neighbours flat, may be on a tip-off, as my neighbour claimed to have withdrawn about N1.3m on Friday before that Sunday from the bank. It was alleged that they made away with it. They took away also three laptops and jeweller-

ies. Our mobile phones were not spared by those wicked souls,” he recounted. On account of the above scenario, Fatokun decided to relocate to his uncompleted house at Ikorodu and vowed never to live in a compound that has a very high fence, neither will he ever encourage any person close to him to build his house and surround it with high fence. He said, “To me, the advantage of building your house with a low fence round it outweighs that of a very high fence.” Mr. Daniel Okanumee is also a Lagos resident who lives in Ajah. He recounted his ordeal with armed robbers, who scaled the high fence of their CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Living behind self-imposed prisons CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

compound through the back while other residents had gone to work on a Tuesday afternoon. According to him, the robbers were probably aware that it was only him and his neighbour alone in the six flat building. The fence was 10 feet high, and tightened with barbwire. They destroyed and removed some of the wires with pliers, and jumped into the compound. They were two in number. “As soon as they jumped in, they brandished their guns and instructed us to quietly comply; else, they will waste us. They searched the whole of my house and that of my neighbour. For 15 minutes, they ransacked , after which they locked us in one room, and warned us not to raise our voices. They carried their operation unhindered and left through the entrance gate.” These are some of the few cases of unfettered takeover of houses with high block fence by men of the underworld. It is generally believed that the country found herself in this slide of moral decline immediately after the Civil war in 1970. As the war came to an end, most of the people that had gun in their possession started using it on the helpless people. They resorted to all forms of hooliganism. Before the war; both pre-colonial era, and the period immediately after the independence attainment, people lived freely. Most houses were without fence, the major form of fence experienced then were to barricade the compound with wire gauze that were laid beside the flower beds that bordered most compounds, in such places like Ikoyi of old and some areas of Surulere. Houses that had block fence for any reason would have such block within the range of five feet and six feet altitude at the back and two sides of the fence, while the frontage will have dwarf wall and with metals that gives easy view. Azebani Mayaki, a Lagos senior citizen, said that compounds those days were well kept to the extent that passers-by feast their eyes on

An aluminiun fence

14ft Rehabilitation Centre fence, Ikorodu

the gorgeous flowers and scenery of such compounds and also appreciated the natural beauty. “The White men those days virtually had compounds with football field and space for other outdoor leisure at Ikoyi. If you happen to pass by that area, you will see them relaxing in the compound. Most Nigerians took to that and built their houses in that form. But all of a sudden, people started building houses with high fence; an action they attributed to high rate of insecurity. “Believe me, most of the people that started this pattern of fence around us and in the villages are those dubious minded people that were dodging from their shadows. If you look very well, most of the houses with high fence are prone to unopposed daylight robbery than those that have low and transparent fence to them. Today, people rather than build their houses with the little money they have, they would prefer to start a multi million naira fence project. At the end of the day, they would not build the main house but a silly mighty fence they claim is

The country found herself in this slide of moral decline in 1970

for security.” Some time ago, there was a bizarre story of a 21-year old Lateef Sulaiman, who scaled a 14 feet fence into the Lagos State Rehabilitation and Training Centre in the Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos to have sex with a mad woman. The young man claimed to have been in that act for many a time before the long arm of the law caught up with him then. It was argued that in the other way round, if the compound was not fenced to that high heaven, he wouldn’t have been doing that without any form of apprehension. He knew all he needed was to find his way in and everything will be his. Mr. Almond Idokoro has his house at Okokomaiko area of Lagos. He believes that armed robbers undoubtedly prefer operating in houses that are well fenced, where they could operate unhindered. Houses with low fence and visible iron protectors, he said, are hardly attacked by armed robbers. However, Dr. Akin Ashinowo, argued that high fence is an attraction to miscreants. He narrated an incident that happened within his area recently, where armed robbers made frantic efforts to gain access to a compound. “They tried to gain entrance to a house owned by a prominent person in the state; they even wanted to enter through the fence, but the fence of the house was too high and well plastered. As such, made it difficult for them to gain their way. Though, I think the best is to have a moderate fence of may be six or seven feet at the back and the two sides while the front could be better with five or six feet with openings that will not conceal activities in the compound.” He said. Many Lagosians wonder if there were no laws guiding the way people build their fences, since most nefarious activities thrive inside such high fenced compounds. Stories have been narrated on how people have been kidnapped and taken to some high fenced buildings within the state and the country as a whole. High fence buildings , security and beauty of nature are indeed difficult challenges.

Many are of the opinion that if there are law(s) to regulate this building pattern, then, government should deem it wise to put a check on it since houses with high fences are prone to insecurity. An estate agent and Managing Director of Ehis Properties Limited in Lagos, Usiholo Ehis, does not believe that houses with high fence are solution to insecurity. Rather, he feels it endangers the occupants of such houses. “Our approach to this issue shows that Nigeria is a developing country. Some people propose this type of fence because of insecurity they are facing. I don’t subscribe to high fence as a panacea to insecurity. Rather, it will endanger you the more. If anything is going on in a compound with high fence, even neighbours will not know. “Many Estates don’t encourage it anymore. There is an Estate that I’m developing at Victoria Garden City (VGC), the fence is very low especially the front. It is believed that most houses with high fence have criminal motives. Engineer Arumere Kayode is an engineer with the Ikeja Local Government council, Alausa. He said there is no law of the state at present restricting or controlling the way people erect fences in their houses. “No one can stop anyone to build his or her fence in one form or the other. It is the person’s right to make his fence the way he wants it either low or high.” He reasoned. There is no law in place today that directs one on the pattern his house fence should take. The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development said, “It’s your house; it’s your prerogative depending on how you want it. Some buildings are without fence. I don’t think there is any law that guides the way you build your fence. “In some housing estates, they regulate and decide the level their fence could go. Some will decide to use metal bars to fence their houses. Sometimes, it depends on the experience of people in the hand of miscreants. That influences the way they build their fence. Those days, houses were without fence.” He stressed.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

ADEBANKE FALADE

hey are found in conspicuous areas. Some are in official patrol cars, others by the traffic light and around bus stops, anxiously waiting for their prey. Who are they? They are the uniformed law enforcement officers of various agencies of the state. You wouldn’t want to make the mistake of making a wrong turn in areas where you’d find them. Neither will you want to cross the red light, where you have traffic wardens in sight. Although their functions are different, they have one thing in common-the love for traffic offenders. There is noticeably high number of impounded and unclaimed vehicles of traffic offenders at FRSC-V.I.O office along Ojodu Berger road. One wonders what Lagosians are still driving with all the cars impounded thus far. Bolaji Sotade, a motorist had fallen prey to LASTMA officials at Ishaga junction, area of Lagos. He ran the red light. “I pleaded and pleaded with them. They were adamant, threatening to take me into the office and impound my car. I couldn’t afford to pay them, and I definitely wouldn’t want to have my car impounded. I decided to prove stubborn. These people stayed in my car, followed me to the ATM. In fact, they checked my account balance at the ATM stand, and made sure I withdrew N5, 000 for them. I was left with a thousand naira in my account.” Stopped for a broken side mirror by FRSC officials, Mrs Funke Adunni, recounts her ordeal. “They took my license, despite the explanation I gave, and the mirror I showed them. Eventually, I paid a fine of N3,000. I was so angry. So many buses are without mirrors! Yet, they don’t harass them.” Akinolu Taiwo knows what it is like to be accosted for a broken brake light. “The last time I got into such trouble was sometime last year. The Road Safety officials stopped me, and informed me of a faulty brake light. He checked all my particulars and license. He told me that I had to pay some kind of fine. I tried to let him get me off with a warning, the brake light worked before I left the house. So, I was puzzled as to how it stopped working. He insisted, and eventually gave me a ticket. I paid some amount of money into the bank before I collected my license.” Recalling the time she was stopped by a traffic official, Deola Idris, narrated her story. “The only traffic official I have been stopped by is the police. An unfortunate day for me! I didn’t have my insurance papers in the car. They kept going up and down, reading the law for me, their usual antics. Refusing to be moved by their empty threats, they asked that I drive to their station. Then, I asked if Police officers are supposed to arrest for such offence. They proceeded to educate me on the law that I had violated. They insisted that I would be taken to the station. Unknowing to them, I have heard of all their tricks. Luckily for me, I had N1,200 on the dashboard. I

Extortionists on the prowl

FRSC officials checking the speed of a motorist

pointed to it, and told them that it was the only money I had on me. After a few minutes of pleading and swearing under false pretence, they took N1,000 and left me with N200.” For Dipo Sofowora, a motorist, he said he has been stopped by traffic officials severally for routine checks to see if his papers were up to date, if he had all the necessary safety equipment in his car, etc. “I believe that the Road Safety personnel’s are polite; the police officers are irrational, while the V.I.O lacks a proper manner of approach. The V.I.O, of all the traffic officials I believe, are the ones to watch out for the most. They can be very brutish in their dealings. I don’t know any of their functions; they all do the same thing on the road. On the other side, they have been of tremendous help to me,” he said. For Daniel Patrick, however, “I have been driving for 16 years. And yes, was involved in a serious accident-LASTMA personnel and the V.I.O had to intervene. I have also been stopped by all the different traffic officials. I fear the V.I.O the most because they are heartless. I must add that the LASTMA personnel do not understand their job description. Instead of controlling traffic and putting the yellow buses in check, they end up collecting money from them and allowing them behave unruly.” Adekunle Akinlolu, a taxi driver said: “I have been driving for 25 years and I haven’t been involved in any accident. Traffic officials always stop us for particulars and other things that should be in a car. I am very fearful of the V.I.O and the FRSC. They are doing more than they should.” According to Ibrahim Oladeinde, a taxi driver, the LASTMA personnel are very troublesome. They make us pay heavy fines. I want to believe they don’t know their job description. I prefer dealing with police officials because they accept our plea. For Uche Chuks, a tricycle driver, “traffic officials stop us when we violate the traffic rules. I prefer the FRSC of all traffic officials because they aren’t money con-

Policemen preparing for action

FRSC officials aren’t money conscious. They stick to the rules

A LASTMA official on duty

scious. They stick to the rules. I can’t stand the rest of them; all they know is how to siphon money from people” Tobore Kwakpowve, a pharmacist said, “I have been stopped by traffic officials quite a number of times. The V.IOs are the worst, followed closely by the Road Safety and LASTMA officials.”

“I prefer LASTMA to the rest of them. The V.I.O doesn’t collect bribe or want to hear any story. They immediately take you into the office. And the tickets they give are so outrageous. Fines of over N10, 000 upward! You can’t even reason with them like you’d do with the other traffic officials. Theirs is to enter the office and pay fine.”

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’re moving to the era of air-conditioned BRT buses – Elemamba, BRT Franchisee Nnamdi Elemamba is the Chief Executive Officer, Greenline Transport Limited, one of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) franchise in Lagos, which plies Ajah – CMS axis. In an interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he said the stage is set for the introduction of air-conditioned BRT buses to meet the demands of passengers and for the state to achieve the true status of a mega-city Is water transportation in Lagos affordable when compared to road? I don’t know. I don’t have the license, but I know that it has been very helpful in terms of avoiding traffic in Ikorodu areas.

Talking about Lagos as a megacity, how would you assess the impact of BRT in the state transportation? First of all, I would like to say that Lagos State is the most organised state in terms of transportation. It uses multi modern means of transportation to convey people from one place to the other. Why do I say that? If you look at the outgoing administration, you will see that it was able to give a number of franchises to the private sector to run transport business in the state, whether waterways, roads or other means of transport as the state strives to attain the status of a mega city. There is also investment in the rail system, especially the Badagry-CMS rail project. This is done in order for people to have alternative means of transportation in the state. To this extent, I will give pass mark to Lagos. But there is room for improvement, especially in the area of infrastructure to support the investment on the transport sector. We still need more roads, loading points and bus lay-byes along the roads. Are you saying that transportation in Lagos has come to an enviable position that earns the state a status of a megacity? No, we are not yet there. We still have a long way to go. But looking at where we were and where we are now, I would say that we have improved significantly in area of transportation. We are all waiting for the light rail to take off from Badagry to CMS, and once that happens, and it will be able to convey, at least, a million people on daily basis, acts as a feeder for the BRT buses from CMS to other locations of the city; then, we will say that we are close by. The major essence of BRT system in Lagos is for efficiency and rapid movement of people; will you say that BRT has achieved that vision? In spite of achievements of BRT in the state, the paucity of dedicated bus lanes has resulted in long staying of BRT in traffic. The reason is that the middle class is growing rapidly and a lot of people are acquiring vehicles. This has increased the number of vehicles on the roads. Today, the number of vehicles on the road is higher than what we experienced in the last 10 years. More so, small buses are joining transportation business on regular basis and there are more franchisees plying on limited road infrastructure. What ideal picture of transport system would you rather advocate for a megacity, such as Lagos?

What are the major challenges facing BRT operators in Lagos? The major challenge militating against our operation is limited infrastructure that we have. We need more dedicated bus routes, bus lay-bye, loading points at strategic areas, especially in Ajah. There is no loading point in Ajah and this has significantly affected our operations. Lay-bye is where you drop off people on the road, so that passengers don’t alight in the middle of the road. Just a bit off the road and the buses keep moving. Lay-byes are not where you should wait for too long. We shouldn’t spend more than two minutes in any bus lay-bye.

Elemamba

When you say that a city is mega, then you begin to look at the infrastructural development available in that city. A megacity is also presented with a large population. Lagos, as we are aware, has a population of more than 18 million people. Perhaps, it makes it a megacity in terms of population, resources and economic activities transacted on daily basis. But transportation is very important for efficiency of a megacity. We are looking at acquiring airconditioned buses to meet the demands of commuters. The feedback we got from them is pointing at air-conditioned buses. I believe that when we acquire it, a lot of car owners will prefer to leave their cars at home and join the BRT buses to offices, thereby, reducing the number of vehicles on the roads, which eventually reduces the traffic. The way BRT system is planned, ferries and trains will empty passengers for the buses and vice versa. To what extent has the scheme achieved this? The transport scheme in Lagos is holistic. Like you pointed out, the train has to feed the BRT and vice versa. CMS is the major hub for BRT buses. A lot of us from different routes end at CMS and passengers from other buses can join BRT to other parts of Lagos. So, to that extent, there is synergy among them. The

There is room for improvement, especially in the area of infrastructure

waterways are supposed to feed the BRT too. Park and ride facilities have not been visible in the structure of transportation in the megacity. Is it not fundamental to the scheme in order to reduce the number of vehicles on the road? Unfortunately, BRT will not be able to reduce the number of cars on the roads because private car owners take the decision whether they want to board a BRT bus or drive their cars to their destination. The only thing BRT will do is to encourage private car owners, who live along the road to consider using the BRT buses. Again, there are a number of ‘park and ride’ facilities in the state. All that the government needs do is to build more ‘park and ride’ facilities along our corridors. Sometimes, it was convenience and comfort that make private car owners to drive their cars to office. And of course, the more cars you see on the road, the more traffic we experience. So, with time, people will begin to understand this. How would you assess the waterway transportation in Lagos? Yes, there are operators already plying from Ikorodu to Ajah and Victoria Island. A number of people use water transport. I have some of my staff, who live in Ikorodu; they come to work through ferries.

What is the ideal interval for the buses to get to the lay-byes to pick commuters? When we started the scheme, the wait time for buses was five minutes. However, in practice, it has not been so because we try to provide some level of affordability on services that we render, ensuring fair charges. Also, because of the relatively low and controlled service fare we charge, most bus operators will like to fill up their buses before they move, considering the high cost of diesel and operations. So, in practice, we have not been able to achieve the five minutes wait time but with the introduction of more buses on the road, we are getting there. You have been on the Ajah-CMS corridor for long; do you have any plan to move in the hinterlands, where the services of BRT are on high demand? Yes, we are making plans and implementing some plans. We have applied to Lagos State, through LAGBUS to acquire more route extension. We are looking at other roads that we will complement our activities. How do you distinguish your buses from others since there are only two colours for BRT scheme in the state? Yes, our buses are well known in this axis. The code is there to distinguish one from the other. The scheme is the same. Interestingly, many of our customers call me on regular basis to make one comment or the other concerning our vehicles and services. We have feedback and feel about our services. As our corporate social responsibilities, we offered free bus fare to our customers during the Easter period.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

658,000 Lagos drivers apply for licences Muritala Ayinla

T L-R: Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Olushola Oworu, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy , Lateef Raji and Special Adviser on Commerce & Industry, Seye Oladejo at the 2015 ministerial press briefing to commemorate eight years in office of Governor Fashola

Lagos trains 16,000 undergraduates for vacation jobs Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos Enterprise Registration and Identification Agents (ENTRIDA) have provided 16,000 undergraduates and unemployed graduates with vacation jobs since inception. Speaking during the Annual Ministerial Press her ministry, the Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mrs. Olusola Senapon Oworu who disclosed this, said that the ENTRIDA programme has remained a social key programme of the present administration in the fulfillment of promises of providing vacation jobs for undergraduates. According to her, since inception, 2,000 undergraduates and unemployed graduates are engaged annually for the conduct of the exercise. She said:“So far, more than 329,000 businesses have been covered on Local Government basis as at the 2014 edition of the programme”. The Commissioner explained that

the state government remain committed to providing more jobs for undergraduates and unemployed graduates so as to curb social vices and youth unrest in the State. Oworu said the recent allotted land to the Dangote Group by the State Government for the establishment of a 650,000bpd Refinery Complex and Fertilizer Plant is envisaged to create over 20,000 jobs during construction and projected to require about 8,000 engineers during construction, adding that the project will ensure job security and increase income for job seekers in the state. She revealed that in 2011 the government took steps to stem the unemployability trend of most graduates, through a collaborative partnership with the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, (AGDC), a non-Governmental Organization, to organize the Lagos State Ignite Employability and Enterprise Project. The programme which involves series of youth capacity building curri-

cula is specially targeted at enhancing employability of young graduates as well as exposing them to entrepreneurial trainings with the overall objective of developing a skillful and competent workforce for organizations within the state and beyond. She explained that the programme is also aimed at raising indigenous entrepreneurs that will grow rapidly and have the capacity to become employers of labour in the nearest future. She said: “In the same vein, the Ministry in conjunction with the Lagos State Electricity Board conducted a power audit of the four Industrial Estates presently at Isolo, Yaba and two in Matori industrial area in order to minimize low capacity utilization of resources resulting from inadequate power supply at the Estates. Hence, the provision of a captive power supply solution of a 500KVA transformer and 500KVA generator with pre-paid meters was provided at Isolo Estate.”

he Lagos State Government yesterday said that no fewer than 658,000 motorists in the state have applied for new driving licenses between 2012 and 2015. The Permanent Secretary, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA Mr AyoAdediran, who disclosed this, said only 498,261 licenses were issued since 2012, adding that the agency had also captured biometrics of 515086 drivers. He said: “About 658,000 applied for the license. 16,261 awaiting the release of the driver’s licenses. We have also recorded reduction in the number of fake driver licenses,”he said. To address the problem of driving unregistered vehicles, Adediran said the agency introduced the Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT) as a veritable means of identification for vehicles before their actual registration. The Permanent Secretary said: “This innovation addresses section 25 of the Lagos State Traffic Law, which prohibits driving of unregistered vehicles on Lagos roads. With the introduction of T.V.T all vehicles coming into Lagos from the various Ports and would have to pass through Lagos must obtain T.V.T in compliance with the Law. The T.V.T enjoys all privileges attached to a fully registered vehicle for thirty (30) days only. The need was consequent upon the delay in obtaining Custom papers necessary for vehicle registration. “It allows the capturing of data of vehicles on the database and serve as a link for tracking same in the case of security challenges.” He added that as parts of the government continued evaluation of service delivery to the citizenry, the products and services of Motor Vehicle Administration Agency has been identified as essential, some of which cannot be obtained through proxy.”

Lagos insures bridges, roads against terrorist attack, disaster lSays Sinking Funds Reserve hits N100.7bn Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government has said it had insured all its bridges, roads and other critical assets against all forms of disasters and terrorists attack. The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi who made the disclosure while briefing journalists on the financial status of the state, also explained that that Lagos dropped in the Fitch Ratings from stable to negative due to the ratings downgrade of the national outlook. He said: “We have restructured the insurance risk programme of the state in scope and adequacy of the coverage for critical assets and staff. Strategic assets such as bridges, drainage channels and roads are now specifically insured against natural disaster.” The Commissioner also said that the state government has fine tuned its financial strategy to ensure that funds it borrowed in the quest of realizing its objective of turning the state to Africa Model Megacity is repaid, saying N100.73 billion has been reserved in the state’s sinking fund reserve.

Gbeleyi explained that said of the N225 billion currently outstanding in its debt issuance programme over N100.73 billion is in its coffers as at March 2015. He said the state government got the approval of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the buy-back of the LekkiEpe expressway, adding that the negotiated the price for that transaction is N15 billion. Gbeleyi explained that,” the transaction came to closure in June last year. In terms of completing other condition precedent for government to take over the project and effect the final payment because the payment was done in two tranches of N7.5 billion and N7.5 billion. “We paid the second tranche last year’s December. And from that date, government took effective control of the project.” The commissioner further explained that after listening to the demand of the residents, the state government decided to cancel the initial planned third toll plaza on the road. “For the purpose of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project finance, one will not find two sources of finances that is, debt and equity. The equity

is provided by promoters of the ventures. The debt is provided by various members-commercial banks and other financial institution. “On the road, we have about N40 billion outstanding to these consortium of senior lenders which include 8 financial institution including the African Development Bank, ADB, Stanbic Bank in Nigeria, First bank and others. “Thus, even though the state bought out equity interest in the transaction, the debt exposure must still be honoured over agreed contracted terms and conditions. “We must send the right signal to the community of investors and we must respect the sanctity of contract, rule of law and predictability of investment is something that is sacrosanct if we must continue to attract the right investor to the state. “Across other PPP transaction ranging from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the five IPP and various Real Estate including the Eko Atlantic City and others and close to $20 billion has been made in investment commitment.” He said:“15 percent of monthly IGR is transferred to a Consolidated Debt

Service Account (CDSA), managed by independent Trustees, with N100.73 Billion accrued in Sinking Fund reserve for repayment of outstanding issues, while coupons are serviced regularly “The State has accumulated over N100.73 billion in the CDSA for the redemption the outstanding three tranches of Bonds, of which the next redemption comes up in April 2017.“ According to him if the state government fails to respect sanctity of contract investors will not bring their money into the country anymore. He said, “Our policy option are open and now that we have the equity interest and in consultation with other major investors in that road, the new administration will evaluate the various policy options that are open to the administration and they will decide how long within the residual life of the concession which terminates in 2038. “It present another opportunity once the loan restructuring which we have now concluded is in place which was signed at the end of March this year, we can then beginning to think of issuing a new concession structure by the issues that we saw before in that transaction.”

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The printers’ haven

A printing press on Akeju street in Shomolu

Segun Giwa

homolu is well known home of printers in Lagos; a place you can get jobs pertaining to printing done. It has managed to gain the attention of individuals, companies, churches and mosques that anything that has to do with printing can only be done at Shomolu perfectly. Many believe that this is due to the different machines they use that show the qualities of their works. Printing has provided job opportunities for the youth in the area and transformed the place to printing press industries due to the magnitude of the work, majority of the residents have one way or the other contributed to the printing industry in Shomolu and it has affected other businesses in the area. The election has in great measure also contributed to the industry because most of the posters, shirts, pens, fez caps, wrist bands, and pamphlets for campaigns were made there. The competition there is a healthy one that has positive effects on them. The qualities, prices and the availability of the printing machines are also visible. There is division of labour which gives chances for other printers with or without machine to partake in the process of printing- the plate making, lithography, typesetting. The houses in the area have turned into printing shop which landlords seem to be okay with. Mr Gbenga Soidiq, a customer said: “It is similar where the Igbo are selling spare parts. If you want to get anything of such, you’ll have different channels that you can get what you want in different places at different prices and quantity and because

of location, when a particular business is concentrated in an area, the accessibility of customers to get their needs and ability to make choices are always high.” Adewale Adeshina works with Samdex Prints, said Shomolu is the best place to get printing works done in the country and most companies patronise them. He continues, “We use better machines here like Kord machines, cutting machines, 201, laminating machines etc. That makes our work neat and of higher quality. Adewale also comments on the issues of printers occupying most of the shops and houses in Shomolu. “This place is known for printing and it is ideal for and normal for the setting. The landlords also prefer printers to ordinary residents due to the stocky money they pay”. Seni Awolaja, a lithographer said that Shomolu is more accommodating for printing due to the shops and machines available there and after the making elections campaigns, “telecommunication companies are our biggest customers. They customize T-shirts, pens, jotters, fez caps, etc. and they make in large quantity that will be enough to circulate wherever they want. So, this helps us a lot.” Graphic artists also have their sections in the area because of their importance to the printing industry. Graphic design is the methodology of visual communication, and problem solving through the use of type, space and image. Sokunbi Samuel, a graphic artist, explained that customers prefer to bring their printing jobs to Shomolu because of the good quality of works done there. Customers want the best work without mistakes before setting into printing due to the cost they will pay if such occurs.”

Graphic designers’ shop in Shomolu

Shomolu remains the choice of most customers. Tajudeen Ismaila, a customer, said: “It is easy here in Shomolu because those working for me already know how the previous work is done and also there are enough shops here that I can patronise if the other is not satisfying”. He also said: “Why the place is ideal for printers is due to the printing machines present. There is a huge difference compared to a place like Mushin.” Houses and shops Some parts of the area are not advisable for residence due to the domination of printers and the noises of the their plants. It never makes the place conducive to live especially for children. Most of the residential houses have been rebuilt to shops due to the large demands of printers in the area and the landlords take more of printers as occupants compared to residents. Mr. Toheeb Adisa, a landlord said: “Most tenants complain of noise of the plants used by the printers

and also the vibrations of their machines are terrible.” Mr. Toheeb continues, “the printers pay better money compared to residential tenants and since all the area is filled with printers, then it is just an ideal thing to rent it out to them.” Ayanubi Ademola , a Printer said: “The Landlords take more printers because they pay more but it has its own adverse effect because of the vibrations and it should be taken into consideration that not all landlords prefer printers. Some rent their houses out to those that sell printing materials while those that have solid foundation will rent it to the printers. Mr. Waheed Taiwo, Landlord said ,”I prefer printers in my house not only because they pay good money but also tidy up the compound, though sometimes I don’t like the vibrations and the noises of their printing machines but they are paying their rents, so no problem with that as long they do that and in time.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

What we want from Ambode, by Lagos drivers As a new government emerges in Lagos, hopes are high in all areas. Lagosians of different strata are full of expectations of what they expect from the new government. OKOCHA RUTH sampled opinions of some drivers ALFRED KOKU

want Ambode to guarantee our security as Keke NAPEP drivers; we want the government to take away LASTMA and police from the road. With this, I believe Lagos will become a better place for everyone and also the cost of transportation will reduce. I was enjoying Lagos before Governor Babatunde Fashola came in but now, things are different because he has given LASTMA veto power over us. They arrest us any how and charge us outrageous amount of money daily. Ambode should solve that problem for us. Nurudeen Afeez I am originally an electrician by profession and I own a shop in Lagos. But when Fashola came into power, he demolished my shop and I had to become a motorcyclist. Again, the governor banned them from operating in major roads in Lagos. So, I was forced to become a Keke NAPEP driver. For me, I want Ambode to guarantee us job security. Touts disturb us as they don’t allow us carry passengers from parks. I want Ambode to help us because we cast our votes for him in order to have security. Olayinka Olajide

vehicle, they ask us to N7,000, irrespective of the fact that we make little money in this job. After I deliver money to the owner of the vehicle, buy fuel and pay LASTMA officials, I am left with little money to manage myself. Ambode’s government should please take away touts from our road; they extort us outrageously and with impunity. At our expense, some of them use exotic vehicles and live large. If government can take care of this, we will support them but if they don’t, then there will be problem.

Samson Fagbo We, as bus drivers need many things. First is the cost of petrol, which is now on the high side. The cost of diesel is not left out too. So, the new government should try and reduce the price. The issue of LASTMA is another major challenge we encounter here. For instance, if a LASTMA official should take our

Kazeem Yusuf

Eniola Badmus

I want the new government to perform their duties for citizen but mainly, the government should take away LASTMA, police, army and touts from the road because they extort us a lot. In fact, LASTMA is unnecessary. The LASTMA officials on Fagba road are the worst; they build houses, buy exotic vehicles with our sweat while we are left to struggle for survival. Police men come out by 8pm to raid; they lock us up in their station and ask for the sum of N5,000 from each of us. Some of us sleep on the road because we can’t afford house rents and yet, we work. I want the Federal Government to collaborate with the state governments in solving this issue. If not, robbery will increase in Lagos State. Stephen Kelly

We, as bus drivers, want Ambode to reduce the veto power given to LASTMA to treat us anyhow. If not for the mercy of God and citizens of Nigerians, nobody is ready to vote for APC because of LASTMA. The present government has given LASTMA too much power and they are over using it. I want the government to reduce the power of taskforce because they go into motor parks and tow vehicles, after which they ask the owners to pay. We want the government to look into the cost of drivers license, which is on the high side now. They should also talk to VIO to be lenient on us because this job is not easy.

sonal benefit and not government’s. We are expectant that the incoming governor will respond to our pleas.

The money collected by NURTW is too much. In fact, I pray for a system whereby we pay directly to the government’s purse, since we pay close to N3,000 on daily basis, apart from the delivery we give to the owners of the vehicles. You can imagine that after earning our votes, they refused to allow us peace of mind to work. We also want the government of Ambode to take away the LASTMA officials from the road. The LASTMA officials on Iju road have a beer parlour were they drink and they also do daily contribution of N10,000 with all the money they get from us. The money which they collect from us is used for their per-

The presence of LASTMA officials on the road is a major threat to bus drivers as they over perform their oversight functions. We are tired of the extortion and we are crying out to the government to rescue us. Once they arrest our vehicles, they ask us to pay N20,000 to reclaim it. Also, the cost of drivers’ license is on the high side; the government should reduce the cost to enable drivers purchase it with ease. Raymond Orilomo I want the government to remove LASTMA from the road. Even if it means bus drivers paying a particular sum of money every month to enable us operate freely. Because, they constitute nuisance on the road. We pay N5,000 daily to touts and we also remit money to the owner of our vehicle. After all this, little money is left for us to cater for our families. The government should help us tackle the issue of LASTMA, police, and touts. Only then, will we be able to operate freely. Gabriel Oketayo Afolabi I am a taxi driver in Ogba and my major concern is that the government should repair our refineries, which will reduce the cost of fuel. If the cost of fuel reduces, then, the cost of transportation will be much more affordable for everyone. The government should also provide good roads for us. There are lots of tankers on Apapa road, congesting the road. If the government builds refineries in each state, then tankers won’t be needed to mobilize fuel to anywhere as they cause accidents on the road. Assuming the government is good, then a man at my age should be resting but out of selfishness, the government has failed us. I want the new government to also repair railways for easy mobilization of fuel as it was in the 70s and 80s. Isiaka Illori I am an elderly man and have being a taxi driver for many years. The government of this era is very corrupt as they make empty promises and all we pray for his God’s mercy. The only thing that disturbs this job is the levies which are imposed on us but I know God will always see us through. Olawunmi Tayo,Driver Apart from this job, I want the government to provide good electricity for us. All we want is for us to be able to work and make money in this land and we will support them all the way.

Our Expectations

New government should improve Lagos, says Boglo Stories by Ezurike Ugochukwu Sana Boglo is the Baale of Boglo community Einmmanuel Badagry. He believes that

there is no outgoing government in Lagos since it is the same party in power. Rather, what is obtainable is that Governor Babatunde Fashola is Boglo outgoing. “What we have is continuation, the same system that has been running in the last 16years. Fashola has served us well in this eight years winding down. Another man, Akinwunmi Ambode is coming to continue from where Fashola will stop.” B Boglo believes that Ambode should improve on what Fashola has been able to achieve so far. He recalled his days in Ajegunle where he lived for 10years. “I was brought up on the streets of Lagos. I was an Ajegunle product. When I visited there recently, I discovered there are a lot of changes. My expectations are for the sustenance of the wind of change blowing across Lagos.” The Baale said he so much likes the Mega City project, which to his understanding, is enlivening the environment and making the streets cleaner. “I want Ambode to improve on the mega city dream, and sanitise Lagos State beyond the level and standard Fashola has achieved.” He feels there are many places the impact of government has not been felt in Lagos State; places that are still wearing the look of old Lagos. He also decries the high percentage of unemployed youths roaming in the state, especially in his community. He called on both the state and the Federal Government to come and build industries in their local government (Badagry) as a way of eliminating unemployment in the society. “There are so many tourist sites here. This place is an island. We are between the sea and the lagoon and so, if they can cite a sea port here, we will be better off.

I pray for Lagos without touts – Ovie avid Ovie, a motivational speaker, teacher and a Dschool proprietor in Lagos,

is worried by the menace of touts (Agbero) in Lagos. The group, whose activities run contrary to decent and normal ethos in this 21st century, a group whose activities have ruined many people and busi- Ovie ness. “To establish and operate a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) is very difficult because of their activities. As a hawker on just bean-cake (akara), they are your problem; in places of worship, they terrorise, transport business in Lagos, they have absolutely taken over. In fact, that is their domain. If one does not have the heart of a lion, one cannot step into the murky waters of private business in Lagos because of the menace of Agberos.” Ovie, who is also a Pastor/marriage counsellor believes they have the connivance of government officials, such that, they become untouchable. According to him, “so long as these people are allowed undisturbed in our society, their unholy acts will soar. They are all rich. Every young person today is talking about getting rich rather than inventions and technological advancements. To the youths, the Agberos are role models.” Despite Area boys being clogs on the wheels of progress in Lagos State, Ovie believes Lagos is better today than what it was 10 years before. “When I came into Lagos with the mindset, I was disappointed at what I saw. I had envisioned the picture of London within. What I saw in places like Oshodi and Ajegunle marvelled me. I wondered whether I was really in that much talked about Lagos city. Today, the reverse is the case. Infrastructure wise, Lagos has changed.” He sees a better Lagos once the imperiousness of the Agberos is tamed. “I see a new and better Lagos, an emerging Lagos of our dream.”

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

MEGA CITY EVENTS Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Branch held its Annual luncheon and award ceremony recently in Ikeja, Lagos

L-R: Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Branch, Mr. Gbenga Olubowale; Chairman of the occasion, Mr. O. Ekundayo and President, World Commercial Ventures Limited, Mr. Ananth Narayan, during the society’s Annual luncheon and award ceremony at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos

L-R: Mrs. Rametu Momodu; Mrs. Tawa Arilesere; Director General NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii; Dr. Monica Eimunjeze and Mrs. Maureen Egbigbeyi, all awardees…at the event. PHOTOs: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

SON FOOD TECHNOLOGY LABS was recently commissioned IN LEKKI, LAGOS

L-R: Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo; Chairman, Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, during the commissioning

L-R: Head, Food and Technology Lab, SON, Mrs. Oyenike Owoyele; Mrs. Stella and Chamberlain and Director, Corporate and Government Relations, Olam, Mr. Ade Adefeko, at the event .

PHOTOs: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAP Africa Forum 2015 – Lagos Organiser:SAP Africa Organiser: May 12, 2015 From: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Venue: Landmark Centre Water Corporation Road Lekki Peninsula, Lagos Nigeria

MOVIE PREMIERE - 50 NAIRA STORY INITIATIVE Organiser: Audio Visual First 50Naira Story Initiative Date: May 10, 2015 From 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Venue: Film House Cinema, Apapa Mall, Park Lane, Apapa Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

FCT Watch

Unemployment, a time bomb

The Investor

Money

Stakeholders set agenda for new SEC DG

CRR hike as banks’ major albatross

36-year-old Calabar Port suffers low traffic

Maritime

Business What's news

New spending limit on naira debit cards boosts BDCs The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s recent reduction of the spending limit on the usage of naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad has led to an increase in demand for foreign exchange in the Bureaux De Change (BDCs) segment of the market, New Telegraph has learnt.

p.30

UAE-based Emaar set to open five-star hotels in Nigeria A United Arab Emirate-based Emaar Hospitality Group has agreed to open The Addressbranded hotels in Nigeria.

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

L-R: Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing, Olaposi Williams; General Manager, Commercial Law, Airtel Nigeria, Babatunde Olaniyan and Head of Sales, Oando Marketing, Olabiyi Babafemi, at the MOU signing ceremony between Oando and Airtel Nigeria in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Nigeria loses over N12bn to cashew smugglers –Investigation

learnt. Investigations by our correspondent revealed that over 30 per cent of cashew nuts produced in the country annually are smuggled across the border

as a result of price discrepancy in the global market. The commodity is smuggled to Benin Republic where it is resold at a premium at the international market. Other countries that received the smuggled commodity are Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. This development, according to National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), has weakened the nation’s export potential of the crop. The value of Nigeria cashew exports had risen by 166.7 per cent since 2008. According to the Datta Global Trader, the price of the commodity in the global market in Nigeria in 2015 is $1,290, Ghana - $1,525 and Be-

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%

SABOTAGE

Nigeria faces challenge of trade facilitation among the global competitors

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

Bayo Akomolafe

igeria loses over N12 billion to cashew smugglers annually, New Telegraph has

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

nin - $1,600. Nigeria produces about 144,000 tons of raw cashew nuts valued at N37.15 billion ($185 million) in 2014, mainly exported as raw nuts to India and Vietnam.The total volume of cashew exported from the country to these two countries stood at 144, 000 metric tons in 2014 out of which 103,046 metric tons was exported to Vietnam. According to African Ca-

N37.15bn

Value of the raw cashew nuts produced by Nigeria in 2014

shew Alliance (ACA), cashew nuts serve dietary, medicinal and industrial purposes and are in large demand for the production of anti-bacterial preparations, varnishes, insecticides and car brake pads. The association also ranked Nigeria second in the world in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, with estimated nut production of 580,761 metric tons, 650,000 metric tons , 813,023metric tons and 835,500 metric tons respectively, before the production declined in 2013 and 2014. The cashew nuts production comes from Kogi, Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Enugu, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N332 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

l Foreign Reserves – $29.512bn as at 28/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N197 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N303 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220

Business | News

BOOM

BDC operators record increase in transactions

Tony Chukwunyem

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s recent reduction of the spending limit on the usage of naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad has led to an increase in demand for foreign exchange in the Bureaux De Change (BDCs) segment of the market, New Telegraph has learnt. BDC operators in Lagos told our correspondent that since the banking watchdog announced the new limit, they have experienced a surge in demand for their services as bank customers who, prior to the introduction of the new policy, would not source for forex through BDCs, are now frequent visitors to the operators’ offices. A BDC operator, Chuzzy Onyeka, explained that with the new limit, the spread that holders of naira debit cards used to make on forex transactions has significantly reduced, so, most of them now prefer to buy forex from BDCs. He said: “The former limit was $150,000 per person annually, but it has now been reduced to $50,000 per person annually. This is not attractive

N12bn lost to cashew smugglers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Benue, Cross River and Imo states. Other states that produce the nuts are Sokoto, Nassarawa, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), among others. Nigeria is the largest exporter of the commodity in the West African countries, but it produces low quality varieties with a market share of 40.4 per cent. It ranked fourth in the global market, followed by Burkina Faso being 7th, Côte d’lvoire (10th), Ghana (17th), Mali (19th), Benin (35th), Togo (37th), Senegal (40th) and Gambia (41th). The production figure of 2012 for Nigeria is worth 45 per cent of cashew nuts produced in Africa, which contributed over 45 per cent of the global cashew production during the period.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

New spending limit on naira debit cards boosts BDCs to most serious business people, so, they now prefer to buy forex from us.” New Telegraph’s findings indicate that the surge in demand for forex has resulted in naira’s steady decline against the dollar at the BDC and parallel markets in recent weeks. As at last Friday, the exchange rate was N223 per dollar.

In a bid to check the pressure on the naira, the CBN had, on April 14, reviewed downward the spending limit on the usage of the naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad, from $150,000 to $50,000 per person annually. The daily cash withdrawal limit on the card was also fixed at $300 per person.

At the end of the Bankers’ Committee meeting a few days earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, had attributed the move to a desire by the Committee to check cases of card abuse abroad, which was impacting exchange rate stability.

He had explained: “We did find that in a number of cases, people were using the cards in a manner that they were not expected to use them and there have been cases of arbitrage. So, in order to sustain stability, what the committee agreed was that the limit for the use of the naira debit cards would be reduced.

“As a customer, if you have a dollar account, you will still have unfettered access to it, but for naira debit accounts, the limit would be reduced to a more judicious level. “This specifically refers to the use of these cards abroad because when they are used abroad, the merchants have to be settled. Even if it is at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), the service provider, Visa or MasterCard, has to be settled in foreign currency and we find that it is a drain on the foreign resources available to finance our industries.”

L-R: Representative of Minister of Health, Mr Linus Awute; Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili and National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, during the 2015 World Malaria Day celebration in Abuja …recently

UAE-based Emaar set to open five-star hotels in Nigeria INVESTMENT

The projects are set on 25 hectares with over 520,000sqm of hotel suites and residential apartments

Dele Alao

United Arab Emiratebased Emaar Hospitality Group has agreed to open The Address-branded hotels in Nigeria. The group announced this during the opening of the Arabian Travel Market conference. It also plans another investment in Bahrain. The company announced

that it had signed management contracts to operate The Address Centenary City Abuja and The Address Residences Centenary City Abuja, as part of its international expansion plans. Emaar has defined its solid credentials in the hospitality sector with the launch of three hotel brands, each with a distinct niche - The Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts and Rove Hotels. The Address Centenary City Abuja and The Address Residences Centenary City Abuja mark the first phase of development of Centenary City, Abuja, a vibrant mixeduse city district centred on the principles of sustainable urban development, located just 12 km away from the International Airport and 20 km from the existing Abuja City Centre.

Assuring a five-star hospitality experience, the projects are set in approximately 25 hectares with over 520,000sqm of hotel suites and residential apartments. The Address hotel, the company said, will have 242 rooms and modern amenities for business and leisure, including two restaurants, a destination lounge, advanced business centre, spa & wellness centre and outdoor pool and deck opening to landscaped areas. The Address Residences include 424 apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms set in four towers, as well as exclusive luxury villas set in approximately 6.3 hectares of land. Emaar Hospitality Group owns and manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets including hotels, serviced residences, golf retreats, a polo and equestrian

club, lifestyle dining outlets, and the Dubai Marina Yacht Club. Chief Operating Officer of the group, Philippe Zuber, said that Emaar Hospitality Group already operates The Address hotels in Turkey and Egypt and is hoping to further increase its international footprint as appropriate opportunities arise. Zuber said: “Our management contracts to operate hotels and serviced residences in Nigeria and Bahrain is a strong testament to our credentials in delivering worldclass hospitality services. Expanding to new markets has always been part of our development strategy and our strong operations in Dubai have given us the confidence and competency levels to meet region-specific hospitality requirements in global markets.”

Business | FCT

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

ut of the key issues that engaged political parties that contested the March 28 presidential poll, unemployment was on the front burner, as a policy to woo electorates to vote candidates of their parties. In their various methods of marketing their candidates and parties in the build up to the recent elections, the two dominant parties - the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) - weaved their manifestos around jobs creation and how to scale down the burgeoning unemployment. This is understandable because this social problem confronting Nigeria has assumed a cancerous enigma. Finance minster and coordinating minster for the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also acknowledged this at the recently concluded World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Meetings in Washington D.C. Specifically, she said that Nigeria’s economic growth has not been all-inclusive and that the country has been losing half percent of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last two years due to Boko Haram. “Inequality has increased from 42 percent to 48.9 percent, our growth has not been creating jobs with unemployment rising as high as 24 percent,” she admitted. Ironically, the out-going President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is reputed for creating new windows for job opportunities and skills acquisition. These included schemes like Graduates Internship Schemes (GIS) and YoWiN. He had also promised, in the build up to the elections, to be creating about two million jobs every year. However, his main challenger and winner of the presidential race, Muhammadu Buhari, promised that an APC-led Federal Government would provide more job opportunities for the unemployed youths who formed between 60 to 65 per cent of the country’s population. In one of his campaign sessions, Buhari promised, “youths, whether educated or uneducated, will be provided with more jobs by the Federal Government under me, if elected.” He also promised to revitalise agriculture, solid minerals exploration and exploitation, adding that solid minerals and agro-allied companies will be established. Unemployment as social problem Unemployment continues to be a source of concern for many countries, including Nigeria. The increasing rapid expansion in the country’s population, coupled with the prevailing challenging economic environment, combines to make unemployment one of the biggest social problems in Nigeria. That was why job creation was emphasised as cardinal campaign issue during the general elections. In Nigeria, the huge number of students/candidates gaining admission into tertiary institutions in recent years has also led to a large turnout of graduates without the corresponding number of

Unemployment, a time bomb least dominant, with 31 establishments representing 0.73 per cent of the total. This showed a drop of 20.51 per cent when compared with Q3 of 2014. MDAs where most job seekers prefer to stick their head for employments have very limited vacancies, thus, the private sector has a high prospect for creating jobs. NBS’ data noted that in the fourth quarter of 2014, a total of 4,387 new jobs were recorded as against 5,735 in the third quarter in public sector. This implies a 1,348 or 23.50 per cent decrease in the numbers of jobs reported in the public sector in the fourth quarter, 2014. Disaggregated by gender, males constituted 3,112 or 70.94 per cent of total new employees, while females took up 1,275 or 29.06 per cent of the total new employees.

President Jonathan

General Buhari

available jobs. In Nigeria, graduates are churned out from higher institutions every year and they compete for the relatively fewer jobs in the formal sector alongside the accumulated pool of unemployed graduates as opposed to the informal sector, where more jobs can be created. This has been a major challenge for successive administrations in the country. Each successive administration has come up with a blue print to address the unemployment challenge, all to no avail. NBS data on job creation The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is a government statutory agency saddled with the responsibility of providing accurate data for aiding proper planning of the economy. It also collates data and information on issues pertaining to inflation update, job creation and status reports on various sector of the economy. Penultimate Tuesday, NBS released its routine quarterly job creation survey covering the 4th quarter of 2014. The survey conducted in January and February 2015, covered the informal and formal sectors of the economy, as well as public institutions in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The aim of the exercise was to make available information and data on employment generation in Nigeria through the application of appropriate statistical methodology. The objectives of the survey, amongst others, is to examine effectiveness of job creation policies of government and come up with statistically reliable estimates of the number of jobs created or lost in the economy during the reference period. According to NBS’ recent job creation data, a total of 369,485 jobs were created across all sectors of

The incoming administration has a huge task

the Nigerian economy in the last quarter of 2014. Of these, 138,026 or 37.4 per cent were recorded in the formal sector, 4,387 or 1.2 per cent in the public sector and 227,072 or 61.5 per cent in the informal sector. The formal sector experienced a decrease of 7,438 or 5.1 per cent from the 145,464 jobs recorded in the third quarter of 2014. The public sector also decreased by 1,348 or 23.5 per cent jobs from the total recorded in the third quarter, while the informal sector increased from the previous quarter with 28,928 or 14.6 per cent jobs. Of the number of jobs created during the period under consideration, in the formal sector establishment composition, a total of 4,226 formal establishments from 18 economic sectors were surveyed. NBS explained that by legal ownership classification, establishments owned by Sole Proprietors, which is defined as a business entity owned and run by one person without any legal distinction between the owner and the business, dominated with 2,725 establishments or 64.48 per cent of the Q4, 2014 total. It showed a marginal increase of 2.48 per cent points in Q4, when compared to 62.00 per cent share held in Q3 2014. The sole proprietorship maintained dominance in all other sectors, except in construction, transportation and storage, finance and insurance sectors. The second most dominant type of legal ownership status was ‘Private Limited Liability Company’, defined as a hybrid type of business entity used in many jurisdictions in which the business itself is liable for its debts. In this group, there were 884 establishments, depicting 20.90 per cent of the fourth quarter total. This group experienced a sharp drop of 2.43 per cent points relative to its Q3 2014 share. The Cooperative group was the

Agenda for incoming govt Hope and expectations of more jobs are high as the APCled administration is set to take the mantle of government in the next three weeks. Already, professional bodies and individuals have started advising the incoming government on what to do in the area of job creation. For instance, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), penultimate week, asked government to create an enabling environment and opportunities for gainful employment so as to encourage Nigerians to remain in the country. The body observed in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojugbana, in which it condemned the xenophobic attacks on migrants in South Africa that the incoming government should strive to evolve a lasting policy aimed at creating jobs for Nigerian youths. It noted that the optimisation of oil and gas sector had the potential for limitless job creation opportunities that could make many Nigerians seeking greener pasture in other countries to be engaged within the country. If promise by Buhari in one of his campaign sessions were implemented, graduate job seekers would be placed on a monthly stipend, a sort of social relief allowance to aid them moving around in the process of searching for a job. Conclusion There is no doubt that unemployment remains the biggest challenge to Nigeria economy. The insecurity threat currently being experienced in many parts of Nigeria is rooted in unemployment because Nigeria’s huge productive active population remains idle without a means of livelihood. Certainly, the incoming administration has a huge task tackling unemployment. However, with accurate data on unemployment provided by the relevant bodies, sincere commitment and dedication by those that would be saddled with the responsibility of evolving policy on jobs creation, as well as relative stability in power achieved, Nigeria could achieve a substantial reduction in current burgeoning idle hands.

Business | The Investor

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chris Ugwu

ransactions on stocks and other securities are more complex and volatile than other markets, especially after the global financial meltdown and its contagious effect on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), which is still facing crisis of confidence. With the massive sell-offs that have characterised the Nigerian equities market in recent times, there are concerns among market watchers that transactions in equities might return to what was witnessed during the bleak periods of 2008 and 2009 if adequate measures are not taken urgently to salvage the market from the current limbo. Following the persistent depression in the nation’s equity market, operators have agreed that for the market to regain its pride of place as a center for capital formation, the new Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, must redirect the market in a way that would bring back the lost glory. President Goodluck Jonathan had recently approved the confirmation of Gwarzo, who had acted as DG of SEC for three months after the exit of the former DG, Ms. Arunma Oteh, and recorded appreciable feats. Gwarzo’s profile .Gwarzo was born 50 years ago in Kano. He attended Bayero University, Kano and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Economics in 1987. In 1991, he proceeded to the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom where he obtained a Post Graduate Degree in Development Finance. Gwarzo is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers; in 2005 he became a Fellow of the Institute. He has played roles the in Nigerian Capital Market as an operator and as a regulator. This is evident from the caliber of institutions he has served in during his working career that spans a period of Twenty-Five (25) years. The institutions include Ministry of Trade, Kano State; Nigerian Stock Exchange, Century Merchant Bank Limited, Empire Securities Limited, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and MTL Global Investment Limited. Gwarzo has been a participant in several courses both at home and abroad, some of which are: The Securities Market Regulation, which is the leading training programme in securities regulation in the world by the US Securities and Exchange Commission; Development of Bonds Markets in Johannesburg, South Africa; Asset Backed Securities and Mortgage Securitisation in Singapore; Operational and Credit Risk Management in Dubai; and Advanced Management Programmes (AMPS) at INSEAD (The Premier Management Institute in Europe), Paris as well as at the SAID Business School, Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK. Operators’ expectations Apparently irked by the comatose state of the Nigerian Capital Market, especially the persistent

Gwazo

New SEC Chair, Peter Obi

Stakeholders set agenda for new SEC DG share price depreciation in the stock market since 2008, stakeholders, at the weekend, set agenda for the new team. They stressed the need to address problems that are inimical to the capital market growth. The Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze, in a chat with New Telegraph, said that for Gwazo’s appointment to bring succour to the comatose economic situation in the market at the moment, the new DG must come up with enlightenment programme that would bring investors back to the stock market. He said: “For Munir Gwazo who takes over as DG of SEC, a lot is expected from him, particularly bearing in mind the fact that he has a superlative training advantage of both being an operator and also having worked at several levels as a regulator as well. “A lot needs to be done by him in order to cover lost grounds. As a seasoned technocrat, he does not need the services of consultants from outside SEC in place of well trained SEC commissioners, directors, deputy directors and other myriad of professionals available for strategy and operation by any DG of SEC.” Eze noted that since education helps in improving financial literacy of investors, the most effective investor protection starts with a well-informed and educated investor. He said that in the light of

There is a need for the new DG to strengthen the Exchange’s investor education and awareness function, especially for retail investors

the lessons learnt from the stock market collapse, there is a need for the new DG to strengthen the Exchange’s investor education and awareness function, especially for retail investors. He noted that despite the considerable gains being recorded by the Exchange currently, it is believed that if the tempo is to be maintained, the Exchange’s managers should continue to deploy available resources towards educating investors, particularly retail ones and creating awareness of the important function the capital market plays as an enabler of national economic growth and a wealth-creating avenue for investors. In a bid to ginger marketing activities in 2015 following a dismal performance in 2014 that saw the Nigerian stock market emerging one of the worst performing Exchanges in the world, Eze also called on SEC to intensify efforts at lobbying the Federal Government to push for mandatory listing of major government-owned enterprises that have been privatised. He said that the revival of the equities primary market is a necessity if new listings are to be attracted by The Exchange. Eze noted that modification of the listing and post-listing requirements can align the Exchange with international best practices, thus encouraging more cross border listings. The Chief Executive Officer

of Lambeth Trust & Investment Co Limited, Mr. David Adonri, also noted that the new DG is an insider in SEC and fully abreast to what is happening in the commission; hence he is expected to perform very well. Adonri advised Gwazor to redirect most of his efforts into reactivation of primary market so that the stock market will start attracting more offer for subscription. He called on the new leadership of SEC to speed up the process of demutaualisation of the stock exchange. The Lambeth Trust boss noted that when membership of the NSE is opened to majority of Nigerians and they are called upon to own shares in the stock market, it would help create awareness of activities in the market, give investors a ‘sense of belonging’ and more local investors would participate. Adonri pointed out that with demutualisation, the ownership structure of the NSE would be properly put in place, noting that when this is done, corporate governance would be well structured and this would boost investors’ confidence to stake their funds in the market He said that demutualisation will enable the Stock Exchange operate efficiently like a commercial business. According to him, this would give the Exchange greater latitude to explore more income generating possibilities, adding that with more income, the local bourse can acquire world-class facilities, which will enhance its competitiveness. Adonri added that it is also believed that as a business limited by shares, the standard of corporate governance and transparency will be enhanced and with this, several retail investors would have opportunity to be shareholders in the Exchange and hence be able to influence its development. Managing Director of Perfecta Securities Limited, Mr. Emma Eze, said that the new helmsman should put aside the recapitalisation of stockbroking firm currently being pursued by the commission and 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. Conclusion For the appointment of Gwarzo to bring succour to the comatose economic situation in the market, various processes that have been put in place, both by the regulators and other decision makers in the capital market, must be implemented. These would encourage and ginger the expansion of local investment base and make the nation’s capital market an investment destination in the African continent.

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Thwarted

Unique identification will foil scam by holders of multiple debit cards

he Bank Verification Number (BVN) initiative, when fully implemented, will help to curb arbitrage in the foreign exchange market, Executive Director at Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, has said. Suleiman, who disclosed this at an interactive session with Business Editors in Lagos, explained that with the BVN, each bank customer

How BVN’ll check forex arbitrage, by Sterling Bank ED will have a unique identification, which will make it easy to prevent people from flouting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s recent policy on the use of naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad. The BVN is an initiative aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system. It is an initiative of the CBN, in conjunction with

the Bankers’ Committee, meant to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoids losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the industry. The policy on the use of naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad reduced the spending limit for transactions abroad from $150,000 per person annually, to $50,000. The daily

cash withdrawal limit on the card was also fixed at $300 per person. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, who first revealed that the Bankers’ Committee had agreed to reduce the limit on the usage of naira debit cards abroad, said that the decision was taken because of some cases of card abuse abroad, which was

impacting exchange rate stability. The Union Bank boss had explained: “We did find that in a number of cases, people were using the cards in a manner that they were not expected to use them and there have been cases of arbitrage. So, in order to sustain stability, what was agreed by the committee was that the limit for the use of the naira debit cards would be re-

L-R: Assistant Director/Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission, Fidelis Ajibogun; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanogie; Winner of the House Prize, Eneh Chijioke and Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Bayo Adekanbi, at the prize presentation of MTN Best 11 Promo in Lagos.

Forensic accountants question PwC’s report on NNPC Tony Chukwunyem

he Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants (ICFA) has questioned claims in some quarters that the Price Waterhouse Coopers’ (PwC) audit report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s alleged missing $20 billion was a ‘’forensic audit” of the Corporation. In a chat with New Telegraph, the ICFA’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Richard Mayungbe, argued that references to the report as a ‘forensic audit’ may not be entirely accurate as it (report) may not meet the key criteria of being a forensic audit when subjected to expert scrutiny. He stated that although the Institute would soon issue a detailed statement on the issue, before any material can be described as a ‘forensic report’, it must be suitable for legal purposes. He said: “The difference between a forensic audit and an ordinary audit is that the

word forensic means suitable for legal purposes; suitable for the use of tribunals, court of law or for public debate. The idea of calling it a forensic audit is to give it a flavour for whosoever wishes to leverage on it for litigation purpose. For the ordinary audit, it is just to check whether it conforms to the laid down rules and regulations of the organisation.” Mayungbe pointed out that although forensic accountants were well established in most Western countries, they were still not to well known in Nigeria. According to him, “the Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants of Canada (ICFA) came to Nigeria barely five years ago; we are just a few forensic accountants here. Through our Institute’s efforts, we have trained about 200 forensic accountants so far in Nigeria. But the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has created a faculty to produce forensic accountants locally apart from the efforts of foreign professional bodies and

people like us who are training accountants in that field.” He emphasised that a specialised knowledge was required to tackle fraud and corruption, hence the need for forensic accountants. “Do not forget that fraud and corruption is a global problem. The problem is that for fraudsters to be able to mess up the system, they would certainly have some level of financial literacy. That is why a forensic accountant cannot just be the traditional accountant. He has to upgrade beyond the level of the traditional accountant so that he can understand the psychology of the fraudster,” he stated. Following the pledge by the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to probe the alleged missing funds in the NNPC, President Goodluck Jonathan, had last week ordered the PwC report to be published. PwC had in its report on the corporation recommended that the NNPC should refund $1.48 billion to the Federation Account. The firm was, last year hired to carry out the audit, following an allegation by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN), Lamido Sanusi, that $20 billion was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.

duced.” However, despite the reduction in the spending limit on the usage of the naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad industry watchers argue that some bank customers could attempt to circumvent this policy by opening several bank accounts and using the naira debit cards they will be given to make withdrawals above the limit. But according to Mr. Suleiman, this will not be feasible when the BVN initiative is fully implemented, as each bank customer will have a BVN that will give him/ her a unique identity that will be known to every player in the financial sector. Thus, when such a customer has reached the limit of his naira debit card spending abroad, he will not be able to use another card, as the system will immediately recognise him. The BVN initiative is expected to boost financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric information rather than traditional identification methods.

IDB approves $353m to fund devt projects

he Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has approved over $353 miilion to fund development projects in West and Central Africa. In a statement on its website, the bank said that its meeting also endorsed a $7 million grant as support for the education of war-afflicted Syrian children in Syria and neighboring countries, among other development project financing. In addition, the meeting approved $346.5 million towards financing new projects with $317 million mainly focusing on infrastructural road projects including $181.5 million for the “Development of Batchenga-Lena-TibatiN’Gaoundere Corridor Phase I – Construction of Lena-Tibati road Section” in Cameroon; $106 million for the “Reconstruction of Regional Roads (Ndioum-Thilonge & Diallocotto-Mako) Proj-

ect” connecting Senegal to neighboring countries in West Africa and $30 million for the “Construction of Tebaram-Tahoua Road” in Niger. The statement that said the meeting also approved a $29 million financing for the “Ouagadougou Suburban Areas Development Project” in Burkina Faso as well as three grants for a total of $540,000 under the IDB Waqf Fund for educational projects for Muslim communities in Austria, Germany and India. According to the statement, “the meeting reviewed a number of documents, including a report on allocations to support capacity building in the field of Islamic financial services industry, in view of their submission to the upcoming annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB slated for 10-11 June in Maputo, Mozambique, to be attended by the finance and economy ministers of 56 member countries.

Business | Money

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CRR hike as banks’ major albatross Tony Chukwunyem

lthough banks are still posting profits (even if at considerably reduced margins) despite the tough operating environment, investigations by New Telegraph have revealed that lenders in the country are groaning under the burden of regulatory headwinds, especially the hike in Cash Reserve Requirements (CRR) on public sector deposits. Top officials of some major banks told our corrrespondent that the increase in the CRR on public sector deposits has severely impacted lenders’ profitability and growth prospects. Indeed, according to the bankers, who declined to be named on the grounds that they not been authorised to speak on the issue, unless the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reviews the CRR hike, the industry would continue to struggle and will not be able to perform its critical role of financing economic growth. CRR and its uses The CRR is a monetary policy instrument that is used to set the minimum cash, as a percentage of customers’ deposits and notes that each commercial bank must set-aside in reserve. This cash cannot be used for other purposes or lent out. It is usually used to control liquidity in the system when Central Banks want to take action on interest and exchange rates. For instance, in Nigeria, the CRR on public sector deposits was gradually raised from one per cent in 2010 to 12 per cent in 2012. However, with demand for the United States dollar soaring and the naira coming under increased pressure, the banking watchdog, in July 2013, raised it to 50 per cent and left the reserve requirement on private sector deposits at 12 per cent. But with the naira still struggling against the dollar, the apex bank, in January last year, again increased the CRR on public sector funds to 75 per cent from 50 per cent. At its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in March 2014, the CBN further continued with its tightening measures, raising the CRR on private sector deposits from 12 per cent to 15 per cent. Significantly, explaining the regulator’s rationale for increasing the CRR on public sector funds in July 2013, the CBN Governor at the time, Snuasi Lamido Sanusi, said: “We introduced it for a number of reasons; first of all you have got liquidity surfeit in the banking industry. As I speak, we have about N1.3 trillion sitting in banks belonging to government agencies. Now the funds are basically there at zero per cent interest and the banks are lending about N2 trillion to government and charging 13, 14 per cent. Now that is a very good business model, is it not? Give me your money for free and I will lend it to you at 14 per cent. Why would I go and lend to anyone? “If you want to discourage such

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

GTBank CEO, Segun Agbaje

perverse behaviour, what you need to do is to basically take away some of that money and therefore the Reserve Requirement is supposed to make sure that that excess liquidity in the banks’ balance sheets is taken away. We have about six or seven banks that really account for the bulk of this money, we have done the numbers and we are not going to put them into distress,” he added. Impact on banks But, clearly, the hike affected the entire industry. The respected analyst and Head of Africa Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, in her reaction to the development, pointed out that it represented a significant tightening given the traditional reliance of the Nigerian banking system on public-sector deposits. However, Khan argued that the move could serve a dual purpose. As she put it, “by raising the CRR on public-sector deposits, a substantial amount of the liquidity increase will be sterilised. Second, by raising the costs associated with public-sector liability mobilisation, it encourages the banking sector to raise deposit rates to compete for other, nonpublic liabilities.” Also commenting on the hike in CRR on public sector deposits to 75 per cent, analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited, a Lagosbased investment firm, stated: “The key culprit of this hike continues to be the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs). The ferocity of this policy on the banks is better understood, considering the total deposits in the system (N7.1 trillion) and total government deposit with DMBs (N3.5 trillion), i.e., 50.1 per cent of the total deposit. The hike in CRR will effectively quarantine an additional N875.0 billion from the banking system.” Continuing, they stated: “We at Afrinvest Research further attribute the hike in CRR to the Federal Government’s delay in the implementation of the Single Treasury Account (STA) as suggested by the CBN in the last MPC meeting in November 2013. This policy will further dampen

The amount of cash now sterilised as a result of the increase in the CRR is unprecedented

Fidelity Bank CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo

the Q1:2014 performance. We also anticipate an average increase in the cost of funds as competition for funds intensifies in Q1:2014. In addition, as observed in July, we expect the banks to increase lending rate to cover up for the potential loss in income from the new CBN policy.” The Afrinvest analysts further advised banks that to cope with the regulatory headwinds, they should develop and grow the depth of their core retail banking business so that they could retain cheap deposits. In addition, the firm urged mid-tier banks to consolidate and integrate vertically in order to compete with tier 1 banks as economies of scale and scope becomes differentiating success factors. Similarly, other analysts at the time noted that the measure would hurt banks’ profits, as it would prevent them from utilising the quarantined cash for regular transactions such as trading and lending. According to them, banks would be compelled to raise the additional cash required to meet up the new CRR, either through aggressive deposit mobilisation or selling down on some assets such as treasury bills and government bonds. They pointed out that the aggressive deposit mobilisation would be at a cost to the banks while the sell down of assets could also be at a loss, thus imparting profitability. ‘Unprecedented’ quarantined funds The impact of the CRR hike on banks’ performance was a major subject for discussion at an interactive session that a top official of a leading mid-tier bank had with senior financial journalists in Lagos recently. Citing the measure as one of the main reasons why banks recorded marginal profits in their recent financial results, he argued that the CRR had to be reviewed if banks were to play their expected role of funding economic growth. He said: “The amount of cash now sterilised as a result of the

increase in the CRR is unprecedented. This is a non-earning asset; banks hardly have anything left to lend to businesses and this is directly impacting profitability and growth prospects. Banks need additional capital to comply with Basel 11, but how can they attract capital when investors can see that the industry is not making much profit and so are reluctant to invest in it? Without capital, how can banks finance the much-needed economic growth for the country?” IMF’s stance Interestingly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had, a few weeks after the CBN hiked the CRR to 50 per cent in 2013, advised the apex bank to rationalise its frequent adjustment of the CRR as a monetary policy instrument. The Fund said that frequent changes to the CRR compel banks to make abrupt adjustments in their portfolios and, as such, could induce volatility in financial market prices. It pointed out that the CRR should best be used to create a stable demand for reserves consistent with the level of systemic liquidity. It stated: “Some countries have used high cash reserve ratios mainly to sterilise substantial capital inflows in the context of managed foreign exchange rate regimes (e.g. China and Brazil). However, most countries keep this ratio low and stable. An increase in the CRR, particularly when it is unremunerated, imposes additional costs on banks, which then get passed on to the economy in the form of wider interest rate spreads. It is estimated that where banks have constant costs per unit of deposit, a two per cent increase in the level of the CRR adds approximately 0.5 per cent to the spread between deposit and lending rates. Therefore, changes in the ratio should be infrequent and made only when there is a strong reason not to use market-based instruments (i.e. government/CBN securities and foreign exchange sales).”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Nigerian importers to pay more under CET p.36

Maritime

Fish scarcity looms as govt halts import license p.37

36-year-old Calabar Port suffers low traffic Last year, when another N20 billion contract for the Calabar Port channel dredging was awarded by the Federal Government, there was jubilation among stakeholders in Cross River State. However, the 36-year-old port is still battling with low ship traffic, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

lSix vessels berthed in three months after N32bn channel dredging

he Calabar Port, built in 1978, is still facing low ship traffic. Both container and dry bulk vessels have deserted the port because of the shallow channel that linked the port to the sea. The dredging of the channel has already gulped N32 billion in the last 18 years. Some companies such as Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ), Tinapa Free Trade Zone (TFTZ), Unicem Cement Company, Flour Mills, Dangote Cement and General Electric (GE) around the port are also struggling for survival as the port failed to serve them. Low patronage The data obtained from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s shipping position showed that only six vessels berthed at the port in the first quarter of this year. It was learnt that MT Lady Swithin, MT Sampatiki, MT United Ventures, MT Sea Dolphin, MT Favour, MT Levanto were among the vessels that berthed with petroleum products, while MV Desert Symphony, was expected with bulk soya beans. Five of the vessels that had offloaded their consignments are expected to depart this week, while another which came since February 28, is expected to have departed last week. As at October last year, the Federal Government had spent N32 billion in dredging the port’s channel in a bid to open it for bigger ships, but no success has been recorded. The tonnage of most oil service vessels that had called at the port were between 5,000 metric tons and 7,000 metric tons. Not comfortable with the state of the port, Nigerian Ports Authority had, on May 25, 2012, entered a Joint Venture agreement with Niger Global Engineering and Technical Services, which gave birth to the Calabar Channel Management (CCM). In October, 2014, another N20 billion contract was awarded to CCM to deepen the 84 kilometres channel from the Turning Basin to Fairway Buoy. It was the third time the contract for the same project was

Idle cranes at Calabar Port

awarded in 18 years.

He added that CCM operations were coming at a period of renewed global interest in the maritime and cognate sector.

Govt’s position When the contract was awarded last year, President Goodluck Jonathan said that the channel was expected to be deepened from its present eight metres to 10 metres. He noted that when completed, Calabar Port would attract more ship traffic. Jonathan assured that more investors would come and government would earn more revenue. He explained that when the contract was first awarded, only 60 kilometres was dredged, while the contractor abandoned the remaining 24 kilometres. The president said that the dredging of the channel would take two years. However, this year, NPA came out to announce that the port channel dredging, which is supposed to take 24 months, had been completed. NPA position It would be recalled that the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi, had said that the authority would ensure the success of CCM in its operations and overall management of the channel. He added that the activities of CCM would ultimately open up market for Calabar region and the entire South- South. Also, the acting Managing Director of CCM, Mr. Pieter Van Hekken, said that the occasion marked the third time government and the organised private sector would successfully commit to collaborate in a public private partnership agreement for the management of navigational channels leading to ports as an off-shoot of the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

Lamentation by state govt Miffed by the state of the port and the dwindling economy of the state, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, lamented that nine years after, the Calabar channel dredging contract had been shrownded in controversy. He said: “We hope that this time around, the project will come to stay. This project is not about dredging of Calabar Port channel; it has become a sentimental issue to us.” He added that the Calabar Port had been severely underserved and has never translated to its true potentials.

We hope that this time around, the project has come to stay

History of dredging In 1990, the regime of the late General Sani Abacha awarded the contract for dredging of the port for N3 billion. In 2006, the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo also awarded the same contract to two Dutch firms, Van Oord Limited and Jan-de-Nul, for N9.8 billion But despite the dredging, the port channel still suffered shallowness. It was learnt that the extent of work done, based on the dredging arrangement last year, could not be ascertained. In October, 2014, dredgers, survey vessels, buoyage tenders, wreck removal cranes and other ancillary marine crafts, were mobilised to the site to commence another dredging of the 84 kilometres channel. The Federal Government asked Calabar Channel Management (CCM) and its technical partner, Messrs Niger Global Engineering and Technical Services to commence the dredging of the channel, saying that the

dredging of the channel would take two years. Location of the port The port is located along latitude 4055’N and longitude 8015’. 3.E. The new port lies about 55 nautical miles from the fairway buoy up to Calabar River. It occupies an area of approximately 38 hectares of land buoyed channel 150 metres wide and a navigable chancy 85 kilometres. The background The history of Calabar Port can be traced to the pre-medieval merchants’ ventures of the 15th Century to the present day. It served as an important focus of trade with the outside world in the Eastern states and natural port for the northern states of Nigeria. The old port was privately administered and operated by various shipping companies amongst whom were M/S Palm line Agencies Limited and Elder Dempster Agencies until December 1969 when the Federal Government took over the inadequate Calabar Port facilities from the erstwhile operators and vested it in the Nigerian Ports Authority. The development, modernisation and expansion of the Calabar Port were embarked upon under the 3rd National Development plan 1975-1980 in order to make the port facilities cope with the ever increasing demand of the country’s economy. The new port complex was commissioned in June, 1979 and consists of a total land area of 38 hectares, four quays, each measuring about 215 metres long and 40 metres wide.The four quays have been decimated into six operational berths. Also, the port has two warehouses measuring 150 metres by 40 metre and 175 metres by 40 metres.

Business | Maritime

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian importers to pay more under CET CONSTRAINTS New scheme inhibits trade facilitation at ports Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Federal Government’s decision to implement the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) between 2015 and 2019 may not be good news to Nigerian importers. They are to pay more duties under the scheme. A CET essentially consists of harmonised tariff rates amongst a group of countries The new CET fiscal policy measures involve taxes on 177 tariff lines. They feared that the new trade agreement among West African countries may see Nigerian importers paying between 25 and 40 per cent while their counterparts pay less in other countries. It was revealed that while

some levies were collapsed, they have equally been reintroduced under another name as 50 per cent Import Adjustment Tax (IAT). The tax came up after the collapse of the five per cent VAT, 0.5 per cent ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and seven per cent port levy. This discovery by customs agents and importers led to the slow clearance of consignments since the scheme was introduced on April 11. It was revealed that clearing of goods out of the Lagos ports had been very slow as they were forced to pay more duties. Importers and brokers, it was learnt, had been expecting a breakdown of the tariff from the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to know whether the tariff might come down. The approval for the implementation of the new tariff was conveyed in a statement

signed by Okonjo-Iweala, in the second week of the month. The Deputy Controller of Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, had earlier stated that the implementation of the ECOWAS CET together with its Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) and 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures occur concurrently and would take effect from April 11, after the expiration of the 30 days notice required under the provisions of the ECOWAS CET. He said: “With this development, all imports arriving the country beginning from April 11 shall be subjected to the rates contained in the CET 2015-2019 and 2015 Fiscal Measures without recourse to the rates applicable before

the coming into effect of the ECOWAS CET 2015 – 2019.” Adeniyi added that the approved Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM)/Fiscal Policy Measures comprise an Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) list, which involved additional taxes on 177 Tariff Lines of the ECOWAS CET. Commenting on the new policy, the Shippers’ Association Lagos State (SALS) has said that the tariff would curb the excesses of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). President of the association, Rev. Jonathan Nicol, explained that the policy will control the excesses of the Customs officials, noting that there would be a common tariff in the ECOW-

AS sub-region that they would not be able to influence. According to him, it is a good thing for Nigerian shippers; it is a very good innovation if it is well managed.” Nicol said: “There will be a common market. It will help shippers to make their plan, projections and sales margin, unlike now that we can’t make projection and sales margin because you don’t know what to meet at the port. “I believe that CET will help reduce smuggling because it can never be eradicated because some people do not believe in paying duties, but I know that the introduction of CET will help reduce it from the worse situation we have now.”

Customs arrest 36 smugglers over N294m contraband

igeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, has arrested 36 suspected smugglers in connection with 482 seizures valued at N228.9 million in the last three months. The service said that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the items was N294.5 million. Its Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Turaki Usman, explained that 133 different seizures of 50 kilogramme parboiled rice with a DPV of N55.7 million; 74 different seizures of smuggled frozen poultry products totaling 11,647 cartons with a DPV of N62.893 million and 86 units of fairly used vehicles valued at N108.5 million were impounded from smugglers. He said: “There were also 189 different seizures of general goods, including new and used textile materials, new and used foot wears, vegetable oil, mosquito insecticide, wine, various soap and spaghetti with a DPV of N67.214 million. In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, the report for the period represents over 45 per cent increase in terms of quality and quantity of seizures when compared with the corresponding period of 2014. He said: “We are confident that our renewed zeal and optimism will be the catalyst for optimal performance. The war against smuggling, no doubt, is a herculean task, because of the natural tendency for smugglers to fight back each time their goods are seized. “However, we have remained undeterred as we believe that we have a responsibility to secure the nation against influx of prohibited goods/items and we will not abdicate this responsibility for whatever reason. We call on

Nigerians to support the NCS through genuine information that could assist us in tracking smugglers and their routes.” Meanwhile, the service, at the Seme Command, has generated N2.5 billion as revenue in the first quarter of 2015. Its Public relations Officer, Ernest Olottah, explained in Badagry that the revenue was higher than the 2.1 billion generated during the same period in the corresponding year. He attributed the increase to the command’s enlightenment programmes in the surrounding communities. Olottah noted: “Within the first quarter of the year, the command collected the sum of N2,583,548,432.53 as revenue which was an improvement over the sum of N2,133,776,367. 31 collected in the same period in 2014. “The increase was achieved through the motivational effort of the command’s Area Controller, cooperation from our stakeholders and result of the command’s enlightenment programmes in the surrounding communities. “The revenue feat could have been higher but for the reduction in the volume of imports which some importers attributed to unfavourable exchange rate regime and apprehension towards the elections.” Olottah said that the command made a total of 200 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N42.8 million in the first quarter. He explained that the seizures include bags of rice, vegetable oil, narcotics, second hand shoes and bags, among others. He revealed that in pursuant of Vehicle Import Transit Regime, 8,419 vehicles were cleared and the customs duty paid was N1.3 billion.

Roro Vessel

Navy trains personnel in modern maritime surveillance

he Nigerian Navy has trained some of its personnel in modern maritime surveillance as part of efforts to provide safety and security on the nation’s maritime domain. The training was conducted at the Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity Centre (RMAC) and coordinated by Secure Anchorage Area West Africa at its Lagos office. The training was a partnership programme between the Nigerian Navy and Ocean Marine Security. During the presentation of certificate, the Flag Office Commander (FOC) of the Naval Western Command, Lagos, Rear Admiral JKZ Ango, said that the navy would continue to upgrade its surveillance equipment to stamp out crimes in the nation’s maritime domain. He maintained that crimes could not totally be curtailed on the sea as the evil-minded people were not relenting in carrying out their evil plans. Ango said that the train-

ing was one of the cardinal mission of the Chief of Naval Staff aimed at providing highly trained staff for the navy who could carry out safety and security operations within the spectrum of maritime domain. He added that the training had exposed the naval officers to modern techniques of surveillance, which had offered a great opportunity for the navy to effectively survey vessel activities far into the sea. The FOC charged the officers to utilise the training for the enhancement of safety and security of lives and maritime activities in the maritime domain of the country, calling on the Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity Centre (RMAC) to utilise the training for the improvement of maritime activities of the Navy in the West Africa region. Ango added: “The training will go a long way in helping us to monitor and know who is out there and

what their intention is in the nation’s maritime domain. When you are trained in act of surveillance, you know all these - details of the ship’s captain, crew, where it is coming from, what it is carrying and where she is going. This is what we can do with this kind of training. “When we deploy vessels for surveillance, they should not just go up and down in the water aimlessly; with adequate surveillance, the vessels can easily accost a vessel that is involved in criminal act or in distress. That is the essence of the training.” He explained that crime could not be totally wiped out despite the availability of equipment to combat perpetrators. Ago noted: “You can never remove evil-minded people from perpetrating their acts. So, as you are planning, they too are planning, but we will continue to upgrade our equipment, particularly with the surveillance training.”

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Fish scarcity looms as govt halts import license INSUFFICIENCY

Fish consumers at crossroads over fish shortage Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Federal Gover nment has stopped import allocation quota to fish importers using the Lagos, Warri and Rivers ports since the beginning of the year. Already, there is scarci-

ty of the commodity in the market across the country. The last time allocation was given was in November, 2014 and there was surplus then. Government raised import quotas for fish by 750,000 tons, extra volumes were allowed to be shipped before December 31, 2014, by the Norwegian fish exporters. It was learnt that it costs $1,200 per ton to ferry the frozen food from Norway to port of destinations in Lagos. Only two vessels sailed

to Lagos Port last month with 4,071 metric tons. MV Green Magic ferried 2,071 metric tons while MV Green Freezer berthed with 2,000 metric tons The Federal Government issues import quotas to fish importers in January of every year to import different species of fish for local consumption. But no explanation had been given by government for the delay in the fish import allocations since the beginning of the year. But in November last

year, importers alleged that the ministry gave out import quota of 1.6 million metric tons of fish, which led to a glut in the market and a crash in price. According to findings, in the first and second quarters of 2014, allocations were given to 80 companies to import 280,000 metric tons of fish, while in the third and fourth quarters, allocations for 520,000 metric tons were given to 124 companies. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was supposed to

give allocation at the beginning of this year for the first and second quarters, which is expected to expire in June and there was no explanation from the Department of Fisheries as to why the allocation has not been given. A Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) official who spoke anonymously to our correspondent explained that the situation had led to massive smuggling of the commodity from Benin Republic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The allocation had not been exhausted be-

fore four non-Nigerian companies were, in November, given quotas to import, which was why there was surplus,â&#x20AC;? the source explained. In the last quarter of 2013, the Federal Government had disclosed plans to reduce fish importation in order to make way for increased production of local species. There was a hint that Nigerian importers and a few other foreign companies had not had fish to sell since January and that a larger volume of fish being sold in markets were smuggled from the neighbouring Benin Republic. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, had, at the inauguration of the Special Growth Enhancement Support programme in August 2013, said that the importation of fish was not a good business for the country, given its huge water resources.

WCO, customs chiefs fret over insecurity

orld Customs Organisation (WCO) and heads of customs in West and Central Africa have decried the increasing wave of cross-border crimes in the region. They stressed the need for an urgent collective war, in order to curb the menace at the just concluded 20th conference of Directors-General of Customs of West and Central African region. Nigeria Customs Service, yesterday, noted that cross border crimes had sadly gone beyond smuggling, armed robbery/banditry, to oil bunkering, human trafficking and insurgency, with devastating impacts on lives, properties and general regional security. The Abuja conference also highlighted a strong need for regional collaborations, cooperation, synergies at various levels and information /intelligence sharing; in addition to alignments by the Customs with other organisations, in a bid to evolve an enduringly stable platform, for tackling the menace. The conference identified crimes ranging from trafficking in small arms and light weapons, children/women trafficking, illegal logging, poaching, mining, cattle rustling, smuggling of wild life, natural resources and counterfeiting to antiquities as regionally shared problems.

WEDNESday, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

L-R: Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Olawore; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, during Okonjo-Iweala’s meeting with Major Oil Marketers in Abuja. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: First son of the former Chief Imam of Abuja Central Mosque, Mr. Jalaluddeen Musa Muhammed; Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri and other children, during a condolence visit to the family in Abuja.

L-R: Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and President of Synod, Most Reverend Ephraim Adebola Ademowo and his wife, Oluranti, at the 3rd session of the 32nd Synod of the diocese, in Lagos.

A cross-section of leaders of Pardoned War Veterans Social Association, after a meeting calling on the Federal Government to pay their approved pension arrears in Enugu.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Head of Multi-Media, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Sani Adamu; Editor-In-Chief, Malam Lawal Ado; Managing Director, Mr. Ima Niboro and Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, during the minister’s official visit to NAN Headquarters in Abuja.

Counsel to Accord Party (AP), Oyo State, Chief Richard Ogunwole (left), with the counsel to Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Mr. Boye Leyimu, at the inauguration of the Election Petition Tribunal in Ibadan.

Representative of the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Aliyu Samaila (right), presenting certificate of participation to Malam Jibrin Abubakar, at the closing ceremony of the 36th Kaduna International Trade Fair in Kaduna.

Gradauntd of Masters in Law, University of Lagos, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo (left), with Mrs. Anne Timni-Aku, at the Institution’s convocation ceremony in Lagos.

40 Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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

he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education. He obtained his first Master’s degree in Applied Educational Psychology from Bayero University Kano in 1979 and later returned to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1984 to 1985 for a Master’s in Public Administration. Atiku Bagudu – Kebbi State Senator Bagudu, who was the candidate of the APC won the Kebbi State governorship election with a wide margin. He won in 19 out of the state’s 21 local government areas, polling 477,376 to defeat his closest rival, Sarkin-Yarkin Bello of the PDP, who polled 293,443 votes. Bagudu, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, was a household name during the late General Sani Abacha’s regime. He was elected to the National Assembly in a by-election in 2010 after Adamu Aliero, the former senator representing Kebbi Central was made Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Goodluck Jonathan. Bagudu enacted what looks like a political magic during the APC governorship primary by clinching the party’s ticket barely 24 hours after joining the party from the PDP with 10 members of the state House of Assembly. Born in Karaye, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on December 26, 1961, the Governor-elect started his career as a lecturer in the Department of Economics, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. He had a brief stint in banking before travelling to the United States for a post-graduate degree. Upon his return to Nigeria, he became a Special Assistant to the Finance Minister during the Abacha’s regime. Bagudu attended Karaye Primary School in Maiyama Local Government Area and Government Secondary School, Kontogora, in Niger State. He has a B.Sc in Economics from the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos. He also has an M.A in International Affairs from the Columbia University in the United States of America. Muhammad Abubakar – Jigawa Against all permutations, the candidate of the APC in Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar defeated his opponent and PDP candidate, Mallam Aminu Ringim, the anointed of the incumbent governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido. The Governor-elect polled 648, 045 to beat Ringim who had 479, 447 votes. Born in Babura, the headquarters of Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, in 1962, the Governor-elect of Jigawa State is a graduate of Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello, Zaria and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria. He is also a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Talamiz Group, a conglomerate with vast interest in automobile distribution, logistics, real estate, manufacturing, construction and agriculture. Badaru was conferred with the National Honour of the member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in recognition of his contribution to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Abdul’aziz Yari – Zamfara Governor Yari has been re-elected as governor of Zamfara State and he is expected to steer the ship of the state for the next four years. Born on January 1, 1969, Yari has been politically active in Zamfara State since 1999. He was elected to represent Talata Mafara/Anka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during

Geidam

Bello

Ikpeazu

Al-Makura

Abubakar

Ishaku

the 1999 elections. He was Zamfara State Chairman of the ANPP and a member of the cabinet of former Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima. When Yerima’s successor, Governor Mahammud Shinkafi defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in January 2009, taking the ANPP’s state executive committee with him, the ANPP’s National Headquarters in Abuja was forced to create a caretaker committee headed by Yari. He ran for April 26, 2011 governorship election on ANPP platform and defeated his father-in-law and incumbent Governor Shinkafi. Yari scored 514,962 votes while Shinkafi had 460,656 votes. Governor Yari was among the opposition governors that worked tirelessly toward the merger of the ANPP, ACN and CPC to form APC. He emerged as the party’s gubernatorial candidate during December 2014 primaries. The April 11 governorship in Zamfara State was a repeat of the battle between in-laws, as Yari and Shinkafi were the two gladiators in the race. Governor Yari was declared winner with a total vote of 716,964, while Shinkafi scored 201,938 votes to come second.

anointed candidate, Musa Nashuni, who had 476,768 votes. Born in May 1950, Masari was elected in 1999 to represent Malumfashi/Kafur Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber and served as Speaker of the House between 2003 and 2007. Prior to the 2011 elections, Masari declared his intention to run for Kastina State governorship election on the platform of CPC but the aspiration was marred by internal wrangling within his party as Senator Yakubu Garba Lado flew the party’s flag. In December 2014, he emerged as APC governorship candidate, took part in the gubernatorial election and was declared winner. The former Speaker rode on the popularity of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, who also hails from Kastina, to emerge governor.

First School Leaving Certificate in 1967. He proceeded to famous St. Paul’s College Kufena, Zaria, for his secondary education, in 1972 and passed out in flying colours, obtaining the West African Examination Certificate (WASC). He was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1974 and graduated in 1977 with B.Sc in Architecture. He also bagged an M.Sc in Architecture with Distinction in 1979. He was admitted as a Registered Member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects in 1982 and became a fellow of the institute in June, 2001. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners. He started his career as an architect in 1980 with Inter De-sign Partnership and work with various architectural companies until he established his own firm, Exchanger Partners, an architectural, planning and engineering firm. He was first appointed by President Jonathan in 2011 as Minister of State for Power. He was named acting Minister of Power in October 2012 and later Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs. Ishaku resigned from Jonathan’s cabinet to run for PDP governorship ticket and he got the ticket during the party’s controversial primaries held in Abuja. He was the candidate of General Theophilus Danjuma, and the influence of the retired Army General contributed immensely to his emergence as the incoming governor of Taraba State come May 29.

Nigeria’s emerging power bloc

Aminu Masari – Katsina The former Speaker, House of Representatives is the Governor-elect of Kastina State. Masari polled 943, 0815 votes to emerged winner, defeating the PDP candidate, and Governor Ibrahim Shema’s

Darius Ishaku – Taraba A former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Ishaku is the Governorelect in Taraba State. He contested on the platform of the PDP and won the poll after a supplementary election. He scored 369,318 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan who came second with 275,984 votes. The former minister was born on July 30, 1954 in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. He was enrolled into St. Bartholomew’s Primary School, Wusasa, Zaria, in 1961, and obtained his

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Soyinka: Buhari, the best of two evils Wale Elegbede

obel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has noted that the outcome of the March 28 presidential election was a stark choice between a failed president and a former military dictator. Delivering a lecture titled: “Predicting Nigeria, Electoral Ironies” at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African & African American Research, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, the literary icon said though it was a painful decision for him to tell Nigerians to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari. “But the country needed a new beginning. I was more against Jonathan, than I was pro-Buhari,” he told his audience at a recent function. Speaking on the outcome of the election, Soyinka said: “If the incumbent had been anything near competent, Buhari’s most maladroit statement about the dog and the baboon being soaked in blood, would have been enough to scuttle his presidential ambition for the fourth time.” He stressed that the 2015 elections offered Nigerians an opportunity to halt the nation’s descent into anarchy, adding that four more years of Jonathan would have seen Nigeria plummet further, as the crawling giant of Africa, and the beggarly, weeping boy in the comity of nations. Faulting President Jonathan for failing in the war against Boko Haram, he noted that, “even as the nation was bleeding; the body language and the atmosphere in the seat of power did not reflect the pain and vulnerability of the country. Was Jonathan so numbed, so unshockable, so desensitized to sympathise with the Nigerian people? “The offensives against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria were too shameful and belittling and Jonathan’s leadership quotient hit rock bottom by his failure to visit Chibok. It was certainly an unimaginable feat of political miscalculation and a colossal error of judgement; as it portrayed Mr. President as thoroughly insensitive.” Soyinka accused Jonathan of being in cahoots with selfish politicians who have turned the insurgency into a self-enriching industry, adding that, “It is not for nothing that he [Jonathan] was called clueless.” The Nobel Laureate noted further that the political fault lines that gave rise to primordial sentiments in the country were championed by micro-nationalistic organisations, such as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Southern States of Biafra (MASSOB), the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and sundry organisations like Arewa in the North. Soyinka said the voting pattern of Igbo extradition from South-East Nigeria at the last general elections is predictable. “The climax of MASSOB’s war against the Nigerian state was

lSays Obasanjo is a pathological liar

Soyinka

the call for sit-ins and civil disobedience that shut down markets and public services as Igbos stayed at home in a symbolic gesture to assert Biafran independence. The call was honoured by governors in the two principal Igbo states, though without fanfare. “Igbos are probably the only group of Nigerians that you can predict with great accuracy whom they will vote for in an election, because they tend to put their votes where their stomachs take them; suffering as it were, from incurable money-minded-

The country needed a new beginning. I was more against Jonathan, than I was proBuhari

ness, as they would stop at nothing in their quest for personal financial gain.” He also condemned the appointment of former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel as Jonathan’s campaign manager in the South-West, describing Daniel’s action of locking out members of the State House of Assembly because the legislators refused to allow him borrow money as an infamy and said Jonathan must be held responsible for the increase in impunity in the nation that threatens to scuttle the hard-earned democracy.

While admitting that the patriotism and sacrifice of the soldiers who have reversed the tide against Boko Haram is the reference for all if Nigeria would be safe, Soyinka extolled the singular patriotism of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, whose sacrificial act of preventing the Liberian Ebola carrier, Patrick Sawyer, from unleashing the dreaded virus on all of Nigeria, saved the country from a health catastrophe beyond imagination, saying the late Adadevoh personified the best of Nigeria and the best in the Nigerian. X-raying the nation’s democracy in the last 16 years, Soyinka said the theatre of political absurdity which Nigeria degenerated under Obasanjo is highly despicable and stands condemned in the strongest terms. He said: “Having assumed power under a civilian dispensation, democracy in Nigeria became a dangerous object of derision, no thanks to Obasanjo who decided to pervert legality and constitutionality in his quest for tenure elongation.” Describing Obasanjo as a pathological liar, Soyinka responded to the former president’s damning condemnation of his person in his memoirs, saying, “OBJ remained the most sadistic, self-serving, selfadoring, manipulative hypocrite whose lust for power drove him to choose Yar’Adua (despite the latter’s failing health); because he believed Yar’Adua will die during the arduous campaign, and setting a propitious scenario for him to hang on to power; even as a “back-seat driver.” “With the election of Buhari whose anti-democratic credentials are well known and established, another chapter in Nigeria’s life must begin. If Buhari the “Militrician” (soldier turned politician) is sensitive to all areas of mutual distrust, he will earn the confidence and trust of the people, and this will certainly imbue his actions with legitimacy and acceptability. This is how, in the final analysis, a new Nigeria, which is the dream of all, will be born,” he said.

Assembly seeks sanction against pedestrian bridges’ defaulters Wale Elegbede

embers of the Lagos State House Assembly have pushed for sanctions against residents defying the use of pedestrian bridges in the state, saying that the menace of crossing expressway is recording high death rates on roads across the state. Raising the motion during matter of public importance at the plenary of the house, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, representing Somolu constituency 2 alerted his colleagues on the prevalent incidence of avoidable deaths in the state arising from knockdown of Lagosians by fast moving vehicles on Lagos roads, particularly the expressway.

In his submission, the lawmaker reminded his colleagues that sometimes ago, the governor was briefed on the need to have a pedestrian bridge around 7up via Ojota area, and this request was expeditiously granted. He added that despite the huge amount committed by the state government to provide this infrastructure around the area, a lot of people still defy the use of the pedestrian bridge provided by government. The lawmaker therefore urged the assembly to not only re-enforce strict compliance on the use of the pedestrian bridge by the relevant agencies but also for the Ministry of Information to embark on public

enlightenment campaign to reorientate the populace on the safety of using the bridges. Olowo also added that punitive measures which may not be fines, can also be applied. He suggested delaying offenders caught for one hour, while others may be subjected to cleaning of drains to serve as a deterrent to offenders. Hon. Segun Olulade and Hon. Sunni Avoseh who also contributed to the debate opined that there was need to appeal to the pedestrians on the need and importance of using the bridge as well as to call on the enforcement agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and not see this as an opportunity to extort money from people.

Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye went further to remind his colleagues that there used to be a wire mesh under the Ojota bridge that assisted the enforcement agencies to curb crossing of the express road in that axis. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa also added that construction of bridges should be included in the state’s template when roads are to be constructed while Hon. Abiodun solicited for the co-operation of the media in disseminating viable information that would help nip the situation in the bud. The deputy whip of the House, Hon Rotimi Abiru, however expressed the need for all sundry to cultivate the right attitude.

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

A deputy governor’s miscalculation Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, joins the growing list of deputy governors in Nigeria who lost out in power game following disagreements with their principals, writes KUNLE OLAYENI

hen Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, declared his intention to run for governorship, not a few observers thought his ambition was to rock the boat and upset the calculations of his boss, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. His declaration, in December 2014, was the climax of the sour relationship between the two topmost public office holders in the state. Adesegun defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the wake of the crisis that rocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), upon which Amosun sought re-election and ultimately outsmarted his political opponents. In the result of the April 11 governorship election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Amosun polled a total of 306,988 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Prince Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 201,440 votes. The SDP standard bearer, Senator Akin Odunsi, whom Adesegun served as his running mate, polled 25,826 votes to emerge a distant third in the contest. Having consequently failed the electoral test, the deputy governor will from May 29 join the league of politicians who would now operate outside government. Like most deputies that often bore the brunt of acrimony with governors, Adesegun would have to carry his cross and probably wait until an ample opportunity beckons. But pundits opined that his imminent exit from office was perhaps informed by his political miscalculation and misreading. An active player in the midwifing of APC and loyalist of erstwhile governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the AgoIwoye born Adesegun rode on a joint ticket with Amosun for the

Governor Amosun (right) and Adesegun, when the going was good.

coveted governorship in 2011. But he was eventually caught in a delicate loyalty test between his old benefactor and current boss. During the first stint of Osoba as governor between 1991 and 1993, Adesegun served as the Commissioner for Works and Housing. When the late General Sani Abacha military junta took power in the wake of June 12, 1993 presidential election crisis, he returned to his private business. In 1999 when democracy was restored, he was re-appointed by Osoba and served as Commissioner for Works and Housing till 2003. He was one of the two representatives of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the National Political Reforms Conference set up by the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005. On the formation of the Action Congress (AC), Adesegun became the National Youth Leader of the party and later served as the Deputy National Treasurer when the party changed to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Genesis of rift Adesegun resigned from his position in the party to contest as the ACN deputy governorship candidate in 2011. Though he was not Amosun’s preferred choice of running mate, the governor’s desire for a female candidate was rebuffed by party leaders and this would later lead to the ‘marriage of incompatibility.’ When the state APC became factionalised and the party’s national leadership decided to uphold the executive loyal to Amosun, the Osoba-led group

pulled out and vowed to form a formidable party to wrest power at the poll. Apart from the deputy governor, the aggrieved group boasted of the state’s three senators, six House of Representatives members, some House of Assembly members and notable grassroots’ politicians. They revived the SDP and plotted their strategies for victory. Open letter The animosity between the governor and his deputy did not abate. After occasional complaints to Amosun about the unfair treatment often meted out to him in government circles, Adesegun decided to send a stinker to the governor. In a letter dated October 24, 2014, the deputy governor highlighted the alleged injustices against his person and office. He accused the governor of starving his office of funds and allocating old vehicles to him. The deputy governor also claimed that some of his entitlements and funds meant for his office were withheld. He also alleged that electricity supply to his residence was cut off for several months last year because the state government owed the then Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). He said he had to spend an average of N30,000 daily on diesel to provide electricity for his residence. “Of course, Your Excellency knows that till date, I remain the deputy governor in Nigeria without a portfolio, in spite of entreaties made to you from various quarters. Worse, several attempts made by me for the of-

fice of the deputy governor were rebuffed by your good self. And I keep wondering why this is so,” Adesegun added. Governorship ambition Like every politician, Adesegun certainly had reasons for his decision to throw his hat into the ring. Though the deputy governor stated that his ambition was not to begrudge anybody, not a few observers believed he was not interested in settling scores with his principal. At a press conference in Abeokuta, Adesegun, who recalled his face-off with Amosun that necessitated his controversial open letter, said he put all his travails behind to focus on how to take off where the governor might stop. His words: “Precisely in Ogun State, the centre cannot hold politically again. I have met the state executive of SDP and informed them of my intention to contest. It is a personal decision without grudge to nobody. I am actually in SDP by my own conviction. My intention is to execute the manifesto of SDP. “My duty is to take off from where he (Amosun) would stop. At the time former Governor Gbenga Daniel was handing over (in 2011), I was the one that went to receive the handing over note. The governor was not there. So, things will continue. But my decision is not to fight anybody.” At another forum, Adesegun said: “As the deputy governor of the state, there are quite a lot of things that I have seen, there are quite a lot of things that CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

I’ve known. It’s not everything that should be said but what I do know is that development of our people is paramount in politics. Development of both the urban centres and rural areas is paramount. The cost of development is also important. Prioritisation of projects is also very important. “All these are issues that with the SDP, we have talked deep on and we have compiled a blueprint on how to move Ogun State forward. Ogun State belongs to us all and all of us must be involved in its development.” New running mate unveiled Few days after Adesegun declared his intention to contest in SDP, Amosun picked a new running mate, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga. The 54-year-old Onanuga, who hails from IjebuIgbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, was the Deputy Director of Finance and Administration in the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment until her selection. At a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, which was attended by Amosun and his cabinet members, the state APC chairman, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, unveiled the governor’s running mate to a rousing reception. He explained that the choice of Onanuga followed painstaking and careful considerations. On her part, Onanuga promised to be loyal to the governor, the party and the people of Ogun State. Tactical retreat Within the SDP fraternity, Adesegun’s governorship ambition met a brick wall and he had to beat a retreat. Some influential leaders contended that his candidature would not fly considering the fact that the deputy governor hails from Ogun East Senatorial District where the immediate past governor of the state is from. They argued that in the interest of zoning as well as equity and justice, the SDP governorship candidate should either come from Ogun Central or Ogun West. This argument effectively sealed Adesegun’s fate and during horse-trading, he was offered the position of deputy governorship candidate. Although for mer House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, was reportedly interested in the SDP governorship ticket, the party leaders were not

A deputy governor’s miscalculation favourably disposed to handing the ticket to a candidate considered an “outsider.” They eventually settled for one of their own – Senator Akin Odunsi. Odunsi, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District, is a close ally of Osoba. Adesegun accepted the decision of the party leadership and together with Odunsi, they traversed the nooks and crannies of the state making promises and seeking votes for SDP.

Failed electoral test But by the time the dust of elections settled, the boys had been practically separated from the men. The SDP lost woefully. The party’s candidates for the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections lost out to their counterparts in either the APC or PDP. Similarly in the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections, the party emerged a distant third. The SDP chairman, Chief Olu Agemo, how-

ever, blamed the party’s defeat on the use of text and social media messages by an opposition party, which he did not mention, to confuse teeming supporters. According to him, the poor performance at the gubernatorial poll was traceable to the messages sent to the public through social media on the election day that its gubernatorial candidate had withdrawn from the race, which he noted had negative and damaging effect on the party sup-

porters at the polling centres. What next? Though Adesegun has not publicly commented on the defeat suffered by SDP, the party leadership has vowed to remain within the progressive fold. Whether this stand means sticking to SDP or moving back to the APC is not clear. But it is believed that the deputy governor, in conjunction with other key associates of ex-governor Osoba, is seriously considering

Osoba

next move on the political turf.

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN disburses N60bn to SMEs operators Clarifies report on FG’s N365.35bn deficit

Credit

Disbursement of MSMF has commenced Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

ontrary to claims that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is yet to commence disbursement of the N220billion Micro,

Dele Alao

fforts by the Bank of Industry (BoI) to re-engineer its processes and re-jig its system within the last financial year may have paid off, as the lender’s profit after tax surged to N5.19billion at the end of the December, 2014 financial year. This indicates some 138 percent or N3.01billion increase over N2.2billion recorded in the previous year. Similarly, the bank grew its profit before tax by 233 percent from N1.7billion N5.6billion. The growth in profitability, according to statement from the bank, is attributable to an increase in its loan portfolio in 2014,

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMF), the apex bank yesterday said that it had disbursed the sum of N60billion to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators from the fund . The Special Adviser to the CBN Governor on Development Finance, Mr Paul Eluhaiwe, gave the figure during the flagoff of the disbursement

of the fund to physically challenged people. Addressing journalists shortly after the flag-off, Eluhaiwe said the bank had been making the funds available to entrepreneurs that have met the laid down criteria. He said while the criteria may be stringent, the CBN was just being careful in order to ensure that those who actually got the fund

have the ability to repay. “There are conditions for Micro Finance Bank to meet before they can assess the fund, and entrepreneurs also have to meet the condition before the fund can be disbursed to them. He admonished physically challenged who have benefitted from the fund to make efficient use of it, adding that the apex

BoI’s profit hits N5.6bn and a decrease in its overheads. According to the bank, the decrease in other overheads was a result of “conscious cost-optimisation measures adopted by the bank.” Besides, loans and advances grew by 10.2 percent from N517billion to N570billion, while its total assets hit N612.1billion. Also, shareholders’ fund closed at N162.2billion. The bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rasheed Olaoluwa, said: “The bank’s results for 2014 represent the outcome of our deliberate revenue and

cost-optimisation strategies as well as improved staff productivity. We’ve focused intensely on our core mandate as a development bank. “New loans processed exceeded N127billion to companies in various sectors such as agro processing, metals, gas distribution, plastics, pharmaceuticals, general manufacturing, creative industry, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) generally. We continue to make developmental impact in key economic sectors. “We’re re-engineering and automating our core

processes and we’re already seeing improved efficiency levels and a significant reduction in our operating expenses.” He added: “The productivity of our staff has improved considerably; we are hard-working and are embracing modern work tools for greater efficiency. “Furthermore, we thank all our development partners, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Automotive Council, and various State Governments for their support during the year.

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$29,617,413,412

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 5/4/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

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

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

BVN: 2.5m customers registered in 10 months Tony Chukwunyem

total of 2,583,815 customers were enrolled in the Bank Verification Number (BVN) central database between February 14th last year when the scheme was launched and December 2014. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in the December 2014 edition of its Financial Stability Report (FSR). The report attributed the development to the collaborative efforts of stakeholders involved in the implementation of the scheme. According to the FSR, “The full implementation of the scheme is expected to increase the effectiveness of the Know Your Customer (KYC) standard as well as the safety and reliability of the payments system.” The BVN is an initiative of the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee,

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

Communications, Ibrahim Muazu, the apex bank pointed out that the FSR on which the reports were based clearly stated that the Federal Government had initially projected to run a higher budget deficit of N482.10 billion during the second half of 2014. According to the statement, “The Central Bank of Nigeria will like to correct the erroneous reports in the Press, which suggest that the Federal Government overspent the budget by N365.35 billion during the second half of 2014. The Financial Stability Report from which this misleading conclusion was drawn clearly states “….the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an overall deficit of N365.35 billion or 0.8 per cent of GDP, as against the proportionate budget deficit of N482.10 billion for the second half of 2014. The deficit was financed mostly from privatization proceeds”.

aimed at ensuring that each bank customer across the financial industry has a unique identifier, making it possible to build and track his financial history and activities. This will allow banks access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applications and other complex transactions. The initiative is expected to boost financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric information rather than traditional identification methods. As part of efforts to encourage enrolment for the BVN, the CBN had directed banks to only honour transactions over N100million from customers with BVN from March 2015.

FG to sell N60bn in bonds on May 13

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

bank’s objective to ensure financial inclusion was responsible for the move. Responding to the bank’ gesture, Emir of the disabled colony in Abuja, Alh Mohammed Suleiman, said the funds would be judiciously put on good use. He said: “We appreciate the money given to the people. Our people won’t put the CBN to shame, we will use the fund effectively to prove to the world that there is ability in disability. If the CBN had started this long time ago, the rate of poverty in the country would have been brought down drastically.” Meanwhile, the CBN has clarified reports in the media that it stated in the current edition of its Financial Stability Report (FSR) that the Federal Government overspent the budget by N365.35 billion during the second half of 2014. In a statement signed by the Director, Corporate

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he Federal Government plans to sell N60 billion of 5, 10 and 20-year sovereign bonds on May 13, its fifth debt auction of the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday. The DMO said it would sell N20 billion each of the papers, due to mature in 2020, 2024 and 2034 respectively.

The papers are reopenings of previous issues and the results of the auction will be published the following day. Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest economy, issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

5-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

4,248.44

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

1.28 1.98 2.23 2.32 3.07 4.15 4.47 4.78 6.73 8.86 13.57 14.05 14.55 15.22 19.20

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.85 13.93 13.94 13.93 13.89 13.83 13.83 13.84 13.87 13.89 16.94 17.41 17.95 15.51 13.95

13.72 13.84 13.85 13.85 13.76 13.74 13.72 13.75 13.81 13.83 16.88 17.33 17.85 15.44 13.90

99.03 101.95 92.35 91.14 92.23 106.62 77.78 105.75 110.71 101.52 89.78 74.44 51.67 68.07 87.98

99.18 102.10 92.50 91.29 92.53 106.92 78.08 106.05 111.01 101.82 90.08 74.74 51.97 68.37 88.28

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

0.05 1.04 1.60 1.96 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

12.97 16.58 15.91 16.46 16.79

99.28 100.67 100.08 100.75 96.81

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

321.07

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.41

99.01

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.41

3.23

14.82

99.26

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.68

4.46

17.48

97.84

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.68

3.48

16.51

99.32

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.96

1.00

14.94

91.86

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.14

98.48

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.66

1.79

15.70

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.04

1.80

15.75

97.10

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

14.95

98.37 99.23

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

96.36

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

2.03

1.00

14.95

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.03

4.78

18.73

92.62

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.22

1.00

14.94

100.93

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

2.66 4.55 2.62

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.91 14.83 14.91

101.15 98.91 99.65

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.17

1.00

14.88

99.68

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.56

1.00

14.86

94.96

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.66

1.00

14.86

100.47

‡ /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

3.32

1.44

15.31

98.00

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.35

1.00

14.87

100.26

99.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 439.76

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.29

1.00

11.70

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.35

1.00

12.15

99.92

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.43

2.63

14.39

99.85

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.40

1.00

14.98

97.54

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.47

1.34

15.26

98.70

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.41

1.00

14.93

96.19

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.43

1.88

15.84

103.36

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.68

1.00

14.92

101.51

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.85

1.00

14.93

104.57

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.85

1.00

14.93

101.56

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.38

3.00

16.87

92.78

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.95

2.29

16.23

99.19

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

2.03

6.11

20.06

96.82

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.66

2.16

16.07

99.81

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.53

2.76

16.61

95.17

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.66

1.13

15.01

105.86

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.41

1.00

15.17

83.97

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.41

1.00

15.17

90.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

158.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.77

1.00

14.90

89.59

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

14.84

86.00

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.89

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

5.28

5.08

107.19

108.19

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.28

3.98

102.47

103.37

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.55

5.40

105.34

106.34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,575.04

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

6.47

4.12

101.01

103.38

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

10.37

9.45

91.18

93.40

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.46

6.90

95.56

97.24

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.98

97.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.80

10.14

93.42

95.48

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

8.74 10.56 9.07

8.74 10.18 9.07

97.21 94.27 94.15

97.21 95.91 94.15

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.24

9.84

92.38

94.13

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,507.76

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 9 16 30 37 51 58 65 72

FIXINGS Maturity 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 4.00 8.98 10.05 12.30 9.55 10.43 10.25 11.31

Offer Discount (%) 3.75 8.73 9.80 12.05 9.30 10.18 10.00 11.06

Bid Yield (%) 4.00 9.01 10.13 12.46 9.68 10.60 10.44 11.57

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.1000 12.3428 13.3458 14.7194

Rate (%)

OBB

8.25

O/N

8.92

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 8.25 8.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.36 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.46 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

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

28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,248.44

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

46Agency Bonds Business | Financial Market News 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

28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

13.57 14.05 14.55 15.22 19.20

16.94 17.41 17.95 15.51 13.95

16.88 17.33 17.85 15.44 13.90

Risk Premium (%)

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

0.05 1.04 1.60 1.96 2.17

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

321.07

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto

KADUNA

31-Aug-10

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

12.50

30-Sep-10 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 0.14 per cent from N11.767 results posted by some 30-Jun-11 *BENUE 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 quoted companies. trillion the previous day 30-Jun-09 ‡ /Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 Sustained With 21 gainers and to N11.750 trillion. 19-Apr-10 A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCRsell LAGOS 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 ‡ /Agusto BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 Meanwhile, a 30-Jun-10 26 losers, the13.75 key benchturnpressure depletes *BAYELSA 30-Dec-10 ‡ /Agusto EDO 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 mark indices maintained over of 247.4 million 30-Sep-11 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 equities market *DELTA 04-Oct-11 Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 negative trajectory, as shares worth N4.2 billion 09-Dec-11 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 activities in the shares in 4,848 deals was record12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 of blue chip15.50 companies 14-Feb-12 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO ONDO 14-FEB-2019 ed in the day’s trading. 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE dragged down 15.50 the GOMBEequi02-OCT-2019 Just as in the previous Chris Ugwu Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 ties market. 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 day , the banking sub-sec12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 he Nigerian Trading activities on tor of the financial serAa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 stock market yesthe floor of the Nigerian vices sector was the27-Nov-13 most 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Stock Exchange day 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto terday plunged *EKITI 14.50 EKITI(NSE) II 31-DEC-2020 active during the 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR further following *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 (measured by turnover had in the previous day OUTSTANDING VALUE theTOTAL sell-off that persisted also closed in red follow- volume); with 143.9 milMARKET CAPITALISATION in TOTAL first two trading days ing negative sentiments lion shares worth N1.3 Bonds of Corporate the week. from investors. billion exchanged by in10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC vestors in 1,683 deals. Market watchers beConsequently , the All12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS lieve investors are yet Share Index 14.00 dipped 48.9606-JAN-2016Volume in the banking CHELLARAMS BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS A-/GCR as bargain 29-Sep-11 NAHCO basis points13.00 to A+/Agusto; get respite, orNAHCO 0.1429-SEP-2016 per sub-sector was largely 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH hunters continue to take cent to close14.25 at FSDH 34,600.42, driven by activities30-Sep-10 in the 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR UBA profits from the share as against 34,649.38 reshares of UBA Plc and 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Nil *DANA appreciation recorded corded the previous day , Access Bank Plc. 09-Apr-11 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER recently, following the while the market capitaliAlso, other finanMPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER peaceful elections and sation of equities depre14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 cial services sub sector, A+/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA 15.75billion LA CASERA or 18-OCT-2018 BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA impressive first quarter ciated by N17 boosted by activities in A-/Agusto DESCENT BBB+/Agusto

8.50

13.00 2.16 Plc, the shares of FBNH 14.00 4.86 followed with a turnover 15.50 5.73 of 32.7 million shares 10.00 57.00 val13.75 25.73 ued at N394.6 million in 14.00 25.00 940 deals. 14.00 30.81 14.00 9.00 Further analysis of 14.50 13.73 the day’s trading showed 14.00 10.20 that Caverton NIgeria 15.50 27.00 Plc 15.50 15.09 topped the day’s gainers’ 14.50 80.00 table 14.75 with 10 per 25.70 cent to close 14.75 at N3.30 per10.78 share. 13.50 87.50 Vitafoam Nigeria Plc 15.00 5.00 followed with 9.96 14.50 4.55 per cent 15.00 to close at 4.56 N5.85 452.88 per share while Red Star 439.76 Express added 9.98 per cent to close at N4.56 per 10.00 2.50 share.. 12.00 18.75 On14.00 the flip side,0.42 Unity Bank13.00 Plc led the15.00 losers 14.25 5.53 with 13.00 a drop of 9.38 per 20.00 cent 18.00 to close at 0.64 N3.19 16.00 per share while 5.40 Royal 18.00 2.54 Exchange Plc shed 5.66 16.00 0.70 per cent at 14.00 each to close 35.00 15.75per share.2.10 50 kobo

*EBONYI

#{r}

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

A/GCR

CSCS partners Kenya’s CDSC 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List8.75 14-Aug-14

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

12.97 16.58 15.91 16.46 16.79

99.28 100.67 100.08 100.75 96.81

0.32

4.44

15.41

99.01

0.41

3.23

14.82

99.26

4.46 3.48

300.00 400.00 450.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

Indicative Price

17.48 97.84 our balance sheet in order 16.51 99.32 to achieve efficiencies in 19-Apr-17 1.96 1.00 14.94 91.86 30-Jun-17 ema Bank 1.22 1.00 15.14 98.48 Plc has our sourcing and deploy31-Dec-17 2.66 1.79 15.70 96.36 a prement 15.75 of funds. 97.10 The year 30-Sep-18 recorded 2.04 1.80 04-Oct-18 tax profit 2.05 of N615 1.00 14.95 98.37 started slowly as a result 09-Dec-18 2.03 1.00 14.95 99.23 million in its unaudited of the uncertain political 12-Dec-18 2.03 4.78 18.73 92.62 results environment as well as 14-Feb-19 for first 2.22 quarter 1.00 14.94 100.93 02-Oct-19March 31, 2.66 2015, in1.00 14.91 101.15 ended the economic constraints 22-Nov-19 4.55 1.00 14.83 98.91 dicating a growth brought 12-Dec-19 2.62 of four 1.00 14.91 about by 99.65the im10-Oct-20 3.17 million 1.00 per cent over N591 pact of14.88 declining99.68 oil prices. 27-Nov-20 5.56 1.00 14.86 94.96 posted within the same peIn spite of this,100.47 we were 31-Dec-20 5.66 1.00 14.86 riod in 2014. 3.32 still able sustain31-Dec-20 1.44 15.31to record 98.00 06-Jan-21 3.35 1.00 14.87 100.26 It also announced a able growth in all our critigrowth of five per cent in cal performance indices. gross earnings to N10.63 bil“Opportunities for lion. growth and efficiency opti17-Aug-15 1.00 11.70 99.50 Besides, the0.29 lender said misation in our operations 09-Dec-15 0.35 1.00 12.15 99.92 the downward are being We 06-Jan-16 0.43trend in 2.63 14.39 recognised. 99.85 29-Sep-16 1.40 1.00 14.98 the non-performing loan will continue to97.54 drive in25-Oct-16 1.47 1.34 15.26 98.70 ratio continued, closing novative customer acquisi30-Sep-17 2.41 1.00 14.93 96.19 the quarter by 2.3 per tion techniques and focus 30-Nov-17 1.43 1.88 15.84 103.36 09-Apr-18 1.68 1.00 101.51 on our14.92 niche markets that cent. 09-Sep-18 1.85 1.00 14.93 104.57 Similarly, there was have benefitted from our 09-Sep-18 1.85 1.00 14.93 101.56 a22-Sep-18 marked reduction in banking 3.38 3.00 16.87 products. 92.78 18-Oct-18 1.95 2.29 99.19 other operating expenses, “In16.23 general, our outlook 17-Feb-19 2.03 6.11 20.06 96.82 which reduced by 11 per for the next few months is 01-Apr-19 2.66 2.16 16.07 99.81 cent, year-on-year that of16.61 cautious optimism; 14-Nov-20 5.53 largely 2.76 95.17 30-Dec-21 1.13 15.01continue 105.86 attributable to6.66improved we will to grow 30-Sep-24 9.41 15.17 operational efficiency . 1.00 our business in83.97 our area 30-Sep-24 9.41 1.00 15.17 90.49 Further highlights of comparative advanalso showed that Inter- tage – Retail & SME while est Income grew to N8.9 at the same time pushing billion, up from N8.3 bilfor further gains in oper11-Feb-18 2.77 1.00 14.90 89.59 lion in 2014, representing ating efficiency . We 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 14.84 86.00 will be an eight per cent growth, engaging our customers, while Return on Average shareholders and the inEquity increased to 6.4 per vesting community over Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price cent compared with 6.1Offer per the next few weeks as the cent in 2014. bank rolls out a number of Prices & Yields Commenting on the initiatives to mark its 70th 28-Jan-21 5.28 5.08 107.19 108.19 results, the Managing Di- Anniversary.” 12-Jul-18 3.98 102.47 On his part,103.37 the Chief rector/CEO of4.28the bank, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, Finance 12-Jul-23 5.55 5.40 105.34 Officer, 106.34Tunde said, “The sustainability Mabawonku, said the of our earnings and the bank’s financial perforresilience of the bank’s mance in Q1 2015 showed income growth, in spite of continuous improvement 19-May-16 6.47 4.12 103.38 sheet the harsh economic enviin the101.01 key balance 25-Jul-17 7.34 99.80 99.80 ronment since7.34 the middle indicators as it continues 02-May-18 10.37 9.45 91.18 93.40 of08-Nov-18 last year, are particuto build on the business 7.46 6.90 95.56 97.24 transformation project larly encouraging. 22-Apr-19 6.98 6.98 97.50 97.50 21-May-19 10.80 10.14 (Project 93.42LEAP).95.48 “We have streamlined

“Africlear members will be 158.17 able to realise significant cost savings via collective bargain- 12.00 11-Feb-13 10.20 ing with industry participants 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 and technology vendors,” said 24.95 Mambo. 21.89 Africlear will also allow Outstanding its Value Issue Date Coupon (%) members to offer more services ($mm) ranging from corporate actions processing and collateral man- 500.00 07-Oct-11 6.75 agement to clearing and settle5.13 500.00 ment.12-Jul-13 Africlear board members in12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 clude Bukar, Altree Financial1,500.00 Group Chairman Anthony Fis-1,575.04 chli and a yet to be determined representative from the AfDB. 19-May-11 7.50 an open 500.00 “Africlear supports 25-Jul-12 marketplace where7.25scale and 350.00 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 connectivity serve as the com- 400.00 08-Nov-13 6.00 pany’s competitive strengths,” 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 said Fischli. 07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

Valuation Yield (%)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

30-Jun-16 0.68 Sunday Ojeme 30-Jun-16 0.68

161.53

clear will accelerate process standardisation and promote system Supranational with agency Bond report integration across the borders. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC He 11.25 said, employing inAFDB“By 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB heOUTSTANDING Central VALUE Securities dustry best practices, Africlear TOTAL TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Clearing System (CSCS) will facilitate improved levels and Kenya’s Central De- of transparency and corporate Description Issuer positoryRating/Agency and Settlement Corgovernance within the African poration (CDSC) have joined capital markets.” FGN Eurobonds a financial company, Altree “This will enable local mar6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Financial Group, to establish ket practitioners to effectively BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 a new compete for domestic and inBB-/S&Punit meant to improve BB-/Fitch; exchanges in security their ternational capital.” 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P countries. In her remarks, CDSC Kenya TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE According to reports from Chief Executive, Rose Mambo, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the East African country, the new who has been nominated as AfCorporate Eurobonds unit, dubbed Africlear Global, riclear’s first chairperson, said MAY 19, 2016 B+/S&Psupport from GTBANK I hasB+/Fitch; received thePLC Afthe partnership7.50would enable 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC rican Development Bank (AfDB). central depositories across Af6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC rica to easily identify, acquire Commenting on the partner6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC ship, theBB-/S&P Chief Executive ofBANK the 6.25 APR 22, systems 2019 B+/Fitch; ZENITH PLC and maintain critical 8.75 May 21, 2019. B/Fitch; Kyari B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC and financial technology CSCS, Bukar, said AfriTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Tony Chukwunyem

90.08 74.74 51.97 68.37 88.28

Wema Bank pre-tax profit rises by 4%

Stock market sheds N17bn TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

89.78 74.44 51.67 68.07 87.98

250.00

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

8.74 10.56 9.07

8.74 10.18 9.07

97.21 94.27 94.15

14-Aug-21

10.24

9.84

92.38

97.21 95.91 94.15

5-May-15 94.13

The DQLOUTSTANDING contains data relating instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute TOTAL VALUEto, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and 3,650.00 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 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 3,507.76 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. **Treasury Bills^ DTM FGN Bonds 9 16 30 Rating/Agency 37 51 58 65 72 79 86 93 100 114 NA 121 128 142 149 163 212 226 247 261 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 268 275 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 282 289 296 303 Rating/Agency 317

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

324

24-Mar-16

338

7-Apr-16

Agency Bonds

Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 4.00 3.75 8.98 8.73 10.05 9.80 Description Issue Date 12.30 12.05 9.55 9.30 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 10.43 10.18 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 10.25 10.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 11.31 11.06 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 10.98 10.73 10.82 10.57 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 10.03 9.78 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 11.14 10.89 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 11.68 11.43 15.54 13-FEB-2020 13-Feb-15 11.26 11.01 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 11.90 11.65 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 14-Mar-14 11.71 11.46 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 10.99 10.74 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 11.40 11.15 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 12.56 12.31 12.44 12.19 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10 12.65 12.40 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 18-Jul-14 13.34 13.09 13.96 13.71 13.16 12.91 13.54 13.29 13.09 12.84 14.17 13.92 13.17 Description 12.92 12.94 12.69 12.93 13.12

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015

352 21-Apr-16 13.02 FMBN FMB II 03-APR-2017 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the17.25 duration

12.68

FIXINGS

Bonds

Bid Yield (%) 4.00 9.01 10.13 Coupon (%) 12.46 9.68 13.05 10.60 15.10 10.44 9.85 11.57 9.35 11.25 11.10 10.70 10.30 16.00 11.49 7.00 12.12 15.54 11.70 16.39 12.41 14.20 12.26 15.00 11.51 12.49 12.01 8.50 13.54 13.47 10.00 13.83 12.1493 14.75 15.55 14.61 15.12 14.60 16.01 14.78Date Issue 14.58

Tenor

14.93

24-May-12 14.89 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

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

3M 581.39 6M

476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 Tenor 351.30 1M 233.90 2M 98.31 3M 600.00 6M 524.68 9M 75.00 12M 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

NITTY

NIFEX

4,248.44

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

OBB

8.25

TTM O/N (Yrs) 1.28 Tenor 1.98 Call 2.23 1M 2.32 3M 6M 3.07

REPO

Bid8.92 Yield (%) Rate13.85 (%) 13.93 8.25 13.94 8.50 13.93 8.60 8.70 13.89

14D 13.72 1M 13.84 2M 13.85 3M 13.85 6M 1Y 13.76

4.15 13.83 13.74 4.47 13.83 13.72 4.78 13.84 13.75 :Benchmarks 6.73 13.87 13.81 * :Amortising Bond 8.86 13.89 13.83 µ :Convertible Bond 13.57Management Corporation 16.94 16.88 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 14.05 17.41 17.33 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 14.55Mortgage Bank17.95 17.85 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 15.22 Finance Corporation 15.51 15.44 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables 19.20 13.95 Management 13.90

NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Bid ($/N)

Price

198.36 Bid Price 201.81 202.13 99.03 202.87 101.95 204.24 92.35 205.60 91.14 206.28 220.29 92.23

Offer ($/N) 198.46 Offer Price 201.93 202.28 99.18 203.37 102.10 205.31 92.50 207.21 91.29 213.47 226.27 92.53

106.62 106.92 77.78 78.08 105.75 106.05 NA :Not Applicable 110.71 111.01 ^ : Market Prices 101.52 101.82 # : Floating Rate Bond 89.78 ***: Deferred coupon bonds90.08 74.44 74.74 51.97 ‡ : Bond 51.67 rating under review †: Bond rating expired 68.07 68.37 N/A :Not 87.98 Available 88.28 {r} :Issuer in receivership

NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa

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

0.05 1.04 1.60 1.96 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

12.97 16.58 15.91 16.46 16.79

99.28 100.67 100.08 100.75 96.81

15.41

99.01 YTD Return (%) 99.26

321.07

Modified Duration Buckets

<3 3<5

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Total Outstanding

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 1,436.41 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 1,196.92 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 648.59 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 3,281.93 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

Volume(Bn)

1,409.48 1,124.68

31-Aug-10 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 30-Sep-10

12.50 Weighting by Mkt Value 13.00 14.00

8.50

Bucket Weighting

2.16

30-Jun-11 41.39 30-Jun-09 33.03 19-Apr-10 25.58 30-Jun-10 100.00 30-Dec-10

10.00 19.76 13.75 100.00 14.00

25.73

25.00 1.00

30-Jun-16 19.35 30-Jun-16 38.61 19-Apr-17 42.04 30-Jun-17 100.00 31-Dec-17

15.50

43.77 36.47

4.86

31-Aug-15 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 30-Sep-15

5.73 57.00

0.41 0.33

0.32

Implied Yield

0.41

0.68 13.87 0.68 13.88 1.96 14.89 1.22 14.30 2.66

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.04

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.03

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.22

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.66 4.55 2.62

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.17

*ONDO

Tenor

Offer Spot Yield 7D(%)

NOTE:

‡ /Agusto

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Sub-National Bonds KADUNA

Rate (%)

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

*EBONYI

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 Rate (%) 29-Jun-19 9.0671 23-Oct-19 10.5089 13-Feb-20 10.5906 27-Jan-22 12.7950 14-Mar-24 14.1031 28-Nov-28 14.7709 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

Current Price ($/N) BID($/N)4,582.44 199.0000 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

A-/Agusto

Rate (%) 9.1000 Maturity Date 12.3428 13.3458 16-Aug-16 14.7194

Outstanding Value O/N 1M (N'bn)

Tenor

14.61

12.87 12.77

A/Agusto

Money Market

NIBOR

>5 Market

871.07 3,405.23

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

0.26

2.03

4.44 Implied Portfolio Price 3.23 4.46 104.2629 3.48 109.1806 1.00 77.3621 1.00 99.0058 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

INDEX

14.82

17.48 1,168.16 16.51 1,089.41 14.94 1,087.33 15.14 1,118.76 15.70 15.75 14.95 14.95 18.73 14.94 14.91 14.83 14.91 14.88

97.84 5.4436 99.32 7.5889 91.86 7.9755 98.48 6.0249 96.36 97.10 98.37 99.23 92.62 100.93 101.15 98.91 99.65 99.68

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY,MAY 6, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Peace returns to Enugu Assembly on Ugwuanyi’s intervention Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

eace returned to the Enugu House of Assembly yesterday as the feuding factional legislators who had, on Monday, given notice of impeachment to Governor Sullivan Chime, were told to sheathe their swords at a peace meeting brokered by the state’s Governorelect, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The Governor-elect brokered the truce between the warring factions in a closed-door meeting with

lAttempt to impeach me laughable, says Chime the 24 members of the House at his Enugu residence with the two factions resolving to stop all further actions in the interest of peace in the state. Within the period, efforts are expected to be geared toward restoring peace and normalcy in the legislature before the end of its tenure which had been so peaceful in its relationship with the executive that it had been regarded in many quarters as a rubber stamp of the executive arm of government. Ugwuanyi had held the meeting behind closed

doors with the warring legislators with details of their discussions not available even as reliable sources said the two factions opened up on their grouses. Hon. Michael Onyeze, representing Ignoeze North 1 constituency, stood in for the Hon. Odo-led faction while Hon. Joseph Ugwumba, representing Enugu-East constituency, represented the Chinedu Nwamba-led faction at the truce which agreed, among others, that within the period of two weeks, the assembly complex would remain closed, except in

any case of an emergency requiring needed legislative attention. Meanwhile, while speaking on Monday night on the development, Governor Chime accused the embattled Speaker and the majority leader, Sunday UdeOkoye, of demanding a cut from the controversial N11 billion as a condition for revalidating the approval given last year by the legislators. The governor also noted that the Odo-led faction of the House was incapable of impeaching him since, according to him, they

can’t muster the constitutionally-needed two thirds majority of the 24-member assembly to impeach him, dismissing the attempt to remove him some three weeks to the end of his eight-year administration as laughable. Chime said the legislators’ move did not comply with the provisions of Section 188 of the constitution which specifies procedures for impeaching the Gover-

Ebonyi wades into communal disputes over land Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere (middle), acknowledging cheers from the crowd, during a visit to Mbaitoli Ikeduru Local Government…on Monday.

Crisis rocks Ebonyi APC over anti-party activities Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

hree weeks after the general elections, the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been rocked in fresh crisis over alleged antiparty activities leveled against some members of the party. This followed the suspension of the state Coordinator of the Buhari campaign organization and a gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Chief Austine Igwe Edeze and four officers of the party; including Pastor Eze Nwachukwu, Mr. Ngaji Nwodo, Ephraim Eze and Prof. Francis Ibiam, for alleged anti-party activities and rebellious acts. In a statement signed by the party’s state chairman and Secretary, Hon. Ben Nwaobasi and Pastor Victor Nnali, the five members of the party were suspended for three months.

They were accused of working against the party during the general elections and supporting the PDP and LP. But, in a swift reaction, Chief Edeze said the party chairman, Nwaobasi, lacks the competence and credibility to lead the party. He said, “my purported suspension is unconstitutional because I was never at anytime invited by the party to defend any allegation leveled against me or communicated in that direction.”

he Ebonyi State Government yesterday waded into the land dispute between the people of Agharaoza Ezza Inyimagu and Ndiofa Ndieze, in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. It also lifted the ban placed on the disputed land in the area. Addressing stakeholders of the two communities, the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Donatus Ajah, said lifting the ban was necessary and was sequel to the decision of the Ishiuke of Amegu, the decision-making royal fathers of the area and peace committee. The committee had stated, among other things, that selling of land in the disputed area should be stopped henceforth, while those who have their hous-

es erected in the disputed area, but destroyed during the crisis, should be allowed to re-build them. He commended the effort of the traditional rulers, the peace committee and security agencies for maintaining peace in the area and charged them not to relent in ensuring that permanent peace and harmonious existence was maintained in the area. In a related development, the Commissioner has charged the people of Ohatekwe Ishieke, in Ebonyi local government area to embrace peace and shun violence. He spoke while addressing stakeholders of the community over the current crisis in the area. He directed that sale of land and collection of levies from property developers in the community should be stopped pending the resolution of the conflict.

Abia: Two INEC staff in police net over card reader theft Okorocha bars Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

wo staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Abia State, Messrs Herbert Ejiofor, and head of the Information, Communication Technology (ICT) department, Nnamdi Nwabuko, are in police net for being in possession of seven card reader machines without the permission of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Selina Oko. Narrating the incident to journalists in her office yesterday in Umuahia, Profes-

sor Oko condemned the act, saying she was surprised to hear that a staff of the commission could arrange to take away sensitive materials from the Commission’s strong room without her permission even as the two staff have been handed over to the police. She said the duo were caught by the security at the Commission’s headquarters on Monday evening as they were trying to drive out with the materials, but were not allowed to leave until yesterday morning when she was informed of the development. Oko noted that the AIG Zone 9, Usman Gwarri, sent his men to arrest the suspects

who, she said, have been taken the Zone 9 police command headquarters, Umuahia, for further investigation. “The police should conduct proper investigation and take the right action. I am in charge; they are taking things out without my permission. “Even I, as the REC, do not take sensitive materials away from the office except on demand by my Chairman in Abuja,” she said. Earlier, the AIG Zone 9, Usman Gwarri, said it would be too early to conclude what they wanted to do with the card readers or to establish any case of crime until investigation was concluded.

Election tribunal commences hearing of Kalu’s petition he Abia State election way of concealing facts and winner of Abia North Sena- ures and result sheets were T petition tribunal began frustrating the efforts of the torial election. perfectedbysomeadhocstaff A few weeks ago, Dr. Orji recruitedbyINECforthepoll. its sitting yesterday at Court petitioners. 2 of State High Court Complex, Umuahia, with strong indications that some ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that participated in the March 28 National Assembly election in the state have made away with falsified and manipulated electoral materials as a

nor or the Deputy Governor. He said, “Looking at the provisions of the constitution, they have clearly not complied with it. By the time the required number articulate the allegations against me, the speaker is required by law to, within seven days, cause a notice to be served on me. Sitting in the early hours of Monday, to me, was rubbish.”

It would be recalled that the returning officer of Abia North NASS election , Prof Ihekweaba Chukwugoziem of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, had distanced himself from the published result in the media declaring Chief Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as

Kalu and Dr. David Ogba, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidates respectively had petitioned the tribunal over the outcome of Abia North senatorial election, describing the results unacceptable. It was reliably gathered that the falsification of fig-

Speaking under condition of anonymity, a top INEC official in Umuahia said, “it is painful that few staff who are desperate for money connived with politicians to tarnish the image of the electoral body but I have no doubt that the tribunal will be fair in its hearing and judgement.

aides, politicians from Govt House Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ith increasing pressure being mounted on Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State by politicians from within and outside his cabinet lobbying for appointment, the governor has issued a directive barring access into the main block of the Government House until further notice. The development came to light Monday, when close aides to the governor including his Principal Secretary, Mr. Paschal Obi were said to have been denied access to the governor as they were said to have been asked to sit out in the waiting wing. Checks by New Telegraph, revealed that with the governor’s re-election, a lot of politicians and interest groups that participated in the return of the governor expect one form of gratification or the other with most angling for political appointment in the state or nomination by the governor for a federal appointment.

News

Mojeed Alabi

he Federal Gover nment has lowered the status of the Asaba Airport over what it described as the failure of the Delta State Government to address the safety challenges confronting it. The new development was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry

WEDNESDAY,MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

FG downgrades Asaba Airport of Aviation, Mr. James Odaudu, which stated that by downgrading the airport, it would now be allowed to accommodate the operation of only Dash 8-Q 400 aircraft or its equivalent until all the safety issues were addressed. It added that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Author-

ity (NCAA), had raised several safety concerns including undulations on the airport’s runway, lack of the required strip, perimeter fencing, drainage, as well as lack of adequately-trained technical personnel. It said the decision was taken since no concrete steps had been taken to address the issues which, it insisted, were

capable of compromising the safety of flight operation and the passengers. The statement had read in part; “The Federal Government has also drawn the attention of the owners of the airport to the fact that it has, through its inability to address the issues, violated compliance with safety standards

as stipulated in the Nig. CARs Part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3 in respect of the airport runway and its associated facilities as well as adequately trained personnel.’’ It quoted the Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, as saying that the downgrading was done in public interest. “Because the Federal Government places

very high premium on the safety and security of aviation passengers and would never compromise set standards for whatever reason.” The minister, however, assures that the airport would revert to its previous status as soon as all the safety concerns are adequately and satisfactorily addressed.

Strike looms in Delta as union protests unpaid claims Dominic Adewole ASABA

Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih (left), presenting Certificate-of-Return to Naomi Ogoli (PDP), member-elect, representing Ogbia Constituency 3 at the Bayelsa House of Assembly in Yenagoa …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

South-South tasks APC on Fleeing Edo prison inmate Reps’ speakership slot arrested Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

takeholders and leaders drawn from the SouthSouth geo-political zone under the auspices of the South-South Equity Forum yesterday renewed their call on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to zone the speakership position of the House of Representatives to the area for equity and fair play in the polity. They said the “APC as a party can ill-afford the crisis that will arise from the mismanagement of her victory, which was the same reason the PDP roundly lost the elections

across the country.” Speaking at a press conference held in Benin, the Edo State capital, the group through its spokesperson, Mr. Harrison Omagbon, said it would only be fair for the speakership position to be zoned to the region since the South-West and NorthWest already have the positions of President-elect and Vice-President-elect respectively. He re-echoed the recent warning by the Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who he said hit the nail on the head when he sounded a note of warning to the APC leadership to ensure that it has a fair distribution of the posts to ensure that all zones are represented in the new government.

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

combined search team of operatives of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Edo State command, yesterday re-arrested the fleeing prison inmate who escaped from custody on Monday. The fleeing inmate, Ossai Prosper, was arrested close to a market along Mission Road in Benin, the state capital. The NPS Comptroller in the state, Mr. Affiong Etowa, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday, said the inmate was found after a search team was dispatched on Monday. Etowa said the inmate was due for discharge from the NPS custody in August

‘Amaechi lied over workers’ salaries’ Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State yesterday said that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi lied that the state was up to date with workers’ salaries, rather than stating the truth that workers are being owed arrears. The Chairman of the

party, Felix Obuah, who stated this in a statement, accused the governor of using the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, to tell lies over workers’ salaries. He said the state truly owed workers, noting that workers across the state are suffering over salaries, including workers of the Rivers State Polytechnics,

Bori, who are being owed three months’ salaries. In a statement by Obuah, the party described Semenitari as “a professional liar, and also a stranger who is not on ground with the goings-on in the state.” The PDP said Semenitari’s position was “an insult on the sensibilities of civil servants, who have

this year. He added that the inmate was working on the state government farm, when he took to his heels from the watchful eyes of the warder that was supervising him. According to the comptroller, Ossai’s punishment for escaping from the prison custody would be to forfeit the remission of his sentence and would be charged again by the court for attempting to escape. He said: “My men were up to the task as they quickly mobilised in search of him and he was eventually located in a market around Mission Road. Etowa said it was normal for inmates to be taken to work, especially, when the time for their discharge was nearer.”

been subjected to untold hardship as monies meant for their salaries have been diverted to the funding of the All Progressives Congress (APC).” It will be recalled that workers in the employment of the state government staged a protest at the main gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt, demanding that their salaries be paid before Amaechi leaves office on May 29.

looming strike action is imminent in the 25 local government areas of Delta State unless urgent steps are taken to arrest the situation. Already, members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) yesterday trooped to the streets of Asaba, after shutting the gates of the House of Assembly Complex and the Legislative Quarters, demanding the immediate removal of the Clerk of the House and the payment of their 10 years’ claims. The protesters, led by the newly inaugurated chairman of the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), David Ofoeyeno, barred the Speaker, Hon. Peter Onwusanya and other lawmakers from coming out of the legislative quarters or gaining access to the complex. For hours, men of the state police command had a hectic time resisting the angry workers from taking the law into their

hands. Ofoeyeno said the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) strike could only be averted if the backlog of salaries owed the employees is paid before May 11, 2015. Ofoeyeno, who doubles as the NULGE president in the state, said 21 council areas were indebted to the tune of five months. He said the development has inflicted hardship on council employees, even as he maintained that if the backlog were not paid before the stipulated date, the workers may have no choice than to shut the 25 council secretariats across the state. He said: “The SEC of NULGE met and decided to call for an indefinite strike if the salaries are not paid before May 11, and the strike will not be called-off until the salaries are paid. The councils shall be under lock and keys. “Our people are being owed over four months’ salaries in some councils and this has brought untold hardship to our members,” he said.

Akpabio makes case for adequate military logistics

kwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, yesterday stressed the need for the Nigerian Army to make available the right logistics for the army to achieve better results in battles. Akpabio stated this on Monday when participants of Senior Executive Course (SEC 37) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos and officers of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), Lagos, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Uyo. Akpabio said: “The army can succeed when the right logistics are provided for them. The success of any military operation must start with

logistics and I must appeal to the army to provide the necessary logistics to their officials for the effective disposal of their duties.” He then thanked the participants for choosing the state for their study tour, stressing that the state government would assist them and also give them the necessary advice on how the state achieved the uncommon transformation experienced in the state. The governor urged his visitors to consider building a cottage industry in the state, which he said, will provide the necessary logistics to the army and create employment opportunities, applauding President Goodluck Jonathan, for providing adequate logistics to the army.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, may 6, 2015

Refugees’ commission donates 26 houses to displaced people Abubakari Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons has donated 26 new housing units worth N13 million to 123 Arugungu displaced people in Kebbi State, who were displaced by the insurgency in Borno State. Receiving the key to the houses, cash donation and other food items, the Emir of Arugungu, Alhaji Mohammed Mera, commended the commission over the gesture, adding that it would help the affected people commence their business and settle down. The monarch called on NGOs and other donor agencies in the country to emulate the commission in order to curb the poverty prevalent in the region and to also assist the less privileged in the society. He called on the beneficiaries to pack to the houses before Friday, urging them to maintain the facility by cleaning all the nooks and crannies to prevent diseases. The emir, who also condemned the action of the Boko Haram sect, described it as barbaric, saying that people are ignorant to what Islam preaches.

News 49

NORTH

Niger Assembly impeaches speaker Dan Atori MINNA

here was a mild drama yesterday at the Niger State House of Assembly, when members of the House impeached its leadership, including the Speaker, Hon. Usman Adamu, his deputy and two other officers of the House. However, the embattled speaker, Adamu, while condemning the action, sent a warning signal to the governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, over his nonchalant attitude to-

wards legislative matters. Speaking on the governor, Adamu said: “What this impeachment means now is that Babangida Aliyu should get himself prepared, because I’ve advised him before hand on this matter, so anything that comes out of it, he should get prepared.” Indication of his impending removal as speaker started as early as 7.30am, when all roads leading to the Assembly complex were closed to both human and vehicular traffic with over 200 armed policemen and other security agents keeping vigil and pre-

venting everybody, including journalists from gaining access into the complex. The members threatened to resist any attempt by the security agents to prevent them from gaining access to the House, but after a hot exchange of words, the lawmakers forced their way in. After several hours of waiting, the Mace arrived at about 2.10pm and the House settled down for the business of the day with 21 out of the 25-member Assembly present. The member representing Agaie Constituency, Hon. Abdullahi Ak-

wanu, who is the House Chairman, Business and Rules, told the House that after the House executive meeting on Monday, it was agreed that the House should sit for business yesterday, but that surprisingly, no leader of the House, including the speaker is around for reason not known to him. He, therefore, drew the attention of the House to Order 8 of the House Standing Rule, which provides that in the absence of the speaker without any reason, a Speaker Temporal be appointed to enable the House’s business proceed.

Managing Director, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Malam Garba Hamed (left), with Head of Corporate Communications, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abdullahi, at a news conference on activities of the company in Kaduna …yesterday

Consequently a motion was moved by Hon. Usman Dada, representing Bosso Constituency for the appointment of a Speaker Temporal and this was seconded by another member. Hon. Isah Kawu, representing Bida 1, was immediately nominated for the position of the Speaker Temporal by Hon. Abdullahi Akwanu and this was seconded by Hon. Jacob Maggi Gana, representing Lavun Constituency. Thereafter, Gana told the House that the refusal of the leadership of the House to show up after it was agreed from its executive meeting on Monday, has caused some level of embarrassment and therefore moved for the removal of the leadership. His motion was seconded by the member representing Paikoro Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Kure. After sacking the leadership of the House, the speaker temporal then called for nomination for the new leadership of the House. Hon. Gana immediately nominated the Speaker Temporal, Hon. Isah Kawu as the new Speaker; Hon. Bello Ahmed (Agwara) as the Deputy Speaker; Hon. Yusuf Kure (Paikoro), Majority Leader, while Hon. Sa'adatu Kolo (Mashehu) is the Chief Whip. The new Speaker was immediately sworn in by the Clerk of the House, Mallam Adamu Kagara.

Suswam defies court order, appoints first class chiefs Fintiri expels Cephas Iorhemen renegade lawmakers Makurdi

enue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has defied the court order restraining him from installing first class chiefs in the state, vowing to go ahead with his plan as he has not been served with any court order stopping

the process. Suswam disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from journalists in Makurdi, the state capital. The state high court, presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, on Monday, issued a court injunction restraining the governor, the Tiv Traditional Coun-

cil, the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Idoma Traditional Council and their agents from installing first class chiefs in the state. The suit, which was brought before the court by a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Adanyi, against Suswam and eight others,

urged the court to stay action on the implementation of the law establishing first class chiefs, arguing that it is unlawfully passed. Justice Hwande in his ruling on the ex parte motion urged the state government to stay action on the process until the determination of the suit.

DISCO workers throw Kaduna Danfodio varsity inaugurates 52 medical doctors into blackout Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

orkers of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) staged a peaceful protest yesterday to mark the beginning of a three-day warning strike that resulted from a communication breakdown between the workers’ union and the company’s management, leading to power outage in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto

and Kebbi States. The union, which spoke through the Assistant Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees, North-West, Comrade Moses Amedu, alleged a delay in the payment of their monthly salaries, the non-payment of their salary arrears, inadequate equipment to work with, poor medical policy, nonrecognition of the labour union and low supply of electricity to consumers in the aforementioned states.

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, yesterday inaugurated 52 new medical doctors of the 2012/ 2013 academic session. The new doctors were accepted into medical practice by the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Abdulgafar Jimoh, on

behalf of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Speaking at the event, Jimoh urged them to lead with decorum, mutual respect and be advocates of clinical governance. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, urged them to abide by their professional oath and be good ambassadors of their parents, as well as the institution.

Ibrahim Abdul Yola

he Adamawa State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has suspended five lawmakers who were part of those that contrived his impeachment plot a fortnight ago. The move is seen as a final move by Fintiri to decimate the ranks of lawmakers that are opposing his leadership. The speaker also constituted a five-man investigative committee to be chaired by the member representing Uba Gaya constituency with the mandate to investigate an agric loan obtained by the state to the tune of N2 billion, which was collected on behalf of Adamawa farmers, but was allegedly diverted to other uses. Members affected by

the suspension hammer include Hon. Abuzarri Ribadu (Yola South constituency), Hon. Jerry Kumdisi (Gombi constituency), Hon. Wale Fwa (Demsa constituency), Hon. Simon Issa (Song Constituency) and Hon. Salihu Kabillo (Verre constituency). Sequel to the lawmakers’ suspension, Fintiri had, last week, constituted a probe panel to investigate his purported impeachment by nine members of the assembly at the Government House, Yola. Following the submission of the report by the Chairman of the committee and member representing Guyuk constituency, Hon. Wilbina Jackson, the House adopted the suspension of all five lawmakers that participated in the impeachment till June 8, when the tenure of the seventh assembly will lapse.

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WORLD | News

Okonjo-Iweala, other officials suffering ‘high blood’ pressure –Permsec

Austrian magazine printed with HIV blood

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia Mase, has admitted that the currently realities regarding the shortfall in the revenue accruals of the nation has been exerting pressure on the top officials of the ministry including the coordinating Minister for the economy Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Nwaobia Mase confessed that the health status of about 70 percent of the staffers of the finance ministry including herself, has been adversely affected, stating that they were currently being afflicted with high blood pressure. The Perm Sec made the revelation yesterday during the commissioning of

the Federal Ministry of Finance Welfare Facilities located in the premises of the ministry. She said the need to have an in house sick bay facility became a thing of necessity when one of the ministry staff collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. She said the finance ministry approached the Federal Ministry of Health to send medical personnel to come to the aid of the ministry of finance staff. Following intensive medical examination which lasted weeks, the Perm Sec said result showed that not less than 70 percent of the finance ministry staff have high blood pressure as a result of stress. Corroborating Nwaobia Mase’s position, Dr. Iweala, said that apart

from the 70 percent hypertensive staff in the ministry, the Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, the Perm Sec, Mrs Daniel-Nwaobia and herself were as well hypertensive due to the current situation. Apologising to the Minister of State and the Perm Sec for disclosing their health status, Okonjo-Iweala, attributed the development to the series of stress the top managers and staff in the ministry go through everyday in the discharge of their duties. She stated that they were being over stretched by the concern for the country’s declining revenue. “It sounds unbelievable, the three of us are on medication, at times, we have to be in the office as late as 1 am, looking for how the country would get money to finance her activities.”

n Austrian men’s magazine has printed its latest edition using blood from people who are HIV-positive in order to counter the “stigma” often attached to the virus that causes AIDS, its chief editor said yesterday. “We wanted to make a statement against the stigma and the irrational fears about HIV and HIVpositive people,” Julian Wiehl, founder and editorin-chief of Vangardist magazine, told AFP. “If you hold this magazine

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

in your hands it is like holding somebody who is HIV positive. Nothing can happen, nothing can harm you holding the magazine, and nothing can harm you holding an HIV-positive person,” he said. Vangardist is usually published only digitally, but the “#HIVHeroes” edition is in hard copy, printed using blood donated by three people who are HIV positive and mixed with normal ink. Three thousand copies of the bilingual German-English

special edition can be ordered online for 50 euros ($55.65) each, with all proceeds going to charity. A further 15,000 normal copies are also available. One of the three donors is Wiltrut Stefanek, 45, diagnosed as HIV positive 20 years ago and who runs PULSHIV, a Viennese group for people with HIV/AIDS and their families. “I want to make people understand that in day-to-day dealings with it, HIV poses no risk to anyone,” the magazine quotes her as saying.

Mimiko asks FG to release poly’s N1bn take-off grant Babatope Okeowo Akure

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, has told the Federal Government to release the N1 billion take-off grant for the newly established Federal Polytechnic in Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government area of the state. The governor made the call yesterday while receiving a letter of approval for the polytechnic from the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. This development came as the Jegun of Ile-Oluji,

Oba Stephen Adedugbe, conferred a chieftaincy title of Atunluse, on Shekarau. The governor, who described the polytechnic as a symbol of community involvement in tertiary institution, noted that the people of Ile-Oluji were excited and much ready to make sacrifice for the smooth take-off of the institution. Mimiko, who also assured of the readiness of the state government to ensure speedy take-off of the polytechnic and make it a world-class institution, commended President Goodluck jonathan, for responding to the age-long

demand of the state for a Federal Polytechnic. Presenting the letter of approval to Mimiko, Shekarau, stated that the establishment of the polytechnic was based on the need to develop manpower required for sustainable development of the country in critical areas. He assured that officials of his ministry would work with the state government in the development of temporary and permanent sites for the take-off of the polytechnic and also work out the master plan for the development of administrative block for principal officers of the institution.

Declare state of emergency in power sector, Okorie tells Buhari Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party ( UPP) in the recent presidential election, Chief Chekwas Okorie, yesterday called on the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a state of emergency in the power sector. Okorie, who spoke to journalists at the Defence House in Abuja, shortly

after a courtesy visit to the president-elect said, “we urge you to declare a state of emergency in the power sector as soon as you are sworn into office. This sector is fundamental and key to the successful actualization of your election promises to the Nigerian people” Okorie who said he was at the Defence house with his party members to congratulate Buhari on his recent victory, also urged him to take the issue of electoral reforms

serious. “On a final note we further urge you to take the issue of electoral reforms to a much higher level, in order to continue to deepen our democratic practice and ethos” He however, stated his party readiness to work with the incoming government. “We are ready to support this government to succeed, it is his reponsibilty to invite us to join him , we’re ready to work with him”

Vangardist’s #HIVHeroes edition is printed using blood donated by three people who are HIV-positive and mixed with normal ink.

Burundi court validates president’s third term bid

urundi’s constitutional court yesterday validated the president’s controversial bid for a third term but the deputy president of the court, who fled to Rwanda ahead of the ruling, called it unconstitutional. The ruling came amid prolonged demonstrations against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term. At least nine people have been killed in violent confrontations with the police since last week, according to the

Burundi Red Cross. Scores have been wounded. Burundi’s constitution says the president should be elected by universal direct suffrage for a mandate of five years, renewable one time. Nkurunziza was first installed as president in 2005 by parliament to lead a transitional government. He won the 2010 presidential election as the sole candidate. Nkurunziza argued In its judgment yesterday, the constitutional court ruled that “the renewal one last time of the

current presidential term by direct universal suffrage for five years is not contrary to the Constitution.” However the court’s Deputy President Sylvere Nimpagaritse disagreed with the decision and was so afraid of the consequences that he joined more than 20,000 Burundians who have fled to Rwanda fearing political violence. He said would not rubber-stamp an endorsement of Nkurunziza’s re-election bid.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Texas attack

he Islamic State militant group took responsibility yesterday for a failed attack on a Texas exhibit of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in which two gunmen were killed, with U.S. investigators probing the veracity of the claim. The Syria and Iraq based Islamic State (IS) said on its official online radio station that “two soldiers of the caliphate” carried out the attack on Sunday in Garland, a suburb of Dallas. US officials said while

the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the failed Texas attack was being examined closely, investigators at this point did not know whether the dead militants launched the attack under instructions from the group or whether IS was opportunistically claiming credit for an attack in which it had little or no direct or indirect involvement. One US official said investigators believed it was possible, if not likely, that Islamic State played an “inspirational” rather than

“operational” role in the attack. That would mean the shooters may have immersed themselves in items posted online by IS and other groups like Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula intended to incite violence, but that the group played no role in directing an attack on the Mohammad cartoon event. US investigators were going through the shooters’ computers and communications devices, officials said.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

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International Sport

League Rendezvous Kwara Utd fans: We cast spell on Heartland

Flying Eagles without kits in Germany

Dangote targets Arsenal takeover

Barca, Bayern battle will be close, says Messi

Sport Charles Ogundiya

igeria’s sprint sensation, Blessing Okagbare, on Tuesday, hit hard at the administrators in the country, accusing them of killing sports generally. Okagbare said people hoping for a change in track and field for example would have to pray to realise the dream of having a good system in place. The Delta State-born athlete was particularly irked that grass roots sports development has been abandoned for a fire brigade approach of getting quick results. She lamented the desperation of administrators in bringing athletes from other parts of the world to represent Nigeria when there are plenty of untapped talents in various sections of the country. Okagbare wrote on her Facebook wall on Tuesday: “Honestly, I have been so calm about these people killing our grass roots section/ home based athletes with their recruiting of athletes from other countries instead of building the great talents that we has. What a show of shame the administration have become. “They sit down, criticise the athletes back home that they are not improving or doing enough to be at the top but yet, they don’t do anything to support them, they rate their recruits above the great talents that the country has,

The Sport Team

Did you know? That Arsenal bought Nicolas Anelka, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Thiery Henry, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Samir Nasri for £42 million. Then sold them for £206 million.

Okagbare blows hot • Says administrators killing sport • Decries poaching of foreign athletes

paying money and rent to athletes who have not even shown up for our Nigeria trials” The Commonwealth Games gold medallist

noted that some of the foreign-based athletes skip national trials and still make, team at the expense of youthful talented ones who deserve to be in the

national team. “Enough is enough with the shortcut to success because our nation and athletes deserve better than this,” Okagbare added.

NBA names Curry player of the season

Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

News

Curry

olden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for 2014-15. The 27-year-old US international set a record for threepointers made in a season - the 286 he scored breaking his own 2012-13 record. Curry was the top points scorer, made most assists and steals, and also led the stats for free-throw percentage. Curry beat Houston Rockets’ James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook and New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis to the award.

Okagbare

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

72-year-old eyes Okpekpe Race Charles Ogundiya

A Flying Eagles players celebrating after scoring a goal

72-year-old palace chief of Onwueweko-InCouncil, the Ofeweshi of Okpekpe, Chief John Dakwogi, on Tuesday vowed to participate in the Okpekpe 10km Road Race scheduled for May 16. Speaking to our reporter on the telephone, the chief said the only difficulty he was facing was how to get himself registered. “If the Governor (Adams Oshiomhole)could

participate in the VIP category, I believe I am still strong enough at 72 to participate in the same VIP category,” he said. “I know that I can still breast the tape, but I have been having problem with registration because I don’t know how to go about it.” Also, the Headmaster of Oduba Primary School, Ebelle-Okpekpe, Mr. Stanley Etsenumhe, revealed that the eve of the tournament has now turned to another festival for pupils in

Edo North Senatorial District. He said sometimes the pupils of the school would walk up to him to ask when the next event would be coming up. Meanwhile, a pensioner in the kingdom, Mr. Jacob Egwame, has said the community is now synonymous with the race. According to him, people from far and near now associate the community with the event as he prayed for the mastermind of the race, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor.

Flying Eagles without kits in Germany International rams tourney debuts Adeolu Johnson Abuja

he national U-20 men’s team preparing for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup at a training camp in Germany are without kits, New Telegraph can reveal. Our correspondent learnt that kit manufacturing firm, Nike, which took over the branding of all of the country’s national teams from previous kit providers, Adidas, has not provided

kits to the Flying Eagles. As a result, the Flying Eagles, who will be competing at the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20, now trains in ragtag jerseys. When our correspondent asked the Nigeria Football Federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, about the development, he said arrangements were on to deliver the Nike kits to the Flying Eagles before the commencement of the World Cup. He added that the NFF

was making concerted efforts to make the team comfortable in Germany before they head off to New Zealand for the 24team championship. “We do not want any distractions; our target is to bring the cup home for the first time and I can assure you that that will be done at the end of championship,” he explained, even as he called on Nigerians to pray for the team just like they did during the last African U-20 Championships in Senegal.

Nigerian League Rendezvous

ver two hundred rams from four African countries including Nigeria will participate in the First Major International Ram Charging Competition, slated for May 31, at the Jalisco Sports Complex, Oshodi. The competition, staged by Ram Owners Association of Nigeria, is an arm of traditional sports which would see Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Cameroon and the host country, Nigeria, featuring in the tourna-

ment, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Its President, Kayode Adumadehin, while speaking on the competition, said the event would not only create an avenue for mutual relationship among the participating African countries but also serve as a medium to fortify the game of ram charging in Africa, adding that plans are in top gear to encourage other West African countries to delve into ram charging sport. The Secretary, Kayode

Balogun, said each of the participating African countries was entitled to bringing 16 rams that could compete in eight categories as he stressed that the event was to showcase African traditional sports, which the association modernised to attract corporate bodies. According to him, Ram Owners Association of Nigeria has been invited by Indonesia to participate in an international ram charging contest in Jakarta, in August.

with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

08098042287

Kwara Utd fans: We cast spell on Heartland

ans of Ilorin based Nigeria Professional Football League side, Kwara United, have said they are responsible for the recent woeful performance of Heartland of Owerri. Some of the fans who spoke with League Rendezvous in Ilorin at the weekend said because Heartland defeated their team in Ilorin, the team would lose three games. “They will lose one more game before they can start winning again,” a fan sim-

ply called Toyin said. “The coach (Erasmus) was boasting after defeating Kwara United, same thing as their (Heartland) fans, now they can see our agony after losing to them at home. “Heartland defeated us (Kwara United) 3-1, and they are going to lose three matches at home and then they can start winning again.” Another fan who spoke with our correspondent said he was happy that the loss against Heartland was at the beginning of the season as they have the

time to reassess the team and move forward. According to Alhaji Farouk Oba, “It was a reality check for us as a team, now we know we are not invisible. Since that game and the loss against Shooting Stars in Ibadan, we have been getting the necessary results. “I just want the management to do more on welfare of the players and also for the players to give their best for the team, I can assure you, continental slot is sure for United at the end of the season.”

Ganaru for Kano Pillars return

ormer Kano Pillars coach, Baba Ganaru, might be staging a dramatic return to the camp of the Nigeria Professional Football League champions, League Rendezvous can report. Speaking exclusively to our reporter, an official of the team who craved anonymity said the recent results by the team were

unacceptable. “Losing two straight games is not acceptable at all,” the official said. “We cannot continue to watch and allow things to degenerate to a level that we won’t be able to salvage the situation. “Baba Ganaru showed that he understands the team very well when he was with us, and if the sit-

uation continues like this, you might see him coming back.” The official said the reason they allowed Baba Ganaru to go in the first instance was their ambition of winning the CAF Champions League, and now that the team failed to progress for the second year running, they have to retrace their steps.

Rangers’ Pape Sane in action against FC Taraba

Kaita set to join Rangers

ormer Super Eagles midfield star Sani Kaita was the main attraction at Tuesday morning training session of struggling Enugu Rangers. The former Monaco and Sparta Rotterdam midfielder is about to put pen to paper for ‘The Flying Antelopes’. A Rangers official told AfricanFootball.com, “We are

glad to have Sani Kaita in our ranks and we believe that his experience will be a great asset to us as we aim to stop our not-too-impressive start in the league.” Kaita featured for Enyimba last season before moving to Moldova. He has recently been linked with Gabros and Lobi Stars, but might end up with Rangers.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Time 7:45pm

Bayern’s Frank Ribery (left) battling with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi

Enrique ready for Pep battle

uis Enrique insists he is prepared for any surprises Pep Guardiola may spring when Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Guardiola, who won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during a golden spell as Barca coach from 2008 until 2012, is returning to the Nou Camp for the first time as an opposition manager. Enrique and Guardiola are good friends from their time playing together at Barca and for the Spanish national team but go head-to-head for the first time as managers. And Enrique is ready for the tactical battle when the German champions visit on Wednesday.

club will be a big advantage to the German champions over the two legs. “He was with us for a long time and we had the luck to win many title and experience important moments. He is a coach that studies everything,” said the Argentine on Tuesday. “It is the same for both sides. Pep knows us very well and we know what he asks of his players. It is 50-50, we both know each other very well.” Barca also have revenge

on their minds, though, after Bayern inflicted their heaviest ever European defeat in a 7-0 thrashing at the same stage of the competition two years ago. “We need to prepare for the game knowing what it means playing in a semifinal of the Champions League and against a great team. “That semifinal hurt us a lot, but a lot of time has passed since. We come into the game differently, as do they, and it will be a different tie to that one.”

“Having seen Bayern and knowing Pep, there could well be changes and surprises which can make things complicated for us,” Enrique told a news conference. “During the season, though, we have been overcoming problems that the opposition have thrown at us and even though it is Bayern and Pep, we will try to do the same again.”

Pacquiao faces disciplinary action for hiding injury

Barca, Bayern battle will M be close, says Messi ionel Messi believes former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, will not leave anything to chance when he takes Bayern Munich to the Camp Nou for the first-leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. However, despite winning 14 trophies in a stunning fouryear spell in charge of Barca between 2008 and 2012, the four-time World Player of the Year doesn’t think his inside knowledge of the Catalan

Enrique

anny Pacquiao could face disciplinary action from Nevada boxing officials for failing to disclose a shoulder injury before his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Nevada state attorney general’s office is to investigate why Pacquiao ticked ‘no’ a day before the fight on a commission questionnaire asking if he had a shoulder injury. “We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances,” said Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar. “You want to make sure fighters are giving you up-todate information.” Pacquiao could be fined or suspended for not answering the question accurately on the

form he filled out himself just before Friday’s weigh-in. He went on to lose a unanimous points decision to Mayweather in the richest fight ever. He is also expected to undergo surgery later this week to repair a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff (shoulder muscles), according to Los Angeles orthopaedic surgeon Dr Neal ElAttrache, who examined Pacquiao on Monday. Pacquiao’s promoter said in a statement that the injury was disclosed to the US Anti-Doping Agency, which approved the use of an anti-inflammatory shot for the fight. But USADA was only a third party to the fight, charged only with testing the fighters for banned substances in training and the night of the bout.

I will only sign star ‘First clay title is an honour’ players – Wenger

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that he will only consider signing world-class players this summer. The Gunners are on course for their best finish to a season in a decade as they are currently third in the Premier League, level on points with second-placed Manchester City. Recently, Wenger stated that he will have a relatively quiet transfer window, and he has echoed that by saying that he will only look at top talent. “We do not need to buy a number of players,” Wenger told reporters. “If we find top, world-class players, we look at it, but we have a very strong squad already in numbers, and the basis is to get together, stay together, and start well next season.” Arsenal are also favourites to retain the FA Cup in the Wembley final against Aston Villa on May 30.

Wenger

ndy Murray has said that becoming the first British player to win an ATP title on clay in almost 40 years is “an honour”. The Scot beat world number 24 Philipp Kohlschreiber in three sets after Sunday’s final at the Munich Open was postponed because of the weather. Murray told Sky Sports

News: “It was a really tough match, he served very close to the line and I was getting frustrated. “The rain made things really tough, but as a Scot I’m used to that. It’s been a hard couple of days, so I am very happy to have won, especially on clay. I didn’t realise I was the first Brit to win on clay for so long, so that’s obviously an honour.”

Manny Pacquiao (right) displaying his injured right shoulder

Injury rules Oscar out of Copa America Abramovich to offer Mourinho new contract

helsea midfielder Oscar will miss next month’s Copa America, Brazil manager Dunga has revealed. Oscar has not been included in a 23-man Brazil squad featuring four Premier League players, including his team-mates Filipe Luis and Willian. And Dunga said the player, who did not feature on Sunday as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace to win the Premier League, has been ruled out with an injury suffered during a training session. “We spoke with Jose Mourinho and the doctor at Chelsea,” he said. “Oscar’s recuperation will take time and he won’t be at his best during the Copa America.”

Oscar

helsea manager Jose Mourinho will reportedly be offered a bumper twoyear contract extension by Roman Abramovich after guiding the Blues to their first Premier League title in five years. The Portuguese coach is already the highest-paid boss in the Premier League on a contract until 2017, but his success will earn him a better-paid deal until 2019, according to British newspaper, The

Evening Standard. It is said that nothing is yet formal, but with Mourinho saying he wants to stay at Chelsea “for as long as they want me”, Abramovich could soon make the move to tie down one of the world’s top managers. Sunday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace secured Chelsea’s fourth top-flight crown in 10 years, three of which have been under Mourinho.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dangote targets Arsenal takeover A Ajibade Olusesan

f r i c a ’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote,has declared his intention to buy English Premier League outfit, Arsenal. This is not the first time the businessman will be stating this as he told newsmen on Tuesday that he still hopes that one day he would realise his ambition of buying Arsenal. Dangote has an estimated fortune of 15 billion US dollars (£10.4billion) and is reported to have wanted to buy into the Gunners when former director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was selling her shares in 2010. Arsenal’s current majority shareholder is American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who remains committed to the Premier League club for the longterm. Uzbek magnate Alisher Usmanov controls around 30 per cent and has also expressed no desire to offload any of his stock. Nevertheless Dangote, whose business interests include sugar, flour and oil, remains keen to become part of the Emirates Stadium club sometime in the future. Speaking to Bloomberg, he said: ‘I still hope, one day at the right price, that I will buy the team. ‘I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist. I

Dangote

know my strategy.” Dangote, though, added no imminent bid was in the pipeline. “We have 16 billion dollarsworth of investments in the next few years. Right now, I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe,” he said. Arsenal beat Hull 3-1 on Monday night to give them a good chance to finish second behind Premier League champions Chelsea, and will face Aston Villa in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 30. Dangote, however, suggested Arsene Wenger’s side should be achieving more. He added: “(Wenger) needs to change his style a bit. They need new direction.”

Werder Bremen sign Ujah Ifeanyi Ibeh

er man Bundesliga outfit, Werder Bremen, have announced the signing of Super Eagles striker, Anthony Ujah, from Cologne. The 24-year-old will join Bremen at the end of the season following a spectacular season that saw him score 10 goals in the Bundesliga which made sure the promoted club is all but assured of another year in the German top flight. Ujah, who started his European career in Norway in 2010 with Lillestrom, initially joined Cologne on loan in 2012 from another German side, Mainz 05, before making the move permanent a

year later. “Anthony has a great profile, plays with a lot of passion, a lot of power, is very diligent and strong in the air,” Bremen’s director of professional football and scouting, Rouven Schroder, told the club’s website. “We’re convinced that Anthony Ujah fits into our style of play.” Ujah’s explosive speed, scoring ability and wild celebrations - at times with the club’s mascot which is a goat - made him a crowd favourite. He played 62 German second division games, scoring 24 goals, and hit double figures in the Bundesliga this season to help Cologne into 11th place, six points above the relegation zone with three matches left.

Ujah (right)

Arsenal players celebrating

Brazil coach wary of Flying Eagles Emmanuel Tobi

razil U-20 coach, Alexandre Gallo, has warned his players to expect a tough match when they battle Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Brazil begin their World Cup campaign on June 1 against the Flying Eagles in New Plymouth and Gallo added that Nigeria would be a tough nut to crack for the fivetime U-20 World Cup winners. “Nigeria always cause us problems. They’re a strong team, technically good with good players,” Gallo said. The two teams last clashed at the 2005 edition in Holland as the group game ended in a draw. Speaking on the other first

round opponents, Hungary and North Korea, the former Corinthians coach said, “Hungary have a typically European style – direct football, tall players. North Korea don’t have very technical players, but they close you down a lot, they have speed and counterattack intensely,” he said. Brazil placed fourth at the South American qualifiers and will begin training camp on May 16, when they fly out to Australia. Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira and Real Madrid forward Jean Carlos have been named on a 26-player provisional squad. Meanwhile, Real Madrid starlet Jean Carlos leads the list of five foreign based players included in Brazil’s 26-

Union Bank grab gold at Lead City Indoor Hockey Dapo Sotuminu

eigning national men’s hockey league champions, Union Bank Hockey Club of Lagos, at the weekend started the 2015 season in flying colours as they won the gold medal at the fifth edition of the Lead City Five A-Side National Hockey Championship. The bankers tutored by Coach Tunde Odedokun dethroned the Police Machine of Abuja who fell short this time placing fourth. The free-flowing pattern of Union Bank with faultless quick inter-change of passes

was too hot for all opponents to handle as the bankers won all six matches amassing 18 points. In the three-day competition played on league basis, Union Bank, captained by Okwudili Menye and motivated from the sidelines by national team skipper Marcus Izang were first timers in the competition which is in its fifth year. The Young Steaks of Lagos, the feeder team of Union Bank men’s hockey club, won the silver medal in the men’s class, while the Lead City Hockey team finished in third place.

man preliminary squad for the tournament. Others are Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira, Cagliari forward Caio Rangel, Marseille playmaker Alef, and Braga midfielder Danilo.

Gallo

Guinean ref for Falcons, Mali match

he Confederation of African Football has appointed Maniyela Okomo from Equatorial Guinea as Referee for this weekend’s 2016 Olympics qualifying match between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Female Eagles of Mali. Okomo’s compatriots Margarita Abang and Juliana Okomo will serve as 1st and 2nd Assistant Referees, while Fatou Ndeye from Senegal will serve as Reserve Referee. Delly Elise from Congo Brazzaville will be the Match Commissioner. The match is the opener to the African qualifying campaign for

the Women’s Football Tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and has been brought forward by two weeks as a result of a special appeal by the Nigeria Football Federation. The NFF had appealed on the grounds that the African champions must depart for a training camp in Toronto, Canada, by May 19 in order to prepare adequately for the 7th FIFA World Cup finals starting on June 6. The Mali Football Federation did not object, and CAF gave the go-ahead for the first leg to take place in Abuja on Saturday, with the return in Bamako a week later.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015

PRESS RELEASE In respect of properties known and called Slok Integrated Farms Limited situated and lying at Alaike 7,200 plots, Awunta 20,000 plots and Obulofia 30,000 plots all in Ugwueke, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State are property of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State. The said property at Alaike was sold to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu by the original owners, Ukwuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family of Ndioku Umuaja since 2003, since then till date has been in peaceful possession of same without let or hindrances from anybody. HRH Eze Ikuwanna Okorie Ukwu of Etiti Autonomous Community in Ugwueke and his younger brother, Hon. Ukwu Rocks Emma even bought some plots of land from us close to the said property in Alaike that belongs to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. To put the records straight, this land does not belong to any Eze in Ugwueke or let the person come out open to claim the land. There is no law or constitution in Nigeria or in Igbo land that says before anyone sells his property, he or she should let it known to Eze or leader in the community. Politics or no politics, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has been a friend and a brother to our family. This announcement is to clear the air that Slok Integrated Farm situated and lying at Alaike/Awunta/Obulofia Ugwueke, Bende LGA of Abia State is the property of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Signed: Onyeoma Ukwu Awa Ukwu Henry C. Ukwu Onyeoma Ukwu Jnr. Ndubuisi Anyim Ukwu Chidi Anyim Ukwu

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Inchoate 4th constitutional alteration

he refusal by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to sign the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act, 2015 presents the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari and the 8th National Assembly with a good opportunity to stamp their own vision and principle of a new constitutional order for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The refusal by the President to give his assent to the said Fourth Alteration Act also presents the incoming regime with the raw material to hit the ground running especially on germane constitutional and legal issues.

This assertion is made against the background of the fact that the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution is inchoate and the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, 2010 is still pending before the current National Assembly and some of the issues addressed in both documents are germane to good governance and the institutionalization of credible elections in Nigeria. It is worth recalling that the National Assembly spent almost four billion Naira in the course of the alteration to the Constitution. The House of Representatives organized what they called “Peoples Public Hearings” in the three hundred and sixty Federal Constituencies in Nigeria. Critical stakeholders including Civil Society Groups, the Labour Movement, the Bar Association and community based groups made presentations at these hearings. The Senate on their own part organized zonal public hearings. Some State Assemblies also organized public hearings when the National Assembly transmitted the Fourth Alteration to them. It is unimaginable to contemplate that the huge efforts and resources expended in the course of the Fourth Alteration will be flushed down the drains. But the reality of the situation is that the President and the National and State Assemblies have parted ways on the issue of the 4th Alteration to the Constitution. The President refused to assent to the Fourth Amendment listing constitutional, legal, policy, procedural and administrative reasons for withholding assent. In the main, the reasons given by the President for withholding assent can be grouped into three main issues. He claimed that any alteration of section 8, 9 and Chapter IV of the Constitution can only be valid if the proposal was supported by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of an the members of each House of the National Assembly and approved by a resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States as provided by Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution. He claimed that there is no evidence that the National Assembly met this threshold. The President also accused the National Assembly of flagrant violations of the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. He also accused them of what he called unjustified whittling down of the executive powers of the federation vested in the President by virtue of Section 5 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. The President followed up his refusal to assent to the Fourth Alteration Act by instructing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to file a suit before the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the constitutionality and legality of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. By the suit in Court, the President effectively clipped the wings of the National Assembly and caged them from overriding Presidential Veto. In the suit, the government requested the Supreme Court to give an order nullifying and setting aside Sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23,

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

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Jonathan

Buhari

36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015. It asked the Supreme Court to determine the following constitutional and legal questions to wit: 1. Whether the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) by the Defendant through sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ((Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 (hereinafter referred to as The Fourth Alteration Act 2015) which purportedly altered sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the Constitution without compliance with the requirements of section 9(3) of the Constitution is not unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null and void? 2. Whether in the absence of compliance by the Defendant with the mandatory requirement of section 9(3) of the Constitution in the passage of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015, the Defendant can competently exercise its powers under section 58(5) of the Constitution to enable the purported Act to become Law?” The Federal Government therefore asked

Augustine Alegeh, NBA Chairman

Without a strict process of constitutional alteration, political opportunists, interlopers, career political coupists and sit tight rulers will, at will, alter the constitution

the Supreme Court to hold that the proposed amendments to the Constitution through sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 which purportedly altered sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the Constitution and passed by the Defendant without complying with the mandatory requirement of section 9(3) and (4) of the said Constitution stipulating passage by at least four-fifths majority of all members of each House specified in sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution is unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The Federal Government also invited the Supreme Court to declare that in the absence of compliance by the defendant with the mandatory requirements of section 9(3) of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 which purportedly altered sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the Constitution, it is unconstitutional for the National Assembly

to exercise its powers under section 58(5) of the Constitution to enable the purported Act to become Law. I agree that the process of constitutional alteration of the fundamental law of the land must comply strictly with the provisions set out for such alteration. This is because “A Constitution is the organic law of a country. It sets the parameters within which the country shall be governed. It establishes the institutional structures of government and either expressly or by necessary implication their inter-relationship, and spells out the basic rights of citizens and the obligations of the executive.” The Supreme Court of Nigeria also gave judicial stamp to the Supremacy of the Constitution. In the case of A.G., Ondo State v. A.G., Fed (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt. 772) the Supreme Court stated that: “It must be recognised that our Constitution is an organic instrument which confers powers and also creates rights and limitations. It is the supreme law in which certain first principles of fundamental nature are established. Once the powers, rights and limitations under the Constitution are identified as having been created, their existence cannot be disputed in a court of law. But their extent and implications may be sought to be interpreted and explained by the court in cases properly brought before it. All agencies of government are organs of initiative whose powers are derived either directly from the Constitution or from laws enacted thereunder. They therefore stand in relationship to the Constitution as it permits of their existence and functions” This fundamental nature of the Constitution imposes a huge obligation on the National and State Assemblies to be strict, professional and thorough in the process of constitutional alteration. The process and procedures adopted in the process of constitutional alteration process must admit of no ambiguity. Without a strict process of constitutional alteration, political opportunists, interlopers, career political coupists and sit tight rulers will, at will, alter the constitution using spineless opportunists and weaklings to design and redesign the constitution to fit their political whims and caprices. Moreover, section 9 of the Constitution imposes a more cumbersome threshold for amending section 9,8 and Chapter IV of the Constitution and that threshold must be strictly followed. As painful as the present faceoff between the Presidency and the National Assembly might be, it offers all the critical stakeholders in the constitutional process an opportunity to re-assess and readjust their strategies. The way to go is that the incoming National Assembly should as quickly as possible table the issue of the fourth alteration before the Nigerian people. They must strictly comply with the constitutional thresholds adumbrated in section 9 of the Constitution. Fundamentally, the new National Assembly must give effect to some of the progressive provisions in the fourth alteration including the issue of timeline for the disposal of all pre-election matters, the provision for independent candidature, the Separation of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister for Justice, the appointment of the Attorney General of the Federation by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and confirmation by the Senate and a host of other good provisions. The National and State Assemblies may also wish to take a second look at the issue of pension for Principal Officers of the National Assembly and adjust and clarify some of the alterations that lack precision and clarity. The incoming National Assembly and the new Executive must find a common ground of cooperation that preserves the concept of separation of powers and at the same time glues all the agencies of government in a cooperative ambience.

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