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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS Friday, September 12, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 206

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Italian oil firm's CEO under probe over $1.1bn deal Adeola Yusuf

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he Chief Executive of Italian energy giant, Eni, Claudio Descalzi, is being investigated over suspected corruption linked to a $1.1 billion oil

deal in Nigeria.

A Milan prosecutor is probing the role of Descalzi, his predecessor and another Eni executive over their roles in the Italian group's 2011 acquisition, in partnership with Shell,

of the rights to an oil field, OPL245.

The field has been estimated to contain as much as nine billion barrels of crude oil.

According to a report published yesterday in an

English newspaper published in Italy, The Local, under the deal, Eni paid the Nigerian government $1.09 billion (844,000) to secure joint ownership of the block along with Shell, which had previously tak-

en a 40 per cent stake and had begun to develop the field.

Shell claimed it did not contribute to the payment since it had already spent $542 million in operating CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke

‘I won't shield Sheriff' lJonathan explains ex-Borno gov's inclusion on Chadian trip

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Quick Read Editorial:

Public hygiene and the 2025 target }19

Nigeria needs N485 trillion to upgrade infrastructure }7 Mbu nearly collapsed Rivers' economy, says Amaechi }6 66,402 applicants show interest in mortgage refinancing scheme }5

L-R: Widower of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, Mr. Afolabi Cardoso; son, Bankole; sisters of the deceased - Ami and Ama - and Mr. Kodjo Adadevoh, during the night of tributes in honour of the doctor who died of Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

500 soldiers deployed to reclaim Mubi Lagos

Thunder Storms

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Emmanuel Onani and Ahmed Miringa

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he military yesterday intensified efforts to recapture Gwoza, Michika, Gulak and other towns in Borno and Adamawa States seized by

Boko Haram in a series of attacks aimed at expanding areas to bring under its self-declared Islamic Caliphate.

In furtherance of its determination to curtail the expansionist tendency of the terrorist group and

reassert the sovereignty of Nigeria over the seized towns, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said tactical and operational strategies were being reviewed.

Five hundred more troops have also been deployed in the battle field,

especially to boost the fight to retake Mubi from the insurgents.

It added that troops had been put on the alert to halt any Boko Haram's advance on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Heritage Bank emerges preferred bidder for Enterprise Bank }4

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Heritage Bank wins bid for Enterprise Bank Ayodele Aminu

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fter several weeks of delay, Heritage Bank Limited has eventually emerged the preferred bidder for Enterprise Bank Limited – one of the three-bridged lenders, New Telegraph gathered last night.

From the initial 20 bidders, the number was pruned to 18, including four local banks, Sterling Bank, Fidelity Bank, Skye Bank and Heritage Bank; one international bank, Bank of Africa and two others, which are promoted by both local and foreign investors.

Six of the investors, as exclusively reported by New Telegraph, moved to the due diligence process and executed their managements’ presentation, while one of the investors opted out.

The list was further slashed to five, leaving Fidelity Bank, Skye Bank, Heritage Bank and Sterling Bank in the race.

In deciding on the winner, the number of bidders was eventually scaled down to two, leaving Heritage Bank and Fidelity Bank to keenly contest for Enterprise Bank.

Source said after an evaluation of the process by the two shareholders, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry of Finance, as well as nod from AMCON and Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan, it was agreed that Enterprise Bank be sold to Heritage Bank to avert more job losses in the banking industry.

“The decision was premised on the fact that Heritage Bank is still a nascent bank with few branches and staff, but Fidelity Bank is already on ground with hundreds of branches and thousands of staff.

“So, the thinking is that if Heritage Bank acquires Enterprise Bank, there would be less job loss since it still needs to expand; but if its Fidelity Bank, the casualty would be much,” said the source.

The acquisition of Enterprise Bank, which has about 3,000 staff and over 150 branches, will effectively catapult Heritage Bank’s staff, which is slightly over 300, to 3,300, while

its branches will increase from about 13 to 153.

Three lenders - Mainstreet Bank, formerly known as Afribank, Keystone Bank, previously referred to as BankPHB and Enterprise Bank, hitherto known as Spring Bank, were acquired by AMCON following their inability to recapitalise within a specified timeframe set by the CBN. Mainstreet Bank took over the assets and liabilities of Afribank; Keystone Bank assumed the assets and liabilities of Bank PHB; while Enterprise Bank took over Spring Bank.

AMCON had injected N679 billion into the hitherto sick banks to meet the minimum capital base of N25 billion and the minimum capital adequacy ratio of 15 per cent, as stipu-

lated by the CBN. In a bid to recover the funds injected in the banks, which it raised through issuance of bonds, the corporation is offering the three lenders for sale to investors, starting with Enterprise Bank and Mainstreet Bank.

The sale process for Keystone Bank will be completed next year.

Managing Director, AMCON, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, had told New Telegraph that the date for announcing the winner of bid for Mainstreet Bank Limited would be delayed.

He said the announcement of the new owner of Mainstreet Bank would have to come after the conclusion of the transaction on Enterprise Bank.

“I think Mainstreet will be a little bit later than that, because we started

Enterprise first and you would expect that Enterprise should be concluded first,” the AMCON had said.

AMCON was set up in 2010 to help resolve a banking crisis in Nigeria, triggered by reckless lending and a stock market collapse in 2008, prompting the banking watchdog to spend over N650 billion rescuing nine lenders from near bankruptcy.

The corporation issued N4 trillion worth of bonds in 2011 to recapitalise the banks and soak up their bad-debts.

Chike-Obi said the "bad bank" retired N1.699 trillion worth of bonds in December 2013 with N3.8 trillion held by the CBN. He said AMCON would retire the remaining N800 billion worth of bonds on October 31.

27o C 24oC Thunder Storms

ABUJA

32o C 22oC Storms

KANO

36oC 22oC Mostly Sunny

ENUGU

29o C 22oC Thunder Storms

IBADAN

29o C 22oC Storms

CALABAR

26o C 22oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

34o C 23oC Thunder Storms

ONITSHA

28o C 22oC Storms

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

L-R: Outgoing Rivers State Police Commissioner, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin; Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi and Ogunsakin's successor, Mr. Dan Bature, during a visit to the governor in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

Italian oil firm's CEO under probe over $1.1bn deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the field.

The House of Representatives had, in December 2012, after a two-day hearing into the deal ended, vowed to revoke the transaction, citing its violation of an existing indigenous policy.

An ad hoc committee, set up by the House and headed by the Majority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, said it was more concerned about upholding the government’s policy that reserved the disputed block for local firms, than the intricacies of the transaction.

Under the government’s indigenous policy, 60 per cent of the block, which reportedly holds over nine billion barrels of oil, was to be controlled by a local firm; with the remaining equity going to a foreign technical partner.

“The Federal Government’s interest in the bloc is non-negotiable. No matter the amount you paid, we will sit down and rewrite the resolution and make sure it stays the way it should have been,” he had said.

The lawmakers were worried over why the Federal Government, after re-awarding the block to Malabu, an indigenous firm, should sell 100 percent stake of the oil block to Shell and Eni. Most of the money Eni paid was subsequently passed on to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company believed to be owned by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete.

Etete had awarded the rights to the block to Malabu in 1998, at a time when he was close to former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha.

Eni confirmed that Descalzi, who headed the company's oil division at the time, had been placed under preliminary investigation by a Milan prosecutor along with another company executive, the Head of Exploration, Mr. Roberta Casula.

The company said its executives were being probed after a British court on Tuesday accepted the Milan prosecutor's request to freeze two bank accounts.

According to an Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, these were Anglo-Swiss accounts containing a total of $190 million in the name of Emeka Obi, a suspected intermediary in the OPL245 deal.

Corriere said the court had accepted the prosecutor's argument that there was a reason to believe the money might have been paid as part of an attempt

to corrupt public officials.

Last year, Obi sued Malabu in Britain's High Court and won an order that the company should pay him $110 million in unpaid fees related to the deal which brought Eni into OPL245.

Eni insisted the company's action had been beyond reproach.

"The entire payment for the issuance of the licence to Eni and Shell was made uniquely to the Nigerian government.

"Eni is cooperating with the Milan prosecutor's office, and is confident that the correctness of its actions will emerge during the course of the investigation," a statement said.

Eni shares were down by nearly one percent in early afternoon trading yesterday at the Italian bourse, in an otherwise broadly flat market.

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

NEWS

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Friday, September 12, 2014

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Terrorism: ‘I won't interfere in Sheriff's investigation' Anule Emmanuel

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday promised to give security agencies a free hand in probing allegations that a former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is one of the sponsors of Boko Haram.

The president also shed more light on how the former governor, who has been accused by an Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, of having a link to Boko Haram, was in Chad during the week with him.

Jonathan's spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, denied any romance between the president and the former governor, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The president's clarification came against the backdrop of criticisms, especially from APC, which had called for Sheriff's probe for his alleged link to Boko Haram.

The Department of State Security (DSS) had last week said it had commenced investigations into

the allegation against the former governor.

Abati told State House correspondents yesterday in Abuja that the president was fully aware of the allegation against Sheriff and would allow the security agencies to do their job.

According to him, the security agencies will make their findings known to the public after the investigations.

The president assured Nigerians that he has not wilfully taken any action that could prejudice the outcome of ongoing inquiry into the allegations

against Sheriff as being alleged by critics.

On the allegation that the president was hobnobbing with the former governor by accompanying him on an official visit to Chad, Abati said Sheriff was not part of the official delegation to the county.

Sheriff was seen in a photo posted on the social media with other Nigerians who received Jonathan at the airport in Ndjamena, the Chadian capital.

Another picture also saw him sitting in during a discussion between Jonathan and the Chadian

President Idriss Deby.

Explaining what transpired during the president's trip, Abati said: "The Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan’s delegation to Chad."

He added that in keeping with the president's commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, the presidency had made public the names of the key members of Jonathan's delegation a day before his trip to Ndja-

L-R: Former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Johnson Fasawe; renowned businessman, Prince Arthur Eze and former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, after a meeting in Abuja...on Wednesday.

mena.

He listed the official members of the delegation to include the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.); the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and the Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed.

"Those who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there. He happened to be in Ndjamena at the time of President Jonathan’s visit and joined other Nigerian residents of the Chadian capital in coming to the airport to welcome their president.

"That was the full extent of his participation in the visit and it was also at Ndjamena Airport that the pictures which formed the basis of the bogus allegation of President Jonathan hobnobbing with an “accused sponsor of terrorism” were taken.

"The former governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the president’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena," he said.

Military reviews strategies to reclaim Borno, Adamawa towns 66,402 apply for mortgage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

New Telegraph gathered from highly-placed military sources that the DHQ has fortified its intelligence and operational capabilities, to forestall any planned attack on Maiduguri.

Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major Gen. Chris Olukolade, in several "updates" posted on the official twitter handle of the DHQ yesterday, assured the nation that the military was on top of the situation.

"Situation in Mubi, Michika, Bazza, Gulak, Gwoza, Bama, GamboruNgala and other parts of the North-East is being stabilised, as highly coordinated air and land OPs (operations) are ongoing.

"The efforts are yielding impressive results in the overall move to rid the area of terrorists, or attempt to disrupt the city's prevailing peace," he tweeted.

Olukolade who denied reports that Maiduguri had come under

Boko Haram's attack, said:"Alarmist report on foreign and online media on Maiduguri is clearly intended to cause panic in the city and the nation.

"All facets of security arrangements for the defence of Maiduguri have been upgraded to handle any planned attack or attempt to disrupt the city's prevailing peace. This kind of alarmist report is uncalled for, in view of the efforts and alertness.

"Citizens are nevertheless enjoined to remain vigilant as they go about their lawful business."

At another briefing yesterday in Abuja on the security situation in the North-East, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, told reporters that the military had deployed 500 additional troops in Mubi and other parts of the state to dislodge the insurgents.

Omeri, who doubles as the National Information Centre (NIC) coordinator,

said the additional troops' deployment was aimed at completely routing Boko Haram elements from the areas and restoring normalcy.

While noting that Mubi was calm at the moment, Omeri added that troops, policemen and other security personnel were currently carrying out patrols around the troubled areas.

"Contrary to media reports of the sacking of some towns in Adamawa State such as Mubi, military authorities have confirmed the renewed deployment of more than 500 troops, or about that, to support the expedition around that area, including Gulak, Michika, among others," he stated.

According to him, it is the Federal Government's hope that "with this commitment and efforts, the situation will be brought under control."

However, it was learnt yesterday that the DHQ was not treating the rumour of a possible attack

on Maiduguri, with kid gloves.

A senior military source told New Telegraph that every operational strategy was being deployed to prevent Boko Haram from returning to Maiduguri, where it was dislodged some years ago.

He said: "Look, we (military) would never allow the terrorist elements to make any incursion into the town (Maiduguri) or anywhere close to it.

"We are moving sophisticated hardware and welltrained counter-terrorism officers and soldiers, to resist, repel and contain any likely attack.

"Nigerians have forgotten that since we chased them out of the town to the fringes of the borders, the situation has remained so, yet no credit from the public; only criticism.

"Can you now understand why our very committed service chiefs, have reinforced deployment in Maiduguri and its surCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

refinancing scheme Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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ifty-one per cent of the 66,402 applicants for the Federal Government’s 10,000 mortgages prefer houses in Abuja while 18 per cent preferred Lagos.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated this yesterday in Abuja while updating journalists on the outcome of first batch of the 10,000 mortgages, whose entry closed on September 5.

Giving a comprehensive breakdown of the figure, the minister said the applications which spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) revealed 96 per cent of applicants currently live in a rented accommodation.

Of the figure, 63 per cent of applicants were

male, 37 per cent female.

Describing the process as encouraging, Okonjo-Iweala said that almost 60 per cent of applicants were in 31-40 age bracket while 15 per cent in the 21-30 age bracket.

Stating that the selection process will be transparent, she said all the 66,402 valid applications would be given to the 17 mortgage lenders and four commercial banks to sort out the prequalification and invite applicants that meet the criteria for discussion within the next eight weeks.

Speaking on the occasion, the President, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Johnson, said his organisation was prepared to support the process.

The scheme is part of the government policy initiative to bridge over 17 million housing deficit in the country.

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Friday, September 12, 2014

Mbu nearly collapsed Rivers' economy, says Amaechi

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ivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has described the former Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Mbu Joseph Mbu, as a politician in police uniform who attempted to cripple the economy of the state.

Amaechi spoke yesterday when the newly deployed commissioner of police, Mr. Dan S. Ba-

ture, in company of the outgoing Commissioner of Police and newly promoted Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, and other top Police officers paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Amaechi said the former police boss deviated from his professional

role of protecting lives and properties by serving politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to him, “Unlike Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, who clearly showed us that, he was a registered member of PDP, in your (Ogunsakin) case, you realised your responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property as the para-

mount responsibility of the Nigerian Police. It is important you keep that peace. And I wish to thank you for that peace.

I am also sure, Rivers people are happy about that. And “The way Mr. Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have collapsed completely. Fortunately for us, they took him away and brought you

(Ogunsakin) and you restored calm. You tried to create a platform for all parties to have access to reach you. And as you go, please, go with that same spirit. The Police in Rivers State, should discharge their responsibility as it concerns the protection of lives and property.”

Amaechi also advised the new Commissioner of Police, Bature, to ensure social justice rather than partisan politics, warning that the absence of social justice may breed resistance and breakdown of law and order in the state.

“If you keep to social justice, you will be the friend of everybody. The Rivers State Government will continue to support you, once that is kept.

When we found out that Mbu was a card-carrying member of PDP, we

stopped funding the police. And they were not too happy. But, we will fund the Nigerian Police if you continue to maintain your responsibility,” Amaechi said.

Also speaking, Bature said he would provide adequate security for the citizens of the state and also ensure socioeconomic development through enduring democracy.

He equally called for the subsisting co-operation between the Rivers State Government and the police to be sustained.

Earlier, Ogunsakin said he had discharged his duties as a professional police officer since he assumed office on February 12 in Rivers State.

He commended Amaechi for the co-operation rendered by his administration.

Eight privatisation reform bills underway, says BPE Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

D L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio; Chairman of Business Council on Africa-UK, Mr. Patrick Orr and Publisher of NewsAfrica, Mr. Moffat Ekoriko, during the conferment of the 2014 NewsAfrica Leader of the Year Award on the governor in London.

Military reviews strategies to reclaim Borno, Adamawa towns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

rounding towns, to sustain the gains?"

It was gathered that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, were "currently directing operations at different parts of the terrorravaged North East zone."

When asked whether the service chiefs' involvement was a subtle loss of confidence on the frontline commands, especially the 7 Division of the Army, which was specially created to contain the insurgency, the source said: "No; that may not be true, as the reason, I think, is to show deeper commitment to the counter-insurgency war and also to boost the morale of troops and to let them know that even their ogas (bosses) are united in this reclamation and reaffirmation battle."

Already, more helicop-

ter gunships, fighter jets and other "containment" equipment are said to have been received and deployed, to bolster the full-scale war against the outlawed Boko Haram sect.

Meanwhile, a report yesterday by the Agence France Presse (AFP) said Cameroun’s claims this week that two Tuareg fighters were among the dead when troops bombarded Boko Haram positions were being probe to determine the group’s links to the wider jihadi network.

Cameroun’s Communication, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who announced the killing of the insurgents, did not elaborate on the nationality of the foreigners, who were among the more than 100 killed during an attempted cross-border raid at the weekend.

But with the Tuareg spread across Mali and Algeria, which are both home to Islamist groups, the claim is coming under close examination.

Coordinator of the Nigeria Security Network of Analysts, Mr. Andrew Noakes, said it was “plausible” that Boko Haram had fighters from beyond the lands populated by its Kanuri tribal base.

“There is most likely a relationship of convenience between Boko Haram and AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), which may stretch to sourcing militants from outside the insurgency’s traditional area of recruitment.

“But we should retain a healthy degree of scepticism about the particular claim of Tuaregs fighting with Boko Haram,” he told AFP. Security sources in Maiduguri said Boko Haram had hired mercenaries for some time from neighbouring countries such as Chad, Niger and Cameroun.

“These fighters are paid allowances after every raid, which ranges between N50,000 and

N150,000 naira for each fighter,” the source said.

Also yesterday, the Bama Development Foundation (BADEFO) called on the Federal Government and the military to expedite action towards recapturing Bama that has been under the control of Boko Haram for the past 11 days.

The association at a press conference in Maiduguri, addressed by its Chairman, Mallam Mohammed Hassan, said the town was still under the control of the insurgents while many people had lost their lives.

He said women, children and the aged, who could not flee, were trapped in the Boko Haram-controlled town.

“Those in captivity are under serious trauma, starvation, suffering from various diseases and some, nursing various degrees of injuries while on other hand those that have lost their lives are yet to be buried,” he added.

irector-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has said there are eight critical reform bills pending before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for transmission to the National Assembly to be passed in to law anytime soon.

The bills are: Railway Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Inland Waterways Bill and Ports & Harbour Reform Bill.

Others are Road Sec-

tor Reform Bill, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, Roads Fund Bill and Postal Sector Reform Bill.

If passed into law, the bills will liberate the sectors, separate the roles of policy formulation from regulation and set up independent regulators for the sectors.

Dikki spoke in Abuja at a meeting with Department for International Development (DFID) and other development partners like the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Senate may approve Jonathan's $1bn loan request on Tuesday Chukwu David Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan’s request for $1 billion external borrowing to enable the government prosecute the on-going war against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East may receive the approval of the Senate on Tuesday.

The National Assembly will resume plenary on Tuesday, September 16 after eight weeks annual vacation.

The Senate had on Thursday July 17 proceeded on two months annual recess without

considering the request

by Jonathan to take a foreign loan of $1 billion.

On the eve of the recess, the President had written to the two chambers of the National Assembly, seeking permission to borrow $1 billion external loan so as to upgrade equipment for the nation's Armed Forces.

When contacted by New Telegraph on the issue, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, said that he would formerly hold the pre-resumption press briefing on Monday, September 15.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

7

Ebola: South African woman quarantined at Lagos airport lOAU students test negative lVarsity bars Liberia students Wole Shadare and Adeolu Adeyemo

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here was panic at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday when a female South African national identified as Elizabeth Maria Folswe was isolated for proper screening for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Investigations revealed that the female passenger came to Nigeria aboard Royal Air Maroc in the afternoon.

Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the development.

“A South African national suspected of showing symptoms of Ebola at the international airport was quarantined at the isolation ward in Lagos while her case is being investigated,” he told New Telegraph last night.

A worker with Port Health Services at the airport told one of our correspondents that the

suspect was a transit passenger who arrived the country from Morocco.

"This person has been in Guinea and Sierra Leone since April. She has symptoms," Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh, director of Port Health Services at the Lagos airport said, adding that the test was likely to last a few days.

According to a reliable source, the Ebola suspect had passed through all the normal processes including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and moved to the transit lounge of the airport to have a drink.

He explained that the woman fell ill at the lounge where port health personnel attended to her.

The source added that immediately the personnel at the airport screened her with the infrared thermometer and confirmed that the transit passenger had high temperature, one of the symptoms of Ebola, she was isolated.

Her isolation from the long queue instantly led to curiosity among other passengers, leading to pandemonium.

The passenger was instantly isolated and conveyed out of the airport in an ambulance.

In another development, the result of tests carried out to determine the status of the female student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife suspected of being infected with Ebola, has proved negative.

Also, the authority of the university has said returning students of the OAU from Liberia would not be permitted to resume on campus for now so as not to take risk on the EVD. On the status of the female OAU student, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bamitale Omole said confirmatory Ebola tests on her proved negative.

According to him, with the negative prove from the Ebola Isolation Centre in Lagos in

collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the suspected student did not have the disease, she can never be stigmatised with EVD. Omole stated that the student is free to continue with her academic pursuit.

In a related development, the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said that any country under the threat of Ebola is losing its sovereignty.

The governor made

the remark in Osogbo after a meeting of stakeholders on the prevention of the disease.

He said: "Most of the countries affected by Ebola are almost losing their sovereignty because of the disease.

"We should not see Ebola as an ordinary health challenge but a situation that can be seen as a security problem for a state or a nation. That is why I have called all the security chiefs and all stakeholders to this meeting.

Family, colleagues pay tributes to Adadevoh John Edu

S

takeholders in the medical profession in the country yesterday paid tributes to the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who died of the contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

T hey described Adadevoh’s death as painful.

Adadevoh, a consultant endocrinologist at the First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos died of EVD after contracting the disease from an American-Liberian primary contact, Mr. Patrick Sawyer.

Family members, friends, colleagues and associates including Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Dr. Bode Koyombi, Dr. Efunbo Osekun, Dr. Yemi Johnson, Mrs Violet Ketshow, and Dr. Mike Abah among others attended the Night of Tributes.

At the event, they described her as “loving, fearless, committed, tireless and selfless servant in her field of calling, even to death.”

Delivering a sermon, Daniel Ijason, a Catholic

priest, described the late medical doctor’s death as a loss to humanity.

According to the priest, Adadevoh gave her life in order to save thousands of lives that would have been infected by Ebola, if she had yielded to the request of Sawyer, to travel to Calabar, Cross River State capital, for an ECOWAS conference.

“Her death was a glorious exit,” Ijason said.

Also, songs were rendered by Old Queens School, Ibadan for the departed soul. Her son, Bankole Cardoso, also paid tributes to Adadevoh.

The late consultant and other staff in the hospital provided care for Sawyer after he was rushed under health emergency to the hospital, where he died six days after admission.

Adadevoh was lauded for her role in resisting pressure from the Liberian Embassy to allow Sawyer proceed to Calabar for an ECOWAS conference, the reason for which he visited Nigeria.

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Bisi and Deputy Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Services, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Makun Samuel, during the collection of the newly-introduced e-passport by the governor in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Nigeria needs N485trn to deliver quality infrastructure –Minister Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

T

he Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC), Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, has disclosed that Nigeria needs about N485 trillion to deliver quality infrastructure across the country.

The minister stated this yesterday in Abuja, at a press briefing on the partnership for implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).

Suleiman stated that the NIIMP is a policy document of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for accelerated infrastructure development.

He said: “The NIIMP aims to raise Nigeria’s

stock of infrastructure from the current 20-25 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to at least 70 per cent by 2043. It identifies the investment required to bridge and expand Nigeria’s infrastructure.

About $3.05 trilllion (N485 trillion) will be required to deliver quality infrastructure across different asset classes, including energy, transport, ICT, housing, water, agriculture, mining, social infrastructure, vital registration and security over the 30-year period.

“For the first five years of the NIIMP (2014-2018), an investment of $166.1 (N26.9 trillion) will be required to deliver quality infrastructure,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the NIIMP is

a product of a highly elaborate and inclusive process. “Valuable contributions were made by a wide range of stakeholders including those in the public and private sectors, international development partners, professional bodies, academia and civil society,” he said.

Suleiman hinted that the private sector is expected to drive the implementation of the master plan in the long run.

“In terms of financing, the public sector, comprising the Federal Government and states, will provide 52 per cent of the total investment requirement for the first five years while the private sector provides the remaining 48 per cent.

“It is in this spirit that the National Planning

Commission entered into a strategic partnership with the African Investment Summit Group (AISG) and Initiative for Infrastructure and Modern City Development (IIMPCD). Through this partnership the NIMP will be marketed to the world,” the minister said In his address, the Principal Consulting Partner of AISG, Mr. Onuoha Nnachi opined that the need to enhance infrastructure development is a key factor in the economy.

He stated that it is the AISG responsibility to take the NIIPM to the public.

He announced that the pre-summit events will come up regularly before the summit proper wherein the master plan will be unveiled to investors.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Ekwunife: UNEP's report on Ogoni may become outdated USELESS After several years of struggles and the resultant attention globally, the Ogoni may yet get their due Onwuka Nzeshi

ABUJA

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Environment yesterday warned

that the report of United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP) on decades of oil spills and environmental pollution in Ogoniland, Niger Delta region may soon become outdated and irrelevant to Nigeria.

Chairman of the Committee on Environment in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, gave the warning when she met with a delegation of the Ogoni community, who visited the parliament to express their

concern on the unending delays in the implementation of the report.

The Ogoni people had for several years been at loggerheads with multinational oil companies, whom they accused of exploring and exploiting hydrocarbons from their land without due regards to the protection of the environment and the livelihood of the communities. At the request of the Federal Government of Nigeria, UNEP conducted an independent assessment of the environ-

ment and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland and made recommendations for remediation. The report was released in August 2011 and three years after, the government is yet to commence the comprehensive cleanup of the spill sites to restore the polluted environment in Ogoniland.

Ekwunife said that the recommended cleanup programme, which was meant to put an end to all forms of oil contamination in the Niger Delta region

should have been done by now as more delays would only worsen the situation and further complicate the health hazards associated with it. She said that fast tracking the national collaboration on the issue was critical to give the Ogoni people a new lease of life which they desire and have waited for so long.

Ekwunife acknowledged the efforts being made by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison- Madueke, to ensure the implemen-

tation of the report but urged the government to expedite action as the impacted communities were running out of patience.

"The continued delay in the implementation of the recommendations will not only undermine the livelihoods of the Ogoni communities, but will also cause the pollution footprint to expand. In the long run, the findings of the UNEP study, which recommended the clean-up will become outdated, she added.

N2bn CBN fund divides Ogun Assembly Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

A

Widow,Mrs.Obioma Igwe (left), being consoled by Hon. Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during a condolence visit to late Mr. Dimgba Igwe’s family in Lagos…yesterday PHOTOS: GODWIN IREKHE

61%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Cyprus in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

59,125

The total number of internet users in Andorra in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

28.3%

The percentage rise of capital importation of Nigeria in 2013 over the previous year.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

plenary sitting of the Ogun State House of Assembly ended abruptly yesterday following a sharp disagreement by lawmakers over the N2billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF).

Thirteen of the 26-member House kicked against what they described as "unlawful passage" of the House Resolution 232/2014 which approved the participation of the state in the apex bank's MSMEDF. The Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, presided over the plenary held at the Assembly complex, which had 19 lawmakers in attendance.

While a group of lawmakers kicked against the process of approving the fund, others loyal to the Speaker backed the approval.

The G13 members, who signed a statement rejecting the process for passing the CBN development fund

are Samson Onademuren, Olufemi Allen-Taylor, Abiodun Akovoyon, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, Obafemi Olowo-Oloja and Joseph Adegbesan.

OthersareSalmonAdeleke, Olusegun Elemide, Elizabeth Anifowoshe, John Obafemi, Job Akintan, Bowale Solaja andRemmyHazzan.

Addressing reporters shortly after the plenary, Hazzan, who is a former Deputy Speaker, said the passage of theresolutionwas"illegal,disorderly, unconstitutional and completely ultra vires."

The lawmaker, representing Odogbolu State Constituency, argued that the resolution should not have been passed with simple majority but through two-third majority.

He explained that an interface meeting over the issue between the House and relevant ministries of finance and commerce, as well as Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) ended inconclusively before members proceeded for the plenary.

Ebola: Shell donates ambulances,

Presidency releases N16bn for GGW project

NULGE angry with confab trucks, medical supplies outcome of National Conference

lHassan as acting DG

Yekeen Nurudeen

Lateef Ibrahim

Abuja

T

he menace of desert encroachment and associated ecological problems in the country may soon become a thing of the past as the presidency has released over N16 billion for the early take-off the Great Green Wall, GGW. The GGW programme is primarily aimed at combating the menace of desert encroachment and addressing the various associated ecological problems that are bedevilling the country.

The release of the money was confirmed in a letter dated August,15 by the Minister of Environment, Mrs Lawrencia Laraba Mallam to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The letter was sent through the Vice

President, Alhaji Mohammed Namadi Sambo.

Following this approval, an Executive Bill has been drafted and duly vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice towards the enactment of an enabling law for the establishment of a National Agency for the Great Green Wall and Desertification Control as an implementation Agency and to give the requisite legal backing for the programme and its implementation.

The New Telegraph reliably gathered that a Federal Executive Council (FEC) memorandum is already being prepared to facilitate the consideration of the draft bill by FEC before being transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

Abuja

L

eadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) yesterday said that its' struggle for local government autonomy still persists, even though the 774 councils nationwide, survived threats of being scrapped at the just concluded National Conference.

National President of the Union, Ibrahim Khaled, who made this observation in Abuja while speaking to journalists in reaction to recent moves by the Federal Government to implement the resolutions of the conference, noted that NULGE was not absolutely comfortable with some of the recommendations churned out from the conference.

He said the conference failed in addressing the issue of autonomy for the respectivecouncils,whichtheunion hadbeenclamouringforlong.

Khaled also observed that overbearinginfluenceof state governmentswasstillimpeding the effective development at the grassroot level; a situation he said, the union expected the conference to address.

"I want to say that we are still on course concerning our struggle as a union and the fact that the result of the National Conference was not palatable to us," he said.

"The position of the union in terms of local government autonomy does not mean the struggle is over. We believe as a trade union what we are pursuing is a genuine course and that all we are saying in another term is that let us have an inclusive arrangement of governance.

Shell Petroleum DevelTofheopment Company (SPDC) Nigeria has lent its sup-

port to Federal Government’s effort to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease by donating ambulances, trucks, medical supplies and internet facilities to the Lagos and Port Harcourt Ebola Centres.

The Media Relations Manager of the oil giant, Mr. Precious Okolobo, said in a statement yesterday that the company’s anti-Ebola support initiative started in August and is ongoing with personal donations by staff into a special internal Ebola Fund.

“The donations made since August 16, 2014, include an ambulance to the National Ebola Emergency Operations Centre at Yaba, Lagos and another one to the Port Harcourt centre.

Two trucks with three

months fuel supply were also sent to the centre in Port Harcourt along with medical supplies to the health authorities and the centres in Lagos and Port Harcourt,” Okolobo said.

He added that SPDC offered IT support to the centre in Port Harcourt, including six units of internet facilities and sixmonths subscription. The facilities, according to him, would help to back up the internet connectivity available at the centre.

“We are offering support wherever we can.

Through the donations of medical items, vehicles and IT equipment, we have joined hands with the Federal Ministry of Health in efforts to bring the Ebola Virus Disease under control," Okolobo quoted SPDC’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, as saying.

news

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

9

Igwe: FRSC boss orders investigation Johnchucks Onuanyim and Obinna Odoh Abuja

Federal Road Safety TtheheCorps has condemned reckless conduct of the driver, who hit the former Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Limited, the late Dimgba Igwe which led to his death.

The corps, therefore directed the Lagos State Sector Commander to expedite investigation to unravel the identity of the hit and run driver, who perpetrated such wicked action and bring the same to book.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the agency and signed by Stella Uchegbu, Corps Public Education Officer.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in Abuja, according to the statement, described the sudden death of Igwe as a colossal loss to the entire nation and media profession in particular.

Oyeyemi frowned at the

reckless conduct of the supposed hit and run driver and regretted that even in the face of the FRSC’s sustained drive to address the menace of reckless driving in the country, there are still recalcitrant drivers, with penchant for contravening traffic rules and regulations.

The FRSC Corps Marshal commiserated with the family of Igwe and the management of the Sun Newspaper and prayed God to give the immediate family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

"It will be recalled from media reports that the late Dimgba Igwe was jogging in the early hours of last Saturday close to his house when a speeding driver, knocked him down and disappeared without stopping."

Also in a condolence message, chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Patrick Okomiso, called on the Federal Government to probe extensively the failed Circuit Camera Television, CCTV installation contract.

Lagos LGs demand increased funding for security operatives Muritala Ayinla

he 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State yesterday demanded increased funding for the police and other security operatives in the country.

The body of council chairmen, popularly known as 'Conference 57' also said there was no way the nation can tackle security challenges without adequate funding of the security agencies.

In a communique issued after the two-day workshop on security, the council chairman said the recent developments in the country called for more sincere financial commitment from the Federal Government.

The communiqué read in part: “The following can be used as strategies for security re-engineer-

T

ing in Nigeria: Community policing, security consciousness and re-awakening, adequate funding to cater for the provision of modernized security equipment and other relevant logistic support, intelligence gathering i.e. investigation/ thorough surveillance and speedy disposition of criminal proceedings.”

The chairmen, in the communiqué, also called for effective security communication at the grassroots level in order to provide a far reaching security awareness at the level.

“The grassroots is unequivocally the lowest ebb of human interaction. So, emphasis and great attention should be geared towards the provision of a far reaching security awareness at this level,"the communiqué emphasized.

Ebonyi, Abia may settle boundary disputes Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

and Abia states Ethebonyi have resolved to settle disputes bedevilling them for more than 10 years now.

The states, during the joint meeting of officials from the two states and headed by the deputy governors of Ebonyi, Engr Dave Umahi and Abia, Sir Emeka Ananaba, held at Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, revealed that it was necessary for both states to enjoy its existing peace along the boundary.

It was gathered that four local government Areas from Abia State and two from Ebonyi State, who are involved in the land disputes, have since 2004 suffered setbacks.

In a communiqué signed by the deputy governors of the two states issued and made available to New Telegraph shortly after the meeting, it was resolved that the stakeholders of the two states should encourage good neighbourliness through proper information dissemination.

L-R: Deputy Director, Information, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Ms. Marilyn Ogar; Co-ordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri and Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, during a press conference on the nation’s security matters in Abuja…yesterday

Ilomuanya: Imo traditional rulers under siege BATTLE The war of words between Governor Okorocha and Eze Ilomuanya has continued to drag Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

D

eposed Chairman of the South East Coucil of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, has accused Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha of intimidating traditional rulers in the state, ‘using Eze Samuel Ohiri of Obi-Orodo

4,287

Autonomous Community as a willing vehicle’.

Ilomuanya, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Kennedy Eweama, stated that Okorocha’s assault on him was also extended to other traditional rulers with an obvious intention to stifle divergent views and coerce the monarchs into doing his bidding, especially as the 2015 elections approaches.

“Our cherished cultural traditions, norms and values as Ndigbo are on the verge of being pushed into extinction by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Never in the history of Ndigbo as a people, has there ever been a governor, who has displayed so

The number of pending asylum seekers of Gabon at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

much disrespect and disregard to traditional rulers in Igboland like Governor Okorocha is presently doing”, the Monarch lamented.

Eweama, in a statement, narrated the intimidation of another monarch, Eze Chinedu Osuebi, for his refusal to recognize Eze Samuel Ohiri as the Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze in line with various court judgments to that effect.

The statement read partly: “As a lawyer, Eze Osuebi appreciates the implication of running foul of the law, especially against subsisting court judgments. He understands that Eze Ohiri is

-11.75%

The growth rate of air travel passengers of Calabar airport (domestic wing) (20122013) Source: National Bureau of Statistics

standing trial in two separate courts in Imo State for Contempt of Court and for impersonating to be chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze.” Ilomuanya described as regrettable, efforts to force Eze Samuel Ohiri on Imo monarchs, who know the true situation of things especially the position of the law on the matter.

Ilomuanya firmly condemned the query issued to Eze Osuebi by the Mbaitoli Council of Ndi-Eze allegedly under the inducement of the state, for refusing to go against valid judicial pronouncements and described same as a mockery and an affront to the rule of law.

92

The sex ratio of women to 100 men (international migrants) in Chad in 2010.

Source: Un.org

NUC arrests fake professor Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

A

man suspected to be a fake professor from universities in Nigeria and Ghana has been apprehended by the Management of National Universities Commission (NUC) while trying to apply for the establishment of a private university to be sited in Lagos State.

A source within NUC, who revealed this to New Telegraph said the man, who gave his name as Ambi P.N, claimed to be a Professor of Statistics.

Findings revealed that the fake professor had last year approached NUC with a proposal for the establish-

ment of Nigeria-British University.

But the game was over for him when the Commission invited officials of the proposed university for interaction based on the letter of intent to establish a private University earlier written to the Commission.

The letter was dated Monday23December,2013andwas signed by one Rev. Dr. Paul Emmanuel. A lawyer, whose name was not disclosed, was also part of the team.

The interaction, it was gathered, took place at the Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium at the Commission's headquarters, Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday 9 September, 2014.

New Telegraph learnt

that the Commission invited the team to ascertain the level of commitment of the promoter of the proposed university to decide whether or not to issue application forms.

The interaction, according to NUC’s Director of Information, Ibrahim Yakasai, who confirmed the arrest, was part of the process leading to the award of licence to operate a private university, He explained that it was during the course of the interaction that NUC's Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, sought to know how the said Ambi P.N. became a Professor but he however gave conflicting accounts raising suspicion.

In one account, Yaka-

sai said the suspected fake professor claimed to have obtained his Professorship from the Obong University, Obong Ntak Akwa Ibom State and studied at the University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana up to PhD level.

In another version, he also claimed to have studied at the University of Ewe, Ghana and on a third account, he claimed to be a staff of Covenant University on sabbatical leave at Obong University.

He said NUC immediately made enquiries from both universities he mentioned in Nigeria, both denied knowledge of him prompting his apprehension and arrest by the police authorities.

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com; otuntise@yahoo.co.uk

0802 393 8212

How we robbed passengers, by suspects Juliana Francis

F

our suspects have told men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, how they used to drug, rob and throw their victims off moving buses.

The suspects, identified as Suleiman Ibrahim (36), Azeez Olatunde (29), Kehinde Fatai (32) and Kayode Orelope (42), were recently picked up at their hideout by detectives from FSARS. The gang used to pick victims along the road in a commercial bus, spray a gas-like substance in the bus, forcing many to fall asleep or become weak.

Ibrahim, a father of three, said they knew how to spray in such a way that it would not affect members of the gang.

A police source said the suspects were arrested after the Commander in charge of FSARS, Mr Chris Ezike, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), detailed a team of operatives led by Inspector Oluwamimo Banjoko to their hideout.

The hideout is at

Some of the suspects

Mushin in Lagos, where the gang leader, Ibrahim, was arrested.

Orelope, who had earlier worked as a ‘conductor’ with Ibrahim, denied being a member of the gang.

But Ibrahim confessed that for more than seven years, he had led a gang which used to drug passengers, rob them of cash and valuables before throwing them off moving vehicles.

According to him, he used to carry out his operations along major

Don’t expand Gaskiya Road, community leader tells Fashola

expressways like OshodiApapa, Mile 2- Orile and Oshodi-Mushin.

Ibrahim added that his criminal trade had on two occasions sent him to Ikoyi, Minimum and Maximum prisons.

He said: “I had to stop the trade because of my prison experience. But I came back to the trade recently because I found it difficult to feed my wife and three children.”

Ibrahim also said that he once belonged to a gang which lost three

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

two years after Pastor Emmanuel Aduba, BImoarely the Special Adviser on Administration to the State House of Assembly Speaker, Chief Ben-

jamin Uwajumogu, was gruesomely assassinated, his successor; Hon. Kingsley Nkemka, was shot dead by gunmen on Tuesday night.

Nkemka, a former House of Assembly member, was an aspirant for the Mbaitoli/Ikeduru federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There have been conflicting tales as to how the former legislator was killed.

While one version claimed Nkemka had gone home to his constituency to clear pending obligations and was returning to Owerri when his vehicle was blocked at Nwaorieubi area of Mbaitoli Local Government by five assailants on motorcycles.

All five assassins were said to have opened fire on the vehicle until their victim died.

Another version, according to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Speaker, Mr Chukwuemeka Ahaneku, states that after the plenary of the House on Tuesday, Nkemka travelled to some of the electoral wards in Mbaitoli which are part of the federal constituency he was aspiring to represent.

The statement reads in part: “Immediately after the visit, Nkemka reportedly made a brief stopover at the popular T-junction, Ohaohia Mbieri, to also meet with one of his facilitators who had called him between 8 and 9pm.

“While interacting with the said facilitator and his campaign manager, the hoodlums numbering about five suddenly barged into the scene, kicked out his facilitator, ransacked his pockets and shot him on his ankle, while ordering him into the booth of his Toyota car where they finally shot him at close range.”

The office of the Speaker has also said that several arrests had been made in connection with the murder. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Andrew Enwerem, said the police were leaving no stone unturned in getting to the root of the assassination.

‘I left Army for robbery because of poor remuneration’ Shola Adefuwa

has told officers community leader in Ijora-Badiya, ApapaAcialsuspect and men of the SpeA(LCDA), Iganmu Local Government Development Area Anti-Robbery Squad has implored Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to critically review the planned expansion of Gaskiya Road to a dual carriageway.

The community leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Alatise, said in a statement yesterday that the road extension should not lead to demolition of houses.

Alatise, who had earlier led many of the residents of the area to the council secretariat, said that while the residents appreciated the efforts of the government to extend its massive road development programme to the area, Fashola should not allow such project to render many people homeless.

The statement reads in part: “From feelers that we got from officials of the state Ministry of Works during a recent stakeholders meeting on the road project, more than 1,000 houses are being pencilled for demolition.

“This will lead to social dislocation of thousands of residents of this area who are largely peasants, factory workers and petty traders.

“No amount of compensation can assuage the pains of loss of their property and ancestral homes.”

Alatise urged the governor to consider re-construction and expansion of the road and turn it into a “one way” alongside its parallel Fadami Obale Road, with one serving as entry and the other exit route from the high-density settlement”.

members during a shootout with the police.

He said: “Three of my former gang members, Ganiyu, Rilwanu and Ibrahim (my name sake) were all slain by police bullets in operations,” said Ibrahim.

A police source said the gang had a commercial bus for carrying out its operations.

“It is that bus which they used to pick passengers and relieve them of their cash and other valuables,” the source said.

Another Imo Speaker’s adviser murdered

(SARS), Ikeja, Lagos that he left the Army and embraced robbery because of his poor salary.

The suspect, Patrick Okoh, who was a sergeant in the Army, is a member of a five-man gang arrested for snatching trucks carrying fuel on the highway.

Okoh explained that he was earning a meagre salary of N33,000 in 2009 and decided to quit. He, however, tried his hands on clearing and forwarding before he finally took to the life of crime.

Okoh and Aniekan Emmanuel, who used to pose as a naval officer, were part of the gang.

The duo used to wear Army and naval uniforms to make the snatching of the trucks easier. Once the

drivers are flagged down by the men in uniform, they would stop; unaware they had fallen into the hands of armed robbers.

The suspects are Alex Ugboagu (35), Evans Boniface, Emmanuel, Okoh and Izuchukwu Udeagwu.

They were arrested on July 21 at Iyana-Isashi.

The police said that the suspects had carried out a series of such operations.

A police source said: “The gang’s first robbery operation was in August 2013. They robbed a truck around Anthony Village, which was conveying 33,000 litres of PMS. They snatched it at gunpoint.

The truck was diverted and taken to a filling station located in Ikorodu. They sold the content for N1.5 million.

“Their second operation was in March this year. They snatched the truck on Apapa Road.

They usually attack, using a Hilux van and Ford

Members of the gang

Ranger. They also made use of three AK47 rifles.

They sold the second truck also conveying PMS to a filling station in Ajah also for N1.5 million.”

The gang had also hijacked trucks at IyanaOworo, Oshod-Apapa, Sagamu, Mile 12, SangoOta, among other areas.

The police have since recovered one of the

gang’s operational vehicles as well as Army and naval uniforms.

Ugboagu said: “The normal price for a truck loaded with fuel is N3 million, but we used to sell it to filling stations for N1.5 million. I collected N360,000. I used the money to pay for my house rent.

I used the remaining for the upkeep of my family.”

METRO

Friday, September 12, 2014

11

Truck kills two in Owerri Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

A

lorry conveying blocks yesterday ran into a shopping plaza near the Imo State University (IMSU) Junction, Owerri, and crushed two persons to death.

A witness said that the lorry, which was descending the hill on Ugwu-Orji Road, lost its brakes and while trying not to hit the huge roundabout structure at IMSU Junction, rammed into the shopping plaza.

Two persons were feared dead while two others were suspected to have been trapped under the rubbles.

Several persons were injured

I’ll build on Manko’s legacy, says Lagos CP new Lagos State Tlice,he Commissioner of PoMr Kayode Aderan-

ti, yesterday vowed to do everything possible to protect lives and property in the state.

Aderanti made the vow while taking over the mantle of leadership from the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone II, Onikan, Lagos, Mr Umar Manko, who had piloted the affairs of the state since 2012.

Manko, who addressed journalists after the handing over, urged policemen, media, stakeholders and the public to extend their support to his successor.

He described Aderanti as a highly seasoned officer and “well-fitted for the job”.

Promising to hold a special press conference soon to announce his plans for further securing Ogun and Lagos states, which

structure before losing control and running into the plaza.

“For three years, the government had been working on the roundabout without completing the work.

The work is rough, unprofessional and has become merely a piece of showmanship at the expense of human lives,” an angry man at the scene of the accident said.

The accident caused a gridlock on Okigwe Road and the IMSU Junction axis.

At press time, men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), commuters and passers-by were still trying to rescue those trapped in the rubbles.

Lagos targets rapists, others, inaugurates violence response team

The scene of the accident

Juliana Francis

while goods worth thousands of naira were destroyed.

Rescue effort started immediately but onlookers became angry when the severed arm of one of the victims was recovered.

Some people blamed the government for locating the huge roundabout structure at the foot of a hill thus narrowing the road at IMSU Junction.

“This disaster is as a result of failure in planning, poor work design and insensitivity to the plight of road users. How can you plant such a huge structure at the foot of a hill in the guise of roundabout?

“It is common sense that the truck driver must have been trying not to run into the roundabout

are under his jurisdiction, against crime and criminalities, Manko said had told the new police commissioner a lot of many things about Lagos State.

He said: “I know that the new CP is another capable hand. All I want is for everyone to give him the support they gave me to succeed, so that he can function well.

“We had initial challenges of violent crimes.

But we were equal to the task and we solved those crimes. In Lagos, we keep developing new strategies to make the city safer.”

Aderanti, who said he would brief journalists about his ideas and ideals to further secure the state, after he had settled down, added that he would do more to ensure safety of lives and property.

He promised to build on the legacies of Manko and intensify the fight against all forms of crimes and criminalities in the state.

Muritala Ayinla o check growing incidence of Tyesterday rape, Lagos State Government said that it would embark

on aggressive prosecution of sexual offences and domestic abuse.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, disclosed this while inaugurating the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team at the state Secretariat, Alausa.

He said the government, in conjunction with other human rights organisations, would work on the factors militating against prosecution of perpetrators.

The Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, had earlier advocated life imprisonment for convicted rapists and paedophiles to prevent sexual harassment against women and children.

Ipaye said in addition to creation

of a forensic laboratory to establish evidence against the culprit, the government was also considering training of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of sexual offences and domestic violence.

He added that the police, judges, magistrates and public prosecutors in the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) would also be trained in handling the matters so as to reduce the delay in the dispensation of justice for the victims.

Ipaye, who said impunity was what had driven the menace in the past, disclosed that some perpetrators felt that nobody could touch them especially when the victim was poor.

To stem the tide of the crime in the state, the commissioner said the identified requirements of the team would be implemented with a view to halt the menace.

He said: “Dedicated telephone

Ipaye

lines would also be made available to members of the public; particularly victims who may which to call to register a complaint.

“An e-mail address has also been created but needs to be well publicised, to further increase access channels to the service provided by the team.”

Beggar disguises as pregnant woman Muritala Ayinla of the Lagos State Task Ocialfficials Force on Environmental and SpeOffence Unit yesterday arrested

a 29-year-old beggar for disguising as a pregnant woman.

The suspect, identified as Bukola Kalejaiye, was arrested under the popular Ikeja Bridge while pretending to be heavily pregnant and soliciting alms from unsuspecting commuters.

Kalejaiye designed a pillow to fake pregnancy and defraud unsuspecting motorists and passers-by at Ikeja.

She was apprehended following a tip-off by some pedestrians in the area who alerted the officials of the task force.

Kalajaiye told our correspondent that she had been in the illegal business for over six months, saying she was not the only one collecting alms under false pretence at Ikeja.

According to her, she ventured into the illicit business when she had nothing to do to make money.

He said: “I live in Ikeja, I’m into this because I don’t have any job.

The only place I go to beg for alms is Ikeja ‘Under Bridge’. Some will give me N50, others give less or more. Sometimes, I make N400 daily. I use the money for my upkeep.”

The beggar, who hails from Ikare, Ondo State, claimed she lost her husband 10 years ago, adding that she got married at the age of 14.

When asked how many of them were involved in the fraud, she said did not know them.

She said: “All of us gather under the bridge to pretend and beg for alms. I tell people to assist and I disguise as a pregnant woman because I believe if they don’t see that I’m pregnant, they may not be willing to assist me.”

The Chairman of the task force, Bayo Sulaiman, said the government would clamp down on all others begging under false pretence.

He added that alms begging was not allowed in the state, but said it was even more worrisome that some people were disguising in order to defraud the public.

Abducted trader’s body found near river Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

body of a trader of Igbo extracT15hetion, who was killed a week ago by gunmen at the Tomanyiin Market,

Manko (left) and Aderanti after the handing over yesterday

was recovered yesterday at the bridgehead of River Katsina-Ala close to the Ugbema junction in Benue State.

The body of the victim, Leonard Okorie, who was selling fertiliser, agro-chemicals and salt, was tied with ropes before it was dumped by the roadside.

It was gathered that most shop owners at the market also closed their stores when they heard the news of the discovery.

Police rushed to the scene to remove the body which they took to a morgue in Katsina-Ala. Unidentified gunmen, who disguised as men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Thursday last week, stormed the market, shooting sporadically and later took the late Okorie to an unknown destination.

Kalejaiye

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Polling units: Fayemi demands fairness from Jega Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on yesterday said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, must ensure fairness to all sections of the country in the creation of new polling units ahead of the 2015

general elections.

Addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti while applying for his 64-page epassport at the Nigeria Immigration Service, he noted that Jega might not have committed any offence if the step was to make people have easier access to voting centres, adding that it would be unfair if any section of the country was favoured

$US166.9bn

The nominal GDP of Philippines (IMF) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

ahead of others.

Fayemi said: “INEC is in the eyes of the storm. INEC must not just be fair, it must be seen to be fair because it has a duty to communicate what it has been doing to ordinary Nigerians in a very clear, concise way that cannot be controverted.

“At a first glance, if you hear that out of about 30,000 units, over 20,000 will go up north and 8,000

80%

The percentage of underdeveloped technical potential for hydropower in Australia/Oceania.

Source: Unesco.org

will go down south, you will feel what is going on?

Let’s try and get a sense of what is going on here.

According to Fayemi, “INEC has a duty to demonstrate to Nigerians that this is not meant to give advantage to any region or any political party or to any individual.

“But if it is to give advantage to any region, to any political

party or to any individual in the 2015 race, we must query INEC and Nigerians have raised the alarm about that to know precisely what it is all about.

“We are at a critical position of our nation’s political development and it is important that INEC is not just seen to be fair because there is a lot of manipulation that INEC

768m

Niger's FAAC's earnings drop by N10bn

The number of mobile-cellular subscriptions of Europe region in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Dan Atori MINNA

Niger State GovernTit hement said yesterday that has recorded a shortfall

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido (right), receiving the governor- elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose at Dutse International Airport… yesterday

loud mouth Cosmas Ndukwe benefited from the immediate past administration in Umuahia, but his tongue is on free will Our Reporter

A

group, the Abia Youths Coalition for Justice and Good Governance (AYCJGG) has cautioned the Chief of Staff to the governor of Abia State, Mr. Cosmas Ndukwe over his recent unrestrained attacks on a former governor of the State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

The group said that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Speaking against the backdrop of a recent statement credited to Ndukwe that he was de-

Watch your tongue, group tells Abia CoS nied commissionership appointment during Kalu’s administration because he refused to go to Okija shrine, the president of AYCJGG, Amonye Ugo, said the CoS was economical with the truth in his failed attempt to paint the former governor black.

Ugo said that at the time in question, Ndukwe as the General Manager of a better funded Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), was well positioned than commissioners in the state and wondered why he wanted to be a commissioner if he was telling the world the truth.

The AYCJGG President said if not that Ndukwe was mischievous, which has remained his trademark and for which he earned

his present appointment, how would he have been gunning for the post of a commissioner for which he said he was denied when, in fact, he used every available means to scheme out an international company brought in by the previous administration to manage refuse in the state, so that he would remain as ASEPA general manager and take over the company's work.

Ugo then asked; “Could it be possible that the devil would refuse to go to his house if and when requested to do so.

Who is deceiving who?”

Ugo said the issue of Okija shrine was permanently put to rest and Kalu exonerated when in 2007 Gov. Orji himself denied on oath before the then Abia state Gov-

ernorship and House of Assembly Election Tribunal, that neither he nor any member of Kalu’s administration was taken to Okija shrine when one of the defeated candidates in that year’s election took him to the tribunal and canvassed that ground for his disqualification.

Ugo was of the view that should Ndukwe continue to associate Kalu’s administration with Okija shrine, it then means he was indicting his principal, Orji of lying on oath which he said was a serious offence.

AYCJGG advised Ndukwe to remember in his now chosen carrier of unwarranted attacks on Kalu, how the former governor picked him up when he was nobody and made him general manager of ASEPA.

NASU suspends planned strike in Oyo Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ational Headquarters of NUnion the Non-Academic Staff of Educational and

Associated Institutions (NASU) has directed its Oyo State Chapter for Sec-

ondary Schools to suspend its planned industrial strike.

The new directive was contained in a letter dated Sept. 8 and signed by the Senior Deputy General Secretary, Alhaji Alhasan Muhammed, a copy of

which New Telegraph obtained in Ibadan yesterday.

According to the letter; "The General Secretary has directed that you should place your intended strike on hold for a period of four weeks with

effect from today, to enable the Head of Civil Service resolve the matter with the governor.

"You are required to promptly inform the General Secretary accordingly, on developments for guide as events unfold", it said.

of N10bn from receipt from the federation account for the first half of the year 2014.

Commissioner of Planning and Deputy Chairman, Niger State Planning Commission, Alhaji Yahaya Dansalau, who made this known at a post state executive council briefing in Minna, said that the 2014 budget of the state has performed brilliantly in the first half of the year as a result of prudent management of available resources.

The government said statutory allocation for the first half of the year contributed a total of N24.502bn, representing 70.30 per cent as against the target of N34.849bn.

The amount was also 58.53 per cent of the total expected revenue for the period.

Dansalau also disclosed that internally generated revenue, IGR raked in N2.58bn or 81 per cent of

gets involved in. Nigerians have a legitimate right to query everything that happens within that institution,” Fayemi said.

The creation of additional 30,000 polling units across the country has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians considering the fraud that has characterised elections since the advent of democracy in 1999.

the expected IGR for the first half of the year while capital receipts recorded a performance of 158 per cent and contributed 20.83 per cent of funds inflow.

The commissioner said the Sure-P programme gave the state N8.7bn with the Value Added Tax, VAT giving N4.5bn. With an expected capital expenditure of N51.562 billion for the year the pro-rata expected capital expenditure for the period under review stood at N25.781 billion with only N19.207 billion released.

He explained that economic, regional, social, general administration and science and technology accounted for releases in the capital expenditure sector.

Dansalau said the success recorded by the budget was as a result of receipts from the capital market, stressing that monies collected from the market are being repaid with the first acquisition of N6bn completely paid off while the repayment of the second amount of N9bn was already being repaid.

APC chieftain calls for dissolution of Ekiti exco Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

failed woefully in Hshipaving the June 21 governorelection, the interim

State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be dissolved if the party is to do well in next year's general elections.

An APC chieftain, Mr Segun Osinkolu, who made the call in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, therefore called on the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee to dissolve the interim executive before the conduct of the party congress to elect new leadership.

Osinkolu, who premised his demand on the fact that the party has not fared better under the present executive considering the loss it suffered during the June 21 governorship election in the state, said retain-

ing such structure would dim the party’s chances in the 2015 general elections.

Osinkolu also said party members would foil the plot by some people to retain the present executive in the state in the congress coming up before the expiration of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s tenure on October 15, 2014.

Osinkolu pointed out that Chief Jide Awe and members of his executive had no reason to perpetuate themselves in office, having failed to do the party proud when the opportunity beckoned.

He said, “The party cannot afford to play to the gallery at this critical time. In politics, you can’t adopt or retain a strategy and structure that had failed you before for future elections. On this basis, Awe and his crew must leave the scene."

Abati: Sheriff not part of Jonathan’s entourage / PAGE 15 | Musa: Nigerians must demand commission of inquiry / PAGE 14

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Sheriff

OkeiOdumakin: We’ll resist doctoring of confab report

p-17

Friday, September 12, 2014

Davis

13

Ihejirika

Boko Haram sponsorship: Season of accusations, denials

In the wake of allegations by the Australian Stephen Davis, that a number of prominent Nigerians were seriously linked with the terrorist group, Boko Haram, the polity has been heated up, with further accusations, denials and calls for arrests. ETAGHENE EDIRIN reports

I

n efforts to rescue the over 200 female students kidnapped from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State since April, the Federal Government elicited the assistance of an Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis. About five months after he was contacted, Davis claimed he met with commanders of the terrorist group Boko Haram, and that from discussions he had with them, it was obvious that their primary source of funding came from some Nigerian politicians, but he failed to mention names. However, this was not news, as many Nigerians had previously voiced such suspicions.

However, Davis in another interview named former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, as sponsors of the terrorist group, which has been responsible for the killing of thousands of Nigerians, and destruction of property worth billions of naira in the country.

Referring to Sheriff, the Australian said: “That guy is really a bad guy and

he is known to be corrupt and why the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) has not picked him up is anybody’s guess. First thing to do is to arrest former Governor Sheriff. He has been funding this for years. He is satisfied that he will be picked up and he has now switched to the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the hope this will give him protection.

“There is a former Chief of Army Staff, who retired in January, rightly sacked by the president, who is another sponsor.”

The denial Both Ihejrika and Sheriff vehemently denied the allegations, pointing out that they had nothing to gain from the sponsorship of Boko Haram. In reaction to Davis’ allegation, Sheriff said they were baseless, adding, that it “is absolutely not true. I have absolutely nothing to do with them. Boko Haram existed before I became a governor and they killed my family members and they kidnapped my brothers. This is not true.”

He told New Telegraph that he was neither a sponsor nor did he have any

affiliation to the terrorist group. According to him, “I was the first victim of Boko Haram in Borno State. In their first attack, they killed my brother, the same father and mother with me. That was when they fought with the military in Borno. The first casualty was me. Then, they killed my cousin. They killed my candidate for governorship; they killed my party chairman. Two of them were direct relations of mine.

“Why did they do that? Because I made a law prohibiting Boko Haram in the domain of Borno State.” He added that the allegation linking him with the outlawed terrorist group was political.

On his part, Ihejirika said the allegation was diversionary, warning that its timing might be a prelude to an attack or an incident that the authorities and security agencies should preempt.

“This is meant to divert the attention of everyone – the nation, Federal Government and the international community – who are serious about stopping Boko Haram. If Boko Haram told Davis I am their sponsor, is it not hard to believe?

“Anyway, the only reason they can

CROSSFIRE We have lost confidence in Prof. Attahiru Jega as Chairman of INEC, as we cannot vouch for his neutrality in midwiving the 2015 general election... he has shown the potential to thwart the noble objective of free and fair elections in 2015 -Edwin Clark

I am not bothered. It is not about my resignation.

Anyone of us can die and work will continue. I did not lobby anybody to get this job. I won’t wait to be fired. The day I can no longer do the job, I will resign. I an here in INEC to do national service -Attahiru Jega

say so is because they suffered the most casualties when I was in charge. They know who gave them the most trouble; that is why they have resorted to telling lies to divert attention.

“Remember that when we stepped up our counter-terrorism campaign and they recorded several deaths, they changed tactics to make it appear like the military was involved in human rights abuses, which America and others fell for.”

Their defences notwithstanding, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir el-Rufai, called for their prosecution and expressed hope that the authorities will act on this revelation, as “many of us have made very open allegations that elements within the government and outside must have been financing and directing the affairs of Boko Haram.

“The revelations by Stephen Davis are only confirming the suspicion that some of us hold and have held since October 2010 when the first bomb exploded in Abuja.”

El-Rufai said right from the onset, the Boko Haram phenomenon pointed to the fact that the ruling party and the government were somehow involved in terrorism, and predicted that Nigeria would not get a break from Boko Haram for two reasons: “We have an incompetent government that is incapable of doing anything right, in my opinion.

Second, I think the ruling party and the presidency feel that sustaining the insurgency is going to be helpful to them in 2015 elections. As long as the country is getting divided along religious and ethnic lines, Mr. Jonathan thinks that will help him in 2015.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

14 POLITICS

OPEN FORUM Osita Okechukwu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

I

t was very nauseating to see President Goodluck Jonathan with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff sitting with the Chadian president, and discussing the issue of Boko Haram. Some of us were shocked because it is not only Stephen Davis, who has fingered Sheriff over links with Boko Haram.

President Jonathan himself set up a panel headed by Ambassador Usman Gatamari, and made up of some ministers and eminent Nigerians. That panel fingered Sheriff as the mastermind of Boko Haram; that he was the one that trained members of the sect as ‘ECPMOG’ for his own political gain. Also, at a certain point, the Nigerian Military Adviser in Chad made a report against him.

So, we were shocked over the recent visit of the President and Sheriff to Chad on the Boko Haram issue. And whether we like it or not, President Jonathan has by either omission or commission has created an impression that he is not bothered about the issue of insurgency. He is being ambivalent over the insurgency because he set up the Gatamari panel which indicted someone; the Nigerian Military Attaché in Chad also indicted the same person; the negotiator he hired equally indicted him; I don’t know another proof the President wants, or how he can rationalise Modu Sheriff

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

.... sheriff’s inclusion in president’s entourage to chad

Okechukwu: To shield a suspect is a crime He is being ambivalent over the insurgency because he set up the Gatamari panel which indicted someone; the Nigerian Military Attaché in Chad also indicted the same person; the negotiator he hired equally indicted him

Okechukwu

being on his entourage to Chad.

We are saying that in a democracy, there is what is called sanction and reward, and it is the duty of the commander-in-chief to reward any Nigerian who does something good. On the

other hand, if anyone does something bad, he or she should be sanctioned; there are no two ways about it. The law is very clear on such matters.

Modu Sheriff is culpable until proved otherwise. For the president of the country to be hobnobbing or taking him round, it then means that he is ambivalent and fighting the insurgency half-heatedly.

There is no logic that will exonerate the President until Modu Sheriff

is prosecuted. He cannot be declared innocent without being tried by a competent institution like the International Criminal Court (ICC). We must realise the number of lives that have been lost as a result of Boko Haram; the number of people who has been displaced and how the insurgency has ruined Nigeria’s economy, so it is not a question of making use of a thief to catch a thief.

The truth of the matter is that Modu Sheriff remains a suspect Boko Haram mastermind and sponsor, until exonerated by a competent panel of inquiry, court of law or ICC. And conversely, anybody that hobnobs with a suspect is a suspect, especially the commander-in-chief who swore an oath to uphold and defend the constitution. It is awful to include him in a vital security meeting, no matter the rationalisation. It means Mr. President is ambivalent to Boko Haram.

To shield a suspect is a crime, and anyone who is shielding a suspect is also a suspect. So, if Sheriff remains a suspect in the Boko Haram issue, anyone shielding him is equally culpable.

Interview by FELIX NWANERI

Musa: Nigerians must demand commission of inquiry Balarabe Musa is the chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and former governor of old Kaduna State

T

he president has for some time now been giving the impression that he associates with accused people. You remember the lady minister who was accused of many things, at that time she was seriously being accused, the president travelled with her, giving the impression that he was with her.

The latest allegation concerning Sheriff is taking the matter more seriously because in the case of the former governor, since the appearance of Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, the accusation has been regular that Boko Haram was been used by governorship aspirants and political parties in the North East. The allegation was that governors in the North East in particular used some groups with different names but not Boko Haram for political campaigns with Sheriff being mentioned as one of those who may have hired them to sharpen their political tools.

As the governors hijacked Boko Haram, the Federal Government also hijacked Boko Haram for its own purpose, in particular, to destabilise Nigeria so that 2015 election could be easily rigged and also restrain its opponents especially those in the North.

This action of the president in taking Sheriff to Chad in the weight of allegations against him is also giving the impression that it’s true that the latest hijacker of Boko Haram is the Federal Government itself. With these allegations by Davis, it shows that the

The best way to deal with the allegations against Sheriff, who was a state governor and a senior army officer, is not about just discussing this issue, but Nigerians should demand for a credible Judicial Commission of Inquiry that will tell the truth to the people federal and state governments are conspiring with Boko Haram. If the Federal Government is not involved in the conspiracy, then the president should have been very careful in dealing with

Elder Anthony Sani is the former spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) the fact of the allegaCnoronsidering tions levelled against former GoverAli Modu Sheriff and others that

they are sponsors of the thriving insurgence in the North East, which has been national security issue, his trip with President Goodluck Jonathan to Chad in order to discuss security issues of the sub region may not be appropriate.

It would be interpreted that his being in such cozy situation with Mr.

Musa

Sheriff who is under such allegations.

That is why I said the best way to deal with the allegations against Sher-

iff, who was a state governor and a senior army officer, is not about just discussing this issue, but Nigerians should demand for a credible judicial commission of inquiry that will tell the truth to the people.

The Federal Government cannot set it up because it is on suspicion as well. The National Assembly which can enact any committee in the process of making law should establish an independent enquiry to find out the truth, because that is the only arm that can bring about a credible result.

We need not to play politics with the revelation by Davis. We should not drag politics into this. The matter is serious and it can lead to anything in Nigeria. Only the National Assembly can address it judiciously. Both Sheriff and the Federal Government may have reasoned to come together to protect themselves from these allegations.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Sani: It’s not appropriate President compromises the calls for thorough investigations. More so that the State Security Services (SSS) has gone public to say former Governor Sheriff is under investigations already.

President Jonathan is the leader of the nation who voluntarily sought and obtained the mandate to protect the lives of Nigerians. Furthermore, he is the embodiment of national ideals and moral values. As a result, he does not enjoy the liberty of being in the company of just anybody but only with those who can add value to his moral authority.

Interview by etAGHENE eDIRIN

Sani

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

OPEN FORUM Dr. Reuben Abati is the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity

W

e have noted with surprise, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan administration over the claim that the President is “hobnobbing” with the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was recently accused by the Australian, Stephen Davis of being one of the chief sponsors of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The totally erroneous basis for that charge was the spurious claim that Senator Sheriff accompanied President Jonathan on his recent trip to Ndjamena, Chad as a member of his entourage.

Although Senator Sheriff himself has already given the lie to that claim through his Media Adviser, the Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan’s delegation to Chad.

In keeping with President Jonathan’s commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, names of the key members of his delegation were announced a day before his trip to Ndjamena.

They included the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and the Direc-

15

.... sheriff’s inclusion in president’s entourage to chad

Abati: Sheriff not part of Jonathan’s entourage The former Governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena tor-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed.

As can be easily verified from the complete list of members of the Presidential entourage to Chad which was also circulated on Sunday and never changed, Senator Sheriff ’s name was not on it. The only other persons on the list were the President’s aides, security personnel and journalists.

The APC and others who rushed to condemn President Jonathan for a nonexistent indiscretion would have found,

Abati

if they took the least trouble to doublecheck, that there was absolutely no factual basis for their accusation.

Those who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there. He happened to be in Ndjamena at the time of President Jonathan’s visit and joined other Nigerian residents of the Chadian capital in coming to the airport to welcome their

President.

That was the full extent of his participation in the visit and it was also at Ndjamena Airport that the pictures which formed the basis of the bogus allegation of President Jonathan hobnobbing with an “accused sponsor of terrorism” were taken.

The former Governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena.

President Jonathan is fully aware of the allegation made against Senator Sheriff by Stephen Davis. That allegation is already being investigated by the security agencies who will make their findings known to the public in due course.

The President assures all Nigerians that he has not wilfully taken any action that could prejudice the outcome of that ongoing inquiry.

He seizes this opportunity to reassure the nation once again of his total commitment to doing all within his powers to bring all identified and verified sponsors of terrorism to justice, and ending the menace of violent extremism in the country.

Interview by AYODELE OJO

Agbaje: FG not sincere on war against insurgency Mr. Fred Agbaje is a lawyer and human rights activist

W

e accept the fact that anybody accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Indeed, there are allegations from some quarters, especially from a Federal Governmentappointed negotiator, Stephen Davis, that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Iherijika and former Borno State Governor, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, are sponsors of Boko Haram.

The truth is that the allegations have not been proved.

Ironically, the Department of State Security (DSS), which is statutorily in charge of intelligence network, is now jumping into the fray to say that there is no evidence against the former Chief of Army Staff.

The President is now embracing those that have been fingered, particu-

Agbaje

larly Sheriff. The president took him along to Chad; to go and do what? In other words, the president has blessed Modu Sheriff and as far as the president is concerned, in Modu Sheriff, President Jonathan is well pleased. In other words, Modu Sheriff has become President

Jonathan’s biblical son irrespective of all the allegations against him.

I am worried that the war against insurgency has not been won and now I know better why we are not winning it. And we will never win it with the embrace by President Jonathan of the principal characters behind insurgency.

Nigeria can never win that war The totality of what I am saying is that the fight against corruption by this present administration does not show any seriousness. The present administration is not serious on the fight against insurgency because the Jonathan-led administration has tactically embraced the sponsors, and that is why insurgency is on the increase. Insurgency is on top of Nigeria’s security problems. Today, many towns in Borno State have been taken over by Boko Haram.

I am not holding brief for Obasanjo.

If Obasanjo had been the president, Boko Haram would have been history.

But the present government is just fooling Nigerians on the fight against insur-

Keyamo: Nobody is above the law Festus Keyamo, lawyer and human rights activist or the president to travel with former Falleged Governor Modu Sheriff who has been to have links with the Boko Haram terrorist group is a serious moral breach on the part of the president, he should not have done that.

I think the accusations should be thoroughly investigated; nobody should be exempted from investigation, as long as they have been linked to the sponsorship of Boko Haram,

whether directly or indirectly.

The dismissal of the charges against former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika even without looking at it thoroughly is condemnable.

Nobody should be above the law, everybody deserves to have a claim to innocence, even while under investigation or to be indicted one way or the other. Nobody is above the law, that’s the point I’m making.

The allegations are weighty enough to be investigated.

Interview by etAGHENE eDIRIN

Keyamo

gency. Now we know that the taxpayers’ money would have to be continuously used for the fruitless and worthless exercise that is ably backed by the Federal Government. If Modu Sheriff can be found in the list of the presidency, what other evidence do we need?

It is bad when innocent soldiers are being killed and innocent families are being disorganised in the North. For almost five months now, we don’t have a clue on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls because of the conflicting statements coming from the Presidency. Today, they will tell us that we know where the girls are, we don’t want to use force.

That has been the song on their lips for the past four months and yet they have not rescued those girls. Now we know why those girls would never be rescued with the likes of Ali Modu Sheriff going to Aso Rock to have dinner with the president.

All that the presidency is doing is about 2015. The president is not concerned about the welfare of the Chibok girls; whether they should be released, he has never cared. The Federal Government is not sincere on the war against insurgency. All that the Federal Government is concerned about is granting political amnesty to criminals, all toward 2015.

By the president’s acceptance of Sheriff as a member of his touring team, that has clearly shown that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government has placed selfish party interest over national and public interest. Just as the Federal Government also did by withdrawing criminal charges against the late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha’s son, Muhammed. How can a country develop under such a misguided and awkward arrangement?

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

16

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Leading

Woman Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, human rights activist and President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, was a delegate at the just-concluded National Conference. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, she speaks on the confab report, expectations and fears.

As one of the representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the justconcluded National Conference, how do you see the convocation of the confab despite opposition from certain quarters?

The eventual convocation of the National Conference is a direct response to the long term agitation of not only those of us in the civil society movement but also of other well-meaning Nigerians who have become dissatisfied with the dangerous direction that our country has been heading.

I will want to say that those views as expressed then were inevitable since we mustn’t forget that it is a component of democracy. Like I said earlier, while some were just being unnecessarily pessimistic, some were opposed to it in their desire to ensure that the status quo is maintained and are afraid of seeing Nigeria being taking towards positive direction. Also, were those who did that, taking into cognisance, the failure of the past of such processes. I must therefore say that those were part of the factors that eventually became responsible for our resilience as delegates to the National Conference at ensuring that the conference did not only succeed but also came out with tangible resolutions.

Are the CSOs really satisfied with the outcome of the conference?

We are surely satisfied with the outcome of the conference not only because of the resolutions that we were able to produce but also for our ability as Nigerians from very diverse groups and sections of the country to converge under one roof and discuss our nation and yet come out with a collectively agreed resolution on issues discussed.

What were the specific agenda the CSOs took to the confab?

Many issues that have to do with the welfare of Nigerians such as labour, rights of the vulnerable and basic responsibilities of government formed the priority of the CSOs. Others were issues of integrity of government; for instance, the removal of immunity clause and several others that have to address the question of leadership in Nigeria were championed by the CSOs at the conference.

Do you think the agenda and issues raised by the CSOs were really addressed at the conference?

Our agenda and issues were thoroughly addressed not just at every plenary that issues that were being championed were raised but we also devised a system where we regularly meet to brainstorm on issues and harmonise our position before bringing them to the entire house.

Therefore, on most occasions, we were able to present our position in clear and united manner coupled with the credibility of the voices that represented the body most of whom were no push overs.

Do you think the confab really achieved the original purpose for which it was convened?

It surely did and because the resolu-

Okei-Odumakin: We’ll resist doctoring of confab report

Okei-Odumakin

tions were aimed at taking Nigeria towards a new direction and this we hope to pursue beyond the submission of the conference report to President Jonathan.

President Jonathan has stated that he would send the conference report to National Assembly and Council of State. Do you support this idea?

The decision of President Jonathan on the report is not out of place but we must also be reminded that the report is all-encompassing as some have to do with policy issues that are to be directly addressed by the executive. Some of the recommendations are of course legislative matters while there were those that have to be referred to the authority of the people from whom the government derives its sovereign powers. Issues such as the making of a new constitution will surely be the responsibility of the constituents that will be a product of the people’s referendum.

Do you think the National Assembly will do justice to the conference report, considering that some of the recommendations in the report, like part-time legislation would not be in favour of members of the parliament?

The contents of the report like I said are beyond the monopoly of decision of a single arm of government since they are not all exclusively legislative matters. The report can therefore not be subjected to the interest or otherwise of an assembly of just four years tenure. More so, we must realise that the members of the National Assembly are answerable to the Nigerian people that have elected to be there and therefore cannot act in defiance to the aspiration of the people as captured by the report of the National Conference.

What is your take on President Jonathan’s decision to set up seven-man committee to implement the National Conference report?

While I see the decision of President Jonathan to set up an implementation committee on the confab report as a good step, I will not but warn that Nigerians will resist any attempt to doctor the ex-

we must survive beyond now.

Nigerians will resist any attempt to doctor the existing report which is a product of the representation of the people isting report which is a product of the representation of the people. I suggest that the job of the committee be limited to suggesting modalities to ensure a timely and adequate implementation of the resolutions of the confab.

But there have been suggestions that the confab report should be subjected to a referendum. What is your take on this?

That has remained our position particularly at the civil society level and we remained committed to that. You should also remember like I earlier said that not all the contents of the report are subject to the National Assembly, it is enviable that several aspects of the reports are brought before the Nigerian people to decide upon.

As it is, how feasible is the implementation of the confab report?

Nation building in the world is a continuous process, while it is not certain that we expect a 100 per cent implementation of the recommendations of the conference, I am optimistic that a considerable proportion which shouldn’t be less than 80 per cent is implementable, as we continue to dialogue as a new Nigeria emerges.

Do you see the 2014 confab going the way of other previous conferences?

I do not envisage that. This is one confab that has an unprecedented quality representation of the Nigerian people and also devoted time at critically addressing the current challenges of the nation most of which have become inevitable for us to address as a nation if

What were the fears you expressed at the earlier stage of the confab, especially the disagreements among delegates who wanted a change and those that wanted status quo to be maintained?

The fears were such that have to do with the alarming rate of pessimism of some Nigerians who are either of the view that the conference will collapse midway or cannot produce a resolution coupled with the security threats that were built around us as delegates, particularly at the venue of the conference at the initial stage.

Those disagreements were inevitable at such convergence but like you rightly stated, many of them were propelled by those who wanted the status quo maintained and are afraid of seeing Nigeria moving towards a new direction. But the beautiful thing was that in all, superior arguments were also allowed to prevail even at some point where you have scenarios of charged atmosphere.

What were your high and low moments at the National Conference?

Some high moments were those times that the plenary gets so charged that delegates are at each other’s neck, moments where there were threats that the venue of the conference is likely to be bombed and most importantly the very day the conference sang the old National Anthem and all delegates held hands in unison, hall soaked in full emotion. The closing day of conference was also one of such. Few of the low moments I could recall were those moments that we have threats of pull outs by delegates from some groups and sections.

How do you feel about you and your husband being the only couple at the confab?

It was no special feeling since we did not attend the conference as couple but rather in our individual rights and as delegates representing clearly different interest groups at the conference. The confab actually is not the first time we have had to be at similar engagements in our individual rights at the same time.

18

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

OPINION

National service, irrational servitude

T

he idea behind the National Youth Service Corp [NYSC] scheme when it was mooted was noble.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon saw war as a sad part of the country’s history and agreed there was need to bring Nigerians closer than ever before in the spirit of true reconciliation.

All took off smoothly. Possibly, an Olu whose parents never journeyed across the Niger was posted to Akagbe Ugwu while Hanatu from Tangale Waja moved down south to Goboze, Badagry for the very first time. For Ngozi whose grandparents lived in Kaduna before the Civil War, serving in Talata Mafara was another exciting experience.

Gowon was a soldier and of course, the old Nigeria Army ,before politics cut the fun short, was like one family where tongue and tribe did not really differ.

Some accounts have it that one of his buddies was Sandhurst mate Arthur Chinyelu U negbe, an Igbo.

Even during the crisis, friendship played a huge role. Arochukwu was not attacked because Col. Simon Uwakwe, commander of the Biafran troops, and his Nigerian counterpart Col. Godwin Alabi –Isama were course mates. Col David Ogunewe was the only Biafran officer who rejoined the Nigeria Army without dropping rank, because he was good to such junior officers as Benjamin Adekunle, Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’adua.

Service to the nation meant so much to young graduates when the scheme took off in 1973.There was no discrimination. Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, they were all involved. And Corp members were treated with honour, some even got chieftaincy titles from host communities.

From pioneer Director General Col. Ahmadu Ali, it involved one month of orientation that was overseen

by soldiers ,in camps scattered all over the country.

The camp commandant, usually an army captain, was like a commanding officer.

The corp members were divided into platoons, commanded by senior Non Commissioned Officers[NCOs]. The tasks were not so easy, even if the training helped .

The pay was not so bad and accommodation was no problem at all. People gave out free accommodation. Companies did all within their reach to keep the fresh graduates going. Villagers even offered food.

All that is history now. I do not even want to talk about the rejection of members by organizations.

Most blue chip companies used the graduates to shortchange the unemployed. Just because they could get corp members for almost nothing, some companies shut the door against job seekers.

The Federal Government also thought fast. Except for medical doctors , other corp members were to be sent to schools to teach. A great majority ,that is. So many of these young men and women would be teaching for the very first time in their lives.

And what do they get in return? Frustration. Some of these schools fail to provide accommodation. Fact is, corp members are doing charity job. Their pay is so poor and you expect them to look for accommodation in strange places.

Whatever happened to Corpers’ Lodge. I do not expect a school to accommodate these young ones in mansions. There should be home for them. That is the Nigerian spirit.

Stories coming from some of these young compatriots make me sad. One of them, posted to Enugu has every reason to feel bad. After orientation, her place of primary assignment turned out to be the great College of Immaculate Conception [CIC], Enugu.

When she told me, I was so happy for her. She is from Edo state, lives in Lagos. She got the shocker of her live when told that the school had no accommodation for her.

And this came after I had painted stories of

the beauty of the CIC. Three of my cousins went through the school in the 1970s. And to crown it all, that is the alma mata of Governor Sullivan Chime.

Hold it, the school that produced former governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

If such a decent school cannot provide accommodation for corpers, then I wonder where we can get from there. That is just one story out of many.

As one who served Nigeria when the going was not so bad, I know that some corp members deployed to Oshun state in 2012\2013 could not get the 50,000 Naira allowance approved by Governor Rafiu Aregbesola, before they left. Those who continued to fight for it eventually got paid several months after they had left service.

I do not want to talk about the massacre in Jos, the political savagery in Bauchi. We well remember the ritual killing in the Ondo/Ekiti axis. The lady that was raped to death in Maiduguri. All these, in the name of service.

As a follower of the scheme, I squirm when negative stories come from those who are supposed to preach unity. Many parents are wary of the whole exercise, undergraduates have every reason to dread call up letters.

The first major crisis to hit the NYSC was during the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari junta when the third Director General, Col. Peter Obasa was sent to jail.

Then many Nigerians believed the place was a gold mine. Today it all sounds like a grave yard.

I have a feeling that our politicians are not doing enough for the the NYSC. And because there is one very sweet talking young man, Comrade Jude Imagwe, who advises the President on Youth, I think Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, an ex-corp member, should look into the scheme.

We cannot have an ex-corp member ruling Nigeria while NYSC begs for attention. I think supervising minister, Mr. Boni Haruna should ask Mr. President to declare a state of emergency. From gold mine to grave yard, we do not want our graduates to see the NYSC as a ghost scheme.

Developing the theology of social concern and development Amaobi Ifeanyi Nwachukwu

P

rosperity from the biblical perspective simply means God's wealth and riches to others through you as a transitory custodian. Being a custodian and channel of distribution comes with a responsibility. God our Father is not denying us wealth and prosperity, He wants us wealthy and prosperous, even wealthier and prosperous than we think, wealthier and more prosperous than any person in this world, to fulfill the oath He made unto Abraham concerning us to be lenders and blessings to the nations (Deuteronomy 8:18; 28:12-13; Genesis 22:16-18).

However, we must teach prosperity with responsibility from the right biblical perspective and should also be understood rightly.

The theology of prosperity outside the context of salvation is actually a pretext to put a meaning into the WORD instead of bringing a meaning from the

WORD. Prosperity without responsibility will lead to hell as the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us in Luke 12:15-21; 16:19-24; 18:22-25. Let us note that the rich men in these examples were all the sons of Abraham or Christians as we call ourselves today.

Our wealth and prosperity is to make us blessings unto our nations, people, the poor and the needy. It is to make us provide scholarship to indigent students, free medical missions/outreaches, health centres, orphanage, social centres for the needy, subsidised/free maternity homes and ante/post-natal care for poor pregnant women and their babies who die in millions every day due to malnutrition and lack of medical care. Provide free/subsidised food to malnourished children and their parents, provide vocational trainings and jobs where and when possible, and better means of livelihood for many.

This means that we should seek to be very rich towards God and prosperous people considering the enormity of our problems, which are mainly povertyrelated. We as the body of Christ should not despise the poor and the needy (James 2:6a,13,15-16).

If we look at our rural communities in Nigeria and other countries in Africa, we would see how poverty is destroying lives: poor pregnant women and children dying of malnutrition and lack of medical care in millions every year. Our spiritual antenna as the Church should be sharp enough to receive the message and rightly interpret it; our conscience should also prick us tirelessly until we understand the full import of the message which, permit me here to say is: The church in the society should step up on social concern.

Even in the cities and urban areas, there are still rooms for engagement with regard to social action/concern.

There are so many single parent and dysfunctional families, alcoholics, area boys/girls, prostitutes begging for rehabilitation and re-integration into the normal society etc.

Someone might ask, when has the Church become the government of the day that should provide all the services mentioned above? Shouldn't the Church be more concerned with spiritual matters than social issues? My humble answer would be to search the scriptures and study the life and min-

istry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will discover that He was very spiritual while here on earth, and yet was concerned and took actions as well, laying a good example for us to follow.

If we only amass wealth to display it, then it's very sick and irresponsible.

How is your prosperity impacting the lives of these poor and needy around and about you? Let us not forget that this is what the Lord would ask in His coming (Matthew 25:31-46).

We are saved to rebuild the old wastes and desolations of our nations (Isaiah 61:4), and so we must seek wealth and prosperity in order to accomplish this mission after we are saved. (Matthew 6:32-33) Paul the apostle told Timothy and to the Church by extension to warn the rich believers to distribute to the poor and the needy (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Wealth and prosperity, YES, BUT WITH RESPONSIBILITY else we shall perish with it.

May God help us to desire to fulfill His demands of us. Amen.

• Amaobi Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, a social commentator and development practitioner is the Senior Pastor, The Pilgrims Church, Lagos, Nigeria.

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19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Public hygiene and the 2025 target

NICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene specialist, Bisi Agberemi has said that the organisation will support the Federal Government in its bid to totally eradicate open defecation by the year 2025. The 2025 target--and the decision to develop a road map to that effect--was agreed at, at the 2013 National Council on Water held in Kaduna. Agberemi said UNICEF would involve foreign consultants in the development of the roadmap to facilitate its creation. The inclusion of consultants, he added, was aimed at designing a strategy to hold someone accountable for any lapse in the open-defecation-eradication project implementation.

Apparently, the consultants had already started work, but had to observe a one-month break due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus disease. The UNICEF WASH specialist said the roadmap would encompass all sectors of life. Areas to be captured in the roadmap range from advocacy to training to construction and the involvement of every Nigerian citizen in the fight against open defecation.

By the end of 2014, all things being equal, the document would have been ready with implementation billed to start in January next year.

While we commend this initia-

tive, we believe that 2025 is too away a date to end this disgraceful habit. It is appalling that so many shopping complexes, markets and other important public places in the country have no toilets at all and even where there are, they are not functional. It is necessary for every local government area in the country to ensure that every ward has at least 10 toilets, which should be properly managed and maintained with people made to pay not more than N20 use them.

Also there should be mobile toilets in markets, motor parks and other such places. This can be done through unions such as NURTW. Again, sanitary inspectors should be re-introduced to ensure hygienic environment as well as ensure that houses and public places have toilets.

It is critical for a policy to be put in place to ensure that all public places and buildings have toilets while serious sanctions should be meted out to erring bodies.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF recently reported that out of the 2.5 billion who live without adequate sanitation around the world, 33 million Nigerians have no access to decent toilets. As a result of this inadequacy, citizens of Africa’s most populous nation answer the call of nature in the open. The cost of open defecation and urina-

tion on public health is too grave and monumental to be ignored because it does not only pollute underground waters, it also contaminates agricultural produce and aid the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, tapeworms, intestinal parasites, hookworm, hepatitis’ among others.

It is important to point out that infant and child under-nutrition and stunted growth are also aggravated.

Most striking are the 2,000 children who die every day across the world from diarrhea and other preventable diseases caused by poor sanitation.

For instance, Lagos State with over 20 million people contends with the challenges of inadequate water supply and environmental sanitation, due to several years of neglect and migration of people from other parts of the country. Unfortunately, only 570 public toilets currently exist in the state to service such a huge, mostly urban population.

The urban poor, confined to economically fragile and ecologically vulnerable areas, contribute to the incidence of environmental degradation, urban congestion and public health challenge. The slum, where they live, is an environment in which a set of forces interact to give rise to a devalued physical and social image of an area by the larger community.

In the same vein, squatter settlements

are uncontrolled illegal and temporary settlements, which are characterized by poor sanitary surroundings, dilapidated structures, high occupancy ratio, dull surroundings in terms of landscaping and social amenities, inadequate provision or complete lack of public facilities, absentee landlords, low rent, haphazard architectural design and general features of vandalism. Indeed, poverty is an enormous threat to the political stability, social cohesion and environmental balance of our cities and until it is tackled decisively, sustainable urban development will remain a mirage.

The government must, therefore, endeavor to develop and implement policies and programmes that cater to the public health needs of the populace. To make maximum impact, the government at the state and local councils must embark upon accelerated, coordinated and integrated enlightenment as well as public education campaign to educate the people on the standard hygiene compliant behaviour expected of the citizenry for the general well-being of the society. More importantly, an effective public health and environmental law must be put in place to give legal backing to the anti-open defecation programme of the administration when it eventually takes off.

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20 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Season of accusations, denials CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Davis ready for Sheriff While the controversy raged, Davis said that he stands by his allegations against Sherriff and Ihejirika. He went further to accuse an unnamed senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as a man based in Cairo, Egypt whom he claimed operates as Boko Haram’s bagman.

The Australian negotiator also revealed that his years working with Nigerian presidents on matters of terrorism had shown that, even when some prominent individuals are known to be involved in criminality, the presidents are simply too afraid to take them on.

He vowed to make more revelations about Boko Haram’s sponsors, adding that he believed the sect could only be dismantled if their sponsors were exposed and prosecuted.

On threats by Sheriff to travel to Australia to sue him, he dismissed it, describing the former governor’s statements as grandstanding and seeking to divert attention from the real issue. He added that he would be pleased to meet Sheriff at the airport whenever he summons the courage to come to Australia.

Also, friends and associates of Ihejirika expressed readiness to sue Davis in either Australia or the United Kingdom.

According to Mr. Christian Kanu, an aide to Ihejirika, following the exoneration of Ihejirika’s alleged involvement with the sponsorship of Boko Haram by the Department for State Security (DSS), some friends and associates of the former COAS have commenced the process of taking Davis to court.

He said the services of a lawyer who is a Queen’s Counsel (QC) in the United Kingdom has been contracted to file a case of defamation of character against Davis. “We are taking a step and there are also other groups in UK, USA and Ireland that will be part of this action,” he said.

DSS absolves Ihejirika, to question Sheriff On calls for Davis’ allegations to be probed, the DSS said it has invited Sheriff for questioning over the issue, but absolved Ihejirika, over the same allegation. Ms. Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson for the organisation said: “Sheriff has been invited twice and he has been invited again. Investigation is ongoing to review every aspect of Davis allegations.”

On Ihejirika, she said, “I would want to say here that it is absolutely uncharitable for us as Nigerians to reward somebody who laid down his life in pursuing this same people (Boko Haram) for us to accept that he can in any way be associated, be seen as sponsoring the same sect.”

She added: “The military together with this service succeeded in bringing their activities in Kano, Okene and other parts of Nigeria to a halt and pushing them to Sambisa forest. It’s the same man we want, because he is no longer in office, to say he is the one sponsoring the sect. I think it’s being wicked. That shouldn’t be the way we reward people who lay down their lives to provide a secure environment for us.”

The DSS spokesperson described Davis as “a self-styled and self-appointed negotiator”, even as she denied Davis’ claims that the CBN official, who coordinated the funding of Boko Haram, was an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya incident.

According to her, none of the six suspects in the agency’s custody had any blood link with one another.

Kinsmen’s threat And in support of their kinsman, the leadership of the Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) said the allegations against Ihejirika are unthinkable and

L-R: Former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; President Goodluck Jonathan and Chadian President, Idriss Deby, at a meeting in Ndjamena… on Monday

laughable. National President of OYC, Ikechukwu Isiguzoro, said it was illogical for anyone to think that Ihejirika, a Christian from the South could have any deal with a terror group like Boko Haram, whose only agenda was to decimate Christians and establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria.

He supported his arguments with claims that Boko Haram suffered its heaviest casualties while Ihejirika held sway as Chief of Army Staff, adding that anyone associating him with the terror group was wrong.

Scoring political point Following the Davis revelations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared that it has been vindicated, and that the development has now revealed that members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and political allies of President Goodluck Jonathan are the true sponsors of the sect.

National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said: “The truth is finally out. We have been vindicated. We have no hand in the Boko Haram insurgency....The sponsors of Boko Haram are within the PDP and the presidency. They are known friends of President Jonathan. He knows them and they know him.”

According to Oyegun, “Now that the cat has been let out of the bag and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed, we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing,” even as he tells Nigerians that the APC “will not allow this issue to be swept under the carpet.”

The PDP hit back at the APC, noting, that the opposition party fought against moves by the British Parliament to investigate its involvement with terrorist elements. Olisa Metuh, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary said Oyegun was only using statements credited to Davis, to absolve APC of blames for promoting insurgency in the country.

According to Metuh, “Oyegun’s statement rather than exonerate the APC has reinforced and underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body language.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that we stand by our statements that the APC as a party with a Janjaweed ideology has been promoting insurgency and acts of terrorism through the actions and utterances of its leaders.”

Jonathan takes Sheriff on foreign trip While the accusations about Sheriff ’s alleged involvement in the sponsorship of Boko Haram is yet to go down, President Jonathan on Monday travelled to Chad with the former Borno governor to discuss terrorism issue with the neighbouring country.

This has drawn the ire of the opposition APC. According to the party, the President’s trip with Sheriff would definitely portray the country in bad light before international community and give credence to the fact that he knows more about the insurgence group.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on TuesdayAPC wondered what message President Jonathan was sending to his compatriots and indeed to the international community when he took Sheriff along during his visit to Chad to confer with President Idriss Deby on cooperation against terrorism.

The party stated that: “This action

by President Jonathan confirms what the APC has always believed: That the President either knows more than he is willing to admit on the issue of those who are behind the Boko Haram insurgency or he is willing to sacrifice the battle against terrorism on the altar of political expediency. Either way, this action by the President is the height of indiscretion at best, or a palpable exhibition of callowness at worst.”

The party went further to explain that the President cannot pretend not to be aware of a report sent to him by Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in Ndjamena, Chad, in 2011, detailing the suspicious activities of Sheriff in Chad concerning alleged Boko Haram sponsorship and asking the Federal Government to investigate him.

The party said it is therefore unfortu-

Now that the cat has been let out of the bag and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed, we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing

nate that President Jonathan would take the same personality along with him to the same Chad on a trip to canvas cooperation against Boko Haram terrorists.

According to the party, “If this is a joke, it is one joke taken too far, especially at a time that Nigeria has been losing territories after territories to Boko Haram; at a time that the same Modu Sheriff has been fingered by another source other than the Nigerian Defence Adviser in Chad, and at a time that calls are being made for an independent investigation into the allegation that Sheriff and former Army Chief Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.”

“Or could it be the case of it takes a thief to catch a thief ?” it queried.

APC said it was apparent that President Jonathan smuggled Modu Sheriff into his entourage, as the official statement announcing the trip never mentioned that the former Governor of Borno State would accompany the President on the trip, even while the list of those to accompany the President was included in the statement.

“Nobody in Nigeria would have known of this unholy alliance carried too far if not that the picture of the President, his host and Modu Sheriff surfaced via Twitter, where incredulous Nigerians were wondering what the President was doing with an alleged Boko Haram sponsor at a time the same terrorist group is waging a titanic battle against Nigeria.

“Therefore, the President owes Nigerians an explanation on why he took Modu Sheriff to Chad, what the President knows about the allegation hanging on the former governor’s neck concerning Boko Haram sponsorship and why his administration has not handed him (Sheriff) and Ihejirika to the International Criminal Court for investigation and possible prosecution, since it is now obvious that the administration is unwilling to probe them,’’ the party said.

While the blame game rages, watchers insist that such will definitely divert attention from the war against terrorism, and the real issues, of who is actually guilty, and what needs to be done to end the terror scourge plaguing the country. While a lot of questions beg for answers, many agree that the battle for 2015 plays a major role in what has become the seeming inability of Nigeria’s security forces to effectively tackle the Boko Haram scourge and bring an end to their nefarious activities. They also agree that the longer the sect is allowed to strive, the harder it would be to dislodge it.

ARTS FRIDAY, September 12, 2014

CULTURE

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit" ― Jawaharlal Nehru

TONY oKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

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The Supreme Price for premiere Moses Kadiri

H

istorical documentary film which chronicles the life of the late business mogul, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), premieres at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday September 27, 2014.

Titled The Supreme Price, some of the characters in the film include president Goodluck Jonathan, the late MKO Abiola, John Campbell, late General Sani Abacha, late Ken Saro Wiwa, Kofi Annan, Hafsat Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Khafila Abiola, Olalekan Yusau Abiola, Abdul Mumuni Abiola, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, others are Amy Oyekunle, Oluwatobi Raheem, Walter Carrington, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, David Attah, late Nelson Mandela, Hon. Akindele Opeyemi, and Nicholas Costello.

The Supreme Price traces the evolution of the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria and efforts to increase the participation of women in leadership roles.

The documentary film is made possible by The Lights, Camera, Africa Film Festival in collaboration with iRep Documentary Film Festival, Main Frame Productions and Ford foundation. The film provides context and a historical backdrop for developments, while also highlighting the efforts of heroic Nigerian women who are working to educate women; to hold their leaders accountable, and to improve the country so that Nigeria can realize its enormous potential.

Produced and directed by awardwinning filmmaker Joanna Lipper, whose work as a documentary filmmaker has been supported by the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, ITVS, Britdoc Foundation, and Tribeca Gucci Documentary Fund, among others.

According to Lipper, shortly after the election, MKO Abiola was imprisoned as another military regime assumed power, “and his wife, Kudirat, took over the leadership of the prodemocracy movement, organising strikes and marches and winning international attention for the Nigerian struggle. Because of this work, she too became a target and was assassinated in 1996.”

Lipper elegantly dovetails past and present as she tells the story through the eyes of Hafsat Abiola, who was about to graduate from Harvard University when her mother was murdered; her father died in prison two years later. Determined not to let her parents’ ideals die with them, Hafsat has dedicated her adult life to continuing their fight for democracy.

Returning to Nigeria after years abroad, she is at the forefront of a progressive movement to empower women and dismantle the patriarchal structure of Nigerian society.

In an interview with New York Film Society, Lipper said she saw the opportunity to tell the story of Nigeria’s political evolution from independence in 1960 to the present with an emphasis on women’s roles, sacrifices and vital contributions.

“As a film director, I have a particular interest in films about complex

MKO

multifaceted women who defy expectations and create their own destinies rather than surrendering to circumstances. I first encountered Hafsat Abiola over a decade ago at an event organized to raise awareness of her endeavour to build Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND),” she said.

“Hafsat created this organization intending to honour her mother’s legacy by educating and empowering women in Nigeria with the goal of increasing their participation in politics and inspiring them to pursue leadership roles. When Hafsat stood up and told her family’s tragic story I was impressed by the way she channeled her rage and mourning into determination, tenacity and activism, calling upon knowledge, integrity, courage and persistence to oppose corruption and senseless violence.

Instead of being a victim of circumstances, Hafsat became an agent of change.”

He disclosed that while making the film she saw the opportunity to tell the story of Nigeria’s political evolution from independence in 1960 to the present with an emphasis on women’s roles, sacrifices and vital contributions. “Two of my absolute favorite films are “Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor” and “Hiroshima Mon Amour”, directed

by Alain Resnais. I greatly admire the way those two films situate individual characters against sweeping historical and global contexts at pivotal points of crisis, trauma, political upheaval and transition. As I made this documentary and studied the archival footage along with my footage of contemporary Nigeria, I saw clearly how the Abiola family’s story connects inextricably to Nigeria’s ongoing struggle for true democracy, transparent and accountable governance and protection of human rights.”

Lipper, who is a lecturer at Harvard University where she teaches Using Film for Social Change in the Department of African and African American Studies, explains how the film is an effective medium for activism.

“A good film that promotes activism links the subject(s) depicted to

The Supreme Price traces the evolution of the prodemocracy movement in Nigeria and efforts to increase the participation of women in leadership roles the filmmaker and then to the audience, provoking them to use the story told on screen as a catalyst to reflect on their own lives and experiences; encouraging them to re-examine their roles in their families and communities; and compelling them to reassess their unique place in the world at large and their individual capacity for positive impact where it is most needed.

“The medium of film has the power to combat stigma, stereotypes and ignorance by putting viewers inside the minds, emotions, perspectives and experience of characters who are geographically distant and culturally diverse. Films can take viewers on journeys through time and space to foreign countries that they may not ever have the chance to otherwise travel to and experience. Films can transcend economic class boundaries presenting insight into lives that unfold both with and without adequate resources. Films can present characters in depth in ways that open new paths towards empathy, identification and compassion that were once closed.”

Continuing, she said: “Documentaries can be highly effective educational tools, presenting the history of a very complex country like Nigeria in a variety of compelling and accessible ways including firsthand accounts; animated graphics and maps; expert commentary and analysis; and perhaps most importantly, through archival footage that breathes life into the past. Filmmakers can inspire activism by presenting unforgettable images and gripping stories that leave indelible imprints on the minds

of audience members making it impossible for them to dismiss, ignore or fail to notice the plights of other human beings who are struggling, questioning, revolutionizing, discovering, building, working, educating, fighting, suffering, giving birth, living, dying and surviving.”

Lipper’s film have won the Gucci Tribeca Spotlighting Women Documentary Award and launched Gucci’s Chime for Change Women’s Empowerment Campaign at TED 2013, she however disclosed that the film is the urgent immediate need for global solidarity when it comes to empowering women to be leaders in local communities and on the state and federal levels. “This requires more equal opportunities for women to enter politics and occupy elected positions of power and influence not just in Nigeria - but also in countries like the United States where women are underrepresented at every level of the political system. We have established partnerships with Vital Voices, Women for Women International and Gucci’s Chime for Change.

Audience Members who are inspired to participate and make a difference after seeing the film can donate to these organizations that are dedicated to empowering women and girls.”

Lipper is the author of the nationally acclaimed book “Growing Up Fast,” which documented the lives of teen parents in Pittsfield, MA.

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Book Trek: CORA hosts Lasisi in Lagos Tony Okuyeme

A

s part of its Book Trek series, the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) will on Sunday September 14, 2014, host awardwinning writer, performing poet, and journalist, Akeem Lasisi, at Freedom Park, Lagos.

CORA co-founder, Mr. Toyin Akinosho said while the event featuring performances and a dialogue on Lasisi’s works is also a prologue to the Lagos and Art Book Festival holding between November 14 and 16; it will also mark the “World Creativity Day”.

A jour nalist with The Punch Newspaper, and producer of poetry music/videos such as ‘Wonderland (Eleleture)’, ‘Udeme’ and ‘Ori Agbe’ (for Wole Soyinka), Lasisi has distinguished himself as a performance poet in the past 20 years.

He has performed poetry

in different parts of Nigeria and countries such as South Africa, Germany and Brazil.

Working in the tradition of Yoruba oral poets, Lasisi seeks to give modern English poetry a new colour and has won a lot of converts for it by producing the type that people can readily relate with and enjoy maximally. Because he does it spontaneously, swinging from Yoruba hunter’s poetry (Ijala) and the masquerade’s chant (Esa Egungun) to the English tongue, he has variously been described as a wait-and-get poet, a walking poet and a journalist by day and poet by night.

His books include ‘Iremoje: Ritual Poetry for Ken Saro-Wiwa’ and ‘Night of my Flights’, winners of the Association of Nigerian Authors/Cadbury Prize for Poetry in 2000 and 2005 Lasisi respectively.

This is where it started for Ilori Tony Okuyeme

‘T

Ilori

his is Where it Started’ a solo exhibition of installation works by London based Nigerian designer, Yinka Ilori, holds from October 24 to November 3, 2014, with a private view on October 23, 2014, at A Whitespace, 58 Raymond Njoku, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The two-week long exhibition coincides with Lagos Fashion & Design Week and in his first presentation of new work since his solo exhibition in Stockholm.

Ilori adds new pieces to his collection by using a combination of vintage modernist furniture and traditional stories from his childhood, creating one-off pieces inspired by traditional Nigerian parables and story-telling, creating meaningful yet humorous furniture designs.

This Is Where It Started continues his use of Yoruba parables as a starting point for his work, but this series, sees his work taking on a new, richer journey, through an installation, that is experiential. Ilori wants to take us back to the oral traditions, using sounds, musical instruments, form and all the richness of the Yoruba culture, where we will also be given the opportunity to interact with the captivating pieces of furniture on show at the exhibition, the organisers stated.

The exhibition has been supported by the Arts Council England, the British Council through

the Artists international development fund and A Whitespace Creative Agency.

Ilori holds a BA (Hons) degree in furniture and product design from London Metropolitan University and has since specialised in up-cycling vintage furniture inspired by traditional Nigerian parables and African fabrics that he grew up with as a child. Each piece of furniture he up-cycles tells a meaningful, yet humorous story which can be shared with people throughout the world.

His design approach starts with the dismantling of the original components, which he then re- assembles into a new piece ready for use again. Deeply aware and passionately against the unnecessary waste of modern consumer societies in the western, Ilori also happily accepts unwanted or damaged furniture from private individuals, so that he can save, rehabilitate, and beautify them for future use, giving them a hint of Yinka Ilori’s signature Nigerian parables.

Ilori has exhibited around the world from Milan, to Germany, New York, Sweden, London, and now preparing for his third solo exhibition supported by the arts council England, the British council and a whitespace gallery. he has been featured in Vogue, London Metro, Evening Standard, Ok Nigeria, Shoreditch Design Triangle, Vox Africa, Timeout London, Dezeen and many other publications and online portals.

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Nigeria joins annual 500px’s global photo walk

Participants at the Lagos Photowork in Lagos

Ebere Ameh

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hotographers in Lagos joined their colleagues and photo enthusiasts in over 900 cities across the globe, to mark the second annual Global Photo Walk in every city on the planet, organised by 500px.

Despite being the first edition of the walk in Lagos, over 70 photographers registered and many of them turned out for the event, which took place in Lagos Island on Saturday. Put together

by Seun Idowu, a Lawyer by training and an avid photographer by interest, and supported by First Bank Nigeria, it brought together both professional photographers and photo enthusiast in an evening of fun and networking.

“This walk is taking place simultaneously in over 900 cities across the globe. I applied to host this one for Lagos city. Photo walk is more like a social event for photographers and you don’t have to really be a professional photographer to participate in a photo walk. If you like photography, you like the community, you like taking pictures, then you get along with some photographers and take a walk along a planned route and take pictures along the theme line.” Idowu explained.

500 px, pronounced five hundred

Seun Idowu

Tony okuyeme

Digital Creativity Awards debuts

I

n its efforts at promoting digital excellence in Africa, In-focus-PR, a public relations and event consultants based in Lagos is set to hold the maiden edition of Digital Creativity Awards Africa.

The award is to recognise, inspire and reward excellence by creative professionals in charge of planning, concept, direction, design and production of digital communications. This award will include but not limited to digital engagement campaigns – to audio and video production – to website development – social media interaction – mobile marketing, CEO of Infocus-PR, Chi Tola Roberts stated in a release. The theme for this maiden awards ceremony is “Get Inspired and Be Creative – Promoting Digital Excellence In Africa”. The event will hold on October 23, 2014, at De-Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

“It is accepted that the innovative convergence of digital arts, technology

pixels, is an online photography community founded by two young Canadian entrepreneurs, Oleg Gutsol and Evgeny Tchebotarev. They launched the Web 2.0 in 2009 and it is aimed at encouraging aspiring and professional photographers to upload their best work and enjoy numerous benefits.

“500px is a photo sharing website with over 2.5 million registered users and over 10 million monthly active users. It is a place to gain exposure, find inspiration and connect photographers with one another. It is quite

It is accepted that the innovative convergence of digital arts, technology and information is changing marketing communication and the way we socially interact and information is changing marketing communication and the way we socially interact. The dawn of digital media unprecedentedly consents to audio, video and electronic text working simultaneously to enhance the speed and flow of information.

Participants at the Lagos Photowork in Lagos

popular in cities all around the world and I brought it to Lagos, Nigeria and its catching on well. We’ve been on the partnership for a while and we got a lot of support from First Bank.,” Idowu enthused.

With the theme for this year’s photo walk as “Patterns and Symbols,” participants walked and captured the different patterns and symbols within the planned route in Lagos.

The major categories include but not limited to: Digital Marketing, Mobile Web, Web based production/Website, Interactive communication, Social Media site, Creativity (Web Design) Web Element, Video for the Web, TV Broadcast & Cable, Creativity (Web Video) Audio Production/Radio, Video Production of Commercials, Digital Video Creation, Interactive Communication and others. All the major categories have sub categories. There is also an opportunity for new category entries.

“The Digital Creativity Awards Africa is already being considered and supported by host of leading brands.

This event will see digital arts entries from at least 5 (Five) African countries for a start with an expansion opportunity by next event. This event is also the platform for the Africa Digital Arts Conference scheduled for February 2015.”

“After the walk, the pictures shall be uploaded, there shall be a voting process and the best gets a reward of an Awesome account on 500px. The account enables one to create a full portfolio and there are benefits. One of the most prominent of the benefits is that you can create a free photography website,” Idowu said.

Named one of the best blogs of 2012,

by Time Magazine, 500px is growing in popularity, connecting photographers around the globe and encouraging people of other professions, like Idowu, to consider photography as a hobby.

“I am a lawyer and photographer.

You can have two careers, mine is photography and law. Though they are both jealous professions, I can choose when I do my work as a photographer,” Idowu clarified.

A self-trained photographer, Seun’s photographs tell a story of Nigerian life flow and depict a lovely picture of its culture and people. He believes strongly that one can make anything out of any profession and does not plan to leave his first love – Law. There was a healthy mix of big time photographers and enthusiasts at the maiden edition of the Lagos photo walk. Devesh Uba, an Indian, living in Nigeria and who has a very big profile on instangram was there. With his instangram name as snapitoga, Mr Uba is really at home in Nigeria and good with his camera. There was Andrew Esiebo, Oladipo Suefo and a host of other big time photographers.

24 TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Nigeria ranks top in hotel development Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

W

ith the city of Addis Baba, Ethiopia set to host this year’s edition of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), the attention of the world would be on Africa as the forum focuses on growth in the development of the hospitality sector.

The yearly conference which is schedule to hold between September 29 and October 1, 2014, at Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa, is coming on the heels of a recent survey with Nigeria topping the list of 10 top rated countries with the highest numbers of hotel development in the pipeline in Africa while Ethiopia ranks second from bottom.

According to the organisers of the forum, Bench Events, the theme for this year is ‘Reaching New Heights’, with focus on the geopolitical and economic climate across the whole continent and the latest developments in the hotel sector. Big issues, such as the importance of conserving Africa’s tourism assets and connecting each of the African countries through decent and new infrastructure, the feasibility of investing successfully in Africa in general and in hospitality will be explored in a series of panel discussions led by a group of experts on each topic among others would attract the attention of the people expected at the event.

Since its debut few years ago, the forum has always positioned itself as a veritable forum bringing together top-level executives from all areas of the industry including investors, hotel owners, financiers, developers, brands, operators, lawyers, advisors, architects and senior government officials – all with one common purpose: to do business on the continent. And this year’s gathering is not an exception as top rated experts from across the continent and globe are already lined up to lead discussions at the occasion.

According to the programme highlight, areas for discussion include networking round tables share insights between colleagues on specific topics while also making new business contacts; ministers panel – learn how the public sector is creating the legislative framework to support investments; hardtalk – with Marriott and Protea in the wake of their game changing deal; and targeting the international

Sheraton Hotel, Addis Baba, venue of the forum

traveler - session analysing strategies for supporting connectivity and moving towards an Africa of ‘OpenSkies.’

For Ethiopia, this forum couldn’t have come at a better time, therefore, according to the organisers, focus would be on the country’s hospitality sector, which yearns for more rooms and presence of the international brands and this follow is expected to address this situation as attention is drawn to the need for investors to look in the direction of the east Africa country, host the headquarters of the African Union (AU).

The capital city, Addis Baba currently has two international brands – Sheraton and Radisson Blu. Also, a recent research by the Awash International Bank projected that demand for hotel nights in Ethiopia in 2015 will be 1.3 million, rising to over 3 million by 2020. The hospitality sector in Africa still has room for more development following a

TABLE 1 2014 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa Top 10 Countries by Number of Rooms Hotels Rooms

Average Size

1

Nigeria

40

6,614

165

2

Morocco

29

4,828

166

3

Egypt

15

4,703

314

4

Algeria

15

3,172

211

5

Libya

7

2,205

315

6

Tunisia

7

1,541

220

7

South Africa

9

1,293

144

8

Ghana

6

1,080

180

9

Ethiopia

6

990

165

10

Senegal

5

914

183

research report by W. Hospitality, which revealed the state of hotels development in the pipeline across the country.

Ethiopia ranks second from the bottom with six international brands supplying 990 rooms in the

pipeline while Nigeria tops the list of the top rated countries with 29 hotels (4,828 rooms) followed by Morocco with 29 hotels supplying 4, 828 while Egypt has 15 supplying 4, 703 and then Algeria with 15 supplying 4, 703.

With Ethiopia beginning to attract more business and tourists with more than seven percent per year and projected to be the third largest economy in Africa by 2015, the managing director of Bench Events, Matthew Weihs said the forum coming to Ethiopia is an opportunity to take a closer look at the country, which is opening doors to investors and others. ‘‘It is primed to take a closer look at the market and keen to develop it,’’ said Weihs, adding that “at that moment, the expertise and the money will be in town; the question for me is: how and to what extent will the local community respond to this opportunity?”

… Haile Gebrselassie headlines South Africa museum celebrates Africa Hotel Investment Forum Mandela Nelson, Mahatma Gandhi

E

thiopia’s ‘homeboy’ and former Olympic and world athletics champion, Haile Gebrselassie has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF). The former world champion who is now a successful businessman with interests in different aspects of the economy including tourism where he is reputed to own three resorts in Ethiopia, is expected to share his life experience and his thoughts on Ethiopia’s potential as a tourism destination.

Bench Events, managing director, Matthew Weihs, is pleased by this development and described it as a big boost for the event. “We are delighted to be able to welcome the

world and Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie as a speaker at our conference.

Gebrselassie is a name synonymous with excellence on the athletics field and it is always fascinating to hear how a sportsperson’s motivation, dedication and vision enable them to transit to business.’’

“To actually have the opportunity to hear the journey and commitments he has made in his lifetime will be an honour. When you visit Addis Ababa it is obvious by the numerous billboards with his face on them that he holds great sway with the local communities so to hear more of his thoughts on the future of the tourism industry will be very interesting,’’ said the managing director.

wo of the world’s greatest TSouth icons, Nelson Mandela of Africa and Mahatma

Gandhi of India are the subject of a wall exhibition currently on display at the Nelson Mandela Centre in Johannesburg. The exhibit, which is known as Mandela Gandhi Wall was created by renowned artist and author, Birad Rajaram Yajnik.

It is an interactive exhibit, which focuses on the lives and relationship between the two great historic figures who command cult following in their countries -South Africa and India and across the world. It also seeks to explore the existing relationships between the two countries who are both members of the BRICS nations.

The technologically based

wall exhibit particularly resonate with the youth populations who are easily attracted to the stand to not only view but engage in the card game, which is part of the offerings of the exhibit. Besides, others are also drawn to the exhibit as the postcard game has also been simplified and made easy for those not technologically driven.

At its recent opening ceremony, Yajnik, took time to take visitors through the process of

Mandela Gandhi wall

the postcard game which has questions and answers on it with matching words. Dotting the wall are QR (quick-recognition) codes that can be read by smart phones, which then play videos or audio clips that the creator of the wall exhibit has loaded on to the internet. With the free internet access at the centre, it means the individual can explore the game on his own data or airtime.

According to Yajnik, with this creation, he hopes to engage the youth and believing that they would be inspired and motivated by the lives and works of the two great icons. ‘‘My message is for the youth, most of my work is targeted at high school students,’’ he said, adding that ‘‘it turned out very nicely and simplicity works best.’’

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 stories by sony neme

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s Nollywood continue to break barriers across the world, Nigeria has expressed interest in promoting active and credible linkages with Africans in The Diaspora. The focus is presently on Trinidad and Tobago in the movie sector.

The Director – General of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Ms. Patricia Bala, made this known in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, during that country’s annual Emancipation Celebration, penultimate week. On that strength, Ms. Bala has, therefore, asked movie makers and authorities in the Caribbean Island nation to avail themselves of the enormous advantages the Nigerian movie industry offer.

In her address at the 14th Annual Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Bala said: “At the NFVCB, we have our eyes on a win – win partnership with credible interests in Trinidad and Tobago to deepen our bond and nurture the gains of our cherished emancipation and self-determination without losing grip on the equally vital need to be relevant players within the global scene”.

In his response Deputy Ambasador .O.K. Adebola, who received that Nigerian delegation on behalf of the Embassy, drew attention to some areas of concern with regards to Nigerian movies, which are quite popular in the Carribean.

The Emancipation Celebration began in Trinidad and

Nigeria embraces Trinidad and Tobago movie makers

L-R: Mrs Ladi Franklin (Co-Chairperson, Nigeria-Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce), Ms Patricia Bala (D.G, NFVCB), and Amb. O. K Adebola (Nigerian High Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago) at the Nigerian High Commission, Port of Spain.

Tobago on 1st August 1985 to commemorate the day African slaves were officially freed in 1833 (although the actual freedom came in 1838). The festival is a parade of African heritage (including foods, clothes and artifacts among others) from independence square to Queens Park in Port of Spain ending at Liji Yasu Omowale village (Queen’s Park Savanna). Also featured were live star performance by Nigerian

artiste, Seun Kuti, Steel Pan Entertainment, Film show, Exhibition,National Steel Orchestra and Steel Band Procession.

In her remark during the symposium, held as part of the Emancipation Celebration, the NFVCB Director – General declared: “I will like to leave you with a firm understanding that tremendous and massive opportunities abound in Nigeria’s movie industry for those

2Baba took Vote, No Fight campaign to Project Fame T he 2baba siege was evident at the grand finale of the Project Fame competition recently for all the electric that pervaded the auditorium recently at the on-going Project Fame 7.0. All was let loose soon as the multiple awards winner was introduced as a guest judge for the night. And the crowd, expectedly went wild in anticipation of a great show. It was also a night when contestants were billed to perform songs from the artiste’s catalogue of hits.

The show also provided a soft launch for the Vote Not Fight: Election no be War campaign as the support vocalists from Adrenalin Band rocked t-shirts bearing the boldly inscribed message on them.

Vote Not Fight: Election no be War is a voter education project of The 2face Foundation in partnership with NDI and Youngstars Foundation among others towards youth participation for a peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections. He said that an official launch date will be announced by the foundation soon.

Unlike the Davido and Wizkid nights when each contestant was

put on probation, the show was a festival of classic materials that, no doubt, brought the best from the performers. The artiste, who’s recently released The Ascension album debuted on number 12 on the Billboard World Music Charts, was acknowledged as a living legend as he watched proudly as each contestant gave everything that they had in the delivery of their 2face song choices.

Also, as is fast becoming his trademark in recent times, 2baba brought a lot of glee to bear on the show to an earth shattering ovation from the capacity studio crowd, and millions of viewers all over the world, in an attempt to describe the scintillating performance of a contestant. That significantly booted the entertaining value of the show.

To cap up an unforgettable experience, the artiste took the microphone to bring the night to a most appropriate end with a magical performance that brought down the roof. This no doubt would go down asOlamide one of the most exciting Project Fame episodes of the entire season.

interested from Trinidad and Tobago to tap into. These opportunities are, among others, in the form of contents that are both culturally relevant as well as a value – chain of entrepreneurial activities that are mutually beneficial”.

According to a press statement by NFVCB’s Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, Caesar .O. Kagho , and made available to New Telegraph, “This development is coming on the

heels of the rapidly expanding Nigerian movie industry, which has raked in over N1.2 trillion of Nigeria’s income, according to the re-based GDP figures of 2013.”

Kagho further stated that, “Among those who spoke at the event were Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry, Nigeria; Dr. Judith Aidoo, one time banker of the year in New York; and Minister of Trade, Industry and Communications (Trinidad and Tobago) Vasant Barath, as well as Al Washington, Director, Africa – USA International Chamber of Industry and Commence.

Earlier, Ms. Bala and her NFVCB delegation, made up of Cornel Agim (D/Ops), Tunde Hassan (SA), Philip Julson (Accountant) and Caesar .O. Kagho (Ag. Head, CA), had paid a courtesy call to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago, where the Adebola received the delegation.

“During the visit, witnessed by top diplomats of the Nigerian mission in Port of Spain, the Director – General emphasized the need to explore the possibilities of Nigerian distributors setting up business in Trinidad and Tobago. She also told the mission about initiatives to re-invent contents of Nigerian movies to be more audience – friendly.”

Africa Music Summit for November 6-7 housands of professionals and Twould music industry stakeholders be coming together un-

2Baba

der a roof for the Africa Music Summit for a two-day conference.

The event themed: Reviving the Business of Music in Africa runs from November 6-7, for eight hours daily from 9 am. Admission is through free registration on their website, www.afrima.org The conferees would be deliberating on how the African music industry can be nurtured and be a major contributor to national and continental economies.

According to organisers, “Different topics would be discussed on how to overcome the music industry challenges, experiences would be shared and opportunities to ask questions and interact/network with experts would be available. Also, there would be opportunity to showcase new and emerging technologies in the field of music production. As we all know, opportunity comes once in a while and missing the opportunity of attending the Africa Music Summit can be avoided by making the right decision…”

26 Entertainment

Friday, September 12, 2014

10 students to get AFRIFF’s American University Training

B

Chioma Ude

Femi Opalemo ready with Double Tuale

y keeping faith with its plans of developmental agenda for the film sector, the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is planning to take 10 students to the United States of America for practical training in various aspects of filmmaking. This is In line with the vision of providing growth opportunities for graduates of the festival’s training program.

Founder/CEO of AFRIFF, Ms Chioma Ude, revealed to the media at her Victoria Island, Lagos office that, “The top 10 students would be picked from among the best that show the most aptitude during the AFRIFF organized training workshops during this year’s festival billed to hold from November 9 to November 16 at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State. And. The training in America is planned as a reward scheme for these meritorious film students.”

She said AFRIFF has since its first edition in 2010, provided free training and talent development opportunities for young people and aspiring filmmakers. her words: “We have provided ground-breaking education in Film, Cinematography and Screen Writing for over 500 students. This we have done in partnership with Sound & Motion Technical College and City Varsity, Cape Town, South Africa.

We have also worked directly with students of the National Film Institute, Jos; the Creative Arts Department of University of Port-Harcourt; PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos, as well as other aspiring young film

The artiste reportedly said, “The album is an effort of three years preparation and I can't quit music industry because its my primary constituency, I only went on recess. Music is part of my life and this new album will showcase the best in me, when officially launched in Lagos on the 1st of October at Etal hall, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

On the quality of production of the present day gospel artistes, he said, “Gospel artiste must be able to sing or record albums that will inspire people, be it Juju, Fuji or any brand of gospel music, as we have in the genre today. You must preach the gospel through it”.

He said gospel artistes are turning to inspirational singers, as “Most of them are lazy and they do it because of the love of money. Our people cannot research into good music, but let’s wait and see. We will separate the grain from the chaff.”

Opalemo is of the opinion that his forthcoming album is a project and a must for homes.

Eight tracker album with medley and the launching will be graced by the cream of the society in including two state governors that has signified their interest to grace the occasion.

D’Prince

ospel music crooner, Femi Opalemo, is back Galbum after three years and ready to launch his new titled, Double Tuale.

s the Mavin bask in the euphoria of it Aother Dorobuchi hit, it has unleashed yet anefforts with D'Prince attempts to drive home a painful reality with the stark message You Are On Your Own. Arguably one of Don Jazzy's finest productions to date, O.Y.O (On Your Own) is a

makers. We believe we can use this model for a social revolution that will change the economic horizon of the African film industry, by providing technical knowledge and skill sets to the abundant talents in our film community.

According to Ude, the skill acquisition and youth development initiative was conceived using filmmaking as a veritable vehicle for youth empowerment. Tagged AFRIFF Talent Development Workshops, the initiative provides beginners and intermediate courses for young people. AFRIFF also organizes master classes for more established filmmakers and professionals in the industry.

Ude also said that, “The scholarship will afford the student an opportunity of attending a short film course at a prestigious American university, which is a collaborative effort with a key AFRIFF partner. The aspects of filmmaking to be taught at the workshops this year will be acting, scriptwriting, directing and cinematography.

AFRIFF 2014 team is currently resourcing for this year’s talent development training workshops in association with top industry partners who will also be announced later.”

The beneficiaries will be expected to shoot a short film after their course abroad, in fulfillment of their training billed to be entered into the festival’s students’ short category for the subsequent AFRIFF in 2015.

On the event proper, organisers say interested candidates for this year’s workshops should register at the new AFRIFF website, www.afriff.com, as only registered candidates will be eligible for shortlisting for the workshops. Registration for participation in all aspects at the festival begins from Monday, September 14, 2014.

For starters, AFRIFF, which was conceived by Ude is a world class showcase that presents a complete immersion into the world of film making. AFRIFF comes with participation from local and international actors, directors and scriptwriters, as well as cinematographers, sound engineers and musicians. others involved are editors, light engineers, students, equipment manufacturers and businessmen.

The objectives, she says, “Are to develop the film industry to a level where the products compete favorably with their contemporaries all over the world. We provide a growth opportunity for these film industry professionals to eventually export their products to the world; facilitate access to investors, and equipment, as well as technical and skill acquisition. These are achieved through film festival organized fora and several capacity development workshops. We complement government’s efforts at revamping small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

D'Prince returns with OYO (On Your Own) brand new Afrobeat inspired single from D'Prince.

O.Y.O is a wakeup call to each and every one of us who have grown comfortable with the idea of building our personal hustle around other people who are occupied with their own personal strife and tribulations.

The message of this bold and innovative new single is clear - it's time to start fighting for yourself.

However far from being a call-to-arms on individualism or becoming a solo ninja, O.Y.O is also a warning to the selfish few who don’t care about the rest of us. The old adage is laid bare – when you chop alone, inevitably you will die alone. Enjoy!

The artwork for the single was choreographed and photographed by TCD Concepts. The scene depicts the imbalance of li that O.Y.O represents with D’Prince portraying a homeless man begging in the background of an affluent bigshot who has more food than he can even eat.

Harmony

 Registration for the festival commences on Monday, September 14

Harmony drops new single, video of Chocolate Shola Adefuwa Ekwe popularly known Efirstmike as Harmony has drop her new single and video called

Chocolate, produced by Popito under the HF music record label. Harmony, a super talented musician, dancer, performer and song writer told New Telegraph in an exclusive that she is poised for giant strides in the industry with this move as she is very ready for the any competition.

According to Harmony, “Chocolate is still my first single that we are still pushing, it’s not what I think it was. Most importantly for me is what people think about the song. What has kept me happy is the love people have for the song and that will make it move to become everybody’s song. So, I just hope people love it but am doing my best.”

Like most celebrated singers, she had started singing while in primary school at the tender age of seven. She was outstanding as a member of the Anointing International Primary school choir, Warri, Delta State.

She said: “That little girl has come of age, and Chocolate is talking about the African beauty, the chocolate skinned, and on daily bases you can see how men appreciate the real African woman. So I just thought of the song, and the inspiration came from there.”

She further said her joy will be working with her senior female colleagues that are already celebrities as she is working her way to the zenith of her career.

Her words: “I love to work with some female artistes; I love all of them from Tiwa Savage, Waje, Cynthia Morgan, and others. I will love to feature any of them, and working on it because I am going to do something with them soon. Soon I am also dropping a song which I featured Zeez tittle Obimon. It is a love song and for everyone.

I do Afro pop music, but I could still do other genre of music, but for now Afro pop is it.”

For her, “Limitation is in the mind, and it has to do with your personality. So, I am not limited in any way by the special grace of God. Harmony record label is HF Music (High-Flyers), a new record label created by Zeez (formerly known as Dj Zeez). They presently have Harmony, Zeez and a Ghanaian artiste, Stoned Boy.

Entertainment

Friday, September 12, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

SEPT. 12 — SEPT. 19 Highlights

Disney Princess Academy airs on Disney Channel on Mondays in September at 16:05 CAT stories by sony neme

Ogaranya Intro (Davido) A le le le le le le le le le le, On the beat is Del'B...

Its Davido, Kcee, Big Boy, E-money Chorus Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya Imaya heyyy..., My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya, Imaya heyyy...

Telemundo Fearless Heart

mieres on Discovery HD Showcase on Wednesday 10 September at 20:05 CAT A brand new third series offers another fast-paced countdown of the world’s top 20 YouTube home-made science stunts and experiments. Each episode finds the cleverest, funniest, most daring, outrageous or just downright bizarre clips, and employs a top cast of the world’s best science experts to unpack and explain them for viewers. Across the series we meet a one-wheeled motorbike in the US, the Brazilian

man who can hold his breath for over 22 minutes, tiny helicopters that can lift a woman in Germany, and the Finnish man who can fly with his own rocket boots!

Oprah Prime: Pharrell Williams airs on TLC Entertainment on Thursday 11 September at 20:00 CAT Oprah meets up with seven-time Grammy® winner Pharrell Williams, one of the most innovative and soughtafter artists in the music industry today. On the heels of his number one hit "Happy," a

GOtv September Highlight The soccer action doesn’t stop on GOtv. Make sure you catch our weekly BPL matches. Also, stayed tuned to GOtv for the latest in fashion, music, movies and much more. Some of this week’s must-see are: Sony Max (Channel 21) Most Shocking Do you believe there’s nothing in this world that would shock you? Well, then you haven’t seen Most Shocking.

Every week, this reality TV show assembles a selection of video clips designed to leave even the most hardened cynics speechless.

From pulse-racing highspeed police chases and outrageous criminal antics, to freak accidents, make sure you don’t miss Most Shocking this Thursday at 7pm.

Sony Entertainment CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a gritty, fast-paced drama series set in the world of forensic science, returns for another season. This Emmy® award winning criminal drama will once again transport viewers on to the mean streets of Las Vegas. This season, investigators Gil Grissom (William Petersen), Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) and the team investigate the death of a decapitated go-kart racer and the murder of a slasher film actress found with an axe in her back, and search for their kidnapped colleague Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox). Plus, there’s a marriage proposal thrown into the mix. Watch out for it on Tuesdays at 7:55pm

LYRICS for the week

— Kcee Ft Davido

I

n this brand new series, seven little girls learn core princess values, new skills and how to apply them. In each short, one little girl meets her fairy godmother mentor and learns to become a Disney princess in that specific skill.

Then she graduates and gets a princess badge and diploma.

Tune in to find out how these young girls are transformed from ordinary girls to dreamy princesses.

Jamie and Jimmy's Food Fight Club on BBC Lifestyle on Wednesday 10 September at 20:00 CAT Mates since childhood, Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty pair up to open a popup café on Southend pier. They also take to the continent to pit the best of British food against Europe's finest. There's some tasty cooking from Jamie, a bit of foodie science from Jimmy, and a lot of laughs with some special friends, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Gary Barlow, Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross. Throughout the series, Jamie and Jimmy put their reputations on the line as they head off to the continent in their trusty Ford Capri to take on the best that Europe's cuisines have to offer.

You Have Been Warned pre-

27

Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva is back for a deliriously funny third season.

Jane played by Brooke Elliot, has to plan her former fiancé’s wedding and must fight court cases ranging from breasts implant surgeries that have gone horribly wrong, to a death row inmate trying to get his life back. Guest stars include; LeAnn Rimes, Kathy Griffin, Brandy and Paula Abdul. Sundays at 20:30 starting on the 14 September

Telemundo: Broken Angel The suspense continues on Broken Angel this month.

Humberto asks Santiago for a DNA test if Guillermo is to be accepted as a member of the family. Carlos abuses Transit and kills one of the prostitutes who revealed all to Pancho.

Fearless Heart On Fearless Heart, Luis is unable to shoot Angela and Samantha rejects Willy's proposal while Nelly reveals to Pablo that she is pregnant.

Tune in to 'Coming to America' on Sony Entertainment

single off the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, for which he received an Oscar® nomination, Oprah and Pharrell discuss his critically acclaimed album G I R L and his rise to fame.

Plus, Pharrell shares how his creative vision has propelled him to music stardom. They also discuss his recent marriage to Helen Lasichanh and fatherhood.

Coming to America airs on Sony Entertainment on Friday 12 September at 20:00 CAT Comedy kings Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop, Shrek) and Arsenio Hall (The Arsenio Hall Show) play multiple roles in this hijinks-filled comedy.

Murphy stars as a pampered African prince who rebels against his arranged marriage and heads to America – in disguise – to find a bride he can love and respect. Expect hilarious culture-clash antics in abundance!

The Ride on MTV, Sunday 14 September at 20:30 CAT The ride is a new music driven series for MTV’s global networks following today’s biggest artists as they reveal the most game-changing moments that “made them” - and transformed their lives - culminating in the #1 most important moment that changed everything. There’s nothing more powerful than an artist speaking their truth. The Ride gives today’s most talented performers a direct link to fans to tell their story.

Now You See Me on M-Net Movies Premiere on Sunday 14 September at 20:30 CAT An FBI agent hunts for the secrets of four Las Vegas illusionists who pull off bank heists during performances.

Intriguing viewing showing the closer you look, the less you see.

Big Brother Africa: the beat goes

the devastating Fatollowing fire on September 2, 2014 the Big Brother house in Johannesburg, M-Net and Endemol SA are searching both locally and internationally for a venue to produce Season 9 of the highly popular Big Brother Africa reality show. After exploring all

possible options, the team is delighted to announce that the show will go on as a venue has been found to get the show on air within the next month.

A multitude of factors have had to be considered including the complex technical requirements, logistics,

technical crews and satellite link facilities which have all formed part of the challenge.

However, M-Net is delighted to assure all its Big Brother fans that their favourite reality show will launch soon and thanks fans from across the continent for their support during the last two days.

Verse 1 (kcee) Ah hey (2ce), Everybody like ogaranya Mama and papa e like ogaranya The ladies like ogaranya That's why them dey love me The place is so cold e dey follow Dey for body like logo, Stand gidigba like iroko Everywhere I go..., Na people I dey see I get money no debate The ladies dey see me wan relate, jubilate Na God o...

Chorus Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya Imaya heyyy..., My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya, Imaya heyyy...

Verse 2 (Davido) Girl I want you to know The way you see no be so E get as the thing dey go So baby you take am slow Shey na now you dey notice Abi u think I be novice You know say I know say you get it Money dey Oya make we blow things Ohh baby baby baby baby And everything you like I go give (Freestyle) If you wan marry wife, If you wan build house If you wan buy car, Na hustle in all heyyy...

Chorus Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya Everybody wanting to be a big ogaranya Nobody want to sit down dey look ogaranya My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya Imaya heyyy..., My God dey bless me, ogaranya No be my fault o, ogaranya Believing e no do o, ogaranya Imaya heyyy...

Verse 3 (kcee) Obi a ehn, ogaranya Alen Oyenma, ogaranya Oscar obonabo, ogaranya Zenco communications oh...

Omazurugu, ogaranya *** one of ozugu, ogaranya Sir Sanni igbwa anusu o, ogaranya Frank okafor owa ojoko Hey sir emeka ofor, ogaranya Peter okafor nna nnewi o, ogaranya Ben amatu o... Oh oh oh, ogaranya Ogbrie chukwu banner, ogaranya ABC ojiakor, ogaranya E-money, ogaranya Emeka okonkwo, ogaranya Nwatanayo eze, ogaranya Five star music le hey hey hey hey Mr lucky Ugochukwu Nsofor, ogaranya Ezeogu one of iyala oh, ogaranya Senator Ugochukwu Uba o Mike Eyinaya, ogaranya Charles arinze AKA charlie purukum Yee, I respect o...

Chris Uba, ogaranya Nwanne Andy Uba Adeleke baba olowo Capital Oil Ifeanyi Uba o MD Three point hotel Onyeze music one.

Compired by Shola Adefuwa

28

Friday, September 12, 2014

Gulder’s 14 ultimate searchers emerge

Chidi Mokeme and the GUS 14

A

stories by sony neme

t last, the much awaited list of contestants that will embark on ‘The Mission’ to the Aguleri jungle for the 11th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) has been released. The contestants emerged amidst drama, suspense and fanfare at the Final Selection Party, held on Saturday, September 6, at Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Keeping to its word that the build-up to this year’s edition would be suspensefilled, the grand revelation of the evening was the increase in the number of contestants for this year’s edition to 14. The past editions featured 10 contestants, with the last featuring 12 contestants.

A total of 18 contestants that survived previous GUS elimination exercises were called up to the stage by Darey ‘Art’

Alade. This left the audience thinking that four of the contestants would still be eliminated, as Darey had earlier announced that only 10 contestants would proceed to the Aguleri jungle.

There was, however, an uproar when the duo of Walter Drenth and Hubert Eze, the Marketing Director and Sales Director, both of Nigerian Breweries Plc., jointly delivered a scroll message from the ‘Council of Elders’ to the audience, which read: “All 14 contestants on stage are to proceed to the Aguleri jungle for Gulder Ultimate Search 11.”

The Aguleri-bound contestants are: Iwuoha Ikenna, Nwagboso Joshua, Emedike Ikenna, Nne Cosy Joe, Ubachukwu Chinedu, Otto Canon Chimenem, Afolabi Emmanuel Olusegun, Iroh Noela, Appi Samantha, Erijakpor Loretta, Robinson Sharon, Eriata Blessing Ese, Addoh Evi and Nwagbagiro Sandra.

Earlier in his speech, Nicolaas

Vervelde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said: “I was told that over 40,000 young men and women applied to be part of the Gulder Ultimate Search this year. They dreamt and fought to be where you are now, but you made it out of that lot; so I congratulate you for coming thus far in the competition. The journey has just begun and will not stop until one of you emerges the 11th ‘Ultimate Man’. However, having come this far, you are all winners already.”

Another interesting feature of this year’s event is that Chidi Mokeme is making a return as the Anchorman of the Gulder Ultimate Search.

On ground to add humour to the evening was ace comedian, Gordons, who did not disappoint as he reeled out one rib cracking joke after another. To add spice to the event, fast rising hip hop act, Burna Boy, stunned guests with a performance of his hit track, Yawa Deh Oh. The Final Selection Party was further spiced up by a Tamura Dancer from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who thrilled the crowd with enthralling dance steps.

One of the highpoints of the evening was the unravelling of the mystery behind ‘The Cube’. The past 10 winners of Gulder Ultimate Search had been summoned by the ‘Council of Elders’ to go and retrieve ‘The Cube.’

This marked the first time in the annals of Gulder Ultimate Search that all past winners of Gulder Ultimate Search would be assembled under a single roof.

The past champions who succeeded in retrieving the cube are: Ezego Egwuagwu (GUS 1 winner), Lucan Chambliss (GUS 2 winner), Hector Joberteh (GUS 3 winner), Dominic Mudabai (GUS 4 winner), Michael Nwachukwu (GUS 5 win-

ner), Uche Nwaezeapu (GUS 6 winner), Oyekunle Oluwaremi (GUS 7 winner), Christopher Okagbue (GUS 8 winner), Paschal Eronmose (GUS 9 winner) and Dennis Okike (GUS 10 winner).

The broadcast of this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search will commence on October 3 and end on October 30, and will be aired on African Magic World (DSTV), Real -Stars (Startimes), Minaj TV Obosi (Terrestrial), Ebony Life TV (DSTV), Galaxy TV (Lagos, Ibadan and Ondo), Hip TV (DSTV & GoTV), Nigezie (Startimes) and WapTV (Startimes) between 10 pm and 11pm. It will also air on AIT Network (Terrestrial) between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm daily.

The Gulder Ultimate Search is Nigeria’s first and longest running 100% local content reality TV show.

Jahjah drops singles, signs new deal

At last 10 families are selected into MDA 8 academy P

A

fter an intense battle laden with excitement and suspense, 10 out of the 13 families that were selected from different regions to take part in the grand auditions have been admitted into the famed Maltina Dance All (MDA) Academy. These 10 families face the prospect of going home with a whopping 10 million naira grand prize as well as the highly coveted title of Nigeria’s number one dancing family. The first and second runners-up will take home N3million and N1million respectively.

The grand auditions for the Maltina Dance All Season 8, tagged Rhythm of Happiness, kicked-off with a bang as the Williams family (Port-Harcourt) hit the dance floor with an impressive performance which set the tone for the evening much to the delight of the audience.

Highpoint of the event was the announcement of the results. and the 10 families that made the cut are; Oladapo (Lagos), Maisamari, (Abuja), Utere, (Port-Harcourt), Unaka (Abuja), Uzodinma (Port-Harcourt), Dide (Port-Harcourt), Nwaeze (Lagos), Leonard (Abuja), Odigie (Abuja) and Williams (Port-Harcourt).

The families of; Awokoya (Lagos), Abunwa (Lagos) and Ezekiel (Abuja) did not make it into the academy.

Selection of these 10 families into the MDA Academy represents a huge step in

Uzodinma Family

their quest to win the 10 million naira grand prize.

It would be recalled that the preparation for the MDA8 kicked off with an electrifying performance by the Maltina all-stars’ team which comprised past participants of the show, while host OsasIghodaro alongside popular comedi-

ans, GbengaAdeyinka and Lafup introduced the “Rhythm of Happiness Dance” (ROHD) to the audience that were held spellbound by the vitality and creativity which has set the show apart from others.

MDA 8, which currently airs on AIT (7-8pm) daily, Silverbird TV (9-10 pm) and Eb-

Jahjah

romising singer, Nasir Destiny Musa, a.k.a Jahjah, has dropped some new two tracks, in the build up to his oncoming album. The two singles that are presently rocking the air waves are titled, Suzana and Shoki. The video of Suzana, which was shot by prolific director, Paul Gambate, is also being enjoyed by music lovers on the tube across the nation and beyond.

While Jahjah featured Slim Brown on the track, Suzana, another, Buckwilla, was featured on Shoki.

Also, Jahjah, having been noticed as the next big thing in the music industry, a top entertainment company, Okeyson Entertainment, which has been on his trail for a long time has eventually wrapped up a deal with the artiste. Jahjah put pen on paper for a lucrative record deal some weeks back.

The native of Kogi State, started music back in his secondary school day when ony Live TV (7pm) weekdays he was in a musical group, DE2, but after and (8.30pm) weekends, promgrooming his musical talent at Soulmate ises to be the most exciting music school, he debuted in the music incompetition ever. The grand dustry as a professional seven years ago. finale would be live on AIT He became prominent when he feaand Africa Magic channels on tured in the video of Charly Boy’s musical DSTV. Viewers who miss any video, Nija Bike, a few years back. Nasir, edition can still catch all the a professional biker admirers top artists action on YouTube, Facebook like Jawon, 2baba, Davido and Wizkid. and the Maltina Website.

Respect royalty agreement, BON & IBAN urged three months after the Bbyarely historic agreement signed Copyright Society of Nige-

ria (COSON), Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN), the honeymoon seem to be over.

As a result, COSON has requested both the leaderships of

BON and IBAN to compel their members to act responsibly and meet their obligations under the COSON/BON/IBAN/ NBC/NCC music copyright agreement signed in May 2014 without further delay.

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji expressed his worries thus: “Sadly, we must draw the attention of the na-

tion to the fact that despite the substantially reduced tariffs and the public pledge of the broadcasting industry to keep to the terms of the COSON/ BON/IBAN/NBC/NCC agreement, a good number of the broadcasting stations in the country are still deploying music without paying the very low royalty tariffs negotiated

on their behalf with the help of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, NBC and Nigeria Copyright Commission, NCC. COSON is therefore constrained to call on the leaderships of both BON and IBAN to compel their members to act responsibly and meet their obligations without further delay”.

BUSINESS Friday, September 12, 2014

What's news 2.6Ghz spectrum auction rules coming Telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), may soon release the modus oprandi for the licensing of 2X70 megahertz spectrum slots in the 2.6 GHz spectrum band, a source privy to the regulatory activities told New Telegraph.

29 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

State retirees upbeat as more governors pick pension bills }p-31

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

10,000-mortgage: NMRC begins pre-qualification of applicants DEFICIT The scheme is part of government’s initiative tackle housing deficit

states, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and backed by development partners including the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), among others.

In her address to housing stakeholders during the flag off ceremony, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said that the Federal Government's 10000 mortgage scheme was inspired by President

Goodluck Jonathan's pledge on January 16, 2014, when he launched the NMRC with a view to making mortgage acCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

}p-30

FG plans tax cuts for building materials In order to reduce the cost of housing production and enhance home ownership among Nigerians, the Federal Government is planning to grant tax and other concessions, to building/construction materials producers in the country.

}p-30

PHCN retirees’ protest turns bloody The protest embarked upon by pensioners of the Electricity chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners early in the week almost went out of hand when one of the elderly agitators attacked and injured an official of the union at the secretariat in Ijora, Lagos.

}p-32

Pensioners lament over N16.9bn arrears Retirees in Delta State have increased the number of ex-public servants demanding the payment of their arrears.

}p-33

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) has begun the process of pre-qualifying applicants of its initial 10,000 mortgage scheme.

Thereafter, the company will allocate mortgage applicants to commercial and mortgage banks, which are members of NMRC to assist Nigerians acquire their homes through wellpriced and long-term mortgage finance.

NIMRC Managing Director/ CEO, Sonnie Ayare, confirmed the development to New Telegraph by phone.

He also confirmed temporary shutdown of website application on September 5, explaining that it will be reopened later.

“The response from Nigerians has been very encouraging and positive. Right now, we are in the process of pre-qualifying the applications after which we will assign them to commercial and mortgage banks, which will invite applicants to discuss the mode of financing, location of housing and other details,” he explained.

As part of the government policy initiative to bridge over 17 million housing deficit, it flagged off last July, the first 10,000 mortgage scheme.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala, launched the scheme in Abuja. It is private sector driven but a Federal Government initiative with strong support from the NMRC and Primary Mortgage Lenders (PMLs). The scheme is being implemented in partnership with 15 pilot

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

L-R: Company Secretary, Keystone Bank, Mr Michael Agamah; Executive Director, Corporate Bank and Treasury, Mr Hafiz Bakare; Chairman, Keystone Bank, Mr. Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe; Managing Director/CEO, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs Lucy Newman; Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr Philip Ikeazor and Executive Director, Lagos and West, and Mr Innocent Ike, during the induction programme for new Keystone Bank directors.

NNPC receives N170m claims from three underwriters RELIABILITY ARM Life Insurance, AIICO General Insurance and Lasaco Life, make good their promises

Sunday Ojeme

I

n fulfillment of their claims obligation to policyholders, three insurance companies paid out over N170 million to the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under

the Group Life cover.

Leading the underwriters in the payment is ARM Life Insurance Company Limited which doled out over N141.86 million, followed by AIICO General Insurance Company Limited with over N18 million and Lasaco Life - N10.5 million.

According to the details obtained by New Telegraph, the claims were paid to the families of the corporation’s workers who were beneficiaries of the Group Life Insurance under the Compulsory Insurance Act. The breakdown revealed that AIICO paid its claims in respect of three deceased workers, ARM Life did same in re-

spect of 22 and Lasaco paid on behalf of two.

The Pension Reform Act 2014 makes group life insurance compulsory for all employees to be covered under the scheme.

Specifically, this Act affects employers in the public and private sectors having more than five employees.

Section 9 (3) of the Pension Reform Act 2004 stipulates that every employer, to which the Act applies, must maintain Life Insurance Policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE July 2014.................................8.3% June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Sept 05)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.63bn as at 5/09/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Sept 05)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N255.32 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N202.76 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Telecoms: 2.6Ghz spectrum auction rules coming GAP Nigeria currently has six per cent broadband internet penetration

Kunle Azeez

T

elecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), may soon release the modus oprandi for the licensing of 2X70 megahertz spectrum slots in the 2.6 GHz spectrum band, a source privy to the regulatory activities told New Telegraph.

“I can tell you that the NCC is not resting on its oars and it is working assiduously, especially through its Department of Spectrum Management, to ensure that the final guidelines for the licensing of the 2.6Ghz spectrum is ready soon,” the

source said.

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue however declined to specify the actual date the industry should expect the final document that will guide the spectrum licensing.

“I don’t know the actual date for now, but I am sure that NCC is on top of it and I am sure it will be released soon.”

Spectrum, a licensable electromagnetic resource, consist a number of bands of closely spaced lines that are associated with emission or absorption of radiation by molecules, which telecoms companies require to be able to provide wireless telecoms services – voice and datato telecoms users.

When contacted, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, said that he was out of the country, promising to discuss the issue with our correspondent when he returned.

The 2.6Ghz spectrum is to be

licensed by the regulator later this year to add the needed impetus for the provision of fast-speed internet service in Nigeria.

“Nigeria currently has six per cent broadband internet penetration,” Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, had said at a Lagos forum. “Plans are ongoing to increase the penetration five-folds to 30 per cent penetration.”

The NCC had, on August 28 this year, organised a stakeholders’ forum to discuss modalities for the auction of spectrum in the 2.6Ghz band.

NCC said that the planned auction was part of efforts by the Commission to deepen competition and improve broadband penetration in the country to achieve the goals of the National Broadband Plan 20132018.

The stakeholders’ forum discussed issues such as lessons from the last auction in 2.3GHz band, spectrum packaging in-

L-R: Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Brovo Kim; Managing Director, MGS Limited, Mr Hassan Mehdi and Head, Corporate and Consumer Electronics Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Koye Sowemimo, at the official opening of Samsung’s Brand Shops in Abuja

FG plans tax cuts for building materials’ manufacturers WAIVERS This initiative is to encourage cheap construction materials

Dayo Ayeyemi and Yusuf Shuaib

I

n order to reduce the cost of housing production and enhance home ownership among Nigerians, the Federal Government is planning to grant tax and other concessions, to building/construction materials' producers in the country.

This new initiative is another government’s effort to assist the producers of building materials in reducing the cost of

their production, so that homebuilders can have access to affordable and cheap materials.

It has been established by developers and housing stakeholders that exorbitant cost of building materials has been one of the major factors responsible for high price tags on housing units in Nigeria.

To ensure mass production of cheap building materials, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Etim Eyankenyi, disclosed that the Federal Government will stage a Building Materials Concession Initiative Summit in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

According to her, the summit will focus on the concessions to be granted by the relevant parties in respect of major building/construction materials and compo-

nents (both local and imported).

The confab, she said, is scheduled to hold on October 3.

She explained: “While Federal Government is expected to grant tax and other concessions (including duty waivers), the building/construction materials producers and suppliers are expected to reciprocate through drastic reduction in the price of building and construction materials/components, thereby resulting affordable housing delivery in the country.”

She said that the opportunity offered by the summit would be used to expose participants to alternative technologies and construction methods that will take into consideration the peculiar Nigerian socio-cultural situations and the imperative of making houses affordable in the country.

cluding the use of spectrum caps, participation restrictions, licensing option - wholesale, retail or combined, eligibility criteria, spectrum licence tenures, roll-out obligation, among others.

New Telegraph learnt that at the forum, the stakeholders were divided along the lines of whether the spectrum should be licensed entirely as a national auction or segmented as a regional auction, where multiple players are accommodated on the spectrum band and operate as regional operators.

From its body language, the NCC seems to support national licensing. According to the Director of Spectrum Administration at the Commission, Mr.

Austin Nwaulune, “most local players lack the financial muscle needed to put the spectrum into proper use,” stressing that when NCC licensed the 3.5-gigahertz spectrum on a regional basis in 2002, not many of the regional players were able to rollout.

He said: “In 2001, when we did the digital mobile licensing, it was national and it was highly successful. Conversely, in 2002, when we did regional licensing, the outcome was that we only have a few of the local players providing services on the spectrum today.

“Today, we have a lot of those that are not big that have spectrum state-by-state that are not doing anything with it."

NNPC receives N170m claims CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Under the policy, total annual emolument is defined as the basic salary, transport and housing allowances and shall not include bonuses, overtime, directors’ fees or other fluctuating emoluments.

The guidelines for life insurance policy for employees jointly issued by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom), revealed that the employer is required to fully bear all costs in relation to procurement of this policy, and this shall be in addition to the contributions to be made by the employer to each employee’s Retirement Savings Account.

Although the current claims payment is for the past years, the Corporation had earlier in the year released a whopping sum of $79.4 million as premium to cover its risks for the current year.

The development was seen as a reflection of new financial lease enjoyed by insurance operators and a confirmation of a recent disclosure by the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, that the Federal Government was leading by

example by ensuring release of premium by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as a way of supporting the ‘No Premium, No Cover Policy.’

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc and over 100 insurance brokering firms, were said to have benefitted from the largess, which has Mutual Benefits as the lead insurer and Hogg Robinson as lead broker.

Daniel had declared that the insurance industry’s ability to pay claims had increased significantly, stressing that the non-implementation of the Insurance Act 51 (NO Premium, No Cover) led to poor cash flow in the industry.

He said: “It is the duty of the commission to protect insurance companies and one of the ways to do this is to ensure that part of the Insurance Act that would enhance their performance are duly implemented.

About 90 per cent of premiums reside in collectibles prior to ‘No premium, no cover’, resulting in inability to pay claims due to poor cash flow.

“In other climates, the underwriters are the lords and not the other way round where the brokers become the lord.

NMRC begins pre-qualification of applicants CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

cessible to Nigerians to enable them purchase and own their homes.

Unlike the existing mortgage scheme whose tenure is not more than 36 months, the Coordinating Minister said that with the establishment of NMRC, mortgage subscribers can pay back between 15 and 20 years.

To be eligible for the scheme, applicants must show proof of a regular income, tax compliance; specified combined household income and others.

She explained: "This is a serious scheme for serious people who want to own their own houses. Government is determined to deliver on President Jonathan's pledge

to enable Nigerians own their own homes through mortgage.

But we must make it clear that applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria to qualify.

That is the best way to create a level playing field and make the scheme sustainable so that more Nigerians can benefit.

"Applicants which meet the eligibility requirements will be handed over to the Primary Mortgage Lenders (PML) for final processing. The PML will originate the mortgages to be backed or refinanced by the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company.”

She stressed that the scheme was part of government's initiative to help tackle the country’s housing deficit in a comprehensive and sustainable way.

Pension

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

CHEERFUL Some gaunt and fragile-looking retirees have cause to celebrate Sunday Ojeme

T

he battle by members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) appears to be yielding fruits especially at the state level where some of the governors are now responding to calls by the leadership of the union to put an end to the suffering of retirees.

While the national leadership of the union has been battling President Goodluck Jonathan over his failure to redeem his promises to the aged retirees, the leadership at the state level has also not rested to ensure that those who retired from their civil service are given a sense of belonging at retirement.

Agitation A few weeks ago, for instance, the NUP, North-East zone, called on governors in the region to pay the backlog of N50 billion gratuities to pensioners.

The union’s National Vice-President, Alhaji Inuwa Ahmed, who led the agitation, said that paying pension and gratuity was necessary to improve the retirees’ well-being in the six states of the region.

He also demanded payment of Bauchi State local government pensioners' two months’ arrears.

Ahmed said: “We want the retirees to benefit from what is meant for them after service to enable them carry out their responsibilities such as children school fees, feeding, healthcare and others. Some of the pensioners have children, so how do you want them to take care of them without paying their entitlement.

“We are not happy with the way payments of retirees’ pensions are being delayed. This contributes to the suffering of our members in the six states and it is worrisome.”

He added that pension payment was also not up-to-date thereby bringing more hardship on members.

Also, Chairman of Bauchi State chapter of NUP, Alhaji Habu Gar, said that payment of gratuity in the state had been on hold.

He appealed to the federal, state and local governments to pay them a backlog of N9 billion gratuity and two months unpaid pensions of local government pensioners in the state.

Imo Similarly in Imo State, members of NUP, in July, called on the state government to immediately pay them the 73 months arrears of harmonisation that accrued from Gen. Abdul Salam Abubakar’s 180 per cent pension increase of 1999 and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s 142 per cent increase of year 2000.

The state Chairman, Chief G.U. Ezeji, and state Principal Secretary, Evangelist L.U. Asgiegbu, called on the state government to give the pensioners a sense of belonging by organising a yearly pensioners' day celebration.

The retirees urged government to harmonise their pensions based on a six per cent Federal Government award of 2003, 15 per cent in 2007 and Rochas Okorocha N20,000.00 minimum wage of 2011.

Akwa Ibom In the same vein, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the union in June also pleaded with the state government to pay pensioners their gratuity and

31

State retirees upbeat as more governors pick pension bills Kaduna, Osun, Ogun, Anambra, Lagos dole out billions

Obiano

Yero

Ibikunle Amosun

N4.7 billion as backlog of retirement benefits for local government workers for the past seven years.

Fashola

Aregbesola

other entitlements from 2005 till date.

According to the Chairman of Local Government Pensioners in the state, Chief Effanga Ettah, over 80 per cent of members had not been paid their entitlements since 2010.

He affirmed that there were also cases associated with non-payment of gratuity from 2005 to 2009, adding that their counterparts who retired from the state’s civil service were paid as at when due.

Governor Mukhtar Yero, distributed cheques totaling N6.73 billion to 206 pensioners who retired between 2005 and 2012.

The cheques, which also covered death benefits of deceased civil servants, also got to 77 next-of-kins on behalf of deceased relatives.

Handing over the cheques to the beneficiaries, Yero said that his administration had successfully cleared all pension arrears owed retirees in the state civil service and was at the verge of settling all gratuities of retirees and next-of-kins of deceased civil servants.

While enjoining the beneficiaries to use their money prudently to uplift their standard of living, he disclosed that his administration had paid entitlements to some workers dismissed during the military era, adding that his administration would sustain the policy of prompt payment of pensions and gratuity.

It will be recalled that Kaduna State government had also paid a total of

Edo The Edo State government was able to nip in the bud a planned protest in Benin City, the state capital, after government officials got wind of the plan and quickly arranged a meeting with the pensioners.

Redemption However, as bad as the situation appears across the country, some state government, whether out of official obligation or political expediency, have started releasing huge sums of money to offset pensions arrears owe retirees in their states.

With a promise to ensure that they would no longer owe pensioners, the governors take turns to lament the neglect the retirees who served the country meritoriously were being subjected to.

Kaduna The latest in this rank is the Kaduna State government, which paid over N6.73 billion to 206 pensioners a few days ago.

We want the retirees to benefit from what is meant for them after service to enable them carry out their responsibilities such as children school fees, feeding, healthcare and others

Anambra Prior to Yero’s gesture, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State had paid off the remaining part of pensions to local government workers including teachers numbering over 600.

Obiano said that the total amount of over N946 million paid represented arrears of pension and gratuity from January.

He said that henceforth he would no longer make show of such payments as he would now pay pensioners monthly so that it does not accumulate.

Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs Azuka Enemuo, said that the nearly N1 billion government paid to pensioners would bring the figure paid to retired workers in the past eight years to about N42 billion.

Osun The story remains the same in Osun State where government paid over N37.9 billion as pension and gratuity to them.

According to the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, N24.3 billion was paid to retired workers in the state while N13.6 billion was paid to those at the local governments.

In his words: “Despite challenges posed by the dwindling revenue to the state from the Federal Government, the state government has paid N24.3billion to pensioners as pension and gratuity.”

While assuring that the retirees will continue to enjoy their monthly emolument, he pointed out that the current administration had jerked up the monthly pension obligations to retired workers from N250 million to N600 million.

Lagos & Ogun Two other states that have put laughter in the mouths of retirees are Ogun and Lagos. While Ogun paid over N22 billion to pensioners and another N5 billion as gratuities in the last three years with a vow not to owe any pensioner or worker his due, the Lagos State government paid over N4.6 billion in pensions to its retired workers in the last one year.

32

business | PENSION

AGITATION Angry pensioners are taking their destinies in their hands Sunday Ojeme

T

he protest embarked upon by pensioners of the Electricity chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners early in the week almost went out of hand when one of the elderly agitators attacked and injured an official of the union at the secretariat in Ijora, Lagos.

The protest, which was organised by the factional group of the union and meant to rouse the NUP leadership into doing something more serious to compel the Federal Government pay the arrears of pensions, was held just as the union executive had already issued a communiqué warning the Federal Government of an impending protest on September 15.

In the communiqué, the union had asked the Federal Government to pay the threemonth pension arrears owed its members, failing which it would stage a peaceful protest to the presidency on September 15 to press home its demand.

The communiqué signed by the union’s President, Chief Temple Ubani and its Secretary, Comrade Olukayode Ogunbiyi, expressed disgust over the delay in the payment of pension arrears of its members nationwide, stressing that the ex-workers were being owed June to August 2014 pension arrears by the Federal Government.

They said in the communiqué: “We denounce the persistent delay by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the payment of our monthly pension which is already in

PHCN retirees’ protest turns bloody months of June, July and August, 2014 in arrears, and we urge the Minister of Finance, the Chairperson of NELMCO Board to take necessary step to release the fund to NELMCO/ PTAD.” It noted that the National Executive Council of the union hadempowered the national leadership of the union to take all necessary steps towards payment of the three months arrears and to work for timely payment of subsequent pensions.

The union also enjoined its members to fast and pray on the day of the protest with a view to ensuring its success.

The decision to embark on the peaceful protest was taken at the union’s National Executive Committee meeting, which held in Lagos on September 3, 2014.

However, just as their protest plan was still being put together, the other group comprising the sick, frail and amputees took the battle to the secretariat, accusing the leadership of conniving with the Federal Government to delay their pensions.

In a chat with New Telegraph, spokesperson of the group, Mr Olu Ayeni, said that the protest was peaceful until one of the elderly retirees got angry and attacked the official in question.

He said: “We got to the secretariat around 9am and started the peaceful protest, even before the arrival of some of the executive members. Later, I went somewhere to buy a drink, but suddenly, I was called upon that the situation was becoming rowdy. By the time I got there, I noticed that the secretary had been injured by one of the elderly retirees.

“I really don’t blame the old men who have toiled for this

Fund members willing to sacrifice returns

O

ver 70 per cent of pension fund members in Switzerland want their schemes to apply sustainability criteria when selecting investments, according to a survey commissioned by RobecoSAM. Approximately 40 per cent of the 1,200 participants surveyed said they would be willing to sacrifice returns in exchange for sustainable investments, with 20 per cent of that number willing to give up as much as half the return.

Also, over 70 per cent of respondents said they were convinced the application of ESG criteria would lead to more cautious investment decisions and probably even better ones.

Roughly the same percentage of participants said they

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

would even be in favour of making it legally mandatory for Pensionskassen to apply certain sustainability criteria.

The survey also found that participants now require more transparency from Pensionskassen with respect to their investments, as well as more in-depth analyses of portfolios according to ESG criteria.

A vast majority of respondents also welcomed the Swiss National Bank’s announcement that it would sell the bonds of “ethically questionable” companies it held in its portfolio until earlier this year.

RobecoSAM said that awareness of sustainable investments increased in conjunction with respondents’ age and education levels.

country and are being denied their entitlements due to the unseriousness of union executive that have long compromised,” Ayeni said.

He noted that the late action of the union executive to embark on a protest after months of delay translated to the low value they placed on the lives of retirees.

Ayeni said: “We cannot put into number how many of the retirees have transited without their benefits as a result of the failure by the Nigerian

Electricity Liability Management Company and the Federal Government to do the needful. The question we are asking is why the protest now after many had transited. It is because their hands are soiled so they have not been comfortable arranging any protest against government.”

Ayeni has been accusing the union of not doing enough for the pensioners. He also agitated for the payment of severance pakage to the retirees so as to severe whatever link

there was between them and government.

But the Administrative Assistant of the union, Mr Anthony Magnus, said that the agitation by the retirees was not necessary as their demand for an outright payoff was unconstitutional and unheard of.

He said that the best thing was for the aggrieved retirees to direct their grievances to the PHCN headquarters in Abuja instead of disrupting activities at the union’s secretariat.

L-R: Managing Director, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Paul Gbededo; Incoming Chairman, John Coumantaros; Immediate past chairman, George Coumantaros and Company Secretary, Olalekan Saliu, during the General Meeting of the company in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Pensions returns hit 14% as manager mitigates risks T he diversified growth fund of the UK master trust Now Pensions saw investment returns hit 14.2 per cent for the 12 months to the end of June 2014, as the manager added new features to mitigate correlation risks.

Investment and Pension Europe reports that the fund is on track to hit £50m and operates on a risk-allocation basis over asset allocation, adding that strong returns were helped by final quarter performance.

The target 35 per cent exposure to equity risk returned 4.3 per cent in the three months from March, while its 10 per cent exposure to commodity risk returned 6.6 per cent.

Other risk factors – credit, rates and inflation – all performed positively, adding to the eventual 14.2 per cent investment return over the year.

The three factors are generally exposed to corporate bonds, global sovereign bonds and inflation-linked bonds, respectively.

Now Pensions said that the return figure was well above its ‘cash +3 per cent’ benchmark

and the return from holding a basic 60 per cent equity/40 per cent UK Gilt portfolio.

The provider is wholly owned

by Danish pensions organisation ATP and operates a single investment fund for all of its 300,000-plus members.

It runs investments through the DKK641bn fund’s in-house investment team in Denmark.

It said that it implemented a correlation control mechanism in the early part of the year to protect the portfolio when asset performance became overly correlated.

Using a bespoke diversification measure, where 0 signifies absolute correlation and 1 no correlation, the manager adjusts its portfolio to stop unexpectedly correlated assets from bringing down overall performance.

When the measure falls below 0.45, it immediately re-distributes poorly performing assets to the top-performing classes, and it does not shift back to tactical holding levels until the measure rises above 0.5.

It used the mechanism six times up until the end of June,

which chief executive, Morten Nilsson, described as more frequent than expected.

“It has been a funny 12 months, with very atypical returns,” he told IPE. “It is still not a healthy world, and the correlation control usage has been more frequent than you would expect in a normal environment.”

The manager also implemented portfolio risk controls, which automatically de-risk investments in periods of falling performance.

Now Pensions said, for every two per cent drop in overall fund value over a three-month period, the investment strategy will de-risk by 20 per cent.

As a result, a sudden 10 per cent fall in value will see the entire fund de-risked and moved into cash and cash equivalents.

Nilsson said the single investment fund, unique in the UK, allowed the pensions manager to implement such mechanisms into its investment strategies.

“The new investment structures put in place are very difficult to do on an individual basis,” he said.

business | PENSION 33

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Pensioners lament over N16.9bn arrears EMBITTERED Retires are becoming more daring over huge backlog of unpaid benefits Sunday Ojeme

R

etirees in Delta State have increased the number of ex-public servants demanding the payment of their arrears.

This came to light on Tuesday in Asaba, the state capital, when they trooped out in their hundreds to lament the nonpayment of their pension totalling N16.9 billion.

The retirees, who expressed their grievance through different inscriptions on placards, threw caution to the wind as they almost halt commercial activities.

Speaking amid the uproar, chairman of the group, Ovwiroro Eric, predicted a more rigorous rallies and possible strike action by labour unions if the state government fail to issue an irrevocable standing payment order for their payment to the Accountant-General of the Federation by October 30.

He said that the state government contravened Pension Reform Law 2008, section 16, subsection 1-6, and also defaulted in payment of five per cent of the monthly wage-bill of its employees into the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund (RBBRF) account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, which had accumulated to over N16.9 billion as at December 2013.

He also faulted the government over irregular payment of

its 10 percent counterpart contribution into the retirement savings account of contributory retirees.

He said the group viewed with discontent and regards the various implausible reasons proffered by relevant Delta State Government officials as mischievous and a ploy to delay indefinitely the payment and deny contributory retirees of their benefits.

He promised that the pensioners would not hesitate to mobilise for massive rallies in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Kwale, Ughelli and also sensitise the Delta State public workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Joint Negotiating Council to commence industrial action against the government to compel them to honour and obey the Pension Reform Law 2008 signed

by Governor Uduaghan.”

It will be recalled that some pensioners in Enugu State had last week asked the state government to look into their plights and pay their nine-year arrears of pension.

While the ESBS pensioners are owed 90 months arrears, their counterparts in the local government are being owed another 27 months.

Chairman of the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr Damian Udeani, appealed to government to save its members from the trauma they faced due to the situation.

According to him, “the regrettable situation here is that retiring primary school teachers with effect from June 2013, till date, are no longer being paid a kobo of their retirement benefits. Gratuities were paid last to the primary school teachers in 2001.”

L-R: Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii; Group Deputy Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mr Abdullahi Sule and Deputy General Manager, Human Recourses/Admin, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mr Murtalb Zubair, during the presentation of four Operation Pick-up Vans to NAFDAC in Lagos.

UK pension deficit doubles in year to August A

funding shortfall in Britain's private sector defined benefit pension schemes has more than doubled over

Calpers criticised for passive approach to 'spiking'

A

merica's largest public pension fund was criticized in a report on Tuesday for failing to sufficiently audit and clamp down on pension "spiking", a practice of inflating workers' benefits just before retirement in order to boost their pensions.

California's State controller, John Chiang, said Calpers, the state's giant public pension fund with assets of $300 billion, had a "passive" approach towards pension spiking and failed to adequately review payroll data, inviting abuse.

According to Yahoonews, Calpers administers benefits for over 3,000 city, state and local agencies, or nearly three million people.

Pension reform advocates have accused Calpers of authorising pension spiking after the fund's board voted last month to approve nearly 100 types of extra pay that will count toward pensions for workers hired since 2013. A majority of the Calpers board have current or former roles

with unions.

Chiang said that of the 11 Calpers entities he had scrutinised, he found no incidence of pension spiking. His review was conducted between July 2010 and June 2012.

But speaking of Calpers's spiking review procedures, Chiang said that "on the current audit schedule, a local government that contracts with Calpers, for example, would only face an audit once in every 66 years."

Chiang said Calpers only reviews 1.5 per cent of its membership annually for spiking, and the primary driver of that is whether an entity has public employees who are paid more than $245,000 a year.

"The state's largest pension system can and must be more vigorous in protecting taxpayers from this form of public theft," Chiang stated.

Calpers pushed back against Chiang's criticisms.

"The Controller's review did not identify any pension spiking," said Rob Feckner, President of the Calpers Board of

Administration.

Feckner said Calpers had significantly increased audit staff since June 2012, and has doubled the number of member audits in the past year.

"We agree on the importance of a proactive and automated system to detect pension spiking," Feckner said.

Audit technology is superior today to the period of Chiang's review, a Calpers spokesman added.

California Governor Jerry Brown passed a pension reform law in 2012 aimed at reducing pensions for newly hired workers. Cash-strapped California cities are straining to pay rising retirement costs, often their biggest budget item.

Part of that law was aimed at halting spiking, the practice where workers on the eve of retirement cash out, for example, years of unused vacation and sick pay to inflate their final year's salary. For most workers in California, pensions are calculated on their final year's wage.

the past year to reach 170.6 billion pounds at the end of August, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) said on Tuesday.

The funding gap at the same point last year was 80.3 billion pounds, according to the PPF, created in 2005 to take over the assets and liabilities of UK-based defined benefit pension schemes if an employer goes bust.

Reuters reports that the shortfall at the end of August was also up sharply from 122.7 billion pounds at the end of July.

Private sector pension plans have faced a shortfall for more than three years now, the data showed, with three quarters of the 6,150 schemes tracked by PPF in deficit, the watchdog said.

In August, total assets of the schemes rose by 2.9 per cent to 1.2 trillion pounds. Liabilities rose faster at 6.3 per cent to 1.38 trillion pounds over the same period.

This is mainly due to falling gilt or British government bond yields which have been at low levels partly due to action taken by central banks since the financial crisis to spur economic growth.

The UK's 15-year benchmark gilt yields fell by about 35 basis points during August after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney cooled financial market expectations that

UK interest rates would rise sooner than predicted.

The Bank of England has pointed to a pick up in wage growth as a major factor for the timing of an interest rate move.

Carney said on Tuesday the Bank of England might start to raise interest rates next spring although the labour market was still in the process of recovering from the financial crisis.

Britain is still expected by financial markets to be among the first developed economies to raise interest rates, which should help to close the pension funding gap as pension schemes make more money from their investments.

Pension industry consultants said in the meantime the funding shortfall was manageable.

"The increasing levels of deficit cause a degree of discomfort but I don't suppose anybody is going to be hitting the panic button," Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said.

Jon Hatchett, head of corporate consulting at Hymans Robertson, said that for most major companies pensions continued to remain affordable. But he said the funding gap highlighted yet again the benefits of hedging yield risk.

34

BUSINESS

HUMAN CAPITAL The current ratio is one extension agent to two thousand farm families

T

raders under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) have declared that the agricultural extension service has gone into extinction in Nigeria.

Agric

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Agricultural extension service wanes – NANTS The traders noted that it would be an impossible task to create impact with a situation where the current ratio is one extension agent to two thousand farm families.

They also lamented the de-

cline of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in the country due to government negligence.

At a stakeholders’ consultation summit on the state of Agricultural extension service in

Nigeria in Abuja, president of the association, Mr Ken Ukoha, said that ADPs are still the most enduring public system of agricultural extension in the country with direct linkage to the grassroots and small

Extension workers

Researchers advocate community-driven agriculture T

wo researchers from the American University of Nigeria, Yola, have advocated a community-driven development model that actively engages rural farmers to foster sustainable agricultural development as a prerequisite to drastic reduction of the nation’s poverty.

At the fifth International Sustainable Development Summit, held at Ibadan, Mr Fardeen Dodo, a faculty member of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Olurotimi Ogundijo, a Farm Research Manager with the Office of Sustainability Initiatives, contended that the communitydriven development (CDD) model would put food on the table, yield surplus for export and secure the commitment of the people for lasting growth, development and progress.

In their paper entitled: “Circling into the future, finding the best approach to agricultural development in rural Nigeria,” the researchers advocated the new model because, “it is designed to be less dependent on officialdom and optimising the ability of community actors to determine their own problems and solutions, while reaching very large numbers of poor people.”

They observed that the Federal Government and other development stakeholders had consistently implemented the classical model of development, a top-down strategy that trickles down from a central policy-making body to the rural communities, for projects like the National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP) 1972, the Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) of 1974 and 1989, and the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) of 1976.

They said: Other interventions that failed, in the sense that they could not generate sustenance include the Green Revolution (GR) of 1980; the Directorate for Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) programme of 1986; the Better Life Programme (BLP) For Rural Women of 1987; the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) of 1992; the National Special Programme on Food Security (NSPFS) 2002; and the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP) of 2003.

“Despite the presence of these initiatives in many states of Nigeria and their laudable objectives that centre on increasing food production, poverty eradication, and the provi-

sion of low-cost and improved technologies, “to a large extent, these programmes are considered to have failed.”

The only exception, the speakers pointed out, was the National Fadama Development Project (NFDP-II), which utilised the CDD model, targeting the development of small-scale irrigation, especially in the lowlying alluvial floodplains.

“This Fadama II increased the productivity, living standards, and development capacity of the economically active rural communities, while boosting their efficiency in delivering implementation services to an estimated four million rural beneficiary households, raising their real incomes by 45 per cent,” they noted.

The CDD, which has now been implemented in 80 countries, is reminiscent of the precolonial, people-driven development strategy, has put the people in the driver’s seat, adequately encouraging the requisite level of entrepreneurship needed to empower rural agriculture. The role of the government, rather than be other-directing, should be supportive, helping farmers go about their own activities and lives, they argued.

holder farmers.

He said: “In recent days, the extension service delivery has almost gone into extinction as the spark which the ADP was known for appears dwindling. To some observers, ADP was abandoned as soon as the funding meant for the World Bank dried up.

“It is also a key component of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development (CADDP) which ATA domestically seeks to represent. At the regional level, Nigeria is a major country upon which ECOWAS relies for the implementation of its agricultural policy called ECOWAP, especially for the economic development and food security of her over 300 million population.

“It is important to note that ECOWAS accorded extension service sub-sector a significant role in the implementation of the region’s agricultural policy.

All this confirm the high significance of extension service in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Ukuoha added that the goal was to examine and engage this agricultural policy of government with a view to ensuring positive impact on the smallholder farmers.

Nigeria, Ghana invest $200m on cocoa $200 million has been Ocoaver invested on the mass coby Nigeria and Ghana to

boost exports in the next few years.

While Ghana said it has invested $200 million on spraying exercise in order to increase the production of cocoa for export, Nigeria said it has invested to produce one million tons by 2018.

As part of the package, 1.6 million bags of inorganic fertilizers and 22,000 litres of organic ones will be distributed by Ghanaian authorities to farmers to help raise the yields of the crop.

The Acting Executive Director of Cocoa Health and Extension Division of (COCOBOD), Dr Francis Baah, gave the information at a forum with cocoa farmers dubbed ‘Ghana Cocoa Platform’ in Koforidua.

Also, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, said Nigeria was striving to boost production to one million tons a year by 2018 – on a par with current number two global producer, Ghana, and approaching top grower Ivory Coast’s projected 1.8 million tons for this year.

Already the country is on

track to produce 500,000 tons of cocoa next year, double what it grew in 2012.

According to Ecobank, output from Africa’s top four growers; Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia and Nigeria –which makes up over 70 per cent of global production, is projected to rise in 2013/14 after staying flat for two years.

“Nigeria has been underperforming for many years because of a lack of investment and the discovery of oil. But in the last two years, there’s been genuine commitment … to develop agriculture,” said Edward George, Ecobank head of research.

Nigeria currently grows cocoa on less than a quarter of the three million hectares of land suitable to produce the beans, and government is encouraging farmers to expand to the uncultivated savannah grassland.

With the materials the state provides, crops are flourishing. Adeniyi received his high-yield disease-resistant seeds from government two years ago and planted 800 seedlings of which 700 survived – much more than usual. The new trees flower within 18-24 months instead of 3-5 years.

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

DISINCENTIVE Imported rice is cheaper than locally produced rice Chris Ugwu

F

ollowing the agriculture transformation agenda strategy of the Federal Government, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc (FMN) has said that it would soon begin optimum production of locally grown rice in the country.

The Group Managing Director of the company Mr Paul Gbededo, disclosed this recently at a forum in Lagos.

Gbedebo noted that the company aims to achieve this feat through aggregation by involving local farmers and others in the supply chain.

“Nigeria consumes about four million metric tonnes of rice and we need about one million acres of land to achieve that. We want to start aggregating by involving others in the supply chain.

So, very soon you will start seeing our rice brand,” he stated.

Speaking on his company’s involvement in the rice business, he noted that they have been involved in the importation of par-boiled rice into

Flour Mills to begin optimum production of rice the country since 2009, as well as the construction of a rice mill in 2010 with the capacity to process brown rice or semiprocessed rice into par-boiled rice.

On the challenges that exist in the industry, he however noted that the tariff on importation of rice has affected its production, as imported rice is cheaper than locally produced rice, stating that the increase in importation tariff would also enhance its profit margin in that regard.

Gbededo pointed out that the company has made strategic investment in large scale commercial farming to support its food processing units with locally produced raw materials, adding that the company cultivates 10,000 hectares of sugar at Sunti Golden Sugar Estate to feed the sugar refinery.

He said that the Kaboji Farms Limited in Niger State contain maize and soya

Nigeria targets $80bn from cocoa in 2015 he Federal Government has Tgeting said that the country is tarcocoa with a market

value of N80 billion in 2015 To realise this, the country must produce at least 800 million metric tons of the product.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this at Nestle Nigeria’s factory, Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State.

He said that the Federal Government will partner with the company and other firms to produce high energy foods.

According to a statement in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Information and Protocol, Tony Ohaeri, the minister noted that government was focusing on private sector-led agriculture to ensure food security.

Adesina further said that the ministry was working on bio-fortification of special cas-

Cocoa

35

sava variety that has Vitamin A, adding that government was committed to producing nutritious food.

He said that one million metric tons of sorghum would be produced yearly, while also urging cocoa farmers not to only export the produce but to also think of processing it so as to add value.

Adesina said that the value chains were designed to address the challenges in agriculture with a view to making the sector ‘money spinner’ in Nigeria.

The minister urged the company to patronise Nigerian farmers with a view to creating markets for their produce.

In his remarks, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon, stressed the need for collaboration between government and the private sector.

beans to feed milling operations, including the cassava, which provides quality cassava flour.

“Agro Allied Limited grows 5,000 hectares of cassava on land purchased at Shao, Kwara State to feed Thai Farm’s Cassava Mill in Ososa. Agric

Palm Limited has 3,000 hectare in Edo State to support the group’s edible oil refineries at ROM Oil Mill. Agro Allied Farms Sunti Limited grows a 4,500 hectare rice farm along the Niger River basin. This project will add to the rice production at Sunti Farm to

complement the backward integration of our rice milling operations,” he said.

Gbededo explained that these major investments as made on the food and agro- allied business, which, according to him, constitutes 95 per cent of the company’s revenue.

Bagged rice

Nigeria exploiting technology to drive agriculture – Minister Kunle Azeez

T

he Federal Government said that the country is aggressively exploiting Information and Communication Technology potentials to further develop the agricultural sector.

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, stated this during the 9th Internet Governance Meeting (IGF) 2014 held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The minister, who also restated the commitment of the Federal Government to building a ubiquitous broadband infrastructure which will facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship in all aspects of the economy, especially agriculture, where exchange of information about agric businesses can be shared.

She said: “In recognition of the huge potential of ICTs to create a developed economy, Nigeria, as an emerging market, is applying and promoting an ICT strategy in all facets geared towards facilitating its rapid growth and development. Nigeria is aggressively developing its ICT sector to drive national development in all sectors - agriculture, manufacturing, health and education, among others.”

However, the minister, who

spoke during one of the panel discussions on “Policies Enabling Access, Growth and Development on the Internet” at the event, disclosed that Nigeria has unveiled a National Broadband Plan and is currently implementing the plan to increase broadband penetration in the country by a five-fold increase over the 2012 penetration rate by 2017.

She said that Nigeria is pushing for an increase in broadband penetration to facilitate innovation and enable a digitised economy.

Adesina

The minister noted that countries with a higher broadband penetration experience greater innovation, stressing that broadband is an enabler that fuels innovation and does so exponentially.

She also identified inadequate power infrastructure as one of the key challenges impeding deployment of communications infrastructure roll out in Nigeria but stressed that the Jonathan administration was working to address the issue of inadequate power supply.

According to her, expected benefits of broadband penetration in Nigeria include economic and social development, leading to increased healthcare, education and literacy, security and safety, better yield from agriculture due to promote information exchange, as well as more efficient and effective economic activities that accelerate growth.

IGF is an annual forum where all stakeholders come together to discuss issues that impact on the development and governance of the Internet.

The 9th annual Internet Governance Forum conference with the theme: “Connecting Continents for Enhanced Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance’ drew participants from across the globe.

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

NIMET: August heavy rainfall good for farmers

T

he heavy rainfall recorded since the beginning of August would increase farm yields in 2014, the General Manager Climate Services, Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet), Mr Joseph Alozie, has said.

Alozie, according to NAN, said that the new rainfall pattern being witnessed would assist farmers to replant seedlings of short duration and boost their harvest.

He allayed fears of negative effect of the rains, saying that

the August rainfall was not a phenomenon to be worried about in upland areas like the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the new rainfall trend in August was good news for agriculture and we would expect a positive outcome in the long run for farmers.

If farmers heeded NiMet’s forecast early this year, and with the new rainfall trend, which is positive, he said that there is the possibility that seedlings of short duration

can be replaced to improve yields.

“NiMet, through its daily, weekly and monthly monitoring of the weather, including the seasonal rainfall predictions, observed that at the end of July, 2014, there was a “water stress” in and around FCT,” Alozie said.

According to him, water stress means that in 30 years, there was normal rainfall in FCT but since the beginning of August the rains have picked up.

He said that from NiMet’s projection, the rainy season in the northern part of the country was expected to stop towards the middle of October “instead of end of October in areas like Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa and Borno.

“This is a projection and it is built around probability.

Now, there is a high probability that this will happen and every time the climate chang-

500,000 farmers to benefit from Nigeria-US agric partnership – Experts gency for International ASyngenta Development (USAID) and Nigeria, have signed

Cassava plantation

Agro exporters seek shore-up for naira CHALLENGES Traders seek more value for the naira Chris Ugwu

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been urged to take urgent steps to stem the current depreciation in the value of Nigeria’s currency.

President, Association of Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola, stated this in particular reference to the United States dollar, noting that its consistent gain against the Naira is creating a challenging environment for agro exporters.

According to Agronigeria online, the ASBON boss noted that the challenge posed by this trend hinges on the increased cost of operation of international shipping companies whose services are dominated in foreign currency.

His words: ‘‘Many exporters are facing challenges of logistics, when it comes to international shipments of agro commodities, they need to pay the shipping charges in US dollars hence, additional

amount has to be paid for the same shipments, making export business less profitable for the companies.”

On the export front, Dr. Egbesola said that Nigerians were competing with exporters from other countries where their currencies make the price of their produce competitive as against Nigerian exporters who are faced with high freight costs denominated in foreign currencies, which ends up pummelling their profit margins.

With the government encouraging more Nigerians to get into exports, Egbesola cautioned that the naira has to be boosted as its continued depreciation could lead to an overall decline in trade volumes from Nige-

ria, a situation that translates into a serious challenge for the shipping and freight forwarding sector. The concomitant implication would be a decline in international trade heralding a regime of idle capacity or notfully-loaded shipments resulting in lower revenues as well as higher operational costs per customer consignment.

Egbesola urged government to provide more incentives to boost agricultural productivity and promote secure livelihood for a large number of farm families, stating that ‘‘farm productivity and profitability will be greatly helped if there is improved support to reinvigorate farming tradition as a means to sustainable livelihood.”

es, NiMet will also re-issue a statement based on the changing climate.

“For the rest of the country, like Abuja down to the South, the normal season is projected in August and September; these are the peak periods of the rainy season,” he said.

He noted that 2014 rainy season would likely end earlier than expected across the country.

a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Hunger and Food Security Initiative.

The MoU will train over 500,000 farmers and agro-dealers across states and ensure that Nigerian farmers have access to the best agricultural technologies to boost their productivity, directly contributing to Nigeria’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda.

Speaking before signing the MoU in Abuja, US Deputy Chief of Mission, Maria Brewer, said that the US government is not only committed to teaching farmers how to plant, but also “helping them learn how to run successful businesses.”

Syngenta and USAID will also cooperate in identifying employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, especially for participants of President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship, formerly known as the Young African Leaders Initiative. These actions and partnerships will increase the quantity and quality of agricultural inputs available to smallholders, with agro-dealers playing an important role in providing both quality products and services to their customers.

Dr. Shachi Sharma, the Sygenta Country Director, signed on behalf of Syngenta Agro AG, while the Deputy Chief of Mission Brewer signed for the US government. Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, witnessed the ceremony.

The signing ceremony attracted major stakeholders in the agro-business sector, including the acting USAID Mission Director, Ms Julie Koenen, the Acting Director of the Office of Economic Growth and Environment, Ms Leslie Flagg and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture Director General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga.

According to Adesina, “a key obstacle to farm productivity in Nigeria is the sub-standard quality of products that are distributed through inadequate and inefficient channels.

Thus, he noted, government of Nigeria and other development partners have agreed that modern agricultural practices will improve the quality of agricultural inputs and can play a transformative role in reestablishing Nigeria’s position as the breadbasket of Africa.”

Sharma, on the other hand, pointed out that in 2012, Syngenta made a commitment to expand its business in Africa by investing over $500 million within a period of 10 years. As a result of this commitment, the company has initiated multiple activities in the country notable of which was the signing in 2014 of a letter of intent under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition with the government of Nigeria.

The Syngenta Country Director revealed that within the last 18 months, the company had worked with the FMARD and various Nigerian institutions, smallholder farmers and key players across the agribusiness value chain to promote the adoption of new technologies, train and develop skills, and enable access to markets. “So far this year, Syngenta has trained over 12,000 smallholder farmers across multiple states in Nigeria and has successfully piloted new seeds and crop protection solutions that can give significantly higher yield and quality improvements.”

Brewer

autoBEATS

37

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Hyundai unveils new generation i20 ahead

H

yundai Motor has unveiled first images of the New Generation i20, ahead of its world debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

With the launch of its latest model, Hyundai Motor said it is continuing its successful presence in Europe’s eight-segment, highlighted by almost one million sales since 2002.

The popularity of the original i20, it further said, has made it one of the company’s best-selling cars in the region, adding that the key aims of the new model are to open Hyundai to an even wider audience; further develop perceptions of the brand; and confirm its position as a truly European automaker.

New Telegraph learnt that the New Generation i20 has been designed and developed in Europe, and three key attributes in particular underline how it meets the needs of European consumers: class-leading interior space, a host of high-technology and comfort-enhancing features, and distinctive, refined design.

Automotive journalist, say based on a new platform, the New Generation i20 features a 2570 mm wheelbase – 45 mm longer than its predecessor, thus

All-new Ford Transit hits G Nigerian market

providing European customers with one of the most spacious cabins in the segment.

The said: “Efficient packaging has created a passenger compartment that can comfortably seat five adults. Combined front and rear legroom is best in class at 1892 mm. Trunk capacity is also segment-leading: 326 litres when the rear seats are upright.

“Enhancing the comfort and the sense of space for driver and passengers is a unique-in-class panoramic sunroof. Able to both tilt and fully open, it fills the cabin with natural light and fresh air. Further features add to the refinement and convenience of the vehicle, including integrated rear-view camera and front LED lighting,” the said.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai’s European design team has created a bold front aesthetic. The upright chrome-framed hexagonal grille has been lowered for design and engineering purposes. A thin, horizontal grille connects the front headlamp clusters, which include bi-function projection headlamps, LED daytime running lights and LED positioning lamps. A lower grille houses the front fog lamps, and emphasises the powerful stance of the car.

…As i20 wins first world rally

Paul Ogbuokiri

W

ith the recent introduction of the all-new Ford Transit into the African market, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) said it is continuing its plan to expand its commercial vehicle presence on the continent.

It said that the new twotonne Transit offers businesses a more versatile version of the 2013 Van of the Year, Transit Custom.

New Telegraph learnt that the Transit panel van becomes a serious option for those who need to move larger items. It is also available as a chassis cab model that can be fitted to accommodate customers’ exact needs and offers modern accommodation for 15 passengers.

“The introduction of Transit means that our commercial vehicle and fleet clients have more choice than ever before,” said Gavin Golightly, marketing manager at FMCSA. “Ford now offers modern, high-qual-

ity products with up-to-date technology that make sense for both new and established businesses.”

He also said that this new Transit lineup marks Ford’s third major commercial vehicle launch in Africa, under the Global ONE Ford plan. He added that this strategy was originally set into motion in 2012 with the launch of the global Ranger, built at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria.

Ranger also uses the 2.2-litre and 3.2-litre engines sourced from Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, and the popular pick-up is also exported to 150 international markets, he said.

It will be recalled that in 2013 Ford launched the Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom, bringing the Transit nameplate back to South Africa for the first time since the 1970s.

Also, in March this year the Tourneo Custom was also recognised as the Best Large MPV in CAR Magazine’s Top 12 awards.

Meanwhile, in July this

year, at the inaugural Go Further event in Africa, Ford introduced the Ranger XL-Plus.

This version of the Ranger, according to the company was designed for the rigorous demands of mining and construction sites, adding that the vehicle gives customers in those sectors access to a EuroNCAP 5-star rated vehicle that offers leading technologies.

“Without a doubt, the commercial vehicle fleet we have on offer today is the best it’s ever been,” says Golightly.

“We’re listening to the needs of business and fleet customers, as well as the man on the street, and expanding our range accordingly.

“The Transit family has been a leader in Europe for the last 25 years. We look forward to expanding our range to offer South African and Sub-Saharan Africa fleet managers and companies a full range of Transit vehicles – from big to small – that we believe will form the backbone of their business,” ends Golightly

ermany - Belgian Thierry Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20, took advantage of withdrawals by defending world champion Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matta Latvala to win his and the car manufacturer’s maiden title at the German Rally recently.

Neuville, 26, finished 40 seconds ahead of Spanish teammate Dani Sordo in a first-ever one-two and victory for Hyundai in the World Rally Championship. Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen came in third to save some face for Volkswagen after Ogier and Latvala’s crashes.

And penultimate Sunday, overnight leader Latvala went off the road in a vineyard section about 14km after the start of the opening 18.03km Dhrontal stage. The Finn’s demise left

Briton Kris Meeke with an 8.4 second lead over Neuville, but Meeke then crashed into a wall early in the following Grafschaft stage, ripping the rear left wheel from his Citroen DS3. The drama handed Neuville an unassailable lead over Sordo and continued to hand the Hyundai team a maiden WRC victory and a 1-2 finish.

Neuville himself had overcome a dramatic crash on the opening day of action on Thursday, when he barrel-rolled through the vineyards near Trier.

Team mechanics worked for 18 hours to rebuild the battered i20 and Neuville heaped praise on the backroom staff. “I think we did an unbelievable job during all three days of the rally and I can only say thank you to our team,” the Belgian said.

L-R: Assistant Digital Marketing Manager, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. Peter Ayewoh; Head Marketing Operations, BKG Exhibitions, Ms. Franca Igwe; the Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. Sandeep Malhotra; Chairman Organising Committee 16th Abuja International Motor Fair/MD BKG Exhibitions, Mr. IfeanyiAgwu; and Public Relations Executive, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. OlawaleJimoh during a courtesy call at the Dana House, Isolo-Lagos.

38

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EBERE AMEH

ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com ebereameh@gmail.com

Friday, September 12, 2014

Augie: Beyond her beauty and splendour lies a charitable heart Despite being born with a silver spoon in her mouth, Maryam Augie was brought up to value humility and cherish the poor.

Heartbroken after the death of her friends, she resigned from her lucrative job as an investment banker to make life more meaningful for the poor. EBERE AMEH had a chat with her

"I

n times of great stress or adversity,” Lee Iacocca said, “it is always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” That was what Maryam Augie did after she lost her two friends, two sisters who died in an auto accident in 2010. She channelled her grief to the emancipation of the poor rural women and girls in northern Nigeria, leading to the establishment of Action to Yield Aid to Hopeful Adults and the Young, otherwise known as AYAHAY Foundation.

AYAHAY is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization concerned with promoting women empowerment and girl child development. Though Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States were the initial focus of her work, Maryam has extended the foundations activities to Kano and Benue States, with a plan to reach other ststes in the near future.

“The aim of the foundation is to see how we can make a difference by providing the needs of women and children in rural communities. We try to empower women so they can also educate their children. So for whatever empowerment programme we have, we ensure that a child is being educated. We try to ensure that whatever a woman gets financially from the empowerment programme goes into educating her children, especially her daughters.

“The significance of girls’ education cannot be over emphasised. While educated women are likely to access better health services and have healthier children, educated girls can make better lifestyle decisions and contribute to the economic growth of their nation. Education provides one with many opportunities in life,” Maryam explains.

Realizing that educating women and the girl child is a major challenge in the nation, AYAHAY foundation which depends on charity to run its affairs has instituted a scholarship programme for indigent children in addition to the renovation of schools in Kebbi State. The foundation has also set up boreholes in Kaduna and Kano States to alleviate the sufferings of the women, among other laudable projects.

“In addition to the water projects, we have renovated schools in Kebbi State and currently got a scholarship for a couple of girls from the State. They are on full scholarship and would leave their poor rural school to one of the prestigious private schools in Niger State. We have an empowerment programme and on its first phase, we have empowered a good number of women within some communities in Kebbi State. We are planning the second phase already. We also support other NGOs that do little things here and there.”

Having personal development through sports and recreation as one of its objectives, AYAHAY supported one NGO based in Benue State, to host a basket ball tour-

nament.

Not done yet, foundation instituted a project called Giftbasket. It is an avenue for public spirited individuals to donate their used items, foodstuff and other things to assist the millions of Nigerians affected by insurgency.

“Gift Basket is a concept under Ayahay. Seeing what is going on with regards to insurgency in the country and the fact that little is being done to cater for the needs of the internally displaced, we decided to act by rendering assistance to the internally displaced.

“So the concept is how do we get relief materials across to those who are affected by this insurgency and violence across Nigeria, not just the north east.

What are t h e things that are needed within that community and how can we cater for that?

“We raised awareness and had the initial collection of relief materials based on their immediate need. We sent a truck load of stuff to Chibok, which we gave to the girls who are back and the women there. The other stuff we have right now we are going to share between Nasarawa and Benue States, where some of the displaced are living.”

According to Maryam, the reality of the situation in the country is very pathetic and the future is gloomy, if nothing is done urgently.

“As of June, we had 19.3 million Nigerians directly affected by the insurgency.

Another 9million were indirectly affected. The situation isn’t getting any better. We are getting to a point where it will affect each and every one of us, if we are not careful. So, how can we come together as brothers and sisters to see how we can sup-

port those who are affected by the current violence in the country? That is the whole concept of Giftbasket” I n spite of the huge success the foundation has recorded, it has plans for the provision of mobile clinics for rural communities, training of midwives, basic education and counselling, water sanitation and hygiene, skills and sports development.

The main challenge Maryam is facing in the course of running t h e

Augie

foundation i s funding.

However, she said that outside funding, credibility and entitlement mentality of some beneficiaries are big issues.

“The way that NGOs in Nigeria are being operated and the way they are perceived makes it difficult for donor agencies and public spirited individuals and organizations to trust you. These hamper the achievement of some of the things we set out to achieve.

“There is also the entitlement mentality that the rural women we deal with tend to have.

Because they are used to getting things for free, especially from politicians, they have that free and nonchalant attitude towards what we give.”

Maryam who is due in France soon as a guest to Elle Magazine, where she

would deliver a speech on Girl-Child education says that the northern women are well aware of the importance of education for their children.

“A lot of them know that education is the only way out for their children but they also have other things they consider important. They’ll rather send their children out hawking, to make an income for them rather than send them to school. We have had advocacy campaigns with regard to education, to ensure that they fully understand the need.”

AYAHAY works with development partners such as Family Care Association and the Nigerian Red Cross Society while also partnering with community leaders to sensitize the people on the importance of education and the need to make sacrifices for the sake of a better future for their children.

Following the laudable activities of AYAHAY, it was no surprise when The Future Award Africa nominated the then 28-yearold Maryam Augie, as one of the nominees for the awards in 2013. She was recognized for using advocacy and activism for catering for the needs of women and children. Now 29, Maryam who delivered a speech on The Importance of Girl Child Education during the World Economic Forum held in Abuja, has bagged awards and had numerous recognitions for her effort.

Though she did not read law like her mother, Amina Augie, who is the presiding Justice of the court of Appeal, Lagos, Maryam is nevertheless, making a great mark in her chosen path of empowering the poor. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from National American University, Sharjah, UAE, Maryam prodceeded to the Ehsal University, Brussels for her Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). She later worked in different establishments before abandoning all for the sake of poor women and children.

With her mother as her greatest inspiration, Maryam who says her charitable heart is an attribute she got from her mother, is set to, as a chip of the old block, conquer all odds and remain triumphant, with her integrity intact.

“My mother is my greatest inspiration.

She is a woman who has been able to overcome a lot of challenges in her life and still remains who she is today. I have to say that my ability to give, a lot of it are what I learnt from my mother. She taught us equality. We grew up in a home where we and the Nannies that took care of us were not different in any way. She ensured that we had a humble and charitable attitude.”

In spite her laudable achievements, Maryam does not want to go into politics.

“Does it have to be politics?” she queried rhetorically. “It doesn’t. You can lead from wherever you are. Look at someone like Alakija, she has been able to conquer the oil industry as a woman. I think that whatever and wherever we are, women should strive to excel, to make an impact so that the younger generation can look up and say, ‘I want to be like that woman’.

She however, stressed the need for women at the top to remember where they are coming from and drag a fellow woman up because according to her, ‘most women at the top are losing it’.

feminique sex and soul

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

39

The surprising health benefits of sex (1)

A

fter last week's write up on the topic, Sex is fun, the next questions I suspect will be why and how? I will use this edition and the next to talk about why sex is good for you and subsequently, I will let you into the different ways you can make sex a fun and not a task.

I am using the word ‘surprising’ because only about 10% of us are aware of them. Most people I asked the question (both male and female) came up with this answer. BABIES. I actually don't agree with that completely. I will agree it is a benefit, if and only if you want one. And you are well prepared for one.

It becomes an unwanted, embarrassing and shameful benefit, if the baby is unplanned for. If it is an all the year round benefit, then why do people do abortion (which is illegal by the way ) at the risk of their lives? Why do babies get thrown out into dung heaps, toilets etc and end up in motherless and fatherless babies homes? Or unknown/disputed fathers?.

The Oxford advanced learners dictionary defines benefits as this. An advantage that something gives you. A helpful and useful effect that something has. My own personal definition of pregnancy is this. “Nine months interest on a small deposit.” The keyword is interest, which can either be for you (positive ) if you have a savings account with your bank.

Or against you (negative) if you are indebted to the bank or operating a current account.

So let us talk about the surprising health benefits alone.

Hormonal Regulation - Sex regulates your hormones. Especially the so called sex hormones, for you and your partner. For you as a woman, regular sex makes you more fertile. It makes your menstrual cycle more regular. Has the same effect on your ovulation. Even

at menopause you will have less hot flushes. For you the man, your sexual dysfunctional challenges such as weak erection, premature ejaculation, weak or total loss of libido will not occur.

Disuse Atrophy - This is a familiar term in medicine. For the woman, the less you have sex, the more painful sex becomes. The lubricants that oil the inside of the vagina dry up from disuse.

The muscles are no longer supple and relaxed. Sex is no longer fun for you but a chore. Unless external lubricants are used, you will injure yourself and your partner. This will then lead to infection etc. For the man, it is basically erectile dysfunction. It stands to reason that all

athletes exercise regularly those muscles they need to use for optimal performance, why do you think sex muscles will be different? The same goes for saggy breasts and loose vagina. Have sex regularly and often and you will be able to command your sexual apparatus to perform at will. Not after drinking some mostly useless sex enhancement drugs or whatever. Most of them don't even work anyway. Start now and don't wait until you have to pay me thousands as clinic fees.

Reduced Stress - Regular sex makes you less susceptible to the daily stress of living in Nigeria. Most especially if you live in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. Just check, Ojuelegba, Oshodi,

Obalende, Iyana Ipaja, Ikeja etc on any given day 2,4,7 and you will know what I'm talking about. The noise, pollution, commercial bus drivers causing unnecessary traffic jams will make you cry for your beloved country. But when you have regular sex, you will be able to cope. Same goes for professionals like doctors, bankers, company executives, etc who live very stressful lifes. Sex will also help you to prevent stress induced ulcer. That one na baba for pain, if you have it.

Seriously speaking, there was a Scottish research on this issue some time ago. 24 women and 22 men were told to keep records of their sexual activities over a period of time. They were then put in stressful situations such as speaking in public and solving math problems out loud. The results showed that those who were engaged in regular frequent sex fared much better than those who abstained totally or only engaged in infrequent sex.

If only they could come down to Nigeria and see what stress is, I'm sure the results will be more profound.

We shall discuss the remaining benefits of sex next week before we provide answers to the questions I am already receiving.

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship. He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom

Ego faces her own demons Ebere Ameh

hank God it’s Friday already. It has been a hectic week, after all the brainstorming for my departments Away Day next week. We plan to make it better than the last one and you won’t believe it, this is my first time in the planning committee. Whatever is their reason for unanimously recommending that that I replace Lizzy, I don’t care to know anymore.

Lizzy was a victim of the downsizing attempt by the company. She is one of those ladies who are so social but would rather globetrot or loaf around than do their jobs. Once the Executive Director, through whose influence she came left the company, many knew it won’t be long before she followed. But with her single status, flashy complexion and sassy mien, Lizzy is one lady who would still get herself fixed no matter the high rate of unemployment and her cerebral bankruptcy.

I heard through the office grapevine that she is already mingling with the high and the mighty in the FCT. Anyway, that is Lizzy, I have my life to live. Outside contacting the Disc Jockey and caterer, we are yet to agree on quiz, the prizes and the T-shirts for the Away Day. I have to leave all that for next week, I really need some rest.

I will sleep the greater part of Saturday before getting a hairdo later in the day.

On Sunday, I will take Tobi and Tosi for an outing. They have been asking some silly questions of late. Did I just say silly?

T

I think they have a right to know what has become of their father. I have been prevaricating but I have to face my own demons and talk with them. Even though he was given visiting rights, the last time he came was three months ago. That’s okay by me, but the children. In their innocent minds still miss him. I will tell them the truth about his life and remarriage without being spiteful. He is their father after all.

I read that children of divorced parents have higher risks of emotional problems, drug use, arrests and more likely to drop out of school and to have unwanted pregnancies than those from stable homes. But Lai lai, not my children. Ego’s children will be an exception. Talking and playing with them will help them to heal emotionally, and gradually, they must learn to live without him. I skipped with them last week and it was so much fun. Up till now, Tosin thought she taught me to skip. They laughed me to scorn when I tripped and almost fell. I think I should create time for such activities with them.

Mom doesn’t want to go to the movies with us. She has been a great help and would be going next week. Ekaete, whom she brought to help take care of the children has learnt so fast. I wish she stays longer but dad is already crying foul. It feels so good having somebody stay up late, waiting for you to come home and shower you with love. Outside her occasional ‘lecture’ on the need for a remarriage, she has been a sweet mother.

You won’t believe it, the kids were ready before I knew it and told me they called the

Film House to find out the movies they are showing. Children of Nowadays! How did they get the number to call? How could they make such calls at their age? They are excited that new Disney movies they have been longing to see, will be showing in the afternoon. While Tobi wanted Frozen, Tosi wants Planes: Fire and Rescue.

Yours sincerely has not heard of the films before. Well, we put it to vote and I don’t know why I supported Tosi. Frozen just sounds boring. I promised him that we’ll still get to see Frozen one of these days.

Even though I am not a fan of cartoons, I have to sacrifice the hour to be with them. As we queued to get some pop corn, guess whom I saw? Chuka, my colleague in the bank where I did my Youth Service. He brought his kids too and I was happy to have someone I know chat me up.

From normal chart about the weather,

children to our time at First Bank; we rambled unobtrusively, while the children were engrossed in their movies. The movie theatre always has that romantic ambience.

He tried to hold my hand in his as we talked but I cleverly pushed the popcorn forward, so it looked like he was reaching for it.

Maybe he wasn’t even planning to hold my hand. I may just have gotten it twisted.

I have been reading meanings into every move men make towards me. Was I like that when I was a dutiful and dejected wife of Mr. Segun? Or is there anything about me? Anyway, I get more compliments about my appearance now and I’m loving it. It feels good living life in one’s own terms.

Chuka called later in the evening to thank me for the company. He didn’t know the pleasure was much more, mine. Oh! the time is far spent! I’ve got to get ready for tomorrow, another work day.

E X H O RTAT I O N

40

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adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

l 17 Thul- Qedah 1435 AH

“THE KNOLLS OF SAFA AND MARWAH ARE AMONG THE RITES DECREED BY GOD. ANYONE WHO OBSERVES HAJJ OR `UMRAH COMMITS NO ERROR BY TRAVERSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM. IF ONE VOLUNTEERS MORE RIGHTEOUS WORKS, THEN GOD IS APPRECIATIVE, OMNISCIENT.” QURAN 2:158

Hajj: Nigeria escapes Saudi visas ban on Ebola-hit countries lFirst batch of Nigeria’s pilgrims land in Saudi Arabia

A cross-section of Muslims from Ogun State for the 2014 Hajj Pilgrimage boarding an aircraft to Saudi Arabia, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO BY ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

NO ENTRY Saudi has announced a new visa ban on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone Stories by Adeola Yusuf

S

audi Arabia has announced a new temporary ban on issuing work permits to workers Ebola-hit countries, in a ban that exempted Nigeria.

The countries that are af-

fected by the bans, which also affected their Hajj operations, are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The “temporary suspension” of labor visas from the three African nations “will not affect the labor market in Saudi Arabia” where the number of workers from these countries “is very little,” Saudi Press Agencies (SPA) quoted deputy labor minister Mufrej al-Haqbani as saying.

The move is part of the foreign and health ministries’ recommendations, to prevent

the virus from spreading to the country.

All travellers from West Africa will now be required to undergo laboratory tests, before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

A similar decision was announced last August banning Hajj permits for aspiring pilgrims from these countries for this year.

The virus, for which there is no treatment or vaccine, has claimed 1,552 lives out of 3,069 reported cases — 694 in Liberia, 430 in Guinea, 422 in Sierra Leon and six in Nigeria,

according to latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Meanwhile, Nigeria has began the airlifting of pilgrims to the Holy land.

The first batch of Pilgrims from Gombe, Lagos and other states have already landed in Medinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Muslim-dominated Republic of Guinea remains the worst affected by the disease that was discovered in 1976 after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The contagious disease, which has no known cure, has initial symptoms that include headaches, muscle pain, conjunctivitis and weakness, before moving into more severe phases of causing vomiting, diarrhea and internal and external bleeding.

The fatality rate of the current outbreak is around 60% although Ebola can kill up to 90% of those who catch it.

Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.

Muslim students highlight panacea to mass failure in WASSCE

T

he Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has challenged government and stakeholders in the educational sector to initiate a rewarding system that would surpass that of athletes and entertainers for outstanding students.

The Lagos State Area Unit of the group, which said this in a statement also expressed dissatisfaction with the decline in performance recorded at the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.

President of the studentsbased society, Alhaji Kaamil Kalejaiye noted that the decline was an indication that Nigeria was losing its pride of place in education.

Head of National Office, WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu, has earlier said that only 529,425 candidates representing 31.28 per cent, obtained credit passes in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

He maintained that when

compared to the 2012 and 2013 May/June WASSCE results; there was marginal decline in the performance of candidates, saying 38.81 per cent was recorded in 2012 and 36.57 per cent in 2013.

Kalejaiye, however, suggested that adequate infrastructures, proper remuneration and teachers’ training, review of curriculum and promotion of academic activities among others as means of reducing failure in the examination.

He said: “If only 31.28 of the 1,692,435 candidates that sat for the examination are those that passed with necessary subjects (Mathematics and English), we should know that if care is not taken, we will completely lose our pride of place in education among the West African countries”.

“It is also not encouraging that 86,822 candidates representing 5.13 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors”.

“We have come to a point

where government at all levels must realize that without quality education, Nigeria will hardly grow except with the help of God”.

Kalejaiye however advise the government on how the remedy needed to be done to rescue the future, “Government must not only invest in education, but ensure proper implementation and usage of the funds. It is only in this part of the world that we spend much and still have poor output. Government should begin to place its appointment in the education sector based on merit. Good budgeting and policies require good and dedicated manager for efficiency.”

The group challenged government and stakeholders in the educational sector to initiate a rewarding system that would surpass that of athletes and entertainers for outstanding students.

He added, “It is worrisome to us that students are not doing well in mathemat-

ics and English Language, which are the core subjects.

What this means is that the left brain that is responsible for analytical thoughts, logic, language reasoning, written and number skills has not been properly trained. This is to show that the recorded decline in performance must be attended to with utmost urgency; it must be treated as an emergence situation for the benefit of the country’s development”.

“We must also say that social activities promoted by government and private individuals/ organisations also contribute to the challenges being faced in primary education. It still remain a wonder to us why top government officials including President Goodluck Jonathan and states governors give grand welcoming and host parties for athletes/celebrities who emerge victorious and sometimes defeated while outstanding students are less celebrated.”

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH Performing Hajj on Behalf of Deceased Relatives QUESTION

Can one perform Hajj on behalf of the deceased relatives (for example parents) who did not follow the commands of Allah such as Prayer and Fasting during their life?

ANSWER

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for His Sake, meet your expectations.

In his response to the question in point, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America, states the following, If the deceased parents made a will before their death, left the necessary money for Hajj and asked their children to make Hajj on their behalf, then the children must make Hajj, either themselves or should send someone to make Hajj, on behalf of their dead parents.

However, if the parents did not make a will, but children wish to make Hajj on behalf of their parents they are permitted to do so. Those children will receive the reward and also the reward will be for their parents.

There is nothing wrong, as far as Islam is concerned, in making du`aa’ or performing Hajj on behalf of the parents who were neglectful in their religious duties, as long as they died Muslims. The children should pray for their parents and should ask Allah to forgive them.

It stands to reason that all Muslims should try their best to live by Allah’s rules, but we are all neglectful, some more and some less.

We should pray for those who passed away as Muslims, and we should urge our children and others to do that for us when we leave this world.

Allah Almighty knows best.

CRIME

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JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Boko Haram onslaught: The security implications Juliana Francis

T

he dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, is now in full control of Michika, a trading centre in Adamawa State, not far from the Cameroun border.

The towns captured within the last few days include Bara in Yobe State, Banki and Bama in Borno State while Madagali and Gulak were seized in Adamawa State.

Bama was seized by the rampaging terrorist group on September 1 and Banki overrun the next day. By September 3, Bara, another town in the North-East was captured. Gulak and Madagali fell to the militants on Saturday.

Data from different population websites show that the five towns have a combined population figure of 170, 743 (Bama -118,121; Madagali -12,919; Bara -11,673; Banki -4,935; Gulak -23,095).

Earlier in July, the sect had displaced thousands of people after it seized six other towns in Borno and Yobe states.

The towns included Dikwa -29,026; Buni Yadi -4,768; Gamboru Ngala -240,000; Gwoza -15,176; Damboa -233,200 and Marte -15,707 with a total population of 537,877.

The Nigerian army however rallied and later recovered Bama from the insurgents.

The capture of Michika and other towns has heightened fears and belief that Boko Haram is winning the war.

Nigerians cannot however ignore the security implication of this continuous capturing of towns by the Boko Haram.

The security implication is that the insurgents appear, not just to be gaining grounds against the Nigeria forces, but sending away investors.

No investor will want to enter and trade in a country where the opposition has the upper hand. International communities will be wary of coming to the country to transact businesses.

There is also the issue of Nigerians residing in areas that have not been captured, but are close to towns that had been captured. The residents will live in dread, fearing to venture out for daily businesses, unsure when it would next be their turn to be captured.

Many of the residents living in captured areas are presently displaced.

A good number of them are running from pillar to post, seeking for shelter.

They’ve been plunged into a nightmar-

Boko Haram members. Inset: Shekau

Nigerian soldiers

ish existence.

Psychologically, members of the Nigerian army will be losing credibility and courage, while the opposition will be getting bolder, daring and more courageous. The opposition in their euphoria will probably want to capture more towns. Whether they’ll succeed or not, is up to the Nigerian government.

Nigeria as a country has been known for going on Peacekeeping Missions, to intervene and intercede in restoring peace in countries up in arms. This present situation in the country will not warrant any external country inviting Nigeria’s intervention.

After all, charity begins at home. Nigeria cannot restore peace in warring nations, when it’s at war and losing to the opposition.

This gloomy picture generally means that the country is not secure and losing to anarchy.

Any area captured by the sect, means the Nigerian Constitution is no longer operational in that axis. It also means anything goes. There will be human right abuses against women and children, with the situation degenerating to a state of lawlessness. There would not be a recognized police force in such area and the Boko Haram will continue

to have a field day. There is also likely to be support from sycophants, people who want to belong to the winning team.

Eventually, if nothing is done, the sect will continue to capture more towns and states, until they take over the whole country, thus enshrining the Islamic state they had always desired.

Pundits believe that the aim in targeting and capturing more towns by Boko Haram is to gain more territory in its efforts to create an Islamic state.

But other security experts argued that there may be a more sinister motive behind the capturing, since this is happening in tandem with the move of other Islamic militant groups in the world.

In Nigeria, the fear has heightened that Boko Haram may soon seize Maiduguiri, which would be the mother of all captures.

An intelligence source said: “Our belief is that they want to capture all the states in the north for some reasons. They’ve started with capturing of towns. And from that, they may begin another offensive, which is to capture states, especially Abuja.”

Dr. Ona Ekhomu, a security expert, is the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) and the Africa RepCONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

‘One day, Boko Haram will capture Abuja'

Ona

Tsav

CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 4 1

resentative of the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO).

Ekhomu thinks there is a more sinister reason for the capturing, but declined to share the information for security reasons.

He however said: “The Boko Haram members are good military men and tacticians. They know which towns they’re taking on and they know for what strategic reasons, but I won’t tell you. Yes, there are tactical reasons, I can however tell you that most of the towns they’re captured are close to Sambisa forest. It means they can retreat into Sambisa, come out and attack, then retreat again.

It’s a battle strategy.”

He described as unfortunate, the capturing of Michika and other towns in the north. He however said that the tide could turn for the Nigerian forces, if proper attention is given to military arms.

“The military is fighting, but it’s doing so with hands tied behind its back.

Fighting with its arms tied behind its back, is talking about military armaments, which is outdated because we’ve not really kitted the military for this sort of battle. The military was last kitted during the Shehu Shagari era. That was about 31 years back. That was the last time the military was kitted with fresh gears, meaning new equipment,” said Ekhomu.

Ekhomu said that alone was a drawback for the Nigerian army, adding that there was also the issue of weapon superiority.

He said: “But now the bad guys, because they’re able to buy weapons, that’s Muammar Gaddafi’s former Libyan army war weapons from across the desert, superior fire power to those of our boys and are able to dislodge our boys or sometimes kill them. Let me give you a scenario; they come to an army check point. Everybody knows the army because they’re in uniform, but nobody knows the bad guys. They know the distance to the army checkpoint.

“They calibrate the distance to that check point, go out of the range of that checkpoint and fire double ‘A’ anti-air

Let me give you an instance in Bama.

When the fighting was too hot, our boys withdrew, but later got Bama back within four days. It was a tactical withdrawal. When you stay and fight every battle to the end, you may become a dead hero craft weapons into the particular triangulation of that military checkpoint.

And they’ll kill the soldiers there and come in, to do mop up operation.”

He argued that the Nigerian army was severely disadvantaged. According to him, the soldiers are wanted in every town in the northern community for assistance and have too many issues on their platter. “The army is putting out fire in many places and it’s quite a drain on its resources. This is why we’re having this turn of events,” he stated.

He revealed that what had largely conspired against the Nigeria army was the fact that the insurgents have a lot of mercenary soldiers, fighting on their side. The sect has drawn mercenary soldiers from ISIS, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigel Republic and even Mali He added: “When the Malian war was hot, Boko Haram went to fight on their side. In fact, Abubakar Shekau went to fight in that war. Boko Haram had ingratiated itself into the Malian Islamist group called Ansar Dine. These are the people fighting against our troops. The army is not just fighting Boko Haram.

The army is up against serious challenges.”

According to him, the Nigerian army had not been running, but retreating in the face of overwhelming odds, so that they could regroup, to attack another time.

Oney

He further explained: “Let me give you an instance in Bama. When the fighting was too hot, our boys withdrew, but later got Bama back within four days. It was a tactical withdrawal. When you stay and fight every battle to the end, you may become a dead hero. We should support our military. We should support our boys. They’re fighting against international terrorists. These are the same terrorists that are chasing armies out of Iraq and Syria. These are the same people we’re fighting here. Boko Haram has all technical help.”

The former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav (rtd) opined that the Boko Haram group maybe capturing towns because it wants to prove to the Federal government that they can always beat the Nigerian army.

His words: “As far as I’m concerned, the Boko Haram sect has showed the Nigerian army that they can always beat them. They capture this town and then the next. It shows the army is inefficient. It shows our President is not serious. The Boko Haram sect wants to intimidate the federal government and the people of Nigeria and cause havoc.”

He said that if the military goes out now, to deal with the insurgents decisively, the sect might not capture any other town.

Tsav said: “But as long as they continue to allow them to capture more towns, there would be fear. And one day, Boko Haram may attempt to march on to Abuja. If they’re not stopped, they would be emboldened to capture other towns. The military are complaining they’re not well equipped.

They’ve complained that Boko Haram is better equipped than them. The Governor of Borno State once said that the Boko Haram is better equipped.

The President came out and started insulting him. This is exactly what is happening now! This man saw and said it. If the army is armed, it would be able to deal with the situation.”

Tsav noted that the major cause of the troubles in the country, including not equipping the soldiers properly to confront terrorism and terrorists was corruption.

“Look at what is happening in this

country now. There’s a lot of corruption and for a long time, nobody has been convicted of corruption. There was a time Lamido Sanusi said that 20 billion dollars was missing, but nobody bothered to investigate this. The 20 billion dollars can equip the Nigerian army very well to fight and win this war. The President is sitting on corruption and he’s not ready to do anything about it,” said Tsav.

Adding, “But a lot of people are benefiting from this situation. This set of people are building houses, buying cars, jetliners and sending their families overseas. It’s unfortunate indeed!”

The Chief Executive Officer/principal consultant Zenith Intelligence and Security Solutions, Barrister Ethelbert Oney, a UK trained lawyer, believes the reason for the latest move from Boko Haram was to finally be able to get its hold on the whole of Nigeria, with the aim of Islamising it. According to him, such a dream will never become a reality.

He said: “The Boko Haram situation got to this extent because of under reaction, which I had always talked about. This under reaction is when government fails to take its legitimate stand. When you apply under reaction, it means something is happening which you think will soon go away.

What the Boko Haram is doing, is what we call psychological propaganda. We need to play the same game on them.

Psychological propaganda means injecting fear into the people. Most of the people in the towns they’ve captured have run away. That’s the game plan.

That’s the psychological propaganda I’m talking about.”

Oney said that what Nigeria and Nigerians need right now, is resilience.

He explained: “It means people standing together and saying enough is enough. The problem we’re having now, as a democratic government, is when we fail to say, that this is what we can do. If we continue to lose our ground, terrorists will continue to win. We’re at the dagger edge point now. All this could have been avoided if the appropriate steps had been taken. Terrorism has a system. In order to win the war on counter terrorism, we must first win the intelligence war.”

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 43

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Nigerian banks operate under toughest regulation, says RenCap

MONETARY EASING Major improvement in sector earnings is likely to be driven by a loosening of monetary policy Stories by Godson Ikoro

Access Bank Plc, Stanbic Bank Plc and First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) stood out.

In their analysis of the environment, Recap noted that Nigerian inflation dropping to 8.3 per cent, from 13.9 percent in FY09, and only a 9 percent depreciation in the naira/dollar exchange rate over the past five years.

This they pointed out, is compared to 17 percent for the Kenyan shilling, 45 per cent for the rand and 166per cent for the Ghanaian cedi; arguing that these have come at the expense

N

igeria’s operating and regulatory environment for the banking sector has significantly made it tougher than in other key Sub Saharan African markets, Renaissance Capital has said.

The research and finance firm, insisted that Nigerian banks are struggling to deliver returns in line with their SSA peers, but the sector earnings have been broadly resilient.

It however, noted that some banks such as Zenith Bank Plc,

of Nigerian banks’ profitability.

Furthermore, the experts noted that simple comparison of key banking regulations such as capitalisation ratios, net open position limits, cash reserve ratios and liquidity ratios, suggests Nigerian banks operate in a relatively tough operational and regulatory environment.

“It is therefore unsurprising that Nigerian banks are struggling to deliver returns in line with their SSA peers – with an 18 percent RoAE in 1H14 for the banks we cover vs 26per cent and 47per cent for the Ke-

Ebola hits growth in W’Africa, says IMF

E

conomic growth in Liberia and Sierra Leone could decline by as much as 3.5 percentage points as the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola has crippled the key mining, agriculture and services sectors in the two West African countries, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday.

According to Reuters, growth in Guinea, where industrial mining has been unaffected so far, could fall by about 1.5 percentage points, said Bill Murray, spokesman at the IMF. "Particularly in the cases of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the

largest sectors of these already fragile economies ... are being affected," Murray said. "This is in turn engendering significant financing gaps for the fiscal and external accounts of these two countries, and triggering higher inflation."

He said the crisis has exposed financing gaps totaling $100 million to $130 million in each of the three countries, and that the IMF is working with authorities to figure out additional funding. All three countries are already getting IMF loans under programes that predate the Ebola outbreak.

The IMF said economic

growth in Sierra Leona is likely to fall to 8 per cent from 11.3 per cent this year, Liberia's growth may decline to 2.5 per cent from 5.9 per cent, and in Guinea, economic output could fall to 2.4 per cent from 3.5 per cent.

"A large-scale and well-coordinated intervention by the international community is urgently needed to help bring the epidemic under control," Murray said.

Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are among the poorest countries in the region and the hardest-hit by the worst Ebola epidemic on record, which has killed nearly 2,300 people.

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

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

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, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 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

FX

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)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Consequently, Rencap expects the SIB rules in Nigeria to indicate a minimum CAR of 15per cent for SIBs, with tier 2 capitals capped at 25 percent of total qualifying capital.

Above the 15per cent, SIBs will be required to maintain a 1percent capital buffer that comprises entirely of tier 1 capital, which will raise the minimum CAR for SIBs to 16 percent.

Rencap, therefore computed the minimum core CAR for SIBs at 12.25per cent (including the buffer). The first set of identified SIBs includes: First Bank, Zenith, UBA, GTBank, Access, Ecobank Nigeria, Diamond and Skye.

On net open position limit, in Nigeria it is 1percent of capital, vs 25percent (secured) and 10per cent (unsecured) in Ghana, 10 percent in Kenya and 10 percent in Rwanda.

Africa’s total external reserve hits $560bn –AFREXIM he total reserve holdings rocco, US$17.17 billion; Egypt, of African economies as US$15.56 billion; Ta group grew by 9.8 per cent Botswana, US$7.74 billion to $560.3 billion in 2013 from $510.2 billion in 2012, African export and import bank (AFREXIM) has said.

In its 2013 annual report, the bank attributed the surge in Africa’s external reserve holdings to rising export receipts; and robust increases in reserves of major external reserve holding countries.

Specifically, the report said that the countries that buoyed up the reserve are Angola (37.4 per cent), Nigeria (36.9per cent), Egypt (12.7per cent), Libya (9.5per cent), and South Africa (6.1per cent).

It said that the continued surge in external reserve holdings contributed to raise the average import cover of the continent’s external reserves to 11.2 months in 2013, from 8 months in 2012.

A breakdown and distribution of the total reserve showed that available data of nine countries, namely Algeria, US$192.57 billion; Libya, US$121.00 billion, Nigeria, US$46.41 billion, South Africa, US$44.73 billion; Angola, US$35.99 billion; Mo-

and Tunisia, US$7.2 billion, accounted for about 87.2 per cent of the continent’s total external reserves at the end of 2013.

While the bank noted modest improvement in private capital inflows, migrant remittances and tourism receipts, rising merchandise export earnings, and continued pursuit of sound macroeconomic policies contributed to improve the external balances of many African countries and helped to stabilize and/or raise the US dollar value of their currencies.

Sequel to these positive developments, (compared to 2012, 2013) the bank said 23 out of 39 African currencies appreciated against the US dollar in 2013 (up from 7 out of 39 in 2012).

The report also highlighted that the strong pickup in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) inflows and tourist arrivals contributed to exert upward pressure on many African currencies with the largest appreciation posted by the Somalian shilling (-31.17%), Seychelles rupee (-13.45%), and Ugandan shilling (-7.02%).

CBN rearranges September MPC Meeting Central Bank of Nigeria of the Monetary Policy ComTingherescheduled the 240th Meet- mittee (MPC) earlier schedof the Monetary Policy uled to hold on September 22

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

nyan and Ghanaian banks. We conclude that Nigerian banks’ profitability is largely a function of macro stability, and any significant improvement in sector earnings is likely to be driven by a loosening of monetary policy.”

Recap said in its report.

Besides, it noted that Nigeria’s blended CRR, at 31percent is more that its peers, which it estimated, to be almost three times that of Ghana, at 11per cent, and six times those of Kenya and Rwanda, at 5.25percent and 5percent, respectively.

On the minimum Cash reserve ratio, it is 15 percent for international banks (10 percent for local banks), compared with 10 percent in Ghana, 14.5percent in Kenya (12percent plus a 2.5percent tier 1 buffer), and 15 percent in Rwanda (10percent minimum core CAR).

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Committee (MPC).

Earlier scheduled to hold on September 22 and 23, 2014, the meeting according to a statement from CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Muazu, would now to hold on Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19, 2014.

Said the statement: “We wish to inform all our stakeholders that the 240th Meeting

and 23, 2014, is now to hold on Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19, 2014.

“Accordingly, all critical stakeholders are to take note of the change in dates and adjust their calendar.

“Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to apologise for the inconveniences that may be caused by the change of date.”

44 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

11-Sep-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 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)

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

9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

100.00 535.00 530.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 281.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 70.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,652.46

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.05 0.61 1.93 2.63 2.87 2.97 3.72 4.80 5.12 7.38 9.51 14.21 14.69 15.19 15.86 19.85

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.52 10.91 11.44 11.40 11.45 11.45 11.51 11.56 11.69 12.10 12.17 12.49 12.50 12.52 12.27 12.25

7.39 10.64 11.35 11.34 11.38 11.39 11.41 11.49 11.60 12.05 12.12 12.45 12.46 12.46 12.22 12.20

99.92 95.99 102.70 108.15 96.15 94.82 97.56 115.95 82.31 120.50 111.25 116.47 99.88 72.96 84.25 99.25

100.07 96.14 102.85 108.30 96.30 94.97 97.86 116.25 82.61 120.80 111.55 116.77 100.18 73.26 84.55 99.55

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.14 0.70 1.31 2.24 2.61 2.82

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.80 13.55 13.38 13.45 12.44 12.45

98.42 91.22 104.85 101.09 99.45 96.93

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.09 0.97 0.57 1.09 1.10 2.60 1.65 3.30 2.28 4.06 2.47 2.48 2.86 2.93 5.20 2.99 3.61 6.21 6.30 3.78 3.82

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

13.95 15.37 14.14 15.45 14.47 17.03 12.29 13.27 13.25 12.54 12.43 16.21 12.45 12.45 12.71 14.19 12.50 12.99 13.96 12.96 13.47

99.93 97.49 99.48 98.98 101.56 85.66 102.44 101.85 101.57 104.52 104.51 95.87 104.73 107.45 106.60 101.32 106.20 102.06 104.20 104.52 104.45

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,282.73

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

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

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

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

484.10 489.48

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

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

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.07

1.00

11.60

99.95

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.27

5.21

16.34

99.14

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.30

8.71

19.80

99.01

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.69

4.88

15.79

96.60

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.76

1.00

11.92

100.65

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.84

2.63

13.55

100.96

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.05

1.00

12.46

100.93

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.12

1.34

12.80

102.58

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.05

1.00

12.46

101.33

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.87

1.88

13.28

108.92

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.83

3.48

14.86

102.05

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.24

5.20

16.65

102.37

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.24

5.06

16.51

101.62

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.03

1.35

12.89

103.40

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.10

2.29

13.75

103.89

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.43

6.11

17.55

99.13

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.30

2.16

13.64

106.08

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.18

2.76

14.74

101.94

11-Feb-18

3.42

1.00

12.49

93.77

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

141.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

143.90

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.25 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.74

4.59

110.95

111.82

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.94

3.74

104.17

104.87

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.07

4.96

109.16

109.99

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,621.44

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.16

3.16

111.13

111.13

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.34

4.34

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.72

6.72

101.35

101.35

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.61

8.06

94.67

96.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.96

5.64

100.12

101.29

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.69

8.69

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.13

6.13

100.48

100.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.94

8.69

99.28

100.20

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.43

7.43

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.69

7.69

94.77

94.77

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.72

8.56

103.06

103.89

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.58

7.58

101.25

101.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.66

8.43

99.55

100.72

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,849.61

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.30 10.25 10.40 10.30 10.35 10.30 10.35 10.15

Offer Discount (%) 10.05 10.00 10.15 10.05 10.10 10.05 10.10 9.90

Bid Yield (%) 10.32 10.29 10.46 10.38 10.45 10.42 10.50 10.31

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.1250 12.3266 13.3355 14.1147

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.75

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

11.00

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

162.75 162.93 163.19 163.84 164.95 166.08

162.85 163.17 163.50 164.44 166.20 167.87

O/N Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.75 12.09

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.14 0.70 1.31 2.24 2.61 2.82

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.80 13.55 13.38 13.45 12.44 12.45

98.42 91.22 104.85 101.09 99.45 96.93

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 45 1,301.62

Sanctity of Truth

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,282.73

Friday, September 12, 2014

Nigerian stocks down by N43b Sub-National Bonds

A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

BEARISH

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

Negative sentiment dominate investment activities

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Stories

by Chris Ugwu Corporate Bonds

T

LAFARGE WAPCO he bears resurfaced yesGTB terday at the local bourse NGC Nil following 0.3*UPDC per cent Bbb-/Agusto drop in both market A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLSperBB+/GCR formance indices,*CHELLARAMS reflecting A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO profit taking amid drop in inA-/Agusto FSDH vestment activities.

A/GCR UBA BBB-/GCR The key benchmark indi*C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA ces remained negative as acA-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER tivities in the shares of Conoil AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER Nigeria and Guinness Nigeria A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA Bbb+/Agusto; down BBB+/GCR dragged the *LA equity CASERAmarBBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS ket.

BBB/GCR *DANA Trading activities on the A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO floor of the Nigerian TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Stock Exchange (NSE) had the preTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION vious day closed in the green Supranational Bond following positive sentiments A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto

µ

#

# #

#

AAA/S&P

IFC

of investors.

Consequently, the All-Share Index dipped 128.2 basis points or 0.3 per cent to close at 40,757.20, as against 40,885.40 recorded in the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated

by N43 billion or 0.3 per cent as market sentiment remained 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 in the red.

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 Meanwhile, a turnover of 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 267.09 shares worth 10.00million UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00billion FLOURMILLSin 9-DEC-2015 N3.06 4,756 deals CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 were14.00 recorded in the day’s 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 trading.

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Just the previous day, 13.00 as UBAin 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 of the the banking sub-sector MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 financial services sector was MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 the most active (measured by MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 turnover 14.00 UBAvolume); II 22-SEP-2018 with 121.4 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 million shares worth N1.6 bilCHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 lion MPR+5.00 exchanged by investors in 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 1,42215.25 deals.

NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc and UBA Plc. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

11-Feb-13

10.20

Africa is engine of growth, says Diageo orld’s biggest liquor mak- a Rabobank International reer, Diageo Plc says Africa port released earlier this year W remains one of its most lucra- also confirmed that Africa

Also, other financial services sub sector, boosted by activity in the shares of UBA Capital Plc, followed with a turnover of 48.1 million shares valued at N208.1 million in 656 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 23, while decliners closed 11.50 at 24. 07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 Seplat Petroleum13.50 Plc led 01-Apr-10 17.00 the gainers’ N20.00 17-Aug-10 table with 10.00 to close at N670.00 per 09-Dec-10 12.00share, 06-Jan-11Oil Nigeria 14.00 while Forte Plc fol29-Sep-11 13.00 lowed with a gain of N4.98 to 25-Oct-13 14.25 close at N225.00. PZ 13.00 Cussons 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 Nigeria Plc added 7818.00 kobo to 16.00 close at09-Apr-11 N35.00 per share.

09-Sep-11 18.00 On the other hand, Conoil 09-Sep-11 16.00 Nigeria Plc led the price los22-Sep-11 14.00 18-Oct-13 ers’ table, dropping 15.75 N5.73 to 17.00 while close at17-Feb-12 N53.16 per share, 01-Apr-14 16.00 Guinness Nigeria followed 14-Nov-13 15.25 with a loss of N5.46 to close at N168.04. Dangote Cement Nigeria Plc shed N2.00 per share to close at N218.00.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.09 0.97 0.57 1.09 1.10 2.60 1.65 3.30 2.28 4.06 2.47 2.48 2.86 2.93 5.20 2.99 3.61 6.21 6.30 3.78 3.82

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.42

tive markets outside its home market in Dublin, Ireland, labeling it an engine of growth.

According to Diageo Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ivan Menezes, Africa is a tremendous engine of growth for the brewer, especially for its beer business and the Guinness 484.10 brand.

489.48 Diageo, which owns various leading alcoholic bever11.80brands such 07-Oct-14 0.07 age as Guinness, 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.27 Harp and Smirnoff, sees Afri2.00 31-Dec-14 0.30 ca3.61 as a major17-Aug-15 source of larger 0.69 revenue in the future.

13.62 09-Dec-15 0.76 0.60 Compared06-Jan-16 with other 0.84 de15.00 29-Sep-16 2.05 veloping nations, Africa has a 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.12 large market 20.00 beer-consuming 30-Sep-17 3.05 0.73 this has attracted 30-Nov-17 1.87 and leading 7.20 markers09-Apr-18 1.83 beer such as Diageo, 2.90 09-Sep-18 2.24 SABMiller and Heineken to 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.24 launch their products in differ35.00 22-Sep-18 4.03 2.70countries 18-Oct-18 2.10 ent on the continent.

0.41 In Nigeria,17-Feb-19 for instance,2.43 the 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.30 value of the beer market has 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.18 grown 141.62 from 21.8 per cent in 2009 143.90to about 23.45 per cent as at 2013.

According to Ventures Africa,

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

13.95 15.37 14.14 15.45 14.47 17.03 12.29 13.27 13.25 12.54 12.43 16.21 12.45 12.45 12.71 14.19 12.50 12.99 13.96 12.96 13.47

99.93 97.49 99.48 98.98 101.56 85.66 102.44 101.85 101.57 104.52 104.51 95.87 104.73 107.45 106.60 101.32 106.20 102.06 104.20 104.52 104.45

1.00

12.49

93.77

provides the most interesting opportunities in terms of demographics and economics.

In the future, Menezes said the brewer will continue to increase its investments substantially while banking on quality, authenticity and heritage as its key discipline to successfully exploit the continent’s growing beer market.

However, Guinness Nigeria 11.60 top Nigerian 99.95 Plc1.00 one of the 5.21 16.34 brewers had reported a99.14 31 per 8.71 19.80 99.01 cent in pre-tax96.60 profit 4.88decline 15.79 for 1.00 the year 11.92 ended June 100.65 30, 2.63 13.55 100.96 2014.

1.00 12.46 100.93 In a financial statement re1.34 12.80 102.58 leased to the Nigerian Stock 1.00 12.46 101.33 1.88 13.28 the company 108.92 Exchange (NSE), said3.48its profit14.86 before tax102.05 (PBT) 16.65 102.37 for 5.20 the year ended dropped by 5.06 16.51 101.62 31 per 1.35 cent from 12.89 N17 billion 103.40 in 2.29to N11.68 13.75 2013, billion in103.89 the re6.11period of 17.55 99.13 view 2014.

2.16 13.64 106.08 Guinness also reported a de2.76 14.74 101.94 cline in its post tax profit of 19 per cent to N9.573 billion from N11.863 billion in its year 2014 audited year.

12.00 11.25

African Exchanges: Aig-Imoukhuede sees growth opportunities Rating/Agency

F

FGN Eurobonds irst Vice-President

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje AigBB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P Imoukhuede, has predicted BB-/Fitch; that the African continent BB-/S&P would lead globalVALUE economic TOTAL OUTSTANDING growth in the coming years.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION He said this in keynote adCorporate Eurobonds dress entitled ‘Africa Rising – The B/Fitch; AFREN PLC I Role ofB-/S&P Securities Exchanges’ at B+/Fitch;Building B+/S&P GTBANK FinanPLC I third African B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC cial Markets Capacity Building B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC Seminar (BAFM) held yesterday B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC at the Johannesburg Stock ExB/Fitch AFREN PLC II change in Sandton, South Africa.

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC B/Fitch; DIAMOND BANK TheB/S&P seminar according toPLC a B-/Fitch; B/S&P was established FIRST BANK PLCto statement, B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III promote the growth and develB-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II opment of African financial B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P

B-/S&P

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

markets by giving representatives from stock exchanges, 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 regulatory bodies, stock broking 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 firms and other interested parties the opportunity to2023 deepen 6.38 JUL 12, their operational knowledge about topical subjects related to capital markets.

He noted that this became 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 necessary, as Africa has record7.50 MAY 19,rate 2016 of 5 ed an average growth 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 per cent over the past 10 years, 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 underscoring its resilience to 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 regional and global headwinds.

10.25 APR 08, 2019 Aig-Imoukhuede, imme6.25 APR the 22, 2019 21, 2019Bank diate past CEO 8.75 of May Access 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 Plc, identified five areas of op6.63 DEC 09, 2020 portunity9.25/6M within which African USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 Exchanges can make impactful 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

interventions for the economic wellbeing of their nation.

07-Oct-11 6.75 The areas according to 12-Jul-13 him, include capital5.13formation, income inequality and 12-Jul-13 6.38 the wealth divide, economic policy and planning, sustainability and best practices.

“By reconsidering our cur01-Feb-11 11.50 rent priorities and building on 19-May-11 our knowledge base 7.50 of models and25-Jul-12 practices that7.25enable 09-May-13 6.88 us leapfrog from our 6.00 current 08-Nov-13 third world realities to higher 08-Apr-12 10.25 levels of development,6.25we can 22-Apr-14 8.75 change21-May-14 the Africa Rising nar07-Aug-13 8.25 rative and make it ‘Africa has 09-Dec-13 6.63 arrived,” he said.

24-Jun-14 9.25 He addressed how8.00 private 23-Jul-14

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Coupon (%)

14-Aug-14

8.75

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

and public sector leaders must be made to understand that 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.74 Exchanges are particularly 500.00 important in 12-Jul-18 the provision3.94of long-term financing, as they 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.07 help with mobilizing resources 1,500.00 and directing the flow of savings 1,621.44 and investments to businesses.

He also highlighted the im450.00 01-Feb-16 3.16 portance of maintaining con500.00 sistent policy 19-May-16 regimes based4.34on 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.72 just and equitable principles 300.00 02-May-18 8.61 that will generate and preserve 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.96 issuer and investor confidence 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.69 in500.00 African capital markets. 6.13 22-Apr-19 200.00 8.94 Speaking 21-May-19 on the Nigerian 300.00 07-Aug-20 7.43 Stock Exchange (NSE), he noted 360.00 09-Dec-20 7.69 that in an effort to raise corpo400.00 24-Jun-21 8.72 rate level of competi450.00Nigeria’s23-Jul-21 7.58 250.00

14-Aug-21

8.66

Offer Yield (%)

Offer Price

Pricesthe & Yields tiveness, NSE recently developed 4.59a Corporate 110.95 Governance 111.82 Rating System (CGRS) for listed 3.74 104.87 companies in104.17 partnership with the4.96 Convention on Business 109.16 109.99 Integrity (CBI).

Aig-Imoukhuede also acknowledged that though African securities exchanges are con3.16 111.13 111.13 as tending with challenges such 4.34 105.04 105.04 of trading limited to a handful 6.72 and generally 101.35 stocks low101.35 liquid8.06 94.67 96.30 ity, he is of the belief that African 5.64 100.12 101.29 Exchanges must lead the “march 8.69 105.75 105.75 for change”, by influencing their 6.13 100.48 100.48 8.69 99.28 100.20 engovernments to implement 7.43 policies 103.01 103.01 abling that will encour94.77 94.77 age7.69 the flow of capital and invest8.56 103.06 103.89 ment to the continent.

7.58 101.25 101.25 8.43

4,760.00 4,849.61

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

Bid Price

99.55

100.72

11-Sep-14

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed FIXINGS income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FMDQ OTC Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

DTMPLC Terms of Use and Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR 7 18-Sep-14 10.30 14 25-Sep-14 10.25 21 2-Oct-14 10.40 FGN Bonds28 9-Oct-14 10.30 35 16-Oct-14 10.35 42 23-Oct-14 10.30 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 49 30-Oct-14 10.35 56 6-Nov-14 10.15 9.25 28-SEP-2014 63 13-Nov-14 10.70 4.00 23-APR-2015 70 20-Nov-14 10.00 77 27-Nov-14 10.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 84 4-Dec-14 10.05 15.10 27-APR-2017 91 11-Dec-14 10.70 9.85 27-JUL-2017 105 25-Dec-14 10.65 9.35 31-AUG-2017 112 1-Jan-15 10.80 10.70 30-MAY-2018 119 8-Jan-15 10.70 16.00 29-JUN-2019 126 15-Jan-15 10.80 NA NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 133 22-Jan-15 10.40 147 5-Feb-15 10.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 161 19-Feb-15 10.30 14.20 14-MAR-2024 175 5-Mar-15 10.35 15.00 28-NOV-2028 210 9-Apr-15 10.10 12.49 22-MAY-2029 224 23-Apr-15 10.10 8.50 20-NOV-2029 238 7-May-15 9.90 10.00 23-JUL-2030 329 6-Aug-15 10.40 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 357 3-Sep-15 10.10 *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE #

10.05 10.00 10.15 10.05 10.10 10.05 Issue Date 10.10 9.90 28-Sep-07 10.45 23-Apr-10 9.75 10.45 16-Aug-13 9.80 27-Apr-12 10.45 27-Jul-07 10.40 31-Aug-07 10.55 30-May-08 10.45 29-Jun-12 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.15 10.35 27-Jan-12 10.05 14-Mar-14 10.10 28-Nov-08 9.85 22-May-09 9.85 20-Nov-09 9.65 23-Jul-10 10.15 18-Jul-14 9.85

10.32 10.29 10.46 10.38 10.45 10.42 Coupon (%) 10.50 10.31 9.25 10.90 4.00 10.20 10.95 13.05 10.29 15.10 10.99 9.85 10.99 9.35 11.17 10.70 11.09 16.00 11.22 7.00 10.81 11.07 16.39 10.79 14.20 10.89 15.00 10.72 12.49 10.77 8.50 10.58 10.00 11.48 12.1493 11.21

Bonds

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON

Modified Duration Buckets

FMBN

NA

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 11.1250 12.3266 13.3355 14.1147

Maturity Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 NITTY 535.00 23-Apr-15 Tenor Rate (%) 530.27 16-Aug-16 1M 10.2465 452.80 27-Apr-17 2M 10.6037 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 10.8850 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 10.8905 300.00 30-May-18 9M 10.9455 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 11.4149 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N) 163.1375 200.00 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 163.2375 591.57 23-Jul-30 70.00 18-Jul-34

OBB

10.75

O/N

11.00

Tenor Call 1M 0.05 3M 0.61 6M

REPO

TTM (Yrs)

Rate (%) 10.75 12.09 10.52 12.91 10.91 13.68

Bid Yield (%)

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1MYield 2M (%) 3M 7.39 6M 10.64 1Y

1.93 11.44 11.35 2.63 11.40 11.34 2.87 11.45 11.38 :Benchmarks 2.97 11.45 11.39 * :Amortising Bond 3.72 Bond 11.51 11.41 µ :Convertible 4.80 Management Corporation 11.56 11.49 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.12Government of Nigeria 11.69 11.60 FGN: Federal FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 7.38 Mortgage Bank12.10 12.05 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.51 12.17 12.12 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.21 12.49 12.45 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 14.69 12.50 12.46 O/N: Overnight 15.19 12.52 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 12.46 15.86 12.27 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company12.22 19.85 12.25 12.20 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

162.75 162.93 163.19 163.84 Bid Price 164.95 166.08 99.92 169.75 95.99 177.13

Offer ($/N) 162.85

Price 163.17 163.50

164.44 Offer Price 166.20 167.87 100.07 173.11 96.14 185.41

102.70 102.85 108.15 108.30 96.15 96.30 NA :Not Applicable 94.82 94.97 # :Floating Rate Bond 97.56coupon bonds 97.86 ***: Deferred 115.95 116.25 82.61 †: Bond82.31 rating expired 120.50 120.80 111.25 111.55 116.47 116.77 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 99.88 100.18 UBA: United Bank for Africa 72.96 73.26 84.25 84.55 99.25 99.55

4,591.19

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

4,652.46 Description

Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11 Weighting by 24-May-10Vol Outstanding

0.00by Mkt Weighting 0.00 Value

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

0.00 AMCON (SR.5Total TR.1) Porfolio 31-OCT-2014 Market Outstanding 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 1,034.29 983.07 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,130.33 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM 811.40 III 06-JUL-2017 872.92

2,976.02

Issue Date

2,807.29

03-Apr-12 35.02 09-Dec-11 33.89 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 31.09

100.00

17.25 34.75 0.00/16.00 37.98 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 27.26

100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 0.35 116.70 0.34 66.49 0.31

Bucket Weighting

1.00 1,301.62

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

31-Oct-14 % Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

03-Apr-17 16.25 09-Dec-16 34.51 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 49.24

100.00

0.14 0.70 1.31 11.42 2.24

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

11.94 2.61 2.82 12.24

2.27 119.1112 2.00 134.9588 1.00 1.00 103.1110

11.80 13.55 13.38 1,131.31 13.45 1,142.78 12.44 12.45 1,202.87

12.00

119.5062

1,135.18

13.5181

13.95 15.37 14.14 15.45 14.47

99.93 97.49 99.48 98.98 101.56

INDEX

YTD 98.42 Return 91.22 (%)

104.85 13.1313 101.09 14.2779 99.45 96.93 20.2873

1,282.73

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16

0.09 0.97 0.57 1.09 1.10

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48

Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014

46 business | CAPITAL MARKET

Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014 Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 11, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 102 38 9 149

Current Price 0.60 33.25 36.00

Quantity Traded 12,845,313 428,825 46,396 13,320,534

Value Traded 7,790,408.44 14,373,735.91 1,643,598.26 23,807,742.61

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 3.18

Quantity Traded 257,699 257,699

Value Traded 806,055.70 806,055.70

13,578,233

24,613,798.31

Quantity Traded 10,000 16,130,838 102,925 16,243,763

Value Traded 14,500.00 100,927,921.87 6,056,148.68 106,998,570.55

16,243,763

106,998,570.55

AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Printed CONGLOMERATES 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

165 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN Daily Summary

No. of Deals 1 324 38 (Equities) 363

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Published by The Nigerian Exchange © COSTAIN (WStock A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.52 6.25 59.05

363

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded Page 3,717,970 3,717,970

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 63.99

Quantity Traded 39,554 39,554

Value Traded 2,464,769.97 2,464,769.97

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 15.30

Quantity Traded 126,501 126,501

Value Traded 1,923,747.30 1,923,747.30

Symbol SKYESHELT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 100.00

Quantity Traded 78,077 78,077

Value Traded 7,807,700.00 7,807,700.00

3,962,102

15,909,083.80 Value Traded 2,357,686.30 45,275,974.75 2,481,700.80 3,484.26 158,823,123.86 265,856.50 Value Traded

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables TotalsEQTY Activity Summary on Board

CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

Personal/Household Products Totals

69 Symbol

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals Telecommunications Services Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA Printed 11/09/2014 Daily Summary of 11/09/2014 PLCas 14:52:52.052

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 134.00

Page Quantity Traded 25,103 25,103

2 of 12 Value Traded 3,531,992.10 3,531,992.10

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 35 45 57 46 54 3 2 242

Current Price 6.97 8.65 64.76 4.04 9.60 21.99 0.50

Quantity Traded 67,310 5,517,749 153,547 1,213,470 1,679,980 6,264 15,496 8,653,816

Value Traded 447,759.30 46,966,036.99 9,579,934.05 4,891,678.87 15,705,699.49 138,796.80 7,748.00 77,737,653.50

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 31 40 71

Current Price 55.01 1,010.00

Quantity Traded 77,809 57,363 135,172

Value Traded 4,180,944.32 57,996,238.55 62,177,182.87

Symbol

No. of Deals 20 7 27

Current Price 4.28 0.96

Quantity Traded 308,225 71,106 379,331

Value Traded 1,287,841.31 68,253.76 1,356,095.07

No. of Deals 69 68 137

Current Price 35.00 48.01

Page Quantity Traded 526,711 1,612,595 2,139,306

3 of 12 Value Traded 17,644,361.35 77,349,209.73

Daily Summary (Equities) VITAFOAM VONO

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

724

12,945,819

209,207,826.47

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 31 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 5 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 8 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR 2 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 6 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 6 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 2 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 4 Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 10 Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 23 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 1 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE 1 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIC 1 Daily Summary (Equities) WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 39 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 139 Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 0.80 0.98 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.50 2.50 0.54 0.79 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.74

Quantity Traded 4,966,767 110,349 195,200 29,100 Page 784,843 297,700 134,000 56,300 581,128 1,368,000 30,000 3,000 500 2,407,958 10,964,845

Value Traded 3,992,856.51 109,260.51 97,920.00 14,550.00 4 of 12 398,421.50 148,850.00 67,000.00 139,917.50 312,141.12 1,078,670.00 15,000.00 1,500.00 250.00 1,765,670.97 8,142,008.11

Quantity 901,000 Traded 901,000

Quantity Traded

Value Traded 897,040.00 Value Traded 897,040.00

Page Quantity Traded 4,195,970 4,195,970

5 of 12 Value Traded 2,097,985.00 2,097,985.00

Published by The Nigerian StockBrokers Exchange © Services Mortgage Carriers, and

UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol UNHOMES Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals

Current Price

16 No. of Deals 16

1.00 Current Price

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 70 10 378 44 10 32 112 656

Current Price 3.25 4.00 14.52 4.18 0.61 30.00 2.08

2,235 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 1 13 21 15 5

Current Price 2.10 3.40 65.00 1.45 1.05

Quantity Traded 4,080,743 60,350 6,992,166 2,410,116 151,420 386,903 34,026,192 48,107,890

Value Traded 13,303,935.55 238,762.78 102,294,001.99 9,982,025.85 91,704.27 11,607,455.92 70,679,865.77 208,197,752.13

185,632,521

1,864,384,784.98

Quantity Traded 10,150 317,812 317,603 344,263 50,124

Value Traded 20,300.00 1,080,875.80 20,618,406.20 501,580.60 52,930.20

Page

6

of

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 286,200 286,200

Value Traded 157,410.00 157,410.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,341,500 1,341,500

Value Traded 670,750.00 670,750.00

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000,000

Value Traded 500,000.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

1

1,000,000

500,000.00

20

2,627,700

1,328,160.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER Symbol CAP CCNN Symbol DANGCEM

No. of Deals Current Price 31 33.00 11 8.60 No. of Deals Price 17 Current 39.40 43 14.50 No. of Deals Price 58 Current218.00

Quantity Traded 329,912 78,932 Quantity 577,640 Traded 781,130 Quantity330,656 Traded Page

489,678 625,000 182,270 3,395,218

553,094.45 3,188,000.00 21,510,541.19 142,830,746.93

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals Current Price 3 1.75 1 18.85 1 12.08 5

Quantity Traded 38,327 699 253 39,279

Value Traded 64,006.09 12,582.00 3,036.00 79,624.09

3,434,497

142,910,371.02

Quantity Traded 68 68

Value Traded 354.28 354.28

68

354.28

DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

11 5 43 219

1.10 5.10 118.00

224 Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals Current Price 1 5.48 1 1

Value Traded 10,881,907.94 662,893.56 Value Traded 22,752,872.36 11,099,736.08 Value Traded 772,181,701.35 of 12

Daily Summary (Equities) Quantity Traded 5,378,531 Page 5,378,531

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals Current Price 331 25.20 331

Quantity Traded 9,529,751 Page 9,529,751

Value Traded 239,998,812.59 9 of 12 239,998,812.59

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals Current Price 58 53.16 40 3.85 111 225.00 19 180.00 34 56.00 10 180.00 272

Quantity Traded 233,375 1,251,680 322,326 11,802 359,558 7,509 2,186,250

Value Traded 12,462,292.89 4,918,125.88 72,242,595.45 2,122,039.93 19,570,115.90 1,345,671.07 112,660,841.12

Exploration and Production

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals Current Price 10 670.00 10

Quantity Traded 88,474 88,474

Value Traded 59,188,818.50 59,188,818.50

17,183,006

414,621,951.72 Value Traded 717,865.44 717,865.44

SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Exploration and Production Totals Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Activity Summary onPart Board EQTY Automobile/Auto Retailers Totals

Value Traded 368,186,594.32 14,521,354.42 35,490,515.54 14,806,072.78 640,768,786.62 19,225,545.14 3,000,073.39 162,883,992.81 Value Traded 16,541,152.43 533,750.00 1,012,250.45 368,079,911.84 1,645,049,999.74

22,276,582.80

No. of Deals 15 15

OIL AND GAS Totals

Quantity Traded 38,838,796 2,340,102 1,934,461 7,414,396 21,474,169 6,576,824 1,343,563 22,331,311 Quantity Traded 1,671,130 1,067,500 1,118,414 15,352,150 121,462,816

1,040,952

No. of Deals Current Price 49 0.51 49

Energy Equipment and Services Totals OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services© Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange

94,993,571.08

Value Traded 2,490.00 22,276,582.80

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

449,004,321.09

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,040,952

Symbol COURTVILLE

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Activity Summary Board EQTY JAPAUL OIL &on MARITIME SERVICES PLC

Current Price 9.80 6.20 18.40 1.98 29.80 2.93 2.25 7.20 Current Price 9.79 0.50 0.93 24.00

Symbol NPFMCRFBK Symbol

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 B.O.C.14:52:52.052 GASES PLC. Printed 11/09/2014 Chemicals Totals

Current Price 2.38

56

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 244 DIAMONDBNK 43 ETI 81 Daily Summary (Equities) FIDELITYBK 78 GUARANTY 209 SKYEBANK 118 STERLNBANK 40 UBA 167 Symbol No. of Deals UBN 106 UNITYBNK 7 WEMABANK 33 ZENITHBANK 296 1,422

Micro-Finance Banks FINANCIAL SERVICES NPF MICROFINANCE Micro-Finance Banks BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Activity Summary on Board EQTY ASHAKA CEM PLC Activity Summary on Board INDUSTRIAL GOODS BERGER PAINTS PLC EQTY Building Materials CAP PLC INDUSTRIAL CEMENTGOODS CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC © Published byBuilding The Nigerian Stock Exchange

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol 7UP

1,613,091

ICT Totals

DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Quantity Traded 294,661 266,998 87,020 1,489 896,773 66,150 Quantity Traded

228

No. of Deals 1 56

Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 Services Totals Telecommunications

Current Price 7.90 168.04 28.26 2.46 177.06 4.02 Current Price

GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW Symbol

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Banking14:52:52.052 Printed 11/09/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY STERLING BANK PLC. FINANCIAL UNITEDSERVICES BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

No. of Deals 9 83 10 1 122 No. of Deals3

CHAMPION Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

Value Traded 1 3,712,866.53 of 12 3,712,866.53

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 ESTATE Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

662

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 2,773,479.51 of 12 2,773,479.51

8

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals Current Price 33 0.92 33

Quantity Traded 766,532 766,532

Symbol Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals Current Price No. of Deals 13 Current Price 4.79 2 1.71 15

Quantity Traded Quantity129,143 Traded 33,500 162,643 Page

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 23,500 23,500

Value Traded 11,750.00 11,750.00

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals Current Price 6 4.50 61 1.30 67

Quantity Traded 41,906 7,127,627 7,169,533

Value Traded 179,357.68 8,981,711.01 9,161,068.69

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals Current Price 3 1.60 26 4.13 29

Quantity Traded 20,010 665,181 685,191

Value Traded 30,415.20 2,572,551.77 2,602,966.97

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals Current Price 17 0.73 17

Quantity Traded 639,746 639,746

Value Traded 464,845.13 464,845.13

SERVICES Courier/Freight/Delivery Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary as of 11/09/2014 Printed 11/09/2014 14:52:52.052 Road Transportation

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY COMPANY PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING Transport-Related Services Totals

SERVICES Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol CAVERTON

5 32 37

2.00 5.00

No. of Deals 38 38

Current Price 5.14

SERVICES Totals

37,256 454,722 491,978

Quantity Traded Page 511,960 511,960

Value Traded Value Traded 588,892.08 54,605.00 643,497.08 10 of 12

Value Traded 78,207.60 2,278,133.78 2,356,341.38 Value Traded

112,517,926.58 of 12 2,517,926.58

237

10,451,083

18,476,261.27

EQTY Board Totals

4,756

267,099,744

3,060,524,239.82

Equity Activity Totals

4,756

267,099,744

3,060,524,239.82

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 1,958.99 18.55

Quantity Traded 150 1,100 1,250

Value Traded 293,938.80 20,405.00 314,343.80

ETF Board Totals

3

1,250

314,343.80

ETP Activity Totals

3

1,250

314,343.80

12

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

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12

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Urhobo call for sack of Delta PDP chair

Gabriel Choba Ughelli

he Urhobo in Delta State Timmediate yesterday called for the sack of the

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (left), being presented with a merit award by the Chairman, Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative [ATEI], at the Northern Youth Summit, in Minna …yesterday

Excuses on Chibok girls untenable, says Ex-NMA boss rescue Enabulele believes words are not enough to shake Sambise forest. Action speaks louder Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

F

ormer President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, yesterday described as untenable, excuses by the Federal Government and the military on the delay in rescuing the abducted Chibok girls, who are still in the hands of Boko Haram since April.

Besides, he cautioned that except Nigeria and other African nations

insulate themselves from resigning to their reactionary cells and courageously deal with emerging health emergencies such as the ravaging cases of Ebola and other challenges as well as shun unnecessary reliance on developed countries for help, the continent will be in for the worst.

Enabulele stated this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin, the Edo State capital.

He noted with dismay, the fate of the abducted girls in the den of their captors, saying; “every day that passes, hope seems to be receding even with the assurances from government that government is on top of the situation.”

The former NMA boss

said the situation points to the obvious fact that the country is presently facing serious problems that needed to be tackled without delay to salvage the polity from its present predicament.

According to him; “I think Nigeria needs to be convinced that our government can be a bit more decisive in rescuing the Chibok girls, because as a Nigerian, I no longer see the excuses as tenable. It shows we have challenges; we have problems.”

He tasked the Federal Government and the military to step up their efforts, particularly on the need to reassess intelligence gathering network system aimed at getting positive results in the war against terror and activities of members of

Kwankwaso: PDP has dumped Ribadu Muhammad Kabir Kano

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankawso, yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not only jilted the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, but has also made him a laughing stock in the country.

He said Ribadu has become a laughing stock among PDP members in Adamawa State and even the entire political class, after being stopped from contesting governorship poll.

He said: “The PDP has now made the former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, a laughing stock among PDP stakeholders in Adamawa State after the party dumped him in its recent gubernatorial

primary, a clear indication that the former EFCC boss is regrettably now alone in his political world.

“After he left the APC for the PDP, his new party did not find him worthy of its gubernatorial ticket. I am sure the PDP stakeholders in Adamawa are now laughing at him. We sympathise with him,” Kwankwaso said.

Kwankwaso spoke while receiving merit awards from two NGOs namely, APC Kwankwasiyya Amana, Bauchi State chapter and Nigeria 774 Kwankwasiyya Merger at the Government House, Kano.

The governor, however, called on the Adamawa electorate to think wisely and vote for the APC candidate in the coming gubernatorial election in the state, considering the hardships caused to the

state by PDP central government.

He appealed to them to ‘pay back good for good,’ urging them to dump PDP and vote for APC, which he said is ready to bring about positive and realistic changes in the country.

“Anybody who voted for PDP, which within five years could not lead the nation rightly, has deceived himself,” lamented the governor, pointing out that APC has come up with a credible candidate in person of Senator Muhammad Jibrila Bindaw, who can salvage Adamawa State.

He alleged that the Adamawa State PDP chose a candidate, who most of their supporters see as incompetent, hoping that people in the state should vote for APC, describing it as the best party in country.

the Boko Haram sect.

“Nigerian government needs to step up its efforts; even the whole business of intelligence needs to be reworked.

I mean, how come you have soldiers being sent on a mission and so many were ambushed not once, not twice and decimated.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the security architecture in the country in spite of the several billions invested into it,” he said.

“Yes, I agree that the girls will come out alive, but at the same time, I believe that at this time that we are now, how many months from the time that incidence occurred?

By now we should be having some ray of hope in terms of the real opportunity to rescue these girls."

state’s Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Peter Nwaboushi, declaring him persona non grata.

Rising from an emergency meeting in a communiqué signed by the Chairman, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha and the Secretary, Mr. David Owo, on behalf of the Urhobo nation, the group, Urhobo Nationalist Movement said Nwaobushi has exposed the hidden agenda of Anioma people of fostering a governorship candidate on Delta people.

The group lamented that the party chairman has become petty, reducing himself to a tribal representative against the PDP, noting also that his continued stay as the

‘Don’t entertain loan requests from Sokoto govt' Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

he Peoples Democratic TState Party (PDP) in Sokoto has urged commer-

cial banks operating in the country not to entertain any loan request from the state government.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by the PDP Legal Adviser, Nasiru Sahabi, a copy of which was made available to New Telegraph on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The statement also warned that the PDP would have no obligation to honour any debt agreement entered between any commercial bank and Governor Aliyu Wa-

Ahmed vows to sanction officials over job placements Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

State Governor, AlKsaidwara haji Abdulfattah Ahmed, he would nullify any

employment into the state civil service which did not draw applicants from the pool of youths currently taking part in the state’s employment bridging project (KWABES).

Ahmed, who made the promise during a Town Hall meeting with youths participating in the scheme, was responding to allegations by some of the participants to the effect that contrary to the promise by his government while launching the scheme, some fresh intakes into the state’s civil service had been made ‘through the back door.’

The governor, who acknowledged that he had

party chairman will affect the fortunes of the PDP in 2015 general elections.

The communiqué also chided the chairman for fighting openly with the wife of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Maryam Ali. The group described the incident as an insult on the Urhobo nation, calling it an affront and pointing out that the Urhobo has the right to take a position for their future, which they must do, especially in 2015.

He maintained that the Uvwiamuge declaration is not a misplaced interest, stressing that it is in line with the Urhobo Bill of Rights put forward during the military era.

The group that the Urhobo nation under the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) will continue to work towards the promotion of peace and unity.

been getting such report, gave the youths his personal e-mail address to furnish him with details as he expressed disappointment that some people could be working against the vision of the project.

“I have been getting these kinds of reports and you have confirmed here that the scheme I put in place has not been followed to the letter,” he told the youths assembled from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

He added: “I am going to say it openly that if anyone is found smuggling anybody into any of the service arms without going through KWABES, that employment will be nullified and the person who perpetrated it will be sanctioned because we can’t create a programme and somebody will be sabotaging it."

makko at the twilight of his administration should the party form the government in 2015.

It said in the statement that the warning became necessary, following calls by the party to Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the Sokoto House of Assembly not to approve any loan request, which were unheeded.

change of nameS

Dlamini-Solomon

Former Miss Prudence Bonisile Ngabi Dlamini now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Prudence Bonisile Ngabi Dlamini-Solomon. Former documents remain valid.

General public note

Oshobi

I formerly known and addressed as Nneka Elizabeth Annan now wish to be known and addressed as to Nneka Elizabeth Oshobi. All former documents remain valid, Heritage Bank and general public should note.

Orechi

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Agbo Christiana Orechi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obam Christiana Orechi. All former documents remain valid. The Lord’s Chosen Church and general public take note.

Wasiri

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Susan Adesuwa Mojugbe now wish to be known and addressed as to Mrs Susan Adesuwa Wasiri.

All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Okeke

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Eme Judith Chinenye.

Now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Eme Judith Chinenye Okeke. All document bearing my former name remains valid. General public please note.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Old Bende/Ukwa Ngwa group kicks against zoning in Abuja exclusion

An old Bendel Ngwa group wants the race to the Umuahia government House thrown open instead of the present restrictions Peter Osondu

ABA

socio-political group, ANgwa the Old Bende/Ukwa Coalition Move-

ment (OBUNCM) has kicked against the decision to zone next year’s governorship seat in Abia State to Abia South

9.21m

senatorial district, just as it is advocating that the contest should be thrown open.

The group in a release endorsed by Hon. Jonathan Ogwo Okpara, president, Prince C. A. Ugboaja, vice-president and S. I. Dike, secretary; OBUNCM said it was condemning the recent zoning of the 2015 governorship seat to a senatorial district, because since the creation of the state, no governor has emerged based on any zoning formula.

OBUNCM described the recent zoning by a caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

The total population of Benin Republic (rep. 0.13% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

as self-serving, stating that the contest should be thrown open to all as had been the case in the past, so that the best hand will emerge as governor.

According to the group; “The contest should be thrown open to all irrespective of where they come from so that the people will make their choice; Abia people would no longer vote again for a political party, but persons who would take the state out from its present doldrum.”

The group said it was both unjust and unconstitutional to exclude any section of the state from

98,480

The total area (in sq. km) of South Korea.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

contesting the governorship election, stressing that zoning was a subtle way of disenfranchising tested politicians from other areas.

“We are strongly advocating that leadership is not to be dished out as rice, but should be competitive, so that the best person will emerge the governor as it is the will of the masses that will prevail at the end of the day.

“Our coalition wants to state that we will not sit back and watch some group of people continuously toil with our future and the future of our state,” the group said.

Plateau stakeholders, INEC to collaborate

Musa Pam Jos

ith the creation of adW ditional 30,000 polling units across the country,

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with relevant stakeholders for free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Hon. Habu Zarma, said this yesterday during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held at the Geomining Institute, Jos, the state capital.

He added that INEC has recently approved the creation of additional 30,000 units all over the country to bring the total to 150,000 while Plateau State has been allocated 1,542 to bring the total polling The number of fixed-telephone subscripunits in the state to 4,173.

Zarma said: “The comtions per 100 inhabitants of Guinea in 2009.

0.21

Source: Itu.int

Osun 2014: Tribunal order PDP to paste notice on Aregbesola's abode

the claims of Fofollowing the Osun State chapter the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) that the state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola had been evading the service of court processes by allegedly instructing his aides and security details not receive any document from the State Petition Tribunal's bailiff on the conduct of the governorship election in the state, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrusa, yesterday ordered that notice of petition should be pasted on the wall of Oke Fia Government House, where the governor resides.

The chairman, who reBorno State Governor, Kashim Shettima (middle), with the second batch of female students sponsored by the state government for an MBBS degree ferred to the order granted as substituted service programme at El Razi Medical College, Khartoum, Sudan yesterday at the plenary sitting of the tribunal, argued that "this case must be prosecuted. The petition Tony Anichebe ing the outbreak of infec- and where the medical cremation centres, buri- should not be one-sided. If Uyo tious diseases. It states officer is of the opinion al within three months, that the governor, upon that a person has died of prohibition of uncertibill for a law to pro- the advice of the commis- an infectious disease, the fied embalmment centres vide for the control sioner for health, could medical officer may con- as well as presentation of the spread of infec- prohibit the movement fiscate the corpse for the of medical certificate tious diseases in Akwa of corpses into the state. purpose of cremation.” of cause of death at emMuhammad Bashir Ibom State has passed “That upon the occurThe bill also provides balmment centres.

Lawmakers, who spoke Lokoja through a second read- rence of any death, re- for the contravention of ing in the House of As- lations of the deceased order, medical certificate in support of the bill, comsembly. person shall report such of the cause of death, mended the Federal Govchieftain of the All Progressives Congress The provisions of the death to the medical offi- isolation of contacts, ernment for its proactive cer in charge of the place medical examination of approach in the fight (APC), Dino Melaiye, has bill include the power of the governor to act dur- where the death occurred contacts, isolation and against the Ebola virus. alleged that Kogi West senatorial district has no senator; hence the lack of federal projects in the district for almost eight Sabiu Mustapha impact of climate change saying such cannot be called wet abode and dry years.

JALINGO season abode.

Melaiye stated this on flood prone communi- over emphasised.

She cited the example “In view of the above while declaring his senaties in their areas. he National EmerThe Head of the Op- of countries like Sin- and prevailing situation torial ambition to repgency Management erations Office, Hajiya gapore and the United in our country, especially resent the district at the Agency (NEMA) Zainab Umar, said this States, where, according our experience of the 2012 NUJ Press Centre in LoGombe Operations yesterday while declaring to her, because of the dif- flood disaster, there is the koja.

Office has called on Bau- open a one-day workshop ficulty in relocating peo- need to assist flood prone He said further that the chi, Gombe and Taraba in Jalingo. She spoke of ple from their ancestral communities in each state current senator, Smart State governments to put the need to develop emer- communities, a plan was to have simple home- Adeyemi, has never influin place proactive mea- gency evacuation plans developed for relocating made plan of evacuation enced any federal project sures that would help in for communities prone to such people during the to higher planes within in the district since he was mitigating the devastating flood and other disasters, rainy season to what they stipulated timeframe once elected eight years ago.

Ebola scare: A’Ibom House to control infectious diseases

A

T

you can't paste it, come tomorrow for another order."

"How should somebody evade or run away from being served and why should the security officials refuse to cooperate with the tribunal's bailiff to serve the governor".

He added that "having considered the paragraph 8 of the PDP's counsel's application, Mr Afolabi Fashanu, Aregebesola should be served the copy of the petition by pasting same on the walls of the Government House and Governor's Office at the state secretariat".

In his response to the order, Wale Afolabi, who is also the state Commissioner for Justice, said that "the PDP would be allowed to paste the petition. "if they want to paste the petition notice, they can paste it. Nobody would disallow them".

Melaiye: Kogi West has no senator, declares ambition

A

Flood: NEMA raises the alarm in Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba

mission is in the process of allocating these units.

In order to ensure equity, justice and fairness, three committees, one each for the senatorial district has been set up. These committees have been asked to recommend new units, relocating existing ones, name and rename some units. They are also to verify all requests, collate all genuine complaints and recommend appropriate action.”

According to him, the commission is in the process of relocating all polling units that are not in public buildings, especially “those located in private residences and places of worship. Polling units in the same station that do not have the required minimum voters’ population may be relocated to places of need. The same committees are charged to handle these daunting tasks.”

According to him, the eight years of Senator Adeyemi was a wasted tenure as far as the people of Kogi West are concerned.

Reacting to the general impression that the ongoing rehabilitation of Kabba-Egbe road by the Federal Government was influenced by Senator Adeyemi, Melaiye argued that the road crisscrossed three states, and that Adeyemi could not have influenced the project.

“This road we are talking about is currently serving, Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti States, it was the efforts of the senators across these states that lobbied for it, not Smart Adeyemi,” he said.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Suswam gives recipe for interest rate reduction Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

Gabriel Suswam Gonovernor of Benue State has called financial institutions in

the state to reduce interest on loans to enable the teeming youths of the state, who have acquired skills, to access them.

The governor, who made the call in Makurdi during an interview, said providing access for youths who have acquired skills to

L-R: Executive Director, Lagos and South-West, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Femi Bakre; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs. Funmi Adedibu; Divisional Head, Transaction Banking, Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe; Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi and Deputy Managing Director, FCMB Limited, Mr. Segun Odusanya, during a Customers’ Forum on International Business by the bank in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Gani Fawehinmi Foundation awards N4m scholarships Shadrack Yusuf

o fewer than 40 indigent students across various Nigerian tertiary institutions have benefited from this year's edition of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Scheme with each of the students awarded N100, 000.

At a well-attended award ceremony held yesterday at the Law Publications House, Alausa, Ikeja, in Lagos, the

FCTA needs N200bn to resettle Abuja indigenes N

Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that it needs about N200 billion to compensate and resettle villages within the 250 square kilometres of the Federal Capital City (FCT), Abuja.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, dropped this hint while receiving participants of the National Defence College, Course 23, 2014 that came on a study tour of the FCT.

Mohammed said that in 1976, when the Federal Capital Territory was created, the government required only about N2 billion to resettle the natives, although the value of N2 billion then was much.

The Minister, who was represented at the event by the FCT Permanent Secretary, John Obinna Chukwu, remarked that the administration has evolved various ways of tackling the infrastructural challenges in the territory.

He emphasised that the ever-dwindling public

FG to complete 84 abandoned hospitals Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Government has commenced collaboration with the private sector through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) to raise funds that would assists in the completion of about 84 hospital across the country.

The 84 uncompleted government hospitals were abandoned for lack of funds.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Establishment of World Class Medical Facilities and Diagnostic Centres in Nigeria, Tony Elumelu,

T

who disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, called on the National Assembly to pass the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) bill to attract more private investments to the health sector.

He said the committee, which has been in place since August 2012, and was charged with seeing through the implementation of the objective of setting up six world standard health facilities, one in each of the six geo-political zones in the country.

Monarch declares disputed land buffer zone Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

s the communal clash ADzev between Mbakyaa and kindred of Shangev-

ya in Kwande council area of Benue State continued unabated, the paramount ruler of the area, the Ter Kwande, Chief Hillary Ikima, has declared the disputed piece of land a buffer zone and called on the state government to urgently bring in surveyors to take over the area.

Ikima, who made the declaration when he led

Kwande stakeholders and traditional rulers of Shangev-ya extraction to Imande, a village adjacent to the disputed land, after listening to both sides, stressed the need for peace to prevail between the two communities, urging them to lay down their arms.

The monarch, who directed all parties currently occupying the forest reserve, which has over the years been the cause of dispute, to vacate henceforth, further warned that any person or party found contravening the order will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

funds available for infrastructural development made the FCT Administration introduce the Abuja Land Swap policy to improve infrastructure as well as reduce the housing deficit in the FCT. The minister attributed the high cost of resettlement to the increase in population of the indigenes due to birth and demographics.

According to him, the population of their then was manageable than what we have today as the families keep on growing.

He remarked that the FCT Administration with the introduction of the Land Swap policy is today simultaneously opening up 10 new districts armed with the solution of resettlement and compensation that hitherto has become knotty.

He revealed that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has grossly impacted on the development of the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory by changing its landscape for good.

economic development largely because of the institutionalisation of democracy by some African leaders.

The governor, who spoke on the topic; “Delivering Dividends of Democracy: An African Experience,” acknowledged that after decades of military dictatorship in most countries, democracy came like the dawn for Africans.”

‘Imoke should educate people on taxation' Clement James

Calabar

Calabar-based businessAadvanced man, Mr. John Atsu, has reason why owners of businesses in Cross River State are complaining about multiple taxation.

Atsu, who is the Managing Director of Alvasta Nigeria Limited, a travel agency, said government has not been able to adequately inform the people on the reasons for the various taxes, hence the complaints.

“Itisonethingtoaskpeople

to pay taxes and it is another thing to let them know why they are paying such taxes.

What is happening in the state is that people are not told why theyshouldpaythemanytaxes theyarepaying.Itistax,taxand moretax,”hesaid.

While acknowledging that government has the right to collect taxes from the people for the purpose of development, he said such taxes must be explained to the people in order to correct whatever bad impression they may have.

beneficiaries were handed their cheques even as the memories of the late legal icon were subjects of discussion among guests present.

The event, which was chaired by the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Nasir Fagge Isa, also featured a lecture by the former Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof.

Ademola Popoola.

Monarch: Count me out of Oduah’s endorsement Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

traditional ruler of Akpabio attributes Africa’s The Igbariam in Anambra State, Igwe N. N. Kendy, growth to democracy has criticised the recent endorsement of the imhe advent of democra- years, several African mediate past Aviation Tthecyrule and the recourse to countries have recorded Minister, Princesses Stella of law has been significant progress and Oduah, at a forum organidentified as the reason for the recent growth and progress recorded in most African countries.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State stated this while presenting a lecture at the 2014 Annual Lecture of NewsAfrica Magazine, held in London.

Akpabio, who was also honoured as the Leader of the Year by NewsAfrica, identified that in recent

loans would go a long way to reduce tension and as well prevent the vandalisation of public utilities.

Suswam, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Utilities, Mr. Gaddafi Asemanya, said “the financial institutions, as part of their corporate social responsibility, are expected to assist his administration in the provision of soft loans to youths in the state to enable them start their businesses.

ised for a group of stakeholders at Sharon House, Onitsha, under the auspices of the Anambra North stakeholders’ forum as

impromptu.

The monarch, who spoke to journalists, said he was not part of any endorsement for now, because according to him, it’s too early for one to take a decision on such sensitive political issue.

Kendy, who is of the Omabala cultural clan with Senator Magery Okadigbo, simply said: “I am not part of any in endorsement for now. That’s all I can tell you.”

Mark mourns former Edo MILAD Chukwu David

Abuja

enate President, DaSAbuja, vid Mark, yesterday in lamented the death

of former military administrator of Edo State, Col. Mohammed Onuka, describing it as unfortunate and devastating.

Reacting to the ugly news, Senator Mark said the late former military administrator was one of the finest artillery officers in the Nigerian Army.

According to him; “Col. Onuka was a disciplined soldier, administrator and officer, who stood to be counted when it mattered.

His death at this time is regrettable, but we cannot question the will of the Almighty.”

He condoled with the government and people of Kogi as well as Edo State for this painful loss, but asked them to take solace in the fact that the late military officer lived an eventful life worthy of emulation.

NULGE partners NGO for 54,000-man march Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

s the nation prepared Adence for its 54th indepenanniversary, the

Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and a non-governmental organisation, Put Nigeria First Ini-

tiative, have concluded plans to stage a 54,000-man march across the country.

The march, to be known as ‘Patriots March,’ according to the National Coordinator, Ijeoma Nwafor, would attract Nigerians from all the 774 local governments in the country.

50 WORLD | NEWS

T

he judge in the Oscar Pistorius trial has cleared him of murder, but has left it to Friday to announce whether the athlete is guilty of culpable homicide.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said prosecutors had not proved he meant to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, prompting tears from the Olympic sprinter. But she said he acted hastily and had been negligent.

Mr Pistorius says he thought an intruder was in the toilet. Adjourning the trial, the judge said a reasonable person would not have fired. Earlier, Judge Masipa described Mr Pistorius as an evasive witness but said this did not mean he was guilty. Clearing him of

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Court clears Pistorius of murder charge •Accused athlete knows fate for homicide today murder charges, she said he could not have foreseen killing whoever was behind the toilet door. The South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter had denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.

Mr Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.

While finding Oscar Pis-

Pistorius

torius not guilty of murder, Judge Masipa appears to be

leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide. Minutes after the lunch break, she seemed to be on the verge of announcing her verdict, only to stop abruptly and adjourn until Friday leading to sighs and gasps in the overflow court. Judge Masipa didn't mince her words when she said the athlete, who has a good knowledge of guns, acted negligently by firing four shots into a confined space.

She questioned why he did not

phone for help or run to the balcony instead of confronting the apparent danger - questions that have plagued many. Following a long trial that has gripped people around the world, Judge Masipa seems to want to give a detailed account before announcing her verdict. South Africa's legal system has also been on trial and many believe the athlete is getting off lightly, possibly because of his fame. But legal experts argue that the judge has merely followed the law and the evidence before her. The onus was on the state to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, which the judge said it had failed to do.

Ukraine to transfer Nigerian students to safer regions Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science has requested all Nigerian students undergoing various courses in higher institutions in the two Ukrainian crisis regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to urgently forward their names, passport numbers, name of their institutions, courses, year of study and alternative universities within Ukraine, to either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East and Central European Affairs Division Abuja or Nigerian Embassy in Kiev.

According to a statement issued by the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja and made available to New Telegraph, the required details will enable the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science to transfer the students to universities in safer Central and Western regions of the country to continue their

studies.

“The directive became necessary following heavy fighting between the Ukrainian Military and Separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, while the 2014/2015 academic session commenced on September 1, 2014. It is estimated that there are two thousand (2,000) Nigerian students studying in various higher institutions of the two regions, out of which about 1,650 had returned either to Nigeria or had moved to safer places at the end of 2013/2014 academic session.

The remaining 350 Nigerian students were trapped in the two troubled regions of Ukraine.

“It is therefore, advisable for the parents and guardians whose wards are studying in these two crisis regions of Ukraine to take urgent steps to get this information across to them wherever they may be for appropriate action,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Kenya appoints new intelligence chief amid rising Shabaab threat

K

enya yesterday swore in a new intelligence chief who it hopes will tackle the rising threat from al Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia bent on retaliation after U.S. missiles last week killed their leader and co-founder Ahmed Godane. Major-General Philip Kameru's appointment as the new director general of Kenya's National Intelligence Service comes nearly a year after al Shabaab gunmen killed 67 people in an attack on Nairobi shopping mall.

Kenyan security bosses were lambasted by the public for failing to prevent the four-day siege and Kameru's predecessor, re-

tired Major-General Michael Gichangi, resigned in August under pressure over a rise in attacks blamed on al Shabaab.

Kenya has suffered a string of gun and grenade attacks by the al Qaeda-affiliated group since its raid on Westgate mall, particularly in Nairobi and on the coast.

Godane, who publicly claimed responsibility for the Westgate attack, said the group would take revenge for Kenyan and Western involvement in Somalia. He has been replaced by little-known Ahmad Umar.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he picked Kameru for his success in intelligencegathering in Somalia.

Smoke, flames and debris erupts from one of the World Trade Centre towers as plane strikes it Tuesday,September 11,2001

Obama, bereaved families honour September 11 victims

P

oliticians, dignitaries and victims' relatives gathered in New York City, at the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania yesterday to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed in al Qaeda's attack on the United States 13 years ago on September 11. In what has become an annual ritual, relatives began slowly reciting the names of the victims at a ceremony in lower Manhattan, from Gordon Aamoth, Jr., to Igor Zukelman.

Readers would occasionally pause as a silver bell was rung to herald moments of silence marking the times when each of the four planes hijacked by Islamist militants crashed and the World Trade Center's twin towers fell. President Barack

Obama spoke at the Pentagon during a private ceremony for relatives of the 184 people killed in the attack on the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department outside Washington in Arlington, Virginia. He laid a wreath of white lilies and mums, and kept his hand on his heart as "Taps" played. "Thirteen years after small, hateful minds conspired to break us, America stands tall and America stands proud," Obama said, telling the victims' relatives their love was "the ultimate rebuke to the hatred of those who attacked us that bright, blue morning."

In New York, the voice of Tom Monahan, a man with salt-and-pepper hair and broad shoulders, cracked when he

talked about the brother and cousin he lost in the attack.

"Everything is fine until you get here," he said before waving his hands as if to signal he could not talk anymore. He headed through security checkpoints to join a crowd that stood beneath an overcast sky in the memorial plaza at the heart of the new World Trade Center, which is nearing completion. Some in attendance were dressed in military uniform, others in Tshirts and sneakers. Many people held up posters with smiling photographs of their dead relatives. Red roses and American flags poked up from the bronze plates bearing victims' names that ring the two waterfalls that now trace the footprints of the fallen towers.

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

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newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

51

Uncertainty surrounds Keshi’s future

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Fresh crisis B looms over NFF elections

Adekunle Salami

arely two days after the world football governing body, FIFA, gave Nigeria ‘a clean bill’ on the crisis that has engulfed the federation for about three months, fresh row seems to be looming over various issues on the forthcoming elections into the board of the NFF. Our correspondent learnt authoritatively that the candidates were not happy over the communication gap between the electoral body and the candidates.

The candidates are not happy that they were not being carried along on the various developments on the polls.

Only on Wednesday, it was stated that the elections would hold in Warri, Delta State, on September 30th.

NFF Secretary General, Musa Amadu, is being accused

South Africa‘s Bongani Ndulula fouled by Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo during the 2015 AFCON Qualifiers

} p 52 of running a one-man show in the run-in to the elections as all recent decisions are coming from his office.

“We do not have information about the election and the electoral committee has been silent.

We hear news in the media from the secretariat and not the electoral body. No official notification on the venue and date so far to me as a candidate,” Chief Mike Umeh, a presidential aspirant, said on Thursday.

Another aspirant, Dominic Iofa, wondered why the election would be taken to the home state of one of the presidential aspirants, Amaju Pinnick.

“It is not fair. Abuja is the capital and it was the venue all along and how Warri came up remains a mystery to many of us,” Iofa said.

Presidential aspirant, Abba Yola, also stated that Abuja should remain the venue since the federal capital is a neutral venue.

“There should be a level playing field for everyone,” Yola said.

Our correspondent also learnt reliably that some people who did not obtain forms originally with other aspirants are still being considered to take part.

“We hear some people are still obtaining forms and we are not even sure of the true picture of things as we get closer to the elections. We are not properly briefed on the situation of things and this is unfair,” another aspirant who prefers anonymity, said on Thursday.

The General assembly expected to hold before the election has also been scheduled to hold on September 22nd in Abuja.

Emenike

NSC yet to probe Commonwealth Games kits disgrace Emmanuel Tobi

F

ive weeks after the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the National Sports Commission has yet to commence probe into the kits disg race which saw Nigerian athletes wearing different kinds of attires

while re presenting the country.

Team Nigeria athletes had to wait for a week for the ar rival of their kits and equipment which also af fected their morale at the Games that held from July 23 till August 4, 2014.

It would be recalled that the Inter national Olympic

Committee queried Nigeria over the show-of-shame that befell Team Nigeria at the 12-day event.

New Tele graph can repor t that spor t federations acted independently in procuring kits instead of allowing the Nigeria Olympic Committee to kit them, with the inter na-

tional media feasting on the disgrace that saw Nigeria’s athletes in coat-ofmany-colours.

However, an official of the NSC revealed that the sports ministry was yet to receive the report on Nigeria’s participation at the Glasgow Games Nig eria finished in

Adebayor tips Ghana to win 2015 AFCON

eighth position on the medals table, winning 11 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals.

A total of 127 athletes, competing in athletics, table tennis, boxing, shooting, wrestling, weightlifting and para spor ts, represented Nigeria at the Games.

} P 53

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Uncertainty surrounds Keshi’s future Emmanuel Tobi

T

he future of Stephen Keshi as coach of the Super Eagles may have suffered a setback following the poor results recorded by the team in the qualifying race for the 2015 African Nations Cup in Morocco.

Keshi has had a protracted contract negotiation due to the NFF leadership crisis after his last contract expired at the end of the 2014 World Cup, where he led the Super Eagles to the Round of 16.

He was reportedly demanding N15 million but accepted to coach the Eagles against Congo and South Africa without an

Onazi(left)

Chukwu, Akpoborie carpet ‘fumbling’ Eagles lSay Nigeria walking on tight rope

1

980 Green Eagles Nations Cup winning captain, Christain Chukwu, has blamed the Super Eagles for their disappointing goalless draw against South Africa on Wednesday.

“We didn’t show enough bite and didn’t really trouble the South Africans. There were no real chances created and the strikers felt slightly isolated. I’m quite disappointed we didn’t win, honestly. I thought it was a game we should have won but we didn’t,” said Chukwu who coached the Super Eagles from 2002 to 2005.

Similarly, former Super Eagles striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, has blamed the Super Eagles’ lack of zeal to win as the reason for their 0-0 draw against South Africa on Wednesday.

Sport Trending

TWITTER |@NTelegraphSport

Akpoborie said; “We could have secured a win in this game but it’s just painful that our players lacked the desire to win, that was why in the whole of the game, we had just a [single] clear-cut chance.”

“Since [Stephen] Keshi took over, we are used to just one system where we rely on the speed of our attackers and rely on [the] counter.”

“Just like it happened against Congo, we had problems; there was no transition between the midfield and the attack. Even from the attack to the defence, it was not really good enough.”

He added that, “as it stands, it will really be difficult to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations because we have bungled away our chances. Congo now top the group with six points with South Africa having four points.”

Mourinho takes swipe at ‘hairless’ Guardiola

John Ogu Common Guys we Need to Cheer up,It is Not Over...

More Games to play for.. #UPSUPEREAGLES...GOD Bless Nigeria. @ogujohnugo jonathan akpoborie Yes we won the nations cup, but should we not defend it? @akpoborie Leon Balogun I’m madly in love with this girl! Never seen any girl like her - what a beauty! @Lorenara__ #OneOfOne #SimplyAmazing @LeonBalogun

Victor Moses Good morning everyone have a great day! Looking forward to training @VictorMoses Courtney Dike Man talkin to my siblings just takes all my stress away @CourtneyDike

Rio Ferdinand #Pistorius wow! In the uk this case would have been wrapped up ages ago & the cell would have been home for him already. @rioferdy5

Mourinho

Guardiola

existing contract.

Having secured just one point from a possible six in two matches, with the Eagles in third place behind Congo and South Africa, the danger of missing out on the 2015 Nations Cup is not favourable to Keshi’s contract talk.

“Keshi’s new contract is doubtful due to the fact that most of the stakeholders are not favourably disposed to the fact that the incoming NFF board might inherit a financial burden they might not be able to sustain,” revealed a source at the NFF secretariat.

He added that, “many stakeholders are not comfortable with Keshi’s hard stance on his wage increment and dropping of some Nigeria’s key players.

This series of poor results is not

helping his course unless the Sports Ministry will take full responsibility for his wages.”

Sports minister and chairman National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo, had assured Nigerians last month that the ministry will pay the salary of Keshi until normalcy returns to the Nigeria Football Federation.

“I spoke with Keshi and the NFF on the issue, the difference between what the coach was asking for and the amount the NFF was willing to pay was not something that could stop the two parties from reaching an agreement. I can assure you that when the crisis is settled, the Keshi issue will be sorted out too,” he said.

ITTF confirms Quadri for Table Tennis World Cup Ifeanyi Ibeh

eigning African men’s table tennis Rbeen champion, Aruna Quadri, has confirmed as one of the participants at next month’s Men’s World Cup by the International Table Tennis Federation.

The Nigerian number one will fly Africa’s flag in the Men’s World Cup holding in Dusseldorf, Germany from October 24 to 26.

Quadri’s qualification was secured after he clinched the men’s title at the maiden African Top

16 Cup held in Lagos earlier in the year. It will be his second World Cup appearance following his debut at the 2009 edition in Moscow, Russia.

The 2014 Men’s World Cup looks set to be one of the best in recent memory, with all the stars of international table tennis competing, including Olympic bronze medallist, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, and 13-year-old American teen sensation Kanak Jha. In the women’s World Cup, taking place in the Austrian city of Linz from October 17 to 19, Egypt’s Dina Meshref will represent Africa.

Ex-Falcons coach, Ntiero, dies at 67

chief coach of the naAtheformer tional women’s football team, Super Falcons, Ntiero Effi-

om, has died after a brief illness.

Ntiero, according to his wife, Nkoyo, died on Wednesday afternoon after he broke down on Sunday morning while they were preparing to go to church.

The late coach’s wife disclosed that, the Africa Women’s Championship gold medal winning coach was still at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday where he watched the Super Eagles 2015 African Nations Cup Qualifier between the Super Eagles against the Red Devils of Congo.

“He had been treating himself for malaria but we later found out that it was typhoid. We rushed him to the State’s General Hospital, Calabar but he was rejected due to the Ebola scare. When he was eventually examined in a private hospital, the doctor said he suffered a stroke and a part of his brain had been badly damaged.

But this was strange as he was never hypertensive,’ she said.

“He received treatment at the hospital until he died on Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind six children. Ntiero would have turned 68 years old on November 22, but the cold hands of death did not allow him.”

he feud between Jose Mourinho and Pep Tboss Guardiola is far from over after the Chelsea Ayo Olopon Challenge Series debut lashed out at the Bayern Munich coach, n an effort to revive tradi- applications, such as mobile claiming the Spaniard does not even like foot- I tional sports in the country phones, tablets, IPads and ball. and encourage the younger computers.

The proof that the 51-year-old gives for this claim is that Guardiola is bald and therefore cannot be happy in his current Serena Williams Just turn around now.... You’re not welcome anymore career.

“If one enjoys what he does, one does not @serenawilliams lose his hair. He’s got a bald head. Guardiola does not enjoy football,” Mourinho was Amir Khan Visa to America was declined after i had it approved a quoted by German daily Bild.

The two developed their feud when they week ago. Was looking forward to the fight. Means I’m were on either side of El Clasico managing still in England. @AmirKingKhan Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

For two years Mourinho and Guardiola Gary Lineker Very admirable that @WayneRooney has introduced were direct rivals and during that time lifted player-only meetings at England get-togethers. In- one Spanish title each and had several on duces good spirit. Players know best. @GaryLineker and off field spats.

generation to get involved in indigenous sport, Dekaizen Worldwide Limited has unveiled Ayo Olopon-for- all initiative, with the support of MTN Nigeria.

According to the initiator of the programme, Femi Abioye, the project is tailored towards promoting and popularising the game of ayo olopon among the younger generation, taking advantage of the information technology through the use of mobile

He said the preliminary stages of the competition would hold in Abeokuta and Ile-Ife while Oyo Town, Oyo State, would host the grand finale.

Abioye disclosed that during the three cities challenge series, the participants and the public would have the opportunity to learn and download the mobile apps of ayo olopon on their mobile applications to play and practice on the go.

2015 NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

Adebayor tips Ghana to win 2015 AFCON

T

ogo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has backed Ghana to end their wait for a title at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

The Tottenham Hotspur star eulogized the Black Stars after the Hawks were beaten 3-2 in Lome in a Group E qualifier.

Ghana are now joint leaders with four points form the available six after drawing 1-1 with Uganda at home last Saturday.

Adebayor has no doubts the Black Stars will qualify and com-

53

Doctors declare Ivory Coast’s Aurier okay

I

vory Coast defender Serge Aurier has been declared okay by doctors after he was knocked unconscious during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old was hurt in an aerial clash with Cameroon captain Stephane Mbia early in the second half of his side’s 4-1 defeat in Yaounde.

He was stretchered of f and appeared to be in a serious condition.

But Aurier recovered quickly and stayed at the stadium to watch the game.

“Treatment that was given in the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde helped him to recover enough to go back to the Ivorian team bench,” said the Ivory Coast Football Federation.

The federation added that Aurier suffered “shock from the force of the blow to his head but did not have any convulsions.”

pete for the trophy next January.

“Ghana is a big team with so many quality players on the day they were superior to us,” Adabayor said in a post-match interview.

“On qualification I think they will qualify and have a great chance of winning the title.

“When you have such quality like they do, you will always be considered amongst the favorites.”

Ghana have reached the semifinals of the last four editions of Adebayor the Africa Cup of Nations.

We lost in the first half – Dussuyer, Guinea coach uinea’s Head Coach Michel DussuyGUganda er has said thy lost the game to in the first half.

“We failed to settle on the slippery pitch in the first 45 minutes and the home side scored two goals. But our defending was also not very solid,” explained the French born Coach.

South African based professional Geoffrey Massa netted two first half goals to give the hosts a 2-0 win in a Group E Afcon qualifier. It was also Massa’s fourth goal in the campaign having scored a goal each against Mada-

gascar and Mauritania at the preliminary round.

Dussuyer said his team tried to come back strongly in the second half, but said lack was also not on their side because they created some good scoring chances.

“I am praying that the condition in Conakry is better so that we can also have advantage and play our games at

home instead of the neutral ground in Morocco.

The Confederation of African Football moved all Guinea’s home games to a neutral ground because of fear of the deadly Ebola virus which has killed thousands in some West African nations.

Egypt FA backs coach despite two losses gypt Football Association chairman Eteam Gamal Allam has backed national coach Shawky Gharib after los-

4-1 loss,a good lesson for us -Yaya

ôte d’Ivoire’s skipper Yaya Touré Chands said that their 4-1 thrashing at the of Cameroon in Yaoundé on

Wednesday taught them a good les- Gharib son.

Already on target against DR Congo in Lubumbashi in Cameroon’s Group D opener of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 qualifiers, Clinton N’Jie ormer Bafana Bafana coaches Gordon and Vincent Aboubakar ripped the ElIgesund and Steve Komphela were imephants’ defence to pieces, bagging a pressed by the team’s performance in the brace each.

Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against “It was a very difficult game. We tried Sudan and Nigeria. to control the match, and in the second Bafana, now under the watch of half we created several chances. But we Shakes Mashaba, beat Sudan 3-0 away can only blame ourselves,” Yaya said at last week before drawing 0-0 with the Super Eagles in Cape Town on Wednesday. the post-match press conference.

“It is not over yet. There are four games “I thought Bafana Bafana played remaining. And sometimes it is good to well,” Igesund tells KickOff.com.

“I was impressed with the committake a drubbing, because today we took a good one,” the Manchester City’s mid- ment and the attitude of the players. I was happy with what I saw and I say well fielder admitted.

Côte d’Ivoire are now third on the log done to Shakes for the good results.

“It’s a tough group... Congo are tough on three points, on equal footing with DR Congo who enjoy a better goal difference as well as Nigeria. We couldn’t have and with both teams trailing the Indomitable Lions by three points.

Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier on the floor after suffering a head injury

ing 1-0 to Tunisia in the second match of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Wednesday.

Egypt suffered their second African Cup of Nations qualifying defeat, losing 1-0 to Tunisia at Air Defence Stadium after the 2-0 loss to Senegal, leaving their hopes of reaching the 2015 Morocco finals in doubt.

“Shawky Gharib will continue lead-

ing the team,” the EFA boss announced after the game.

“I will hold a meeting with the technical staff to learn the reasons for the two losses,” he added.

Gharib was appointed in November after former manager, American Bob Bradley, resigned from his post when he failed to reach the 2014 World Cup. Egypt are the record winners of the Nations Cup with seven titles under their belt, winning in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Igesund, Komphela salute Bafana Bafana F

asked for better than getting three points away and drawing at home. I am happy for Shakes and the players. It’s a job well done and let’s keep on going,” adds the new SuperSport United mentor.

Maritzburg United tactician Komphela is likewise encouraged by the national side’s recent showings.

“Nigeria was not an easy match, and on Wednesday night it could have gone either way,” says the ex-Bafana caretaker boss to this website.

“There is a sense that something is starting there. There were chances that we could have taken – the one of [Tokelo] Rantie comes to mind – but we couldn’t take them. But the boys played with freedom and it has been encouraging.”

Andile Jali (left)

Uganda coach hails players’ fighting spirit

ganda coach Micho Sredojevic has said Uplayers the good fighting spirit showed by his was key in making sure they

Toure

beat Guinea 2-0 in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier on Wednesday night.

“These players have worked hard as a unit and the home support also played a big role in driving the team forward,” said Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.

The Serbian born Coach said although they were aware they were facing a highly competitive team with several European based players, they decided they would play as a unit to take the man of the match credit as a whole team.

Two first half goals by the University of Pretoria striker Geoffrey Massa were enough to make sure th Cranes keep their chances bright for qualification for the 2015 Afcon in Morocco. The Cranes last

appeared in Afcon in 1978 where they lost to hosts Ghana in the final.

Sredojevic said that he was very happy that they won the game because it would have been a big waste to get a draw away in Ghana last week and fail to win at home three days after.

“We got a signature on the document after the draw in Ghana, but we have sealed it with the signature with the win against Guinea,” said the cheeky Coach.

54

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

VICTOR EZEJI Nigeria & Sunshine Stars striker

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Keshi defends Mikel’s poor form

lUrges Mourinho to play him regularly Emmanuel Tobi

S

not begun well as the Eagles started things off with a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Congo but they failed to utilize the chance to get back on track against South Africa after playing a goalless draw in Cape Town.

The Super Eagles are now in third place in the group with just one point; ahead of Sudan but below Congo and South Africa.

uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has again defended Chelsea midfielder, Obi Mikel, despite his poor form and lackadaisical attitude on the pitch for Nigeria in recent times.

Mikel who has dropped in the pecking order at Chelsea behind Ramires, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas, is also struggling to find his form with the Super Eagles as he was anonymous again against the Bafana Bafana on Wednesday.

But Keshi during postmatch conference said; “It might [be]. He’s not playing in his [club] team, that doesn’t mean I cannot use him in my team. That is the coach’s choice not to play him in his team, but my team is in good shape.

After a world of experience playing [in the] Champions League, he earned his place and he has to make the best out of the situation.”

He added that Mikel was Nigeria’s star player who has been playing in a more advanced midfield role than in Chelsea.

Nigeria’s defence of the African Nations Cup has Gov. Akpabio

Glo Premier League resumes September 17

he League ManageTannounced ment Company has that Glo

Keshi(left) and Mikel

Premier League fixtures will resume on Wednesday, September 17 following the return of members of the Nigeria Referees Association that had withdrawn their services in response to the uncertainties that trailed the Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Fixtures of the Glo Premier League were called off during the weekend of August 30-31st following the

Akpabio Cup begins in Akwa Ibom bout 84 teams have arrived AState, Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom and are currently under-

going health and fitness test as the opening ceremony of the 8th Akpabio U-18 boys competition gets underway this weekend.

According to John Ekpenyoug, the Tournament Director, volunteers and staff of Akwa Ibom Ministry of Sports are working assiduously to make this year’s competition memorable.

Ekpenyoug said; “It is a thing of joy to see youths from different backgrounds gather to celebrate the unity of our fatherland through sports.

“I must confess that I’m overwhelmed.

We thought last year’s edition was big but we have been proved wrong. As at yesterday, we had over 84 teams on ground but as it stands, we might have more teams coming for the event.”

On his part, the LOC Chairman, Uko Akpabio, said; “The stage is set to welcome youths from across Nigeria to celebrate with our darling state because our governor has done much to uplift sports.

We urge them to come and support the participating teams at the tournament.”

withdrawal of services by members of the NRA. Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC on Wednesday said the league resumption was approved on the strength of the notice by the NRA indicating their readiness to of ficiate in matches. He said a letter announcing the resumption of services by Referees addressed to the NFF General Secretary and signed by the NRA Secretary General, Prince Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa had been received by the LMC. “Consequent of the NRA readiness to of ficiate in matches, all Match Day 26 fixtures will hold on Wednesday, Se ptember 17 and Clubs of the Glo Premier League have been notified accordingly. We seiz e this oppor tunity to thank all stakeholders, especially our commercial partners and fans for their understanding,” stated Abubakar.

He said other Match Days have been rescheduled to accommodate the disruption and promised that the dates and fixtures which have been published on the LMC w e b s i t e ( w w w. l m c - n g . org)

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 12, 2014

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Continued captivity of Chibok girls: A national shame

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ince the night of April 15 2014 when a band of megalomaniac marauders stormed the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok to abduct 276 girls, 219 still in captivity, I have not stopped wondering what on earth would be going through the minds of these innocent girls. It is even hard to imagine the dire circumstances under which these kids have lived their lives in the forest for 150 days. An unwanted and unplanned trip into the evil forests of Sambisa, in the midst of barbarians is the cruellest journey to embark on. Certainly not one anybody would want to make as a matter of choice. Except for sadists, not one you will wish your enemy. They must have seen it all, a most horrifying experience for teenagers. Even adults forced into the bush for two days, present a gory picture of their experiences. Talk less of teenagers who have gone to school to acquire education, that will place them in good stead, to assist themselves, family and society, and then, contrariwise, forcefully evacuated to yet undisclosed destination.

Where are the Chibok girls? What is happening to them? They must have experienced the worst forms of neglect, violation, torture, abuse – and unspeakable kinds of atrocities. All of these, due to no fault of theirs, they would have wept bitterly, drenched and soaked in tears, totally exasperated from supplication and prayers, waited for help to come without result, now hapless, remained sleepless, living for the worst. Days rolled by, weeks, then 5 months, still counting, not one of the girls has been discovered nor rescued. This is a complete disaster, a typical example of how not to be a country. The Chibok abduction saga has been badly managed. The girls would have entertained hopes of speedy and imminent rescue. Or better still, that the abduction story must be one of those bad dreams that sometimes visit teenagers who are about to experience bouts of malaria. Very soon, they will wake up in the morning to their eternal relief that it was a bad dream. So they must have thought. But this was not to be. The imprisonment, the serial defilement, of the physical person and her core values had continued.

Typically our response and reactions to this open invasion of our collective sense of humanity have been pitiable. Initially, it was as if the story could not be true, even a large number of the ruling political elite dismissed it as one of the tales of the opposition to discredit it. I know of so many Nigerians, who till date, argue so wickedly that the Chibok story is some kind of fiction. This is depressing, but it finds good company in the Igbo adage that says “ebulu ozu onye ozo na aga, odika ebu ukwu nku”,

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meaning when someone else’s corpse is being moved, those not concerned would feel that it is a log of wood. I have watched with pain, many of these despicable characters attempting to dismiss the Chibok story as a non event. The Chibok girls are living persons. What is happening to our sense of outrage? Have we become so complacent, even complicit that we cannot all rise and say #Bring Back Our Girls, demand and sustain it? Have we put this one again to the back burner, or the history books, to beef up the many unresolved and missing persons cases and files?

There is something definitely wrong with the Nigerian society; our ostrich like behaviour that condones the forced kidnapping of 276 girls in one go. When that incident happened, I wrote in this column that by kidnapping such a large number of female teenagers, that Boko Haram has crossed the red line, dug its own grave, and its final burial imminent. Little did I know that our collective response, and more painfully, that of the political leadership, would embolden Boko Haram, make them more daring, that they now plot to sack the entire country, take us into slavery, while instituting a sectarian devilish caliphate.

Since then, villages, hamlets, towns, cities capitulate like a pack of cards.

I heard that Boko Haram now have the temerity to host their flag in Gwoza Emirate in Borno state, and also the effrontery to march through Bama, towards Maiduguri, capital of Borno. Possibly this time around, this insidious and heinous move by Boko Haram to overrun the country may elicit the appropriate response from the Nigerian military authorities, and they would decapitate, destroy the infrastructure that has given Boko Haram so much courage.

The confidence of Boko Haram must be demystified for the reputation of Nigerian military is at stake. The military must be assisted to regain its pride by routing Boko Haram.

Nigerians have continued as if nothing totally tragic has happened. We have all faced our private businesses and activities, all of us ensconced in the comfort of our homes. No thought is spared for the Chibok girls out in the wilderness. Those girls could be anybody’s daughter. Age old African val-

ues demand that we should be our brothers’ keeper. Without doubt, the forces of globalization and commercialization have instilled in us a new sense of values where human conduct is premised on enlightened self interest. One also understands the historical specificities that were at play in the formation of modern Nigeria during colonial times that may have encased our collective psyche, leaving us acquiescing to the serial mis-governance we have had in Nigeria for much of our independence. The lack of the culture of resistance, the absence of vibrant Civil Society that is not divided along religious or ethnic lines have made governance what it has been in Nigeria-poor.

As compromised as we all seem to be, I am enchanted that in the midst of this national aloofness, that the #Bring Back Our Girls movement led by Oby Ezekwesili et al has sustained the struggle at their cost, to demand that the Nigerian government at all levels do the needful to Bring Back the Chibok girls home to their parents safe. At great personal sacrifice, not having to do any other private work for the past 140 days, the campaigners have defied the inclement weather, arousing the national conscience collective, holding government accountable, to rise up to the challenge of national leadership, to protect its citizen, the raison d’être of modern government historically. These are heroes and heroines of our decadent society, seriously committed to cause of others. Most of the campaigners, before the unfortunate Chibok incident, have never met the families of the victims, may not have heard about the then obscure village called Chibok, but they have given their all in defence of these girls. It is a worthy and commendable show of solidarity. God bless them. Even as some Nigerians are likely to misunderstand their motives in a most mischievous manner, they face persecution, name calling, very wild uncharitable and irresponsible accusations, the Oby Ezekwesili led group is the only remaining evidence of individual and collective empathy in Nigeria. It is for these campaigners that the hope for justice and freedom for the Chibok abductees is still alive. The way some sections of the intelligence and security apparatus tried to stigmatise the campaigners is morally reprehensible and detestable. It amounted to

cheap blackmail to ever canvas as the Security Agency did that the campaigners were involved in an ego trip, receiving external funding and the like. They, Security Agencies could not come to terms with the paradigm shift in the manner of civil obedience in Nigeria, when middle class professionals would, on a sustained basis, be pushing for ends that will not impact on them privately and directly, but for the good of others. That is what Bring Back Our Girls movement has shown.

Perhaps, it is their insistence on retaining the topicality of the Chibok incident, making it a national priority that led to President Jonathan’s order, just the other day, that the #Bring Back Jonathan posters and billboards in the Federal Capital Territory be dismantled and removed forthwith. The President rightly saw the unsolicited ignoble campaign as, nauseating, totally insensitive as it seeks to trivialize the struggle to rescue the Chibok girls, mock the grief of parents and relations, and give unwitting impetus to criminality. For this, I salute the president.

He has, unlike several of his predecessors, shown that he has a listening ear. Beyond this symbolic gesture is to emplace necessary measures, with a time line to rescue the Chibok girls safely. That is the only demand of Oby Ezekwesili and her group in the Bring Back Our Girls movement. To do that and rein in these bigots, and sectarian zealots that go by the name Boko Haram is to return the country on the road to national stability, an irreducible condition precedent to national progress. Boko Haram must be stopped now. Therefore, until the girls are freed, the # Bring Back Our Girls campaign must be sustained.

OMOBABA

LOCAL HUNTERS KILL 75 BOKO HARAM IN ADAMAWA – News

– Who says we can't win this war?

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