Binder1, friday, june 27, 2014

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Friday, June 27, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 129

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Reps summon CBN gov over new policy on BDC … pensioners begin contempt action against apex bank Joseph Onyekwere and Philip Nyam

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he House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Central

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to appear before its Banking and Currency Committee to provide “full brief on the policy somer-

sault” to the lawmakers.

The House also asked the management of CBN to suspend the new requirements for operators of Bureau De Change (BDC) till

further notice.

The resolution was consequent upon a motion brought by Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (PDP, Zamfara) titled ‘urgent need to halt recent

increase in capital base for Bureau De Change’.

In his lead debate, Gusau noted that the CBN had raised the minimum capital requirement for operation of BDCs in Ni-

Senate in rowdy session over Ekiti poll }7

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

SSS: We got wind of attack two weeks ago

...Arrests sponsor of 486 ‘travellers’ lSoldiers insist on ID card at checkpoints lNew Telegraph’s Managing Editor, Bisalla, buried amid tears

Final prayers for Bisalla led by Assistant Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Shehu Usman, at Gudu Cemetery, Abuja...yesterday.

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PHOTO: Timothy Ikuomenisan

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Suleiman Bisalla: 1968 - 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

New Telegraph Managing Editor, Ekweremadu, Jang, Aregbesola, Tukur, Daniel, Kalu, NUJ: He was a committed journalist Lateef Ibrahim, Johnchuks Onuanyim, Yekeen Nurudeen, Wahab Isa, Onyekachi Eze, Musa Pam, Cheke Emmanuel and Onyekachi Eze

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emains of the Managing Editor (Northern Operations), New Telegraph Newspaper, Malam Suleiman Bisalla, who died in the Wednesday bomb blast at Emab Plaza, Abuja were yesterday laid to rest at Gudu cemetery, Abuja amid tributes and encomiums from family members, associates, colleagues and eminent personalities in the country.

Bisalla’s body was buried according to Islamic rites after a funeral prayer held at the Abuja National Mosque few minutes after 4pm.

Many of the dignitaries present were in tears.

Bisalla is survived by wife, Saadatu, and five children, Zainab, Khalifa, Hajara, Abdulmajid and Nusaibi.

The burial was witnessed by former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Idi Hong; former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Associate Director Editorial, Daily Trust newspaper, Mahmood Jega and Daily Editor of New Telegraph newspaper, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, among others.

National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Garba Mohammed, described Bisalla as a committed journalist.

“Our late colleague was a committed journalist.

I had the privilege of interacting with him, even working with him. He was somebody who had a lot of passion for journalism profession. We are going to miss him,” he said.

Lamenting the escalating insecurity challenges in the country, Mohammed promised that NUJ would immortalise Bisalla.

In his tributes, Jega, under whom Bisalla worked as Political Editor, described him as an amiable fellow who was very passionate and diligent about his job.

In his reaction, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described Bisalla as a thoroughbred professional.

Ekweremadu also condoled with the manage-

Editor, New Telegraph, Mr. Yemi Ajayi (left) condoles with some family members...yesterday.

Wife of the deceased, Saadatu...yesterday.

ment of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph.

In a condolence letter to the Board and Management of the newspaper, he noted that Bisalla covered the Senate diligently and described his death as a huge loss not only to the Nigerian media, but also the entire nation. He observed that the void created by the journalist’s untimely death would be difficult to fill.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Senator Bala Mohammed, described Bisalla as an outstanding journalist who practised the journalism profession in line with its guiding ethics and principles.

The minister stated: “There are valuable lessons to be learnt from the life of Malam Bisalla” and stressed that humility, hard work, honesty and integrity were his guiding principles. He urged younger generation of journalists to emulate his sterling qualities by shunning blackmail and sensationalism.

He also extended his con-

dolence to the Publisher of New Telegraph and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu over the death.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, urged the management of New Telegraph newspaper not to be demoralised by Bisalla’s death.

Rather, he encouraged the management to remain focused in condemning acts of terror in its news reportage with a view to arousing public consciousness against terrorism in the country.

The minister stated this in a letter of condolence to the Managing Director of the newspaper, Gabriel Akinadewo.

Maku appealed to the management to “deny terrorists space in your news medium to ventilate their divisive and hate messages which aim is to cause panic and set the citizens of this nation against one another”.

According to him, “I knew Mr Bisalla when he was the Political Editor of the Daily Trust and he was a dedicated and talented professional

L-R: Mr. Ike Abonyi; a friend of the deceased; Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at the burial.

who acquainted himself satisfactorily as a reporter and Editor.

“The unfortunate development is a sad reminder that anyone could fall victim of terror attacks,” he said.

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State described the death as a big loss to journalism.

Bisalla hailed from Gindiri, Mangu Local Government, Plateau State.

Jang, in a statement signed by his Director of Press Affairs, Mr James Mannok, said he was saddened that the promising lives and career of a hardworking Plateau State son and that of many Nigerians had been cut short by man’s wickedness to humanity.

In his reaction, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State described the death as “a depressing, miserable and sad piece of news to me”.

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the untimely death

as one that has once again robbed the media industry and the country of a young, energetic man and a fine journalist.

The governor said the sudden transition of Bisalla will no doubt leave a huge vacuum in his immediate work place, New Telegraph and the media industry as a whole.

Former Abia State Governor and publisher of New Telegraph, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the blast, including Bisala.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Kalu said: “The continuous killing of people and wanton destruction of property by terrorists are getting out of hand and could undermine the country’s sovereignty if not confronted headlong.

“The time has come for the government to throw in everything in halting this spiraling carnage. The situation is worsening and calls for a drastic solution. Nigerians must rise and collectively tackle this mindless waste of

precious lives,” he said.

Kalu, who particularly condoled with the Bisallas whose son died in active service of his fatherland, implored God to comfort the bereaved and grant the country the enablement to find a lasting solution to the terrorism menace and other acts of insurgency.

Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, expressed his shock and sadness over the death of Bisalla.

Daniel, who described the death of the editor as untimely and cruel, lamented the state of insecurity in the country, especially the spate of killings by the insurgent Boko Haram sect which has sent many innocent souls to the great beyond.

“I feel saddened and devastated by the report of his death as well as that of many innocent souls that have been slain in insurgent attacks over the years. No doubt, the incessant cases of explosions and killings of recent require divine intervention and I pray to God Almighty to intervene touch the hearts of

Suleiman Bisalla: 1968 - 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

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Our ordeal in Bisalla, buried amid tears hospital, by brother the perpetrators of such evils.

Former Information Minister, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, said in a statement: “May God, while granting him a peaceful repose, also grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Suleiman left his footprints on the sands of time. We will surely miss him.”

Zonal Secretary, Zone ‘D’ Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Wilson Bako, expressed shock over the death.

Bako said the death came to him as a rude shock, saying that the union has lost another hardworking journalist whose experienced would be greatly missed.

The immediate past secretary of NUJ, Nasarawa State, Mallam Abdullahi Shuaibu, described Bisalla as “a hardworking and experienced journalist.”

He prayed God to grant him eternal rest.

Commander of MOPOL 20, Bode Ojajuni, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said: “May the Almighty God console family members of Bisalla and his colleagues in New Telegraph”.

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, also condoled with the media community over the death, even as he appealed to the political class not to overheat the polity.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Gabriel Akinadewo, signing the condolence register in Lagos…yesterday

Saturday Editor, Mr. Laurence Ani, signing the condolence register

Anule Emmanuel

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Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Frank Mba...yesterday

Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Felix Abugu, signing the condolence register

Some professional colleagues of Bisalla in Abuja

Members of staff of New Telegraph observing a minute silence for the deceased in Lagos...yesterday.

lder brother to the late Suleiman Bisalla, Alhaji Mohammed Bisalla, yesterday lamented that “the current process of retrieving corpses of loved ones who die as a result of disasters in the country is frustrating and unnecessary”.

Speaking shortly after the burial at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja, Mohammed explained that many people were having difficulties getting the bodies of their loved ones from hospitals for burial.

Mohammed explained that the process was too cumbersome and frustrating to relations, particularly Muslims.

“We had thought he would be released immediately. In fact, when we got to the hospital, we were thinking they will release the corpse to us immediately so that we will bury him according to Islamic injunction,” he noted.

He explained that the process which involved appendages of several signatories would not allow Muslims to bury their loved ones according to Islamic rites.

“But unfortunately, they told us that we had to go to the police station to obtain a police report and bring it to the hospital before they will release the corpse. But, on reaching the police station, it was entirely a different thing altogether.

The process is so long.

“We waited there, they came to the mortuary to snap his corpse, printed his picture, they filled a form and attached it and took it to the Magistrate Court for stamping and then brought it back to the hospital.

“On finishing that one, we were thinking that was all but they then said the corpse belonged to the Federal Government. That we must go to police command again, report to them and obtain a clearance before taking him.

“We were lucky that one of our colleagues know Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer. So, he really did a very good thing for us, he assisted us. I joined him in his car and we drove to the Police Command and we requested that the body should be released to us. We met the Deputy Commissioner of Police there, he gave us approval and we went to the CID and they were doing a lot of things which are not necessary.

“Presently, there are three corpses in the mortuary. I don’t know if those people know any big people that they can talk to, to go through this process that we had gone through. Certainly, they will not release the corpse to them today. So, we are appealing to the authorities in charge to make things easy for people, especially Muslims, that whenever something like this happens, we don’t like to leave corpse for days in the mortuary before we bury.”

He said the vacuum created by his younger brother would be difficult to fill.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Senate, Reps, Govs, JNI, CAN condemn bomb attack Chukwu David, Philip Nyam, Ibraheem Musa and Tony Okuyeme

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utrage yesterday trailed Wednesday’s bombing of Emab Plaza in Abuja which claimed 21 lives.

The Senate decried the bombing and called on government to increase surveillance across the country to curtail the activities of insurgents.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, said it was important for surveillance to be beefed up and urged security agencies to be more alert.

He said: “We condemn in very strong terms the sustained attacks on Nigeria by the insurgents in various parts of the country. Of course, it is completely unacceptable, so I will like to urge the government to increase their surveillance all over the place.

“And for the security agencies, we want to thank

them for the good works they have been doing, but we believe that more could be done to secure this country. As a parliament, we are ready to work with the security agencies and the government to ensure that whatever needs to be done to end this insurgents will be done.

“So, on behalf of the Senate, once more, I condole with the families of those who lost their dear ones yesterday and similar bombing last few weeks.”

Ekweremadu, who enjoined Nigerians to stand firm and united in the fight against terrorism and insurgency said: “The

sole motives of the terrorists were to break the spirit of Nigerians and instil fear through acts of mass murder and destruction of property.

“This is another sadistic act to annihilate Nigerians, spurn our religious and cultural values as well as all that we hold sacred as a people.”

Senate President David Mark also condemned the bombing and pleaded with the perpetrators to sheathe their swords Mark spoke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh.

“Honestly, this is not

our way of life. We are a people who value life. We cherish one another. This new trend of mass murder is alien to us. We must stand up against this and make Nigeria safe and better again.

“Certainly, resorting to killing, violence or destruction of property is not one of them,” Mark said.

Also, the House of Representatives condemned the Wednesday blasts in Abuja and the one in Mubi, Adamawa State in which 165 and 22 lives were lost respectively.

It equally condemned the terror attacks on sev-

eral villages in Kaduna in the last few days.

The House also resolved to look into the possibility of a Terror Victims Compensation Fund for victims of terrorism in the country.

This, it said, was to ensure that those who lost much to the menace of terrorism were given a helping hand as they tried to rebuild their lives.

It also resolved to take steps to review the preparedness of the security services in the country.

This, it said, would be in terms of intelligence gathering and operational CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

28oC 24oC Storms

ABUJA

29oC 22oC Storms

PORT HARCOURT

27oC 22oC Storms

KANO

37o C 25oC Thunder Storms

ENUGU

30o C 23oC Thunder Storms

IBADAN

31o C 23oC Thunder Storms

CALABAR

29oC 23oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 28oC Partially Cloudy

30oC 23oC Storms

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FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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

NEWS

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency searching for body parts at the scene...yesterday.

SSS: We got wind of attack two weeks ago ...Arrests sponsor of 486 ‘travellers’ lSoldiers insist on ID card at checkpoints

Emmanuel Onani and Kenneth Tyohemba

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he Department of State Service (DSS) yesterday disclosed that it received security report of impending attacks on shopping malls and business concerns, two weeks before Wednesday’s bomb attack on the ever-busy Emab Plaza in Abuja.

Twenty-one people, including the Managing Editor of New Telegraph, Mr. Suleiman Bisalla, died in the June 25 blast, which left 17 others injured. Fifteen vehicles were also confirmed damaged.

Addressing journalists at the scene of the deadly attack, the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, revealed that the

secret service got wind of the planned attack, which prompted operatives to move from one shopping mall to the other, to try to forestall it.

Ogar further stated that as a proactive measure to nip many attack in the bud, a surveillance team patrolled malls, including Emab plaza, which the team left about four hours before the attack.

Her words: “We had intelligence about two weeks ago, that a market or busy shopping plaza will be attacked in Abuja.

“Our surveillance van goes around markets and busy plazas on daily basis.

They were here till about 11p.m. on Wednesday observing and when they noticed that the security people on duty were actually enforcing our direc-

tives, they had to retreat,” she said.

Ogar stressed that the pro-active measures taken by the security assisted in preventing high casualty figure at the plaza.

“As you all know that when the man came, he tried to penetrate the main entrance but was refused. As it was typical of them (the terrorists) they would want to beat traffic or beat security to come in through the other entrance.

“In a forceful bid to enter the plaza, the explosion occurred,” she said.

She disclosed that among the injured at the incidence were two Turkish nationals.

The DSS also said that the suspect, who “packaged” the ill-fated trip by 486 “travellers” to Port-

Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was arrested by security operatives in Bauchi State.

The suspect, she added, is being “taken straight” to Port Harcourt, perhaps for further investigation.

She encouraged “Nigerians to continue to give us information that will help us stop these people.”

Also speaking, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), charged operators of shopping malls, business and cinema owners, to install Close Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) in their business places.

Mba said it was the level of access control in the Emab Plaza that minimised the situation, noting CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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

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NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Sambo visits blast scene as Jonathan cuts short trip Anule Emmanuel

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ice-President Namadi Sambo has described Wednesday’s bombing in Abuja as cowardly and an unjust act that must be jointly

defeated by all Nigerians.

The Vice President stated this yesterday when he paid a visit to the scene of the blast which killed 21 people with several others injured.

Speaking at the scene, the Vice-President ad-

UN, US, France decry Abuja bomb explosion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

capacity to confront terror in the country.

The lower chamber further resolved to constitute a delegation to pay condolence visits to victims of the blast in the hospitals.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Chris Azubogu (APGAAnambra), which was unanimously adopted without debate by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

The motion is entitled: “Bomb attacks on Wuse District on June 25”.

Jamaátu Nasril Islam (JNI) described the spate of bomb blasts in northern Nigeria as alarming and worrisome, just as it condemned the attacks.

JNI said the attacks were “barbaric acts that tend to reduce humanity to a renegade level, which is unbecoming of the perpetrators of these heinous acts.”

In a statement signed

by Dr Khalid Abubakar, JNI’s Secretary General, the religious body commended security agents for the swift arrest of suspects in Kano and Abuja blasts.

The group however advised security operatives to be proactive through gathering of relevant information by the use of modern equipment and gadgets.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also described the attack as inhuman.

Pastor Simon Dolly, National President, Youth Wing of CAN, called on youths to embrace peace and shun activities capable of causing havoc in the society.

“It is when there is peace that there will be meaningful development in the country. We must continue to support our government, and create the enabling environment for government to operate,” he said.

The South East Governors’ Forum condemned the bomb blasts, describing them as wicked and devilish.

While sympathising with the families of those that lost their loved ones, the forum called on Nigerians not to be deterred in the face of terror.

“We were shocked

by Wednesday’s bomb blasts that rocked the Emab Plaza in Wuse 2 Area of Abuja which left many innocent Nigerians dead and others injured.

We sympathise with the families of those that lost their loved ones and wish those injured (and) receiving treatment at different hospitals quick recovery.

“We condemn this latest bomb blasts carried out by insurgents which left over 21 people dead.

This act is wicked and devilish,” the governors said.

The united State (US) also described the attacks as heartless.

The U.S Embassy in a statement made available to New Telegraph said: “The U.S Embassy strongly condemns the bomb blast in Wuse II, Abuja. These heartless and violent attacks on innocent Nigerians are inexcusable and clearly bespeak the criminality of those behind these attacks in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and call on all Nigerians regardless of region or religion to join in and support efforts to put an end to this evil against humanity.

“The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Nigeria in their struggle against violent extremism and to helping the Government of Nigeria as it works to counter these threats to citizens and its national unity.”

While condemning the blast, France extended “our condolences to the families and assure the Nigerian authorities and people of our solidarity.

“At this difficult time, France reaffirms its support for Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.”

UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, has condemned Wednesday’s bomb attack.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric, told newsmen during a briefing in New York that Ban Ki-Moon was appalled by the news of the attack.

He said the UN scribe also condoled with the families of those affected.

vised Nigerians to be more security-conscious and cooperate with security agencies and the present administration to end the insurgency.

“This cowardly, unjust act will be defeated. Evil can never be sustained.

Insha Allah, this administration and Mr. President is not going to leave any stone unturned until we defeat these terrorists,” Sambo said.

He added that: “Terrorism cannot survive in Nigeria or in any part of this country. We are doing everything; we are putting everything in place to ensure that within the shortest possible time, this will become a matter of the past. I want to assure all Nigerians that the government is doing everything to ensure safety of lives and property

of all Nigerians and our visitors. I want to seize this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to be very vigilant and observant in reporting any suspicious act that they see.

“I want also to urge us to go back to our normal duties, our normal services and to cooperate with the administration so that we will all jointly succeed in solving this problem.”

The Vice President, who was accompanied by the service chiefs, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed; Ms Jumoke Akinjide, minister of state for FCT and other top government functionaries, assured Nigerians that the present administration would continue to do its

best to ensure that peace returned to all troubled parts of the country.

He urged residents of Abuja who are already scared because of the development to go about their normal activities without fear.

After inspecting the scene of the blast, the Vice-President proceeded to the Maitama General Hospital where he commiserated with some of those injured in the blast.

At the time Sambo visited the Maitama Hospital, family members of victims both the injured and the dead had converged to either recover corpses or attend to their loved ones.

Among them were professional colleagues of the Managing Editor, North, of the New Telegraph, Alhaji Suleiman Bisalla, who died in the blast.

They were trying to retrieve his corpse for burial according to Islamic rites in Abuja.

Sambo later returned to the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he met briefly behind closed-doors with Muhammed, Akinjide; Minister of Interior, Aba Moro and the Minister of State, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

President Goodluck Jonathan also cut short his trip to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea where he attended the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The bomb explosion occurred few hours after the President departed Abuja.

Reports indicate that the President, on hearing of the incident, cut short his trip and was back in the country as at the time of filing in this report.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo with some of the injured at the hospital

SSS: We got wind of attack two weeks ago CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

that the terrorists did not find it easy to enter the complex.

“We want to encourage Nigerians, particularly managers of busy business malls, cinema houses and other big corporate entities that record a lot of visitors to help us by instituting a strong and strict access control regime.

“A strong, efficient and effective control, enough to serve as a deterrent to would-be suicide bombers.

“Secondly, we want to encourage citizens, especially owners and managers of business malls, to go a step further by installing CCTV cameras in their places of business.

“If we have cameras in places like this shopping mall, it will be of strong investigative value to security forces, as we commence investigations into the inci-

dents,” he said, even as he called on government to strengthen “micro-finance system”, as this will help small business owners to access loans to expand their businesses.

Mba also underscored the need for hawkers to be kept away from places like shopping malls and other big business places.

Meanwhile, soldiers yesterday restricted the movement of people into Abuja by insisting that people on bike and those trekking must identify themselves before being allowed entry.

This was even as stopand-search of vehicles was intensified causing hours of gridlock on the roads.

The security check saw people without identity card stranded on the Keffi- Abuja road, close to Àbacha Barrack where the search was conducted.

They were made to turn back.

Spokesman of the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Tayo Hasstrup, yesterday confirmed the death of one of the victims of the Emab Plaza bombing.

Hasstrup told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the victim, a male, died on Wednesday night from severe burns he sustained in the explosion.

“We had eight who were receiving treatment, and two of them were in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” he said.

This brings the number of deaths from the bombing to 22.

Family members of some of the victims were seen in the hospital yesterday enquiring after their loved ones.

Some of the victims who were taken to Garki

Hospital, Abuja, are said to be in stable conditions.

Dr. Joel Danjuma, Consultant, Accident and Emergency Unit, told NAN that the hospital was able to treat and discharge some of the victims at the emergency ward on Wednesday.

According to him, “Five of the victims were attended to as soon they arrived.

Four victims with different types of injuries were discharged immediately after they received emergency treatment. One is still in the ICU and is being monitored.

“The one at the intensive unit is very serious as both of her legs were cut off; she has burns all over her body, including her upper limbs.”

Danjuma said that the hospital treated the patients without collecting any fees as directed by the Federal Government.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Senate in rowdy session over Ekiti poll lFayemi’s concession of defeat, a propaganda stunt – Fayose

Chukwu David Abuja

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he Senate was thrown into confusion for several minutes yesterday as senators engaged in altercations over the credibility of June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

This is as the Governorelect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, said that the concession of defeat by the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was a propaganda stunt aimed at eliciting public sympathy.

At the Senate, the timely intervention of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary yesterday saved the day preventing exchange of blows over the polls.

Trouble started when the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba, while relying on Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, commended the electoral umpire for conducting what he described as the most credible election in the country.

Uba, who represents Anambra South Senatorial District and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had said that the conduct of the Ekiti governorship election by the INEC was a departure from previous exercises in the country that were marred by irregularities.

He also commended the people and the gov-

ernment of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election that led to the defeat of the incumbent governor, Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Ayo Fayose of the PDP. He further commended the security agencies for ensuring adequate security during and after the election, and urged all the stakeholders that contributed to the success of the polls to carry on with the same spirit in subsequent elections.

This accolade, however, did not go down well with Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the APC. Ojudu, while also relying on the same Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, alleged that Uba’s younger brother, Chris Uba, had led the police to cause havoc during the exercise in the state.

Ojudu said: “My colleague (Andy Uba) had already read Order 43, I don’t need to repeat it. I will like to commend the governor-elect of Ekiti State and my governor for accepting the result of the election.

“But I want to say here Mr. President, that my colleague who stood here to talk, his younger brother, Chris Uba, led police to the hotel and smashed all the doors of the hotel.”

He was however, interrupted by the PDP senators, who shouted at him to sit down.

Senators Philip Aduda, representing the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT), and Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West all of the PDP were among the senators that moved against Ojudu.

Intervening to calm the situation, the Deputy President of the Senate, who ordered Ojudu to read the Order 43, reminded him that the said order prohibits discussing any controversial issue in the Chamber.

Ekweremadu commended INEC for what he described as “job well done” and implored the commission to do better in the forthcoming 2015 general election. He also ruled Ojudu out of order.

Fayose told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

that although Fayemi at the weekend conceded publicly and congratulated him, the governor had not picked calls from him since then.

“The governor said ‘I am conceding to defeat’.

Let me be realistic with you, there is a difference between propaganda and reality. I have been calling the governor since after our meeting, but he hasn’t picked the call.

“If you read all papers now, he said I will create local governments before I go; how do you reconcile these things? I am not a propagandist, I am a realist. The governor says he will do employment before he leaves that means you want to create

problem for the incoming government.

“So I see that concession, as good as it may be, we must all be realistic about it, we must not deceive the Nigerian populace. Their party said ‘we are still studying the ink used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); it is the governor that conceded not our party’,” he said.

Fayose recalled that in 2003, his predecessor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, also conceded defeat but went ahead to conduct a mass recruitment though he had only six months remaining in his tenure.

“I respect the governor; he is our leader, up until October 15, he remains

our leader but I want to appeal to APC not to play propaganda with sensitive issues like this.

“If the governor says I am not going, his party too must make pronouncements, otherwise I do not mind them going to court.

The court will ask you: “It is usually the incumbent that rigs, why would somebody who is not an incumbent now rig and defeat you in your ward?’”

He said that none of the APC Senators or House of Representative members, including former governor, Mr. Segun Oni, won in their polling booths.

Fayose, however, commended the incumbent governor for the bold step taken in conceding defeat, though it was meant to induce public sympathy.

L-R: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; newly sworn in Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Saliu Muhammed and new Khadi, Abdulrahim Ibrahim, after their swearing-in at Government House, Ilorin...yesterday

Reps summon CBN governor over new policy on BDC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

geria from N10 million to N35 million.

He disclosed that the mandatory cautionary deposit was equally reviewed from N3 million to N35 million which shall be deposited in a non-interest yielding account in the CBN while licensing fee was jacked up from N500,000 to N1 million, adding that the annual renewal fee was equally increased from N10,000 to N25,000 while the application fee of N100,000 remained unchanged.

He submitted that the BDCs have provided millions of Nigerians job opportunities but expressed concern that the new policy would send many BDC operators out of business.

The lawmaker argued that the increment was “outrageous against the backdrop that the CBN will also reduce the

amount of dollars being issued to BDCs from $50,000 to $15,000 per week.”

Supporting the motion, Hassan Saleh (PDP, Benue) submitted that the new CBN management was insensitive to its responsibility as the country’s apex bank, which should help in reducing unemployment in Nigeria.

Also supporting the motion, Uche Ekwunife (APGA, Anambra), said considering the high level of unemployment in the country, the CBN should have been systematic in its approach, insisting that the timing was wrong.

Asita Honourable (APC, Rivers), in his contribution, said: “The policy is not only super-elitist, it is intended to create more unemployment in a section of the country. It’s discriminatory. In fact, it’ll increase Boko Haram killings.”

Opposing the motion,

Linus Okorie, argued that the policy would bring more efficiency in the management of BDCs, saying it is within the powers of the CBN to take such decisions.

Both Nadu Karibo (PDP, Bayelsa) and Friday Itula (PDP, Edo) also spoke against the motion.

However, when Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who presided over the session put the motion to vote, the “ayes” were in the majority.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday said it would hear the committal application filed against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on October 6.

Some CBN pensioners have commenced action against the apex bank over alleged disobedience of the court’s judgement.

The plaintiffs are: Mr. James Jemilo, Mr. Thompson Edun, Mr. Jacob

Amao, and Mr. Joachim Ajala.

Listed as contemnors are the CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Director, Human Resources, Ms Chizoba Mojekwu and Director of Legal Services, Mr. Simon Onekutu.

The contempt action which was initiated in November 2013 before Justice Saliu Saidu is as a result of the alleged refusal by CBN to heed the court’s judgement, with regard to paying the pensioners their entitlements.

The plaintiffs had filed both Form 48 (Notice of consequence of disobedience to court order) and Form 49 (Notice to show cause why order of attachment and committal should not be made).

At yesterday’s proceedings, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Tani Molajo (SAN), drew the court’s attention to a notice of preliminary

objection to the suit, filed by the defence.

He also observed that the alleged contemnors were absent in court, adding that contempt was a quasi-criminal proceeding, which required their presence, irrespective of status.

Citing the provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, Molajo stressed that if a party summoned as judgement debtor shall not appear in court and not excuse his absence, then the court in relation to judgement summons, can order the arrest of such judgement debtor.

He therefore urged the court to either make an order for arrest, or at the least, make an order compelling their appearance, adding that this was the reducable minimum for any court to do.

Molajo further said that such order of court was in a bid to preserve its

dignity and protect it from wanton disregard.

In response, defence counsel, Mr. Tunde Olojo, craved the indulgence of the court on the absence of his clients, on the grounds that they were attending a board meeting.

He exhibited a sworn affidavit to that effect, reminding the court that it had at the last adjourned date on April 14, fixed the case for mention today.

Olojo maintained that since the matter was up for mention, the court was not bound to hear any issues arising therefrom, but to give a further date for hearing of their objection as already highlighted by the learned silk.

He was obliged by the court.

Following the consent of both plaintiff and defence counsel, Justice Saidu, adjourned the suit to October 6 for hearing of all pending applications.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Court restrains House from removing Nyako, deputy Ibrahim Abdul Yola

High Court headed AingYola by the Adamawa ActChief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, yesterday granted two separate interim injunctions restraining the state House of Assembly from taking any action on allegations of gross misconduct against the state governor, Murtala Nyako.

The injunctions were granted in respect of the suits filed by Nyako against Adamawa Assembly and another one filed by the All Progressives Party (APC) against three of the state lawmakers, who defected from APC to the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) challenging their eligibility to partake in the activities of the house.

Counsel to the governor and APC, Mr. Jerry

Owe, requested in his motions, among others, an order of interim injunction restraining the house or its agents from taking any further action towards impeaching or removing the governor from office pending the determination of the motion on notice as contained in the affidavit.

Granting the respective motions, Justice Mammadi said he was convinced after hearing the counsel and reading the motion with the accompanying affidavits.

Mammadi said the interim injunctions shall last from today to July 2.

It would be recalled that the Adamawa Assembly had on June 18 directed its Clerk, Mr. Francis Gbansenso, to serve Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari with notice of allegations of gross misconduct.

Oil theft: Nigeria, Cameroun fight sea piracy Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

igeria and the Republic Nfinalize of Cameroon may soon a collaborative

pact to combat piracy , oil theft and related cross border crimes. That is just as the Nigerian Navy said yesterday that it has recorded a drop in Nigeria's oil theft.

According to The Navy,plans are on the way to form a synergy with Cameroon to tackle the activities of sea pirates in the Nigerian waterways , hinting that illegal oil bunkering, particularly in the Niger Delta re-

gion, has been drastically reduced in the last five months.

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, stated this during his visit to Naval formations in Rivers State, while addressing his men at the NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt. He pointed out that the spate of sea piracy in Nigerian waterways was caused by the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

According to him, “There was disaffection from the affected people, which had given rise to sea piracy.”

2015: Militants want Jonathan to declare Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN of ex-militants Htheundreds of Ijaw extraction in South-South geo polit-

ical zone yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential election or risk the being banished from the Ijaw nation.

The Ijaw ethnic nationalities under the umbrella of ex-militants, Phase Three leaders of Federal Government’s

Amnesty Programme, issued the ultimatum as part of their resolutions at the end of their meeting held in Benin, Edo State.

The resolution which was signed by chairman of the body, Godstime Ogidigba and speaker, Peter Edah respectively urged Nigerians to collaborate with the present administration’s transformation agenda aimed at repositioning the country.

Mass burial for Kaduna victims Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

of the recent Vinictims attacks on villages Sanga Local Govern-

ment of Kaduna State, where several people were killed by unknown gun men on Tuesday

were given mass burial yesterday.

According to a source, the mortuary at the Gwantu General Hospital was filled to the brim and some corpses started decomposing, so the families decided to bury their dead ones.

L-R: Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke; Governor Willie Obiano; his wife, Ebelechukwu, member representing Awka North and South, state House of Assembly, Hon. Rebecca Udorji and wife of the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Chinelo Orizu, during the launch of Women Development Centre Guest House in Awka …yesterday

Ekiti election: APC heads to court Yekeen Nurudeen

l Party plans to foment trouble, says PDP

T

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who read the party's communiqué at the end of the inaugural meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) said that processes leading to the election was against the party.

According to Moham-

Abuja

he All Progressives Congress ( APC) yesterday declared that the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti State was badly skewed in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has resolved to challenge the result in court.

Unemployment: We need 1.8m jobs yearly, says Aganga Muritala Ayinla he Minister of IndusTment, try, Trade and InvestMr. Olusegun

Aganga yesterday said the country needs to create at least 1.8 million jobs annually to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

This was even as Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State identified lack of power supply as the major component contributing to unemployment.

The duo spoke in Lagos at the formal commissioning of the Digital Reality Complex in Yaba Local Government.

According to Aganga, “We need to create a minimum of 1.8 million jobs annually. To keep the unemployment level at 33 per cent,” adding that anyone establishing companies in the country is assisting the central government to provide the needed platform to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.”

President seeks N1.5trn for police reforms Chukwu David Abuja

orried by the state W of insecurity in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, wrote the Senate, seeking approval to fund the Nigeria Police Force Reform Programme, estimated to cost N1.5trl.

The president’s letter was addressed to the President of the Senate,

Senator David Mark, and read on the floor of the Senate by Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session.

The President said that if approved, the programme, based on the MD Yusuf's report, which was submitted since 2008, would be implemented within a period of six years.

med, "in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarization of the process, the harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, my party has decided to challenge in court some of these constitutional breaches".

He added that the party, "will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their constitutionallyguaranteed fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies".

Speaking further, he said, "Our decision to act is not only to ensure that these irresponsible and unconstitutional acts are not repeated in subsequent elections, especially that in Osun in August and next year's general elections, but also because we have always said that evil thrives when good men do nothing!".

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has descended heavily on the National leadership of the APC for not accepting the processes and outcome of the last Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election which was roundly and overtly won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh said the position of the APC national leadership over an election widely accepted as one of the freest, fairest and most credible elections in Nigeria, and in which their

candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi had also conceded defeat, demonstrates their ‘preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order”.

He said, "the APC has once again confirmed that it is nothing but a chaotic organisation, totally averse to democracy and orderliness. It has shown that it is a party of desperate, frustrated and violent individuals promoting a Janjaweed ideology.

“This is a party that is fully aware that it was trounced in all the local governments of the state and even lost in the polling units and wards of its campaign Director-General and that of its Deputy National Chairman, yet it is bent at fomenting trouble to disrupt the peace in Ekiti state apparently out of frustration that it did not get the chance to rig the polls.

“We restate our commendations to security agencies for the roles they played in maintaining law and order and providing level playing ground for all parties before, during and after the election.

“However, we wish to alert of an orchestrated plot by the APC to now use the instruments of wild allegations and spurious claims to set the stage to unleash mayhem on Ekiti State using imported armed thugs. We therefore urge Nigerians to note this and hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State,” the party said.

House wants NAFDAC building named after Akunyili Philip Nyam Abuja

House of RepresenTonhetatives yesterday called the Federal Government to immortalize the former Director General

of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later Minister of Information, Prof.

Dora Akunyili by naming the NAFDAC Headquar-

ters after her.

The call was consequent upon a motion on urgent public importance moved by Hon. Uche Lilian Ekwunife (APGA,Anambra), call-

ing members’ attention to the need to honour the late Minister for the selfless services she rendered to her fatherland, even until the point of her death

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

LAW

The Okwu faction of APGA is in no hurry to give up the man's ambitions Tony Okafor Awka

D

espite last week’s judgement by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, reaffirming Chief Victor Umeh as the authentic national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a faction of the party in Anambra State has vowed not to recog-

Okwu remains our national chairman, says APGA faction nise him as such.

The group yesterday vowed to drag Umeh and the National Working Committee, which was reinstated by the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court to further prosecute the matter.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, signed by some members of the faction led by one Shedrack Anakwue, which

was made available to newsmen, the faction said they believed that the Supreme Court would do better justice to their cause.

The statement reads in part: “This is to inform the faithful members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) loyal to Chief Maxi Okwu that last week’s Appeal Court judgement that

sought to upturn the wish of the people is only a temporary setback, because the truth must surely prevail at the end.

“Chief Maxi Okwu and his team of lawyers are working on the judgement based on our party’s constitution, so at the end of the day, we believe that the Supreme Court would do justice to the matter appropriate-

ly,” while they requested stay of execution at the same the Appeal Court judgement subsists.

According to the faction members "we believe in the rule of law and we believe that the Supreme Court will see the lies beneath the actions of some of the so-called APGA major stakeholders.

“We also wish to encourage our members who are interested in contesting for any elective position in the 2015 general elections to start making themselves rele-

9

vant to the electorate, because votes must surely count this time around.

“The proposed rebranded APGA under the leadership of Chief Maxi Okwu, believes in one man, one vote, which is the true spirit of democracy.

The statement added, "once again, we want to assure you that the issue of APGA leadership would be pursued to a logical judicial conclusion.

“We thank you for your support and co-operation in the struggle to liberate the soul of our great party, APGA, from the shackles of impunity and recklessness. We value your support, so keep the flame burning brighter with assured hope.”

Bishop, group counsel Obiano on good governance Uwakwe Abugu Awka

Catholic Bishop of TRev.he Awka Diocese, Most (Dr.) Paulinus Ezeo-

L-R: Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Bank (NAMB), Adamawa State, Nelson G. Ndonya; Chairman, Light Microfinance Bank, Bernard B. Poyi and Director, Garu Microfinace Bank, Bauchi State, AlhajiSanusi Maijama'a; during the 4th NAMB's Annual General Meeting, at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos.

$US2.7bn

The overall company’s profit of Boeing in arms sales in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

390,580

The total area (in sq. km) of Zimbabwe.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

2.2%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Cote d’Ivoire in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

Ahmed warns troublemakers to steer clear of Kwara Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

K

wara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, yesterday warned troublemakers to steer clear of the state, saying his administration will spare nothing to ensure that anyone caught fomenting trouble will face the full wrath of the law.

Ahmed, who gave the warning in Ilorin during the swearing-in of Justice Salihu Olohuntoyin Muhammed and Justice Abduraheem Akangbe Ibrahim, as the Grand Kadi and Kadi of the

Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal respectively, also tasked the electorate to guard their votes jealousy during next year’s elections.

The governor said his admonition and warning stemmed from the commitment of his government to justice, fairness and equity, which he noted are the major issues with the Nigerian nation.

He said: “Let me stress that our government believes that justice is fundamental to peace and tranquility in any human society. It also substantially affects the growth

and development of any human community.

“The challenges that confront our country at this time are acute and pervasive. I have often stated that the real solutions to what ails our country are equity, justice, and adherence to rule of law. Once we adopt, imbibe, and strictly implement these time-tested values, most of the problems confronting our country will be overcome.

“I therefore wish to emphasise this administration’s commitment to the rule of law, which is fundamental to the

attainment of the development objectives. As a result, no effort will be spared in the on-going justice sector reform, which, I am pleased to note, are already yielding the desired results.

“In the same vein, I warn all troublemakers and those planning to use violence as a political tool to look elsewhere. Our state has no place for those who seek to cause trouble in our neighbourhoods. In line with our established stand, we will spare no effort to ensure that troublemakers face the full wrath of the law.

Adamu decries insurgency, urges national unity Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he senator representTsenatorial ing Nasarawa West district in the

National Assembly, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, has called on Nigerians home and abroad, to unite against the insecurity

bedeviling the nation.

Adamu said though the security of lives and property of the citizens is the statutory responsibility of government, the current insecurity demands the collective collaboration all citizens to check the unfortunate situation.

He stated this in an interview with newsmen in Shabu, Lafia, shortly after a sympathy visit to victims of the Tabara crisis.

Adamu said he was at the temporary camp at Shabu to identify spiritually with the victims and to support them.

The Senator, who canvassed for support for the victims, noted that the two holy books, the Bible and the Quran, preach love for neighbours, especially in times of need, calling on public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the victims.

kafor, and a socio-political group, the Igboezue Unity Association, have counseled Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, on ways of achieving the set targets of his government.

They said the advice came against the backdrop of the many booby traps known to have been strewn on the pathway of his predecessors.

They also commended the governor on steps he has taken to build a new Anambra State, especially his unrelenting efforts at ridding the state of the menace of criminals, who have in the past few years made life nightmarish for the residents.

Specifically, the National Chairman of the association, Elder Pius Okoye, said the group was particularly “impressed by not just the pronouncements of the governor on the eagerness of his government to fight criminals and leave no hiding place for them, but also taking practical steps to actualise his pronouncements.”

In an interview with New Telegraph in Awka, during the grand finale of the activities marking Obiano’s first 100 days in office, the Igboezue boss called on Anambra people to rally support for the governor’s programmes, saying that at their face value and by the moves taken by the governor to realise his programmes, that the days of lamentation may be over for the people.

Oko Poly, German firm sign MoU Tony Okafor Awka

he Federal PolytechTNorth nic, Oko, in Orumba Local Govern-

ment of Anambra State, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a German firm to boost the teaching and learning of science-based courses in the institution.

The Rector of the institution, Godwin Onu, and a representative of the German firm, KlausDieter, signed on behalf of their organisations.

Under the arrangement, the German firm would supply and provide science equipment for the training of middle level manpower.

According to Onu; “It all started after my visit to the company and today, six months after the agreement was signed between us to improve the standard of learn-

ing in the school it has happened.”

He said both of them had expressed the desire to collaborate to upgrade the existing level of infrastructure and equipment in the institution by means of supply, installation and handling of standard and contemporary science equipment.

Onu added that the project came as a result of his desire to transform the institution to a well-equipped vocational learning centre for subsequent upgrading into a university of science and technology in the nearest future.

He said: “I was motivated to pursue this goal because of what I saw overseas in one of my visits and I felt like replicating it in one Nigerian institution of learning.

My desire for the development of the institution has just begun.’’

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

FRIday, JUNE 27, 2014

Four ex-soldiers re-arraigned for sex workers’ rape dismissed soldiers, Nse Eywdip (33), Fandour Ugwu Mathew (23), Emezien Uzonna (24) Efosa Ikhomoregbe (23), were re-arraigned yesterday at an FCT High Court, Abuja, for allegedly raping four sex workers.

The accused were re-arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy, rape, assault and armed robbery.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Adama Musa, told the court that the former soldiers committed the offences between December 21 and 23, 2012 about 9pm at River Plate Garden in Wuse 2, Abuja.

Musa said the accused, armed with military rifles and horsewhips, robbed one Tina Obassy of N40,000, Jennifer Joseph of N30,000, Precious Okorie (N18,000) and Ruth Madu (N30,000).

The offences contravene and are punishable under sections 97(1) and 298 of the Penal Code, the prosecution said.

However, the accused each pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Their counsel, Mr Ugboma Nebechi, filed an application for bail for the accused but Justice Bukola Banjoko did not grant the application and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

Banjoko, thereafter, ordered that the four men be remanded in the Kuje Medium Prison and adjourned the case till July 20 for continuation of hearing.

The four soldiers, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were initially arraigned on June 7, 2013, before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi but the case was reassigned after the elevation of the judge to the Court of Appeal.

Consequently, the case started afresh before Banjoko.

Nigerians must unite against insecurity, senator urges Cheke Emmanuel Lafia

lawmaker representing Nasarawa West Tbly,heSenatorial District at the National AssemSenator Abdulahi Adamu, has called on Nigerians home and abroad to unite against insecurity bedevilling the country.

Adamu said that though the provision of security of lives and property of the citizens was the statutory responsibility of government, the current insecurity demanded cooperation of all citizens.

The legislator said this in an interview with journalists in Shabu in Lafia, the state capital, shortly after a sympathy visit to victims of Tabara State crisis.

Adamu said that he was at the temporary camp at Shabu as a citizen of the state to identify with the victims.

The senator, who canvassed for support for the victims, noted that the Bible and Quran preach love for neighbours, especially in terms of need.

He called on public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the victims.

Adamu, who did not make his donation public during the visit, expressed satisfaction with the way the state government was taking care of the displaced persons at the temporary camp.

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

0802 393 8212

Man arrested with human skull, guns, ammunition Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

P

olice in Rivers State have arrested a 41-year-old man, identified as Onwuzurike Nwaokagu, for being in possession of a human skull.

Nwaokagu, a native of Igwuruta on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, was apprehended by men of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS).

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, who briefed journalists yesterday on the upsurge in criminal activities in the state, said efforts of his command to combat it had started yielding fruits.

Ogunsakin said that the police also recovered two locally made pistols and live ammunition from the house of the 41-year-old suspect.

He said that subsequent investigation showed that the skull belonged to a lady who was murdered by the suspect and his gang.

The commissioner added that the suspect also owned up to using the skull as a medium to get rich, as he claimed that the skull speaks with him and provides him with N10, N20 and N30 notes, after a special sacrifice.

Nwaokagu with items recovered from him

According to the police chief, Nwaokagu on interrogation, confessed to belong to the brutal cult group known as “Dey well.”

Ogunsakin also said that the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, based on an intelligence report, rounded up a gang of kidnappers led by one Eze Onyebuchi, a dismissed police officer.

Ezeonyebuchi, who according to the police, was dismissed from the force in Anambra State Police Command for conspiracy to kidnap one Mr Nwaokafor, who he was assigned to as an escort.

Ogunsakin also paraded a four-man kidnap gang, including Ndubuisi Udensi and David Joseph, who in December last year, kidnapped the manager of a filling station on Omagwa-Isiokpo Road.

He added that the kidnappers collected N1.2 million ransom.

The commissioner said that the modus operandi of the gang included sending threat messages with dreadful photos and live ammunition attached to them and subsequently make death threat to its victims.

Ogunsakin added that the police then went on their trail and arrested them when they tried to kidnap another filling station owner.

Bullion van snatching: Robbers overwhelmed us, say police Dominic Adewole Asaba

T

hree days after daredevil armed robbers snatched a bullion van, police in Delta State yesterday said they had recovered the empty.

The police also recovered two Hilux pick up vans with registration number FR 985 LSR and PF 1628 SPY, 343 expanded AK47 ammunition and two magazines with 60 rounds of AK47 live ammunition.

The robbers, numbering over 15, had three days ago laid ambush on BeninAsaba Expressway by Edo/OgwashiUku at Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area and snatched the van carrying an undisclosed amount of money.

The bullion van was on cash transit from one of the new generation banks in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Asaba, the state capital.

The state Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said in a statement issued in Asaba yesterday that though the command mobilised patrol teams to the scene, the robbers still gained the upper hand.

She said: “They (policemen) successfully rescued the bank escort team.

They squarely engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel but were unfortunately overwhelmed by the hoodlums’

superior fire power and their staggering numbers.”

According to her, the two escort vehicles attached to the bullion van were badly riddled with bullets, while the

bullet wounds were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment,” Kalu said.

The PPRO disclosed that police had stepped up investigation into the matter, adding that a Toyota Highlander and

File picture of a bullion van

attackers escaped with undisclosed amount of money.

“A team of Base 5 Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) personnel returning from Ekiti State on Special Duty and whose vehicle arrived the scene in the course of the gun duel also aided the bank escort team to engage the hoodlums.

“One of the CTU personnel was fatally wounded while others with serious

a Camry car, with registration number JJJ 16 XJ, which was allegedly snatched and used as a getaway car by the hoodlums, was recovered at Idumuje Ugboko, a village near the scene of the attack.

She appealed to public-spirited individuals to furnish the command with useful information concerning the incident.

METRO

Thursday, June 27, 2014

11

Four policemen die in auto crash Court frees

File picture of crashed police van

IN LINE OF DUTY Four policemen die when a cattlebearing truck crushes their vehicle ritual purposes

A

n accident involving a truck and a police patrol vehicle has claimed the lives of four policemen attached to the Ilesha-Baruba Divisional Police Headquarters in Kwara State.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilesha-Baruba that the truck was coming from Chikanda, a NigeriaBenin Republic border community in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara

State.

The truck was carrying cattle that were to be sold at Ilesha Market yesterday before it collided with the oncoming patrol van on Wednesday night.

It was learnt that the truck, while trying to dodge a pothole in Ilesha, collided with the van less than 10 minutes after it left the police station.

A source, who pleaded not to be named, said that the incident which happened around 9.15pm, killed three of the four policemen on the spot.

The source said it took up to three hours before the fourth officer, who later died on the way to hospital in Saki, Oyo State, could be rescued because of the level of damage done to the police van.

“We had to make use of cutlasses, axes and other objects before we could remove him from the van because the truck had smashed it beyond repair,” the source said.

He said that the truck and cattle had been impounded by the police.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident.

Okasanmi said, however, that he was yet to be briefed on the number of casualties.

He said that the driver of the truck was yet to be arrested as he fled the scene immediately after the accident.

NDLEA offers drug addicts help, says Giade Juliana Francis and Taiwo Jimoh hose struggling with subTheave stance abuse may soon a sigh of relief as there

is hope of breaking free from drug addiction.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, gave the assurance at the commemoration of the 2014, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The theme of this year’s celebration is; “A Message of Hope: Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable.”

The origin of this event is traceable to December 7, 1987 when the United Nations through resolution 42/112 dedicated every June 26 as World Drug Day. “I present to you today a message of hope that drug use disorders are preventable and treatable. NDLEA has drug abuse prevention experts who carry out enlightenment programmes in schools, markets and work places.

“There are also counsellors who assist drug dependent persons to overcome drug use and addiction. Counselling services are available in all NDLEA 36 state offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

“In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. We also received report of 802 treated cases from hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria,” Giade said.

The NDLEA Director-General, Mrs Roli Bode George,

said that she was prepared to vigorously pursue the vision of the Agency.

She said: “My mission is to contribute my quota towards NDLEA’s efforts towards a drug-free society. Efforts must be geared towards cutting off drug supply to drug addicts and reducing demand for drugs through effective enlightenment programmes.

“Drug prevention programmes must be elaborate, involving families, schools, communities and the media.”

George appealed to mothers to monitor their children to know their friends and prevent deviant behaviour.

“Peer influence is one of the predisposing risk factors to drug abuse. Mothers must take time off their busy schedule to monitor their children and guide them on the right path in life. This is a problem that does not discriminate so we must take responsibility,” she added.

The theme, according to the NDLEA boss, could not have come at a much better time considering the colossal damage caused by drug abuse.

The UNODC Project Officer, Mr William Wu, also added his voice to the message of hope.

George (left) and Giade

According to him, UNODC is working with the NDLEA to eradicate the problem of drug production, trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.

Giade urged parents whose wards are drug dependent not to die in silence but seek assistance.

He said: “Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterised by compulsive drug seeking and use regardless of the harmful consequences.

“This clearly shows that drug dependent persons surely need help and love just like any other sick patient. People should seek help and in good time.”

UNODC estimates that about 230 million people or five per cent of the world population used illegal drugs at least once in 2010.

Global treatment for drug abuse is believed to cost $250 billion per year if everyone that needed help received proper care.

Apart from death, crimes committed by people who need money to finance drug abuse habits pose a serious threat to peace and security.

There is also the attendant problem of low productivity resulting from drug abuse by workers.

MD gets N25m bail in N95m fraud suit

High Court in Lagos yesterday granted bail in the sum of AN25Federal million to a 38-year-old accused,

Emmanuel Lawrence, charged with N95,250 million fraud.

The accused, who is the Managing Director, DM Auto Company Limited, was arraigned on June 2, by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), on a two-count charge bordering on fraud and issuance of dud cheque.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prison, pending the determination of his bail.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Saliu Saidu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and must deposit his passport with the court’s registry.

He added that the other guarantor must be a public servant on grade level 15 and above.

The judge adjourned the case till September 30 for trial.

The prosecutor, Mr Olakanmi Omisope, had told the court that the accused committed the offence between February 2008 and March 2011.

He said that Lawrence allegedly obtained about 14 units of Mitsubishi vehicles from Kelwaram Chanria Group, valued at N95,250 million, under false pretence of supplying same to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Omisope said that the accused then issued a cheque to Kelwaram Group in the value of the money, but that the cheque was dishonoured on presentation due to insufficient funds in his account.

two men on death row

Joseph Onyekwere spending 10 years in prison, Athefter five of which were on death row, Court of Appeal in Lagos yes-

terday discharged and acquitted Sopuruchi Obed and Otobong Sunday Edet.

The two men were convicted and sentenced to death for armed robbery by the Lagos State High Court on August 29, 2009.

They were barely 17 years old when arrested on September 30, 2004 on allegations by police at Igando police station that they were part of a group of young men seen by a police informant spending lavishly at a beer joint and overheard boasting of their unlawful escapades.

Even though no one testified that he or she was robbed by any of them, they were arrested, charged and eventually convicted on those allegations.

Following the appeal against their conviction and sentence filed in 2011

by Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), a panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, unanimously allowed their separate appeals and set aside their conviction and sentence.

The court resolved two out of three issues raised for determination in the appeal in their favour.

In particular, the court found that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was mere hearsay and that the vital evidence required to prove the charges was not provided by the prosecution.

More so, at the time of the incident, Obed and Otobong, were under-aged persons who ought to have been taken to Juvenile Court rather than a high court.

The Justices of the Court of Appeal decried the High Court for not making detailed inquiry into the ages of the appellants.

Under the Nigerian law, persons under the age of 17 years have diminished criminal responsibility and those under the age of 18 years must be treated as children and only tried at the family or juvenile courts in accordance with the Child Rights Act. “Incidents of charging and trying juveniles in adult courts are rampant in Nigeria, and there is little or no hesitation with many trial courts sentencing them to death, despite provisions of the law prohibiting sentencing persons under the age of 18 years, insane persons or pregnant women to death.

“In a 2008 joint report by LEDAP and Amnesty International titled ‘Nigeria: Waiting for the hangman’ available on www.amnesty.org/nigeria/AFR44/020/2008, it was reported that nearly 46 of the 1,200 or so death row prisoners in the country’s 10 maximum security prisons could be children at the time the alleged offences were committed and at the time of their convictions,” said Mrs Adaobi Egboka, LEDAP’s executive programme manager.

According to her, the situation has remained the same today.

She said: “Most of the condemned juveniles have been convicted based on questionable confessional statements obtained by the police upon their arrests.”

Commenting on the judgement yesterday, Mr Chino Edmund Obiagwu, counsel to Obed and Otobong, dep-

12 NEWS LOYALTY

Love for Senator Saraki was bitter enough to sack loyalist Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

F

ormer Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has finally opened up on the intrigues that led to his exit from the federal cabinet early this year.

Abdullahi, in an exclusive interview he granted an Ilorin based publication, National Pilot, spoke about the roles played by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Maduke in the saga.

He said Dickson put so much pressure on Jonathan right from the venue of the PDP rally in Ilorin while recalling how Allison-Madueke raised the matter of his

Sanctity of Truth

Abdullahi: Why Jonathan sent me packing relationship with Senator Bukola Saraki just before the first set of nine ministers were sacked for their perceived relationship with senior politicians that were feuding with the leadership of the PDP. He argued that though it was wrong for the President to have relieved him of his appointment the way it came all because he is close to Bukola Saraki, he knew the president was under intense pressure to sack him following his refusal to speak against Saraki during the PDP rally in ilorin in January.

Abdullahi, who declared he is now a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said his travail could be traced to his refusal to fund the PDP as the most senior political appointee from

US$29.2bn

The total revenue realized from arms sales of Boeing, US in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Kwara following the exit of Saraki and others from the ruling party.

His words: "The first thing that created the problem (at the rally) was that I was not wearing the party uniform. I was also given the party muffler which I rejected as well. So, when we got to the venue of the rally, everyone was pressuring me, including my colleagues and I eventually collected the muffler and wore it at least to show I was with them.

"At the venue, I was required to join my colleagues and other PDP leaders from Kwara State on the podium to condemn Dr. Saraki, but I said I was not going to do that. That was where I drew the line. In fact, I was willing to wear the PDP uniform at the point but I was not going to

44%

The projected percentage rise of amounts of energy, and demand for energy required for treatment of wastewater.

Source: Unesco.org

join anybody on stage to abuse my primary boss.

"At that point, I was embarrassed at the venue because some people in the PDP were shouting that I should be removed.

By the time we left the rally that day, I knew I was going to be sacked because if you stand for certain principles, I think you should be honest enough to expect some consequences.

"I think the manner (of his removal) was wrong. I think it should have been managed differently. But I think the president was under pressure, he was really pressured. Even before we left the rally in Ilorin, there was this gentleman, Seriake Dickson who mounted so much pressure on the president to remove me. They put so much pressure on him alongside members of Kwara PDP, who felt they could benefit from my sack.

6.6m

The number of newly displaced people at the end of 2011.

Source: Unhcr.org.uk

Governor Abiola Ajimobi (fourth left), Oyo state Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji (fourth right) and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo (second right) in a group photograph with the newly appointed High Court judges shortly after their swearing-in by the governor in Ibadan...yesterday

Confab okays state police Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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he National Conference yesterday passed a resolution authorising states of the federation desirous of having a State Police Force to establish same, provided they have the resources to fund and manage it in line with global best practices.

This resolution, when translated into law, would lay to rest, the long debate and controversies over the establishment of state police.

The state police, when

established, by states, that desired them are to compliment the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.

The areas of jurisdiction of the Federal police will cover the entire country and on clearly spelt out matters and offences while the jurisdiction of the State Police will cover the state and operate within the laws enacted by the State Assembly.

The conference also resolved that in addition to establishing a state police, state laws should also provide for community policing. The deci-

sions were made while considering the report of the Committee on National security.

The Conference agreed with the report of the Committee that state governors should be involved in the running of the Federal Police in their respective states. It was also agreed that officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Federal Police should be deployed to their states of origin.

It was reasoned that this will address the concern of language and culture, as this group of

officers actually constitute the operational component of the force.

To make the police more people friendly, the conference called for the amendment of Section 214 of the 1999 constitution, so that The Nigeria Police Force will be called The Nigeria Police.

A proposal for the establishment of a National Border Patrol Force to secure and protect the nation`s border was also approved by the conference. The Border Patrol Force is to be domiciled in the Ministry of Defence.

Friday, June 27, 2014

2015: Declare your ambition, group tells Akwa Ibom SSG group, Akwa Ibom A(API), Professional Initiative, an association of

Akwa Ibom State Professionals in the south west region, except Lagos, has called on the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, to declare his governorship ambition in the interest of the state.

The group said it was important so that the campaign of calumny and name calling against his person and office would come to an end.

The group also reiterated its support for the zoning of the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District, commending Governor Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), in the state for the bold step.

The group stated that, "the opposition having seen the intimidating credentials and pedigree of Udom, along with his

achievements in the finance sector, have started blackmailing him as not being eligible to contest the governorship election because of his membership of the party. We advise them to wait till then when their allegation will fall flat."

Addressing a rally, organized to drum up support for the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, the senatorial ambition of Governor Akpabio and the rumoured governorship ambition of Mr Udom Emmanuel, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the President of the group, Pastor Oduduabasi Umanah, said, " let us publicly declare today in this gathering that Mr Udom Emmanuel, the amiable SSG should declare his interest in the governorship race because the people of the state have been expecting him to do so now."

Court to rule on PDP zoning July 24 n FCT High Court yesAruling terday fixed July 24 for on an application

challenging the PDP governorship zoning formula in Akwa-Ibom filed by an aspirant, Mr Leo Ekpenyong.

Justice Abubakar Umar fixed the date after listening to the prayers of the plaintiff.

Ekpenyong filed the suit on May 12, challenging the zoning formula on the grounds that it was aimed at excluding some interested aspirants from contesting the forthcoming party primaries.

In his originating summon, Ekpenyong described the zoning as illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic.

At the resumed hearing of the suit, his counsel, Mr Victor Iyanam, urged the court to declare that the plaintiff, as well as other

aspirants, could not be excluded from contesting the October primaries.

He prayed the court to declare that the resolution of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party, contained in the communiquĂŠ published on pages 59 and 60 of the Nation Newspaper of April 24, was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

He also wants the court to declare that the plaintiff or any other aspirant to the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State on the platform of the PDP cannot be excluded from contesting the forthcoming primaries of the party.

Ekpenyong held that no aspirant should be placed at any disadvantage on account of their senatorial district, local government area or ethnic affiliation.

Beware of fake fertilizers, association warns Mohammed Munirat Nasir GUSAU

in Zamfara Ftoarmers State have been warned be observant while

purchasing or using fertilizers. That is because the use of the fake fertilizers can cause havoc not only to the plants but the land as well.

The alert was raised by the Chairman, Zamfara State Fertilizer Buyers and Users Association, Alhaji Ahmed Hussaini, in an interview with journalists in Gusau. He said that the warning became apparent as the use of adulterated fertil-

izers is not only harmful to the plant on which it is applied, but also on the farming soil and if urgent steps are not taken to sensitize farmers, it could lead to low agriculture output and also endanger food security in the state and country.

Hussain blamed politicians for the influx of the fake fertilizers in the state. He alleged that politicians in their desperate move to seek support of the people particularly ahead of the 2015 general elections are bringing all sorts of fertilizers into the state to be distributed to peasant farmers free.

HOW CHIBOK GIRLS HALTED PDP’S PROGRAMMES / PAGE 17 | APGA CRISIS: CELEBRATION OF UMEH’S VICTORY / PAGE 18

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Confab: No work, no pay The National Conference began on a sceptical note mid-March but soon picked up after the euphoria of its inauguration. Eight weeks down the line, the interest of delegates on the deliberations began to wane until a threat to cut allowances jolted the system positively.

ONWUKA NZESHI reports The Assembly The National Conference which is currently on at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja is by all standards a gathering of the creme de la creme in Nigeria. It has brought together Nigerians from all walks of life. It parades clusters of people who had held sway in the political, economic and social spheres of the country. These include former presidents of the Senate and their deputies, former Speakers of the House of Representatives and their deputies, former state governors and their deputies. The gathering has also brought together, former Heads of Service of the Federation, former ministers, former permanent secretaries, former Speakers of state Houses of Assembly, former chairmen of the local government councils and traditional rulers.

Also in attendance are the trade unions, professional groups, academics, diplomats, retired military officers, youth and women organisations as well as Christian and Islamic religious leaders.

The assignment Earlier, these committees were assigned to look into different thematic areas relevant to the terms of reference of the conference. Among these were the Committees on Land Tenure and National Boundaries, Environment and Natural Resources, Water Resources, Agriculture, National Security, Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Devolution of Powers and Political Restructuring.

Usually, each report attracts no fewer than a hundred delegates queuing to contribute to the general debate, offer suggestions as well as propose new ideas in addition to the ones already made by the members of the committees.

Often times, only a few of the many on queue get the opportunity to make contributions to the debate. This generated a lot of tension and forced the conference to propose an amendment to the rules of procedure to reduce the number of persons participating in the debate to five per professional group, geo-political zone and other platforms recognised by the conference. However, this intervention was stoutly resisted by some delegates who felt that such a change in procedure could mean

Kutigi

shutting out so any persons and becoming counter productive in the long run. The conference was forced to maintain the old procedure of holding endless debates on each report.

On Monday, June 16, a total of 197 delegates were on queue to comment on the report presented by the Committee on Energy. At the end of the day, not more than 40 had the opportunity of being called to contribute to the debate.

As a result of this long and tedious procedure, the sessions began to attract fewer delegates with the passing of each day. It was an indication that many delegates were getting frustrated and less committed to the process. Some delegates saw this atmosphere as a window of opportunity to relax and watch the proceedings of the conference from the comfort of their homes and hotel rooms. Consequently, the conference hall became half-filled almost on a daily basis to the embarrassment of the secretariat of the conference and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The pay The national conference has a provision of N7 billion in the 2014 federal budget passed by the National Assembly. In order to avoid the trouble of incurring unnecessary bills, the conference organ-

AYULI-JEMIDE: MORE WOMEN IN POLITICS’LL ENSURE SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

The euphoria As a result of this assemblage of high profile citizens, the conference has almost assumed the place of an alternative national parliament.

Many Nigerians, at home and abroad are glued to their television sets on a daily basis eagerly waiting to see what decisions these delegates would take to change Nigeria for the better.

However, in the last couple of weeks, proceedings at the conference have become rather drab and uninspiring. The dull atmosphere began as soon as the conference commenced the consideration of the reports submitted by its 20 committees.

13

isers took the bold decision of monetizing the accommodation, transportation, lunch and sitting allowances for all categories of delegates. This means that rather than checking into a posh hotel and living like lords at the expense of the government, every delegate was expected to be given a lump sum of money from which they are to meet their expenses on individual basis and at each person’s discretion.

Right from the onset, the conference organisers left no one in doubt that government was prepared to take good care of the delegates.

The Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had on the second day of the conference disclosed that delegates would receive their allowances every two weeks via electronic cash transfer to their personal accounts in designated banks.

Initially, there were reports that each of the 496 delegates will get N4 million per month. This would translate to N12 million each at the end of the three-month duration of the conference. However, the equation was slightly altered by taxation and sundry deductions.

Investigations revealed that the actual monthly take home pay for each delegate is about N2.9 million. This is paid in two tranches of N1,460,000 each, every two weeks.

p-16 The implication The adoption of this automated mode of payment was hailed as good step to operationalise the cashless economy. Fine as it seemed, it had a major disadvantage in the fact that you do not need to be present at the conference ground to receive your biweekly allowance. On realising this, many delegates who were already getting bored about the conference seized the opportunity to stay away from the sittings of the conference. Some came once in a while but many others chose to stay away for weeks without due regards to the rules.

The threat It was this absenteeism with impunity that incurred the wrath of the conference secretariat, resulting in a stern warning to all delegates that those who absent themselves arbitrarily would be penalised.

Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, who issued the warning, said that delegates who absent themselves from the proceedings of the conference except on grounds of ill health and due authorization, would have to forfeit their allowances for the period of their absence.

Akinyemi observed that many delegates have been keeping away from the conference since the conference commenced the consideration of the reports submitted by its 20 committees. According to him, there were speculations that some of the absentee delegates deliberately boycotted proceedings of the conference to pursue their private businesses.

“Government is worried that 50 per cent of the delegates don’t show up for debate.

It is shown live and this is not good. They are now reminding us that there are extant government regulations that, where an intervention body is being paid sitting allowance, it means exactly that and that we should consider not paying allowance to delegates who don’t show up.

“Because of this, we may not pay allowance to delegates that don’t show up. We want you to know this because we are all adults and we must be seen to be responsible.” Akinyemi said.

He charged the delegates to be mindful of the rules guiding the conference and endeavour to obey them or face the penalties.

According to him, only delegates on medical emergencies and with due notification would be spared from the stipend cut.

The response to this no work no pay threat has been magical. It has been observed that the conference had witnessed a large turnout of delegates at the sessions in recent days. The hall has once again become filled with delegates. The sudden change of attitude is an indication that the average Nigeria could be disciplined if the laws are enforced. Moreover, when monetary reward is concerned, no Nigerian would want to lose a dime to the system in these austere times. Perhaps the only delegates who may not panic if they are absent would be fiery preachr Pastor Tunde Bakare and former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN). The duo made it clear that they were coming to the conference not to collect a dime as allowances but to sacrifice their time, intellect and personal funds to make the conference a success. To these two men, their personal freedom to express themselves on any issue without fear or favour was more valuable than silver and gold.

14 POLITICS

OPEN FORUM Chief Ebenezer Babatope is the former Minister of Transportation, and member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

...EKITI GUBER ELECTION FALLOUT

Babatope: Ekiti is a pointer to what will happen in 2015 With the performance of INEC in Ekiti State, we are going to have free, fair and credible elections in 2015

E

kiti election is a very beautiful election and I give kudos to Prof.

Attahiru Jega. I have never been disappointed in Jega since he has been holding the mantle of leadership at INEC. The Ekiti election was very good; it was very good and excellent.

And it gives rays of hope for the eventual success of Nigeria’s democratic experiment. It is very clear that Jega will run a very beautiful election. It is very clear from what he has done in almost all the states he has conducted election that Jega will ran a free and fair elections and that is what will make Nigerians to be very happy.

Because what happened in Ekiti is a pointer to what is going to happen in 2015.

Whoever that complains about the use of military during the election, is making the greatest mistake of his lifetime. The soldiers who were used never intervened in any way with the way people voted. The policemen that were used never intervened in any way disturbing the democratic process.

When you have a situation whereby,

Babatope

you have a leader of the APC saying that there would be war and threatening people with violence, what do you want the Nigerian people and security agencies to do? They just have to do everything to defend Nigeria’s democracy and that was what they did. Look at Osun State now, we have been told

by the governor of Osun State that his supporters should use charms during the election. So, apparently what happened with the deployment of soldiers and policemen by the government was to ensure that we have free and fair election in Ekiti State and so we had.

With the performance of INEC in Ekiti State, we are going to have free, fair and credible elections in 2015. I can assure you that. If anybody fails the democratic system, it is going to be the politicians, not INEC or the armed forces. I believe very much that Jega has repositioned Nigeria electoral system. Jega has brought credibility to the electoral process in Nigeria and he has made democratic process a thing to watch in Nigeria. People are now free to express their opinion. People are now free to elect those who should

govern them in a democratic manner and people are now free to ensure that their votes are counted. I believe that Jega has done well. Except anybody who want to offend God Almighty, will say that Jega has not done well.

INEC is improving every time, so it is not a question of INEC’s progress being static. They are improving all the time and ensuring that the votes of the people count. So, I can assure that Jega has made up his mind that he is going to ensure that the INEC under him progresses along the lines of reasonable and thoughtfulness.

Before the 2015 elections, I am so sorry except people will says I have jaundice views, I don’t see anything in particular that one should say Jega should improved upon. Jega has improved on everything because in every election he has conducted, he has conducted them fairly and in a free manner. If mistakes are made, Jega would have come out to say that mistakes were made. I think that we had an election sometimes ago, where Jega said they had problems and when a man tells the truth, you know he is telling the truth and that is what Jega has been doing.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Musa: Fayemi conceded victory to Fayose under duress Alhaji Balarabe Musa is a former governor of old Kaduna State and Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP)

T

he Ekiti election wasn’t free and fair despite of all the sponsored campaigns that it was free and fair.

It is not possible under the present system in Nigeria to have a free, transparent and fair election. The second thing is that the election wasn’t fair because there was manipulation with the voters’ card because some people couldn’t vote. This is due to the fact that they didn’t have the appropriate voters’ card either through the fault of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the political parties that participated in the election. Thirdly, the involvement of the

police and soldiers in harassing voters’ and parties supporters is a clear proof that the election wasn’t fair. Fourthly, PDP leaders freely campaigned in Ekiti without any harassment or intimidation by the police or military.

But this wasn’t the case with APC and other political parties because the military and police arrested them. Some sitting governors couldn’t even go to campaign for Fayemi in Ekiti.

The nastiest of all the case was the brutal assault on the father of the campaign director of Fayemi. How can you under such circumstance say the election was free and fair? The acceptance of the election result by the governor is something fishy because he knows that the election wasn’t free and fair.

The election wasn’t transparent; the acceptance of the result by the governor is secondary. Fayemi’s acceptance could be caused by so many things because the PDP is so powerful that they can intimidate anybody. Under normal circumstance, the military should not be involved in civilian elections, but if

Musa

they stepped in, it either means that the electoral body is not competent and needs the military to conduct the

election or the government in power has special interest in the election.

Against all sense, this election cannot give a pass mark to INEC. The body is incompetent and not credible. Look at the case of the FRESH party, INEC is still flouting the court decision against the de-registration of the party.

INEC is lawless and how can a lawless body conduct a transparent election. Let us not deceive ourselves, our mindset of democracy is so low and until we change it, we cannot have a free election. The conceding of victory to Fayose by Fayemi wasn’t only premature but was done under duress.

People are afraid of their lives in this country; You remembered what happened to Audu Ogbeh, the former PDP chairman? You remember what happened to the former CBN governor who is now the Emir of Kano? Fayemi conceded because he was afraid of his life or compromised.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Fasheun: INEC capable of conducting credible elections Dr. Federick Fasheun is the national chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) think the election was alright, alItarisation though I wouldn’t have liked the miliof the election day. That’s

Fasheun

not fair. The militarisation guaranteed fair and violent free election; I hope we will derive some cultural tendencies from that in future elections to get it right.

The exercise is quite commendable, and it shows that the people’s will can prevail, and that Nigerians are capable of doing the right thing when they want to. You can see how the parties, electoral bodies and other stakeholders conducted themselves.

I think INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) is quite capable of conducting free and fair elections, if only the politicians will allow it to display the capability. It’s not the fault of INEC, it’s the fault of these gluttonous politicians who want to get to power, not to serve the people, but to serve themselves, to loot our treasury and our common wealth.

The Ekiti governorship election should be a model for Nigerians to

build on. Its one of the few times, elections in any part of the country did not witness any form of violence, and where the contenders, especially the incumbent showed a lot of maturity, by conceding defeat. Not only that, he went ahead to congratulate the winner.

Other politicians need to learn from that. Elections should not be a do or die, especially if you claim you want to serve the people. How can you kill the same people you want to serve, why must you be so desperate for political power, if you do not have ulterior motives to loot the treasury?

Interview by ETAGHENE EDIRIN

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

OPEN FORUM

15

...EKITI GUBER ELECTION FALLOUT

TMG: Ekiti raises the bar for Osun, 2015 elections TMG is a coalition of human rights, non governmental and civil society organisations. Its report was signed by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi

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or the Ekiti gubernatorial election, TMG can state with confidence that the official INEC results accurately reflect the votes cast as the official INEC result for each candidate falls within the TMG Quick Count range. For example the TMG Quick Count estimated range for APC is between 32.4 per cent and 35.7 per cent while the official INEC result is 34.4 per cent.

Similarly, the TMG Quick Count estimated range for PDP is between 55.3 per cent and 59.1 per cent and the official INEC result is 58.0 per cent. TMG’s Quick Count estimates turnout was between 46.5 per cent and 50.9 per cent (48.7 per cent +/- 2.2

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

W

e must commend Governor Kayode Fayemi for his spirit of sportsmanship, he showed uncommon statesmanship with the way he accepted the outcome of the election. He had the option to fight on by rejecting the result as some others would do, but he decided to let go. That spirit is worthy of commendation although the poll result was not the reflection of the reality on ground.

The Ekiti electorate voted for what some people have described as infrastructure of the stomach. But I must stress that what happened in Ekiti State will not have any impact in future elections. Most of the electorate, I believe will vote for the man who performed in terms of physical infrastructure and social services, and not voting for someone because he has money to share. So, the outcome of the election is not the true reflection of the thinking of the Nigerian electorate.

On heavy security deployment, I be-

per cent). INEC’s official turnout was 47.9 per cent (360,443 total votes of 732,106 registered voters) which falls within TMG’s Quick Count estimate.

Turnout for the election was similar to the 2011 national elections when turnout was 53.7 per cent and greater than the 2013 Anambra gubernatorial election when turnout was only 26.3 per cent. Rejected ballots according to INEC were 2.8 per cent (10,087 rejected ballots of 360,443 total votes). TMG’s Quick Count estimates rejected ballots at 2.9 per cent with a margin of error of 0.2 per cent which is consistent with the official INEC figure.

Transition Monitoring Group calls upon all citizens of Ekiti to remain calm and show political maturity.

Should a situation arise that a candidate wishes to challenge the electoral outcome due process must be followed by stating the case before the election petition tribunal.

The point must however be made that the Quick Count methodology is not a silver bullet. While it can provide scientific, verifiable and independent evidence on the trends, and provide insights relating to what

transpired with the figures on voting day, it cannot modulate the behaviour of other strategic actors, whose actions or inactions could make or mar an electoral process.

For this reason, the TMG had long before the election met with

Okechukwu: Security presence during elections should be reduced We must find a way of reducing the presence of security personnel during elections, so that the people will decide for themselves

Okechukwu

lieve that we must find a way of reducing the presence of security personnel during elections, so that the people will decide for themselves, who they want to lead them. Meanwhile, we don’t have

Biodun Sowunmi is a civil rights activist and public affairs analyst

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Sowunmi

Zikirullahi

stakeholders in Ekiti during an advocacy tour. During those visits, we stressed the need for all to play their roles with an utmost sense of responsibility and dedication. And to the political parties, we were emphatic on the need for them to play by the rules especially in the area of taming supporters with violent proclivities, while shunning violent rhetoric after election results are released. In this regard, TMG commends the spirit of sportsmanship demonstrated by the contestant on the losing side in this election, who has been reported to have made a call to congratulate the winner. This is the spirit of electoral competition that would take Nigeria to the point where elections would no longer be a do or die affair. The magnanimity in victory of the winner of this contest is equally commendable.

We again wish to congratulate INEC on the conduct of the June 21st Gubernatorial election in Ekiti state which is not only a significant improvement compared with the recent Anambra election but has raise the bar for the Osun state and 2015 national elections.

he Ekiti State gubernatorial election result is the expression of the deprived residents’ desire to satisfy stomach infrastructure at the expense of physical infrastructure. This situation arose because of the chronic unemployment, acute poverty, and the failure of the ruling class to address the factors for the marginalisation of the down-trodden in our country. It is difficult to explain this short-termist perspective, as stomach infrastructure (share the money for all) due to its inability to provide a lasting solution to meet needs and ensure sustainable development. It is perfectly logical and comprehensible as the first rule is survival. Majority of Ekiti voters placed

to bother ourselves so much about that because in the 2015 general election, they won’t have such number of policemen and soldiers for one state alone; same goes for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Apart from its staff, the commission would have to make do with ad hoc staff not to talk of going to a state with over 20,000 policemen.

On the average, I will rate INEC at 60 per cent given what happened in the

November 16 governorship election in Anambra State. I can’t give them 100 per cent yet, because they have not started doing what they were asked to do by the friends of Nigeria. INEC was told to take a cue from the way it was done in Ghana and India, where a large number of people cast their votes without going through stress, and to involve the interested parties in the printing of election materials, so that they will know the contractors and what is being printed, as sometimes the materials are manipulated.

Finally, despite the loss in Ekiti State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State because Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a grassroots politician. His challenger; whether he is not culpable or not, still have that hangover of Chief Bola Ige’s death over his neck. He cannot run away from it.

Interview by FELIX NWANERI

Sowunmi: Votes were exchanged for bowls of rice premium on satisfying personal needs by selling their votes for a bowl of rice thereby discarding the collective interest of all. This majority voters of 203,090 only represent a quarter of the eligible voters and less than 17 per cent of the total population of the state.

But the failure of 50 per cent of the eligible voters to participate in the election must be disturbing to many. Was this an expression of their dissappointment with democracy? Were they disconnected with the democratic process? or were they frightened to exclusion by the over-militarisation of the democratic space? I think the latter is a more profound explanation given the terrifying experiences of people resident in hotels

on the eve of the election and the mass arrests of APC leaders in towns and villages across Ekiti State. Prior to this the drum of war that was started by the Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the rig and roast warning of Asiwaju might have heightened tension. So, the nonparticipation of the elites and ordinary folks contributed to Ayo Fayose’s victory with 27.68 per cent of the eligible votes.

Remarkably, 72.32 per cent of the eligible voters did not participate in the election or voted against Fayose. It is time to ponder about why democracy is producing a result better described as moving from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

16 POLITICS

Leading

Woman

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Ayuli-Jemide: More women in politics’ll ensure sustainable governance

who can take the message of reform to the electoral commission. Then it will be the responsibility of the electoral commission to engage the political parties and those who make policies at the political parties’ level.

Mrs. Winihin Ayuli-Jemide is the founder and president of the Winihin Jemide Series, a platform that serves to articulate conversations and initiatives on nation building.

In this interview with FELIX NWANERI, she speaks on the need for more commitment by relevant stakeholders to encourage women’s participation in politics.

What is the Winihin Jemide Series all about?

The Winihin Jemide Series is an umbrella organisation that provides energetic platforms to facilitate deep conversations to drive nation building, gender inclusiveness, community development and transformative thinking. The Series is committed to leading the movement to increase the numbers of women in strong leadership positions worldwide and has created several initiatives to achieve this such as the Women in Government and Politics (WIGP) conference; the Gender Emergence and Economic Development Forum (GEED) forum; Succession Planning through Youth Experience Days Africa (YEDA) and One Million Signatures Campaign (IMS) for gender emergence.

The series also powers active research that develops and monitors benchmarks for gender participation across developing countries. Our goal at the Winihin Jemide Series is to ensure that as political leaders and drivers of economy, we deliberate over international development and global economic growth, roles of women is emphasised and encouraged, echoing the sentiments of Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, recently appointed Special Envoy on Gender, African Development Bank that “development will not happen unless women are fully included in the process.”

Our premise is that gender cannot emerge until we give it a deliberate attention for it to emerge and that if gender does not emerge, the economy will not be sustainable.

When you said that gender must emerge, what exactly do you mean and how soon do you expect that to happen in Nigeria?

What has happened in our polity has really surprised me and warmed my heart because since the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan came into power, we have seen over 30 per cent of Federal Government appointments given to women. His policy thrusts have positioned him as the first African leader to fully embrace and execute the Beijing 30 per cent quota. President Jonathan boldly appointed an unprecedented number of women into strategic federal positions directly linked to his Transformation Agenda.

Women now have a fair chance to play a part in shaping the destiny of this great country.

So, I feel that it can only get better. He has started; anyone coming behind him must do better than he has done. So, I think gender emergence would be happening sooner than we think, though I cannot put a specific date to it because I am not soothsayer.

This year’s conference was the second in the series. What would you say your first conference has been able to achieve because the issue of gender emergence goes beyond the conference room.

The Women in Government and Politics (WIGP), Africa Edition conference in 2013 was a collaboration with the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Its theme was ‘Increasing

You spoke about gender and sustainability of the economy, but we have seen a situation where women have been appointed into positions of authority, but they turned around to abuse their offices.

I must say that if I look at the fact that Nigeria has become the strongest economy in Africa; I cannot but admit the fact that at least 33 per cent of Federal Government positions are now in the hands of women.

When men were holding all the positions, Nigeria did not emerge as Africa’s strongest economy. If you look at South Africa, which we have just overtaken in terms of the economy, about 35 per cent of the country’s top positions at the regional and federal levels are in the hands of women.

So, if you look at the two strongest economies in Africa, women have been very well represented.

What do you make of situations where women in positions of authority are constantly put under pressure and we hardly see fellow women rallying behind them?

That goes back to the question that you asked about women not supporting their own, but one of the things that we as a group is doing is that we will step up advocacy for women to support their own.

Ayuli-Jemide

Numbers: Access and Progress,’ creating a platform for the first ever African focused forum for women in government and politics. The conference, which was deliberately designed to begin a regional conversation with the aim of encouraging women to prepare for and successfully participate in all aspects of politics and governance, brought together a wealth of experience from convergence of influential women drawn from the five regions of Africa.

Its success is still ripple, continuing the conversation in the five routes of increase: advocacy, employment, appointment, election and successive planning. An immediate outcome of the conference was a position document forming the basis of the manifesto and signed by 95 per cent of attending delegates. After a thorough postconference review of this document, The Winihin Jemide Series has defined three focus areas where, with the collaboration of stakeholders, we are committed to influencing change. These key areas with gender emergence at their core are the support for research and information; advocacy of implementation of models such as the Beijing Convention and promotion of adoption of gender workplace policies.

The manifesto from the first outing has been delivered to the UN Women and heads of gender of many corporations and civil society groups.

So far, what is the level of response from these institutions?

It has been quite tremendous. Three very strong institutions have requested for one-on-one meetings with us, so that we can have talks on how to put into practice some of the steps that we have suggested.

So, from rhetoric to action.

Some people believe that women are their own worst enemies, when it comes to politics as some have made attempts in the past without getting the support of fellow women. How do you react to that?

One of the things that we have been able to discuss extensively at our various confer-

ences is how to appeal to the psychology of women and make them see the need to support each other. Another thing is that we shouldn’t support each other for the sake of support, but to make sure that we single out women who can actually do the job and give them adequate support. So, I think that convening conferences like the ones that we do and having the kind of conversations that we do, are also supportive of women.

Apart from the issue of support, there is also that of funding. Most women who would have taken part in active politics often get discouraged by lack of funds. Is there anything that your organisation is doing in this regard?

It was interesting that one of our panelists at this year’s conference revealed that there are actually funds available for women interested in politics, and he gave the names of one or two institutions that provide these funds and the criteria that individuals interested must meet before they can access these funds.

For one to contest an election there must be a platform. To what extent do you engage the various political parties that provide these platforms, so that women can use them to actualise their ambitions?

In the Series, we do not engage the political parties. What we do is to work with those

Our premise is that gender cannot emerge until we give it a deliberate attention for it to emerge and that if gender does not emerge, the economy will not be sustainable

Any plans by your group to take the campaign to the grassroots, where a large percentage of women reside?

We can’t be jack of all trade and master of none. So, we have decided that what we are going to do is to distil the issues; identify the problems and get the solutions out.

And we have some of the youths working with us getting these solutions out through the social media and other platforms. The most important thing is for us to get the message out to the women, and the media has equally been helpful in this aspect.

You raised the issue of affirmative action, but some people believe that power is struggled for and not served. Don’t you envisage that it would be difficult for men to surrender power to women on a platter of gold?

For sure, I think so, but one of the things that we have learnt from our conference, especially from the Rwandan experience, is that we should start from policy formulation. In Rwanda, women hold an unprecedented 64 per cent of seats in parliament, more than any other country in the world.

The prominent role played in the country’s parliament and throughout the government has helped transform attitudes throughout Rwandan society. Few could dispute that the influence and leadership of women has been essential to Rwanda’s current social and economic progress.

All we need to replicate the Rwandan experience in Nigeria is to take a decision that this is the way to go, and the political will. We are lucky that for the first time in Nigeria, we have seen someone who promised during his campaigns that he is going to give 30 per cent of appointed positions to women, and he has done so. We now have army female cadets, which was not there before, while the highest judicial office in the country is occupied by a woman. So, it can only get better.

As we approach the 2015 elections, what is your message to Nigerian women?

I am going to say something that was not originally my idea; something that was canvassed by a participant at our recent conference. That is: from our small group, let us pull out one or two women, who are viable to contest election, and let us put our strength behind them as well as support them all through.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

How Chibok girls halted PDP’s programmes For nearly two months, activities at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to a standstill.

ONYEKACHI EZE x-rays the circumstance that forced the party to observe low profile, notwithstanding the forthcoming general election

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he 65th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which held on Thursday, June 5, was the first major activity at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 15. Ironically, it was the day the party held its unity zonal rally in Kano where it officially received former governor of the state (now minister designate), Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and others, into the party.

Expectedly PDP received knocks because of that rally, which took place a day after the first Nyanya bomb blast where over a hundred lives were lost.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), capitalised on this to haul abuses on the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan. The party in a statement a day after the rally described as insensitive and hard-hearted the decision by the PDP and President Jonathan to embark on the rally barely 24 hours after the blast.

“The message that President Jonathan is sending to Nigerians is that keeping his plum job, at all cost, is more important to him than the security and welfare of the same people who voted him into office. Otherwise, the president would not have rushed back to his illegal campaign trail at a time he should be leading the nation in mourning the dead.

“A president who said his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone is now dancing gleefully on the graves of over 70 of his compatriots.

What is so important about the illegal campaign stop in Kano on Tuesday that could not have waited for the smoke to clear from the scene of the deadly blast on Monday?

“Who will President Jonathan rule over when his countrymen and women are being daily mowed down under his watch?

“Without mincing words, President Jonathan erred badly by not showing enough sympathy for the victims of Monday’s blast. More people died in the blast than from

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu celebrating the victory of the party at the Ekiti gubernatorial election on Sunday in Abuja.

Kenya’s mall shooting last September, yet President Uhuru Kenyatta declared three days of national mourning, during which flags at public buildings flew at half-mast and the people of Kenya prayed for the dead and the injured,” APC said in a statement signed by its interim spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The message from APC was direct and well understood by the PDP and the presidency.

All activities at the party’s secretariat were suspended.

The abduction of the schoolgirls further compounded the matter. Subsequent public outings including its ongoing unity zonal rallies of the party were either cancelled or suspended.

Fourthwith, the party’s planned rally in Yola, Adamawa State on April 28 was cancelled at the last minute.

It also suspend ‘by one week’ the planned flag-off of the governorship campaign of Ayodele Fayose in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, following the bomb blast that claimed over 100 lives in Jos, Plateau State on May 20. This was to be later held on June 7, some two weeks after.

But while PDP listened to voice of reason and suspended the rally, which would have been held on May 23, APC, which accused the party of insensitivity, went ahead with its own rally a day after the blast.

PDP did not spare the party either. Its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh told journalists that APC was celebrating terrorism. He noted that while the entire nation was still mourning the victims of Jos bomb blast, (and) “even as another incident was report-

The secretariat of the PDP, which used to receive many visitors daily, suddenly went numb ed … in Borno and debris yet to be cleared from the streets of Kano, the cold hearted APC moved its campaign train to Ekiti State in total affront to the sensibility of Nigerians and in tacit indication that the party is benefiting from terrorism.”

Since then, the secretariat of the PDP, which used to receive many visitors daily, suddenly went numb. The ubiquitous drummers who usually lay siege on the numerous politicians who throng to the secretariat and sing their praises for few naira notes also disappeared. The secretariat was so deserted that one could hardly know that we are in an election year.

For journalists covering the beat, it was the most challenging period of their professional career. They were reduced to occasional statement re-writers. Those who have one or two ‘functional’ beats focused attention on them and occasionally put calls across to colleagues to ascertain if “anything is happening”. And for those covering the ongoing National Conference, the confab couldn’t have come at a better time.

The party was indeed in a mourning mood. The only activity that took place at the

secretariat within that period, was a prayer session organised by the PDP National Woman Leader, Ambassador Kema Chikwe on April 29 for God’s intervention for the rescue of the abducted girls.

This, too generated a lot of fuss following some probing questions raised by Chikwe in her address, which some people misinterpreted to suggest that she was doubting whether these girls were abducted in the first place.

It was after the prayer session that more facts surrounding the abducted girls began to emerge. The actual number of the girls was put at 234 and not 129 as previously announced; their identities were made public, the international community became more concerned and rallied support for Nigeria, and even their abductors released for the first time, the video clips, which revived the hopes of their parents that the girls are alive and dispelled the rumour making the rounds that they had been married away to ridiculous prices.

But while the ruling party joined the presidency to keep low profile of its activities in line with the mood of the nation, activities in the opposition APC secretariat were in full throttle. The party within this period held its ward, zonal and state congresses and swore in the elected officials; its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the National Convention were held thereby setting machineries in motion for next year’s general election.

Perhaps, it was in realisation of the fact that the insurgency might have been orchestrated to slow down its

activities and give the opposition an edge that made the PDP to convene its NEC meeting, even though the search for the Chibok schoolgirls continues. This was captured earlier by Metuh, who said in a statement that: “It is common knowledge that those behind the attacks seek to impose a reign of terror on our country, cow the president, dictate the tempo of government and ultimately shut down governance, a plot which the APC has betrayed its support for.”

He further noted that no government allows terrorists to influence the course of its action otherwise they have achieved their purpose, adding: “This is why the Conservative Party continued with its convention in Brighton, in October of 1984, even though the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was almost killed by an IRA bomb that exploded at the venue of the convention. During that incident, five people were killed, including two high-profile members of the Conservative Party, and 31 were injured.”

Though the Chibok girls are still being held, PDP after receiving briefs from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on the rescue plan, rolled out its programmes after the NEC meeting.

This includes the completion of the unity zonal rallies in Ibadan, Oyo State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State while the now christened National Conference will hold after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. And this is with the hope that nothing untoward will disrupt the programme again.

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

APGA crisis: Celebration of Umeh’s victory STAN OKEKE writes on the excitement that trailed the court victory of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh

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he jubilation, excitement, relief, joy and hope that greeted the Court of Appeal judgement that, for the umpteenth time, pronounced Chief Victor Umeh National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was unprecedented.

Not only did the judgement put a seal to the overzealous ambition of people who wanted to claim the leadership of APGA, it also put to shame the powerful clique who clandestinely supported Maxi Okwu and his cotravellers, to assume leadership of the party.

The judgement also proved that some of the things that are ever constant in life are truth and forthrightness. The long drawn battle to unseat Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA is a laughable story that should be left for another day. Umeh, as National Chairman of the party, has led it to numerous political battles in Anambra State and the party at every stage, came out victorious. This was too much for those plotting his fall to bear because, as far as they were concerned, the political history of Anambra State was being re-written in favour of this political colossus.

During Peter Obi’s battle to restore his mandate stolen brazenly by the dark forces in Anambra politics, Umeh stuck out his neck and at every point of the court cases, played very vital and critical roles that restored the Obi mandate. In Imo State, Umeh personally led the onslaught of Operation Capture Imo State during the 2011 general election, at the end of which APGA convincingly won the state. In addition, Umeh led the party to win one senatorial seat, seven House of Representatives seats and 32 House of Assembly seats.

At that time, Rochas Okorocha, who today prides himself with being the “shinning light” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, came to Umeh to afford him the APGA ticket to run for the Imo State gubernatorial election. He got the ticket and what later followed is history. When he started claiming that Umeh never helped him to achieve his gubernatorial ambition, not many were surprised, knowing his political antecedents.

Okorocha, in joining APC, claimed that the party was the only one that can afford us Igbo presidency. Today, he cannot come out to say that even as small as an executive office in that party, is good for Ndigbo. In all these instances mentioned, what did Umeh get? Ingratitude, treachery, blackmail, backstabbing and wicked lies, all in a bid to throw him out as APGA national chairman.

He fought battles, both legal and personal, simply to prove that no weapon fashioned against him could prosper. He did all the needful to ensure that, in keeping with the wishes of the leader of APGA, Dim Emeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu, that the party remains a force to be reckoned with in the political equation of the country.

What he got was several plots from unexpected quarters to rubbish him.

He kept his cool and continued delivering victory after victory for APGA in Anambra State and beyond.

In the declaration of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, that Umeh

Umeh

is the authentic National Chairman of APGA, that Alhaji Sani Shinkafi remained the National Secretary, the Justices in making these affirmations, unanimously agreed and ruled that Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had no jurisdiction on a matter the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, had earlier given an emphatic judgement.

In setting aside that questionable judgement, the three-man panel of Justices, strongly criticized Kafarati for giving such a judgement and held that he erred in law by assuming jurisdiction over the case. In an obviously damning judgement passed on Kafarati, the Appeal Court Justices held that Okwu, who instituted the case before the Abuja High Court, had no locus standi, having been expelled from APGA and was no longer a member of the party.

Justice Tani Hassan, who read the lead judgement declared thus: “I also uphold the 12 grounds of appeal brought by the appellants. The trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, should not have assumed jurisdiction to entertain the suit when there is a subsisting judgement of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which voided the ruling of Justice Innocent Umezulike of the Enugu High Court.”

This is instructive, especially that all the 12 grounds of appeal by Umeh were all upheld. It is also an absolute indictment of Kafarati’s judgement, a man who, in giving Okwu his desired, but controversial judgement, said at one of his sittings in court that the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division judgement, did not confer any rights on Umeh.

The Court of Appeal Justices that returned the National Chairmanship of APGA to Umeh, has given Nigerians hope that no matter how you try to manipulate the law, justice must take its course. The joy in this hallmark victory, does not have anything to do with Maxi Okwu, he was not the issue. Abinitio, the facts of this case were very clear, so Okwu was not the bigger picture.

This Appeal Court victory is to tell those members of the APGA family, some that called themselves elders of the party, the pretentious wolves in sheep clothing, those who pretended to be on the side of equity and jus-

Okwu

What did Umeh get?

Ingratitude, treachery, blackmail, backstabbing and wicked lies, all in a bid to throw him out as APGA National Chairman tice but were indeed on the side of infamy, that there is God and that no matter how you stand the truth on its head, it will eventually stand to be counted.

No matter their political calculations and unfortunate machinations, they have failed and have all been put to shame. People didn’t know the extent some of these uncharitable party members went, all in their bid to unseat the APGA national chairman.

At a stage, the matter in court was no longer between Umeh and Okwu, but between Umeh and those hawks in the party. Unbearable lies were told against him, things he never imagined or dreamt of and were all orchestrated by his brothers and people he fought for and stood by in all the struggles.

So laughable was what went on that at a stage, nobody understood what was going on. For instance, it is unthinkable that Chike Obidigbo was so carried away by his inordinate ambition to be governor that he allowed himself to be used for such a failed project, and was milked dry by those prodding him on. We are told that for these hawks to get to his pocket, all they needed to do was to bow before him and call him, “Your Excellency, the governor-in-waiting, and the deed is done!”

Instructively, Okwu started his blatant claim to APGA leadership simply because he was called in to help bring Umeh down. From the onset, he knew he had no case but because he was prodded on by people he believed could make things happen, he turned deaf ears to reason. With the assurances from these people that powered him on, he continued his wild goose chase. As it always happened, the chase is over and they will abandon

him fate.

Umeh in his candour and tolerance, watched the unfolding drama with unbelievable calmness and decorum, believing that justice, at the end of the day, will take its natural course. His reaction to issues gives him out as a man who is determined on delivering APGA as a formidable national party, and needs no distractions.

Reacting to the judgement, Umeh said: “We are grateful to God for his infinite mercy. The judgement was very emphatic that the February 10, 2011 convention of the party was conducted in consonance with the APGA constitution. So, this has reinforced our belief in the judiciary.

“I will start by giving immense thanks to God Almighty, who despite the force of attacks on my leadership has continued to sustain us. God in his infinite mercy will always uphold the just because he is a God of justice. It is regrettable that APGA has been subjected to a lot of senseless leadership crisis over the years. But one thing that has remained constant over the years has been the triumph of my leadership of the party despite the different shades that these attacks take.

“The reason for the success has not been far-fetched; we have been very patriotic, we have been very dedicated and we have always followed the constitution and due process in everything we do. So, when few disgruntled elements within the party and some external enemies launched attacks against my leadership, I knew the court will always vindicate us especially at the appellate court level.

All the judicial ambushes against my leadership had always failed at the Court of Appeal. It goes without saying that all the claims by those who instigated these crisis are treated truthfully by the lower courts.”

Having once again come out victorious, Umeh has extended the olive branch to members of the party who fought him from behind, advising them to come forth and sin no more, so that together, they would deliver a formidable party to Nigerians, particularly, Ndigbo.

•Okeke is the Special Assistant, Media, to the National Chairman of APGA

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19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Sanctity of Truth w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

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

FRIday, JUNE 27, 2014

Glaring dearth of medical personnel

igerian medical personnel exodus to seek greener pastures overseas, coupled with insufficient specialists both for rural and urban services, pose serious threats to the country’s sustainable health care delivery. To worsen matters, there is also a large pool of unemployed medical personnel. Statistics show there is one doctor to 6, 400 patients in Nigeria, a ratio which falls short of the World Health Organization standard of one doctor to 600 patients.

To meet WHO’s benchmark, Nigeria needs to have 283, 333 doctors, measuring by a 170 million population base. This means that the country needs 283, 308 additional doctors. In the USA and United Kingdom, it is said to be one doctor to 100 people. Malaysia is training 3, 500 doctors annually and ramping up to attain 1:600 by 2015 and 1:400 by 2020, which will exceed WHO’s recommendation.

Drawing inferences from what obtains in other countries, participants at a recent international health summit in Abia State, expressed concern over situation militating against effective health delivery in the state. The State’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, noted that human resources for health are critical for optimal health care delivery, especially at the grassroots.

Dr. Ogah also disclosed that since its inception, the Medical Council of Nige-

ria, a total of 65, 759 medical doctors have been registered, translating to 38.9 per cent doctors per 100, 000 population or one doctor to 2, 572 patients.

Unfortunately, only 25, 000 of them are practicing in the country. Worse still, these doctors are not evenly distributed within the country. Thus there are six doctors to 100, 000 in Zamfara, 50 to 100, 000 in Abuja, and six to 100, 000 in Abia.

A yawning gap exists between the rural and urban areas in terms of availability of medical personnel. But the similarity is that many states are in dire need of specialists in paediatrics, oncology, neurology and psychiatry among others. Despite rising cases of cancer, Nigeria has only 25 consultant oncologists who can only be accessed in seven states of Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Edo, Ondo, Sokoto, and Abuja. There are 50 neurologists and 40 neurosurgeons, doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the nervous system. The doctor-to-patient ratio is one neurologist to 3 million Nigerians with most of them urban based. No podiatrist, four forensic pathologists, only one diagnostic centre geriatrics in the country (University College Hospital, Ibadan), 600 consultant paediatricians to care for 700 million children. Hence people travel long distances within the country in search of specialists.

Ironically, while there is an inadequacy of some sort in number of health workers, on one hand, there is

yet unemployment of trained medical personnel, on the other hand. Glaring as this paradox is, it is a sorry situation for a country that has serious health care challenges as a huge proportion of the population has no access to qualified health personnel and are thus dying indiscriminately from treatable diseases.

Dearth of health personnel is more pervasive in the North than in the South. Simplistic as this may sound, the truth of the matter is that highly trained health personnel are leaving in droves for greener pastures abroad.

America, Europe and the Middle East countries have high populations of Nigerian doctors, nurses and other health professionals. In fact, Nigeria is one of the several major health-staffexporting countries in Africa. The poor state of Nigeria’s health care system experts say, are traceable to several factors especially gross underfunding and shortage of skilled medical personnel at the primary health care level, obsolete equipment, and poor remuneration. The so-called intractable problem of poor electricity supply is sufficient disincentive for many while corruption in the system and the unstable polity contribute towards the drain of the nation’s human resources. It is unfortunate that this has become the norm in this age and time.

Unfortunately, medical tourism, which requires highly skilled specialists currently estimated to be a multibillion dollar industry, is ignored by

health authorities. What Nigeria fails to understand is the changing face of medical tourism as many countries are now developing their health care sectors to meet local and international demands to attract foreign exchange. At least, it is believed that the population of people that can pay for sophisticated medical procedures is growing and as such the country needs to develop on priority basis high-tech medicine such as well-equipped ICU, cardiac bypass surgery, organ transplant, advanced imaging technologies (MRI, PET), prenatal diagnosis, neo-natal screening, in vitro fertilization (IVF), among others.

Primary health care provisioning goes beyond structures or provisions of equipment and laboratory facilities, adequate qualified staffing because continuous improvement in orientation of health care services are equally important. Federal and state governments should increase budgetary allocation for residency programme of young doctors, improve salaries and welfare packages, make rural areas attractive and conducive by providing good road network or connectivity to make those that are qualified stay in the country. Governments can engage health institutions and associations to work out modalities for well-developed training and retraining programmes to encourage specialization to ensure that the standard that is obtainable here approximates what is available abroad to check the influx of people embarking on medical tourism.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Fanfare as Fayose fascinates Fayemi J

oy to Ekiti, time to throw the party gates open. We can lunch alfresco, dinner could be by the poolside. No holds barred, no blood spilled. Welcome to Ekiti State.

Honestly, I did not believe Ekiti could come out of the elections soaked in love, harmony and honey.

Everything about that state smells like Yves Saint Laurent’s Jazz perfume. From Ilawe Ekiti to Ado, from the hamlet to the city centre, it is all cool ,calm and breezy.

I know the story of Ekiti, I mean when there was the old Ondo State of Pa Michael Ajasin and Elder Akin Omoboriowo. Like the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Yusuf, i saw some of the bloodletting in 1983, following the announcement of Omoboriowo as victor over Ajasin.

I was in Akure with my kid sister who was going to begin a new life at the Federal Government Girls College. Then the school was tucked inside town, I guess along Efon Alaye road, not the present site on the outskirts of the town. I passed through Arakale market, we drove past Oba Adesida Road. Ondo was burning, Ekiti was hot.

That picture has not left my brain. Maybe, because of the Professors and enlightenment, the people know too much to be taken for a ride. Or they are too brainy to agree to agree on everything. That stands them out.

You do not toy with their votes.

Saturday June 21, I was expecting the usual tears and blood among politicians and their thugs. There were movements and restrictions, suggesting that it would be tough. Ministers traveled to and fro, governors were kept trekking, wandering and even driving.

The Asiwaju himself had to return to Lagos in the night, by road.

I had a younger brother on active duty in the state.

I just prayed for him to get out of the place in good health. Ekiti reminded me of Kataka, something like catastrophe and cannisters. I did not see peace coming.

And it was like most of us were taken unawares.

God decided to visit Ekiti in a very special way. Yes, there is God, and we all saw his hand in the names of the three leading contenders. John the Baptist, Peter the Rock, and Angel Michael. Take them in this order Kayode Fayemi, Ayodele Fayose, and Opeyemi Bamidele.

I am sure they are all christians, possibly with catholic background, because I know the first port of call of the most prominent principal of St. Finbar’s College Akoka Lagos, Father Dennis Slattery, when he landed in Nigeria in 1941 from Fermoy, as a young Irish priest was Ilawe-Ekiti. The Father told me that he was forced to the town by the Germans who had destroyed a ship at the mouth of the Lagos port.

So, the Lord took control of the heart of the politicians and their followers, in such a mysterious way that all agreed the exercise was free and fair. And to prove that all went well, I never read a reaction from the ever so hard working mouth piece of the All Progressives Congress [APC] Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

It was a shocker that Fayose won. Even more intriguing that he swept the governor off his feet. And

Friday, June 27, 2014

give it to Dr. Fayemi, he made us all proud by being a complete gentleman. Politics is not about rascals and razzmattazz. We also need such statesmen as Governor Kayode.

Now, Fayose has earned my respect. I thought they said he looted the treasury dry. I read about sundry allegations. Ekiti people are too enlightened to vote for somebody they do not trust. I do not think it is magic, there must be something about the former governor that turns the people on. This one is not about money politics. It is solid politics, partnership that worked.

And I give it to Fayose. He has pledged to turn a new leaf. The young man of yesterday, has grown and can even be counted among political elders. He has also offered a rare hand of friendship. That is what Nigeria needs at this time, politics without bitterness.

It is time to move ahead. I will miss Erelu Bisi Fayemi. I must confess, I found myself not too comfortable with everything about her, until Deputy governor Funmi Olayinka passed on. At the funeral, I saw a genuinely pained woman who was lost in grief while some fondled with their phones. That occasion showed that she was a friend that could be trusted.

Mrs Fayose, i may have to start attending her prophetic ministry. Since she could rightly predict the next governor of her state, and even the date of his swearing in, i do not need to climb any mountains outside Lagos to seek political and economic deliverance. I am just about to visit her so that I can get a portion of the anointing. I f she refused to collect money from her husband, I will make so much money from her anointing because I have never lived in a Government House.

Ekiti: A flash of Paradise

A

s you read this, there are persons in Ekiti State, making phone calls, walking their dogs, blowing their noses, hugging their wives, boarding taxis, playing with their kids, arguing with their landlords—in short, doing all those things the living are wont to do --- but who, by “rights”, should be cold dead by now.

But that gap-toothed, bespectacled Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi, changed their fate. Quite embarrassing.

How can a self-respecting governor lose such hard-fought battle…then concede defeat so, so easily. Is he trying to be Jesus?

More embarrassing still is the domino effect of this strange behaviour on an otherwise warlike Fayose. Instead of letting loose with victory celebrations, Fayose, a Scorpio ruled by Mars, the god of war and Pluto, the god of the underworld and nuclear energy, called his supporters to order, and admonished moderation.

A new-found air of fellow-feeling is gradually taking root in that erstwhile furnace of political warfare.

Now, Ekiti is not aboil. Families are not mourning bread-winners, or

Lighthouse

YEMI OGUNSOLA

yemiogunsola@gmail.com - 08069074718 (sms only)

mourning promising sons or daughters slaughtered in post-election violence or by stray bullets.

That bespectacled Governor of Ekiti State is an embarrassment to all evil forces who have been smacking infernal lips in anticipation of the flow of blood…

Wonders shall never end, they say; Imagine Fayemi and Fayose, two men from families connected with Ifa ( that Yoruba deity of wisdom much maligned by imported religions) displaying Christian characteristics so rare among Christian politicians.

Yeah, I know all the pre-election intrigues. Allegations of ballot import, “money-laundering”, restriction of movements, illegal deportations. All those are perfect fuel for political conflagration.

But Fayemi/Fayose have shamed the Devil, by a simple alteration of attitude from the insane norm. Yes,

why must we be enemies in the process of administering our societies?

Why must rancor be an integral part of governance?

Let us keep that Devil guy permanently shamed in Ekiti.

The lesson for the rest us?

What it takes to change most hells to paradise is a positive change of attitude. Most hells burn with human vices. And what makes most heavens heaven are the virtues displayed by the residents.

We can make paradise if we make wise choices.

And the choises are within our grasp…

I must confess here that Iam not enamoured with Fayose or his party.

While it is true that there are rogues in virtually every party, the Peoples Democratic Party packs the highest concentration of rogues (of international repute)and human disasters

under its umbrella. Little wonder that our country lies in ruins today after 15 years of demons(gone)crazy.

But Fayose said he’s a different person now, “more matured, wiser”, he said. I pray that is true. I urge him to be Omo oko and not Omo ale. An Omo oko builds up his state and people; an Omo ale tears them down. Again the Yoruba say B’a a ba ran ni n’ise eru, a fi t’omo je e. Membership of PDP must not by necessity rob us of omoluabi.

After all, there is a spattering of PDP members here and there with nearsterling qualities.

There are enough material and human resources in Ekiti State to make it a paradise for all.

May I end this with admonitions from that fountain of wisdom, Ifa, Orunmila bara Agbonniregun: “Let’s not take the joys of life with haste Nor hurriedly, the blessing of wealth Matters that require mature handling Must not be treated in fits of temper Rather, we must give careful consideration to all issues of humanity…”

May Olodumare be your guide.

ARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

CULTURE

Tony Okuyeme

W

ith the long vacation for schools fast approaching, the National Troupe is preparing to host the fourth edition of its yearly a long vacation theatre workshop for children between the ages of five and seventeen. The workshop tagged Children Creative Station Workshop (CCSW) is primarily aimed at exposing participants to general theatre practice and appreciation of the creative arts.

The 2014 edition according to the Coordinator of the project and Director in charge of Drama of the National Troupe Ms. Josephine Igberaese would begin from first week of August 2014 and will run for a period of one month. She also disclosed that at the end of the creative workshop exercise, the participants would be expected to put up a performance that will detail all they have learnt during the onemonth training period. ‘What we are doing is in line with one of our objectives which is to encourage the development of children’s theatre. But beyond that we have used the project successfully over the last three years to groom future theatre practitioners who may want to take up a career in the theatre and allied genre like taking part in Nigeria’s Nollywood’’.

Explaining further that one of the other objectives behind the exercise is to engage the children creatively during the long holidays, Ms Igberaese stated that the command performance, which is staged at the end of the exercise, is usually staged before parents of the participants, their teachers and invited guests so that they can appreciate the amount of work that has gone into developing the creative talents of the children. ‘’We have earned commendation in the previous special command performances we have held and like I said it is usually a product of the one month intensive training. It is usually an opportunity for the children to display their skills in the area of acting, dancing, singing, drumming and even acrobatic depending on the talent they manifest and these performances have drawn applauses from the audience’’ she said.

Speaking also on the workshop, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe, Mr. Martin Adaji stated that the 2014 edition which will begin from August 1, 2014, and will climax with a command performance on August 31, has been expanded to include ‘voice training and training for instrumentalist’. He also disclosed plans to partner with a number of organizations especially those in the private sector for the success of the project. ‘Government has been heavily subsidizing the cost of running the workshop but it is becoming difficult for us to run that workshop and also take on other projects of the troupe. So we feel that the private sector

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

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TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

A NATION’S CULTURE RESIDES IN THE HEARTS AND IN THE SOUL OF ITS PEOPLE." ― MAHATMA GANDHI

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National Troupe set for fourth children’s creative station

Some of the children rehearsing Atilogwu dance

What we are doing is in line with one of our objectives which is to encourage the development of children’s theatre should come in as they have done in the last two editions to support us meaningfully. So our marketing team is out to solicit their support in the area of sponsoring children to be part of the workshop and for logistical support. There is so much that is involved in training them. We need materials, we need to pay facilitators and we need to take care of their welfare’’ the Artistic Director said even as he expressed satisfaction with the response from the private sector. He also said: “we are excited at the devel-

Some of the children during rehearsal

opment and their partnerships. This is what we want to happen to the Arts-collaboration with corporate Nigeria.

I have no doubt that these partnerships

will really go a long way in ensuring that we sustain the imitative and other programmes of the National Troupe,” he said.

Okorocha, Okadigbo for Igbo-Amaka Awards

I

mo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Senator Margery Okadigbo are among dignitaries expected to grace the 2014 award ceremony of Igbo-Amaka. The award designed to reward and recognise the exploits of sons and daughters of Ndigbo, holds on June 26, at the International Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos.

Speaking on the modalities for the event, Barr. Obi Nwachukwu who is a

member of the Organising Committee, said it would feature side attractions such as cultural dance displays and other forms of entertainment.

According to Nwachukwu, other dignitaries expected include Chairman of the Award Advisory Board (AAB), Professor Eddie Floyd Igbo of the University of Abuja, Chidi Anyaegbu, Chairman of Chisco Group, and the Deputy National President of Oha Na Eze Ndigbo,

Sir OAU Onyema.

He also disclosed that those billed to receive awards are the President of Auto Spare Parts & Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), Lagos, Dr. Anthony Ughagwu and the 13 founding fathers of Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.

In the past, the platform has honoured the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Nollywood star actor, Pete Edochie and Chioma Ajunwa

among others.

Barr. Nwachukwu also disclosed that while Ughagwu will receive the Business Excellence Award for his transparency and painstaking efforts in managing ASPAMDA, the 13 Founding Fathers of Alaba International Market (in Lagos) will be honoured with Special All-time Awards In Commerce. Post humours awards would also be given to late founding fathers of the market.

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Medaeh rolls out new single, Roll Your Boat Moses Kadiri

Y

ou cannot listen to “Roll Your Boat”, a single by Arowosola Olumide (a.k.a Medaeh) without nodding your head in excitement. The sound of the traditional drum spiced up the rendition given it a rich recipe without taking away the groovy part.

Medaeh was at home in the studio, enjoying himself with so much fun, laughter, and excitement while he does what he knows best.

“Roll Your Boat, is dancehall music, a disc jockey (DJ) delight. Some DJ’s will not stop playing it in clubs.

Though, he’s without a record label at the moment, but with his latest single record labels will be coming for him given the input, zeal he put in the presentation. “My song talks about dance. I noticed that people like to dance, no making the situation, and looking at the day-to-day activities of Nigerians, people go through stress in place of work, and when they come back home they need something that they can relax with and enjoy, that will make them happy. So I did the song to make people happy,” he said.

The youngster who aspires to be a superstar in the Nigerian music scene said he wants to remain relevant to achieve that feast, and also releasing songs that appeal to everyone in the society. “I actually did ‘Roll Your Boat’ last year, but because of financial constrain I could not release the song; I am a student, an ND holder from Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos, I am currently doing Business Administration, a DLI programme in University of Lagos; (UNILAG), with the DLI programme that I am doing, it gives me time to do music; music is something that I have passion for, and I do it freely; I find comfort while doing music. Buy it has not been rosy producing the songs, paying studio session, among others, that is the reason why it has taken so much time to come out, but I hope to do more songs,” he disclosed.

On why he decided to feature

Music is something that I have passion for, and I do it freely; I find comfort while doing music. Buy it has not been rosy producing the songs, paying studio session Flamez, and Matty Jay in the song, Medaeh who said Tu Face Idibia is his role model said: “Apart from him been my role model, I also want to do a collaboration with him, and the reason why I decided to feature Flamez, Matty Jay in my work is because of their creativity, they are actually my friends, we were in the studio together, and the idea of collaboration came up, and since I don’t have money to feature superstars in the song, I decided to make do with the ones within, and the production was nice, people are really commenting on it.”

According to him, he sees the single going places, taking over the radio stations in the country, and beyond.

Apart from “Roll Your Boat”, Medaeh also have other singles, “IIeke Jabo” (Beads are Fading Out), and Tested Confirm.

In “IIeke Jabo” he featured popular act Seriki, the single bring the local bead which is rarely in existence these day back to limelight. “Ladies used to wear beads in the past, but these days it is no more in invoke, instead ladies now prefer wearing jewelries like chain to bead, that is why I did the song to promote our local bead,” he said. “IIeke Jabo” is rendered in Yoruba language and English respectively.

His other single, “Tested Confirm”, is as a result of his music gift.

Medaeh sees this gift as something that people need see, not only listening to his songs. “When you hear my songs, meet me in person, you will

Medaeh

know that I am tested and confirm,” he said. He continued: “When you are talking about someone, you will not really get the whole information about the person until you meet the

Gospel singer Divine set to shoot new video Shola Adefuwa

G

Divine

ospel singer Divine Onyinyechi Ukaogo, popularly known as Divine is set to begin shoot of video for his new album titled “The way you love me”.

Divine who studied English and Literature in Abia State University, said she has what it take to be among the top gospel artistes in Nigeria. “My new music video ‘The way you love me’ is a love song dedicated to God. It is a song talking about God’s love to me. It could also pass as a wedding song,” she said, adding that she has always been into music right from childhood.

“I realized it was a calling and career path for me when I joined the choir; and there was no looking back. I started professionally in July 2013, when I released my first single titled “You are”.

“As of now I am experimenting with all genres of music, Pop, R&B, ballads, reggae. The video will be direct by Prince

G-Next, the C.E.O of Black Gold Vision International and Black Gold Entertainment.”

She noted that working with Prince G-Next so far has been exciting. “He has challenged me to be a better gospel artist.

His dedicating and passion to his craft is glaring, he goes beyond video directing and tries to understand the needs of the artiste.

“I am working hard to bring more great music and videos.

I am under Rocktown music owned by Frank Edwards, under which I have released three singles, ‘Born to Win’, ‘It’s Yours’ and currently, ‘The way you love”, all produced by Frank Edwards. I am shooting the video for ‘The way you love’.

With regards to challenges so far, Divine said getting his music heard is basically the challenge. “But I am pushing

by God’s grace. I want to also appreciate my fans and thank them for their support thus fans. They should expect great and uplifting music from me,” she enthused.

person one-on-one, that is what Tested Confirm is about”.

Medaeh is working on the videos of all his singles, which will be out in couple of days.

Crystal Awards to hold in July Shola Adefuwa is now set for the second edition of Ais llCrystal Awards. The Awards which set to hold on July 20, 2014, at Muson

Center, Onikan Lagos, is “permeating the walls of gospel music in Nigeria and it’s geared towards rewarding excellence, creativity, and hard work in the industry”.

According to the organiser of Crystal Award, Mr. Timi Adegoke the second edition of is to honour Nigeria’s finest gospel singers, producers, and other industry players. He said it would not be out of place to state categorically that history beckons.

“Yes history beckons on all of us as stakeholders to yield ourselves to be used of God as agents of change, not just by the words of our mouth but in truth and indeed in taking gospel music to the next level and giving it its pride of place which it truly deserves, Adegoke said, adding that, “We are passionate about the propagation of gospel music and desirous of a positive change in the industry.

“It is our conviction that Crystal Awards which is an annual affair would give gospel artistes something to look forward to and therefore provide a platform for them to work harder in a bid to produce world-class quality gospel music and the name of Jesus Christ would be further glorified in Nigeria.”

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

O

f all the female writers in Nigeria, only a Few have made a great impact on the literary world and the lives of many Nigerians. One of such writers is Akachi AdimoraEzeigbo. Simple, gentle hard working and unassuming, Ezeigbo has written over thirty books and numerous academic papers winning numerous awards both nationally and internationally.

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (BA), Masters (MA) degrees in English and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Lagos; her PhD from the University of Ibadan; and appointed Professor of English at the University of Lagos. However, her love and sojourn into the literary scene started when she was in primary school.

“I started writing early and I was also a reader right from primary school. In class, sometimes, my essay was read to the whole class. I read so many story books, novels when I was a child and while in secondary school.

So I just got interested in English and you know, writing and studying English often go together.”

Reminiscing on her early years, the Ugo Nwanyi Edemede Ndi Igbo noted that her father late Chief Joshua Obinali Adimora was so good in English himself and might have influenced her choice of course of study. Her mother Christiana Ukadinma Adimora was a successful business woman whom she said, taught her how to work hard.

Though they wanted her to be a Lawyer, dreaming of the day she would be a Judge, they gave the nod when they noticed that for her, it was English or nothing else.

“Initially I taught of studying journalism because I wanted to be a broadcaster but that would still have got to do with English. At a point I decided to just go for English because I was very good in the subject. At another point, I began to consider teaching because I got married early - as a second year student. I was thinking, where would I use this English? And teaching was something very good, so I decided to become a teacher. The choice of reading journalism wasn’t fixed and as a young person, there were so many ideas coming to me. Now, I find satisfaction in my choice of career.

“I had a very happy childhood because my parents, fortunately for us, were together and they had a plan for their children. We are six in the family and they trained all of us. My father believed so much in women education and so in those days, when many girls were not educated he made sure his daughters were well educated and we were made to feel that we are important. I never really felt that as a girl I had restrictions until I came into the world because my father never discriminated between his children, male and female. He gave everybody the opportunity to study and be what you want to be. My mother was also a very strong woman who taught us to work hard and not be dependent on men. When you grow up in a family like that, you are happy.”

As a woman, Ezeigbo has not only done well in her career, she has worked hard and risen, shattering the glass ceiling to become a professor and multiple award winning writer of international acclaim.

“I worked as a teacher in secondary school before I joined the university. In the university system, hard work pays.

If you are research oriented, you will do well in the academic world because that is what determines the direction of your career and your success. I’m a research person. Even when I did administration here, I wasn’t happy.

I’m happier when I’m doing research, when I’m writing.”

Ezeigbo who has written so many books, including children’s literature, fiction and poetry is inspired by stories she reads and things she hears

Ezeigbo

I find satisfaction in writing, research, says Ezeigbo Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a woman of many parts who has made an indelible mark on the Nigerian Literary scene. Professor of English, an administrator, journalist, gender activist and literary icon with several laurels and enviable national and international status, some of her works have been translated in other languages. EBERE AMEH had a chat with her recently about.

“I write for children, I have written novels and short stories and plays and poetry. I write stories for young children and I an inspired by anything I see happening in families, in society, true life, crime and achievement.

Anything at all that I find interesting could trigger ideas that will make a good story. I also write about literary texts, I theorize and I write research papers on literary works.”

Piqued by the poor reading culture of Nigerians, Ezeigbo blames parents noting that many of them do not encourage their children to read when they are young. “There are habits that you have to form when you are young.

Once you grow up and you don’t have those habits, forget it. Reading is one of them. If children are not introduced to story books or introduced to a reading culture early in life, it becomes a herculean task to get them to read when they reach adulthood. That’s why I encourage mothers and fathers

to buy books for their children. Keep buying books for your children of all ages. Encourage them, especially during the holidays, to read. Most parents allow their children to watch cartoon and play video games all through. A few hours should be reserved when a child just sits back and does nothing but read. That child will grow up reading.”

I preach complementarity in my writing – that men and women should not treat each other as rivals... working together to make the family, the community, the country better

As a one-time treasure of ANA and the Vice president of PEN Nigeria, Ezeigbo is of the opinion that many of Nigeria women writers are visible now and doing well - winning prizes both in Nigeria and in the diaspora but there is a need for more women to write.

“Like Chimamanda Adichie, they are many and they are making us very proud. When I teach in class I always encourage young girls that we need more women writers. There are many men and we want the ration to narrow down a bit.”

She however cautions that passion for writing – that you have a story to tell or an idea to sell - rather than money should be the primary motivating factor for anybody going into writing as a profession. According to her, money will come with time, when you have made a name.

The top-notch writer who has had her works reviewed in the media, sometimes virulently, advocates that reviewers should indulge in constructive criticism rather than destructive ones.

“There is no book that doesn’t have something good about it. Criticism is about saying what is positive about a book and saying the negative parts too, if any. Many indulge in blanket destruction of a book and it is so bad.

I have had some very hard and negative criticisms of my books but I didn’t even respond to the writers. Sometimes I feel they haven’t interpreted the work well. I take whatever positive thing they say and learn from the negative ones. It does not get me angry and writing back or exchanging words with them I see as belittling myself.”

A gender activist of repute, Ezeigbo has delivered lectures and also used her works for both activism and development. She gave a lecture on activism using Literature at Wake Forest University, North Carolina and has written about gender issues in some of her works.

“I preach complementarity in my writing – that men and women should not treat each other as rivals, there should be no hostility but rather, they should identify with each other - working together to make the family, the community, the country better.

Men have things to contribute, just as women do too, so they should work together. It should not be a matter of aggression.”

Full of praise for the Nigerian woman, Ezeigbo who said she is not cut out for politics, commends the affirmative action of the government but observes that Nigerian women are not only ripe for politics, they are capable of holding even the highest position in the country.

“Is there any field where we don’t have our women doing well? In a society where things haven’t worked as they should be, affirmative action is introduced to correct certain imbalances. That was what was done in South Africa after the independence because their blacks had been marginalized over the years. So they needed to help them. If we have it here, that’s ok, but we should also not forget merit.

I have always believed in merit. Many women in this country will get it when it comes to merit. That said, I think we need more women in the house of assembly so that some of these legislations that will benefit the girl child and women, are passed.”

Married to a professor of Quantity Surveying and Geo-informatics, Ezeigbo whose three children are all grown and married, relaxes by watching good films or singing country music and folk songs with her husband with the accompaniment of a piano, which he loves to play. She wants to be remembered as a woman who loved God and her fellow human beings, as a writer who wrote to empower Nigerian woman especially, and Nigerians as well.

24 TOURISM Andrew Iro Okungbowa

T

he Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (NTDC) recently held the second edition of its Nigeria Tourism Investors’ Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2014 in Abuja. The two days event attract major players and stakeholders in the sector from both the government and private circles as well different service providers and a number of prospective investors in the tourism sector.

One of the key paper presenters at the gathering was the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.

Her talk was on: ‘promoting domestic tourism: Tool for national economic development.’

In the stimulating presentation she spoke on the global perspective and happenings in the domestic scene by citing examples of different countries who are making serious waves on the domestic scene and what the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) thought is on the matter.

She then spent the major part of her time in apparent defense of her nationwide tours in what turned out to be a presentation of her score card after a year in the office as she clocked one year in the saddle last month.

Excerpt of her presentation OUT of the four main motivations of tourists, (discovery, encountering others, experiencing something unique, and resting) the last two are certainly more prominent among domestic tourists. Local tourists also seek a very wide diversity of types of destinations and tourism activities, in other words, the range of product offerings should be as broad as possible and for a country like Nigeria, our size and diversity potentials are of immense advantage.

Under domestic tourism, visits are more frequent and there are more repeat stays, notably with family and land transport is predominantly used: 88 percent compared to 51percent for international tourism.

It was for all the above reasons that when I assumed office, I decided to focus more on domestic tourism.

In order to have full understanding and appreciation of our local tourism potentials first hand, I embarked on tour of some of our known destinations and attractions; meeting with state officials (sometimes chief executives of the states I visited), traditional rulers, tourism administrators and operators with a view to understanding their challenges and jointly seeking solutions to them.

So far, I have visited about (17) states and without doubt, the tour has really helped me understand some challenges that the sector is facing today.

Make no mistake, I was aware even before I became the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) that Nigerians have ‘panache’ for international vacation due to poor packaging of our local tourism industry for local consumption.

According to available data, Nigeria recorded a total 4,037,808 tourist arrivals in 2013, while US$ 649,468,486 forms their expenditure.

There are several international initiatives that have highlighted the potential of tourism to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction, as well as to environmental protection, cultural preservation, and job creation.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) emphasizes poverty reduction as one of its primary themes for tourism development, and its Sustainable Tourism–Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative focuses on aligning the goals of sustainable tourism with activities that specifically alleviate poverty.

However, tourism in Nigeria contributed so much to the GDP, but very little is attributed to it, hence the difficulties of government in recent past seeing tour-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

The gains of developing, promoting domestic tourism, by Mbanefo

Cultural parade during Abuja carnival

ism as a major contributor to the GDP. It is however important to note that a vibrant business environment is supported by a vibrant tourism community which thrives on the financial support of visitor spending and contributes to the quality of life through sporting events, festivals, carnivals, religious tourism, conference/business tourism, wildlife, eco-tourism, beach tourism/ holiday resorts all of which we have in abundance.

National Tourism Policy The policy thrust is to develop sustainable tourism by capitalizing on heritage diversity as the basis for promoting domestic and international tourism.

This is aimed at competitive sustainable tourism development within the confines of the world tourism market and open up Nigeria as a major tourist destination in Africa through the development of international tourism and promotion of domestic tourism.

Nigeria’s Tourism Potentials The domestic tourism market has very high revenue and job creation potentials. For instance, 2013 Osun Osogbo festival recorded 21,713 domestic tourists including, 123 international tourists while N 58,230,170 forms the expenditure. Abuja Carnival (2013) recorded 19,015 domestic tourists which includes 113 international tourists while N147, 385,250 forms the expenditure. Religious tourism recorded over a million domestic tourists and a substantial number of international tourists in 2013.

It is, therefore, estimated that, we have a US$ 4 billion domestic tourist market. Similarly, the size of the Diaspora market is estimated at US $3 billion annually should we provide them with the right environment considering the volatility of oil revenues which is currently a major source of the nation’s revenue. There is an urgent need to actively harness this industry’s economic potentials with a view to enhancing its contributions to GDP. Challenges A critical evaluation of the evolution and development of tourism in Nigeria indicates that the country’s tourism industry faces socio-economic problems and structural deficiencies which reduce the industry’s efficacy as a tool for local, regional and national sustainable development.

In order to address these challenges,

synergy between the parties; still keeping international profile at some major international travel fairs so that when we are fully ready, Nigeria will not be new to the market through attendance of World Travel Market (WTM), London, ITB Berlin, WTM Cape Town South Africa through which contacts and enquiries about tourism potentials for investment in Nigeria are being made.

Mbanefo

there is need to have good access roads to the various tourist destinations; review the Land Use Act to enable private sector access land for development of tourist sites; corporate and multinational organisation should adopt tourist sites for development; resolve multiple taxation for tourism operators; establish a Tourism Development Fund (TDF); increased funding from the government; need to implement the 2007 Tourism Master Plan; and improve travel security as a necessary condition for growing both domestic and international tourist traffic in Nigeria.

Our efforts and achievements One of the main focuses of our current efforts at NTDC is on domestic tourism which encourages Nigerians to celebrate our values, our tourist attractions and cultural heritage as the cornerstone for building a sustainable tourism industry that can attract investment. Most importantly, the NTDC is reaching out to states in view of the 2013 Supreme Court Judgment that has ceded a critical aspect of the tourism industry to the states for standard and uniformity sake; partnering the private sector in the sustainable development of tourism infrastructure and services which has culminated in signing MOU with business giants; successfully bridging the gap between the public and private sector; created awareness on domestic tourism i.e. show-casing our heritage/cultural festivals, tourist sites and attractions; bridged the gap between the tour and travel operators and airlines which resulted in better

Way forward There is no doubt; the major problem faced by the corporation today is that of budgetary allocation. Solving this will position the agency to do the following: proper training of the corporation staff; regular collaboration with the private sector operators in forging new ideas for the sector; effective marketing and promotion of Nigeria locally to boost domestic tourism; collaborating with other government agencies; such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, National Park Service among others and; encouraging and assisting non-profit organisations operating within the travel and tourism industry as tourism promotion cannot be done alone by government and its agencies because there are specific areas of tourism development that requires certain skills and interests that are not within government.

The NTDC and government in general are aware that developing our local tourism industry for domestic consumption will not be an easy task as it is no longer a secret that more and more Nigerians that can afford it travel abroad every day. Government can no longer fold its arms and continue to watch the daily capital flight that leaves our over 4,279 hotels and numerous restaurants dry sometimes. Nigeria must put in place mechanism through which benefits can be derived from all departures. The NTDC is coming up with a recommendation to government on how domestic tourism can benefit from this.

We must develop domestic tourism, not just for paid travellers alone, but leisure infrastructure in our various communities for citizens who cannot afford to travel. Tourism can help us achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, not only for the present but also for generations to come. Therefore, I am appealing to big businesses and individuals to adopt tourist sites and develop them as part of their contributions to the development of domestic tourism in Nigeria.

FAMILY AFFAIRS FRIDAY, june 27, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/familyaffairs

PRINCESS ODUNAYOMI OKE

WOMAN EDITOR

odunayomitide2010@gmail.com 08082592471 (sms only)

Real men don’t do this!

E

very man loves to be called a real man, but truth is not all men are real, as some are simply despicable. I mean real brute, unrefined, and in no way close to being called real men. In a situation a man took a woman to be his better half, but all of a sudden he turned the same to his punching bag or foot mat, is that not madness of the highest order?

To think of it, is it not barbaric enough for a man to punch his wife to the extent of inflicting her with injuries? And to now go about claiming that many women are out there who want to be under the cover of a man, makes it an insult upon injury.

Very annoying! I mean, when has being under the roof of a man turn to a do-or-die affair?

Truth remains that only a mad man will turn and begin to beat himself, because when a man and a woman have come together as a couple, they are no longer two, but one. In essence, a man who beats his wife is beating himself, and that is practical madness. Even, beating your dog or other pets in the house is not considered as too friendly, not to now talk of beating your wife as if she is a paid slave.

One annoying thing here is that our cultural belief has even made it dif-

ficult for affected women to seek help when there is still hope. The culture believes that any woman who vacates her husband’s house on the ground of battering is not good enough as a wife.

More so, the woman’s family often feel it’s a shame for their daughter to return home after being publicly given out in marriage.

But is it not better for your daughter to return home alive, than to be called upon for her burial arrangement? I don’t want to be misunderstood in this case, as I am in no way an advocate of divorce. God hates divorce, and that means I also hate it. But a particular ugly scene I witnessed few weeks ago got me to the conclusion that a failed marriage is better than a life lost.

Maggi, the young woman of about 28 years and her husband, Tom, about 36; have been together as a couple for over six years, and they have two daughters to show for that. According to Maggi, their union had been laden with all manner of problem right from the very first year; but they kept patching it up, believing things would change.

Just my first meeting with her, and I rightly concluded that all was not well with her, despite that she gave me

the not-to-worry response each time I tried to get her to talk. Though she cut out the picture of a quiet young woman, but I didn’t fall for that. For with experience, I knew under the façade lied a bubbly young woman, one who might have become withdrawn by the things she had gone through in her matrimony. And since I have met with quite many like that, I knew the time would definitely come when she would be forced to cry out.

I mean how on earth can a woman whose husband threatened to throw out in the dead of the night with two children convince anyone that all was well in her marriage? Her excuse was that he did that under the influence of alcohol. And my worry was that since his alcohol consumption was every

But a particular ugly scene I witnessed few weeks ago got me to the conclusion that a failed marriage is better than a life lost

25

other day; then she must have really got used to that rough handling, to the extent of trying to excuse away his barbaric action.

Anyway, our next meeting was at a time she was freshly beaten by her husband, and the evidences were all over her. In no way could she convince anyone any longer, that all was well with her, as her voice could not even carry her for too long before she broke down in tears. I was both angry and annoyed with her. I mean, why did she keep quiet until it got that bad? What if it got out of hand and he threw her down from the storey building, or stabbed her as he threatened?

According to her story, her husband had turned their marriage to a bitter wine daily forced down her throat. She said her parents warned her against marrying a man who failed to disclose to her what broke up his first marriage, but she went ahead against their Will. She went ahead because he made her believe it was the other woman who treated him badly, and later walked out of the marriage.

The first fight as she said; broke up when one of her elder sister’s children staying with them broke his special CONTINUED on page 27

26 FamilY AFFAIRS | woman to woman

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Fact sheet on cervical cancer

C

ervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower, narrow part of the (womb) uterus. Most cervical cancers are caused by (HPV) the human papillomavirus. It is the easiest gynecological cancer to prevent with regular screening tests and vaccination. It is also very curable when found and treated early. It happens when the body’s cervical cells divide very fast and grow out of control.

These extra cells form a tumor.

•If you had your uterus removed but you still have a cervix (this type of hysterectomy is not common), you need regular Pap tests until you are 65 and have had three normal Pap tests in a row with no abnormal results in the last 10 years.

Who gets cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer happens most often in women 30 years or older but all women are at risk.

What causes cervical cancer?

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by a high-risk type of HPV. HPV is a virus that is passed from person to person through genital contact, such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If the HPV infection does not go away on its own, it may cause cervical cancer over time.

Other things may increase the risk of developing cancer following a highrisk HPV infection. These other things include: •Smoking •Having HIV or reduced immunity •Taking birth control pills for a long time (more than five years) •Having given birth to three or more children What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

You may not notice any signs or symptoms of cervical cancer. Signs of advanced cervical cancer may include bleeding or discharge from the vagina.

These symptoms may not be caused by cervical cancer, but the only way to be sure is to see your doctor.

How do I find out if I have cervical cancer?

Women should start getting screened at age 21. You can get a Pap test to look for changes in cervical cells that could become cancer­ous if not treated. If the Pap test finds major changes in the cells of the cervix, your doctor may suggest more tests to look for cancer. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 can also get an HPV test with

your Pap test to see if you have HPV. What is the difference between a Pap test and an HPV test?

The Pap test and the HPV test look for different things.

A Pap test checks the cervix for abnormal cell changes that, if not found and treated, can lead to cervical cancer. Your doctor takes cells from your cervix to examine under a microscope.

How often you need a Pap test depends on your age and health history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.

An HPV test looks for HPV on a woman’s cervix. Certain types of HPV can lead to cervical cancer. Your doctor will swab the cervix for cells. An HPV test is not the same as the HPV vaccine.

How often do I need to be screened for cervical cancer?

How often you need to be screened depends on your age and health history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Most women can follow these guidelines: •If you are between ages 21 and 29, you should get a Pap test every 3 years.

•If you are between ages 30 and 64, you should get a Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.

•If you are 65 or older, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

If you had a hysterectomy, you should follow these guidelines: •If you no longer have a cervix because you had a hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer, you do not need Pap tests.

•If you had a hysterectomy because of abnor­mal cervical cells or cervical cancer, you should have a yearly Pap test until you have three normal tests.

Get regular Pap tests.

Regular Pap tests help your doctor find and treat any changing cells before they turn into cancer

Between oral contraceptives and ovarian cancer A

ccording to a recent analysis in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, women who use oral contraceptives have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer. And the longer you take it, the lower your risk.

You already know the Pill is great for regulating your cycle and keeping babies at bay, but it also has a host of other amazing health benefits.

Researchers found that women, who had ever used oral contraceptives of any kind, had a lower risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer than women who had never taken the Pill. And women who had been on the Pill for 10 years or more saw a reduced risk of more than 50 percent!

So what is behind this association?

Researchers still are not entirely sure, says lead study author Laura Havrilesky; MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University School of Medicine. One theory is that halting

ovulation has a protective effect on the ovaries, though other theories mention a possible hormonal effect on the fallopian tubes, which is where many aggressive forms of ovarian cancer begin. Regardless of the mechanism, it is a pretty great side effect if you’re already planning to be on the Pill.

That said, experts warn that you should not go on birth control just to reduce your risk since the average woman’s chances of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is very minimal. Plus, previous research has linked long-term birth control use with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Essentially, this is one added benefit that can be weighed against other benefits and drawbacks of the Pill. However, if you have a family history or known genetic mutation that puts you at an increased risk of ovarian cancer and you’re already in the market for contraception, it may be worth talking to your doctor about going on the Pill.

Daily oral contraceptive pills

What can I do to prevent cervical cancer?

You can lower your risk of getting cervical cancer with the following steps. The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect you from cervical cancer. The best ways to prevent cervical cancer include: •Get an HPV vaccine (if you are 26 or younger). Two vaccines; Cervarix and Gardasil protect girls and young women against the types of HPV that causes most cervical cancers. The vaccines are recommended for girls who are 11 or 12 years old. The Gardasil vaccine is recommended for boys who are 11 or 12 years old. Both vaccines are licensed, safe, and effective.

•Get regular Pap tests. Regular Pap tests help your doctor find and treat any changing cells before they turn into cancer. Women who have had the HPV vaccine still need to have regular Pap tests.

•Be monogamous. This means that you only have sex with each other and no one else. The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HPV, is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But, having sex with just one partner can lower your risk. That means that you only have sex with each other and no one else.

•Use condoms. Research shows that condom use can lower your risk of getting cervical cancer when used correctly and every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Protect yourself with a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Can I still benefit from the HPV vaccine if I have already had sexual contact?

Yes, you can still benefit from the HPV vaccine if you have already had sexual contact before getting all three doses. This only applies if you have not been infected with the HPV types included in the vaccine.

– Source: U.S Public Health Service

FamilY AFFAIRS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

with

COUNSELLING Q & A PRINCESS ODUNAYOMI OKE

Dear Counsellor, My son of about 12 years is addicted to watching some cartoon films, and I have destroyed many of them and warned him not to bring any into the house again. But of recent, I noticed he has become so hyperactive that even in his sleep he fights karate, and call names of the characters in the film.

How can we help him to stop?

That should not be a big deal really.

When he fights karate so much in his sleep that he gets badly beaten, he will have no choice but to stop. Nobody tells a child not to play with fire.

But on a serious note, you should agree you have left that child to himself for too long. What is warning, where a serious issue like that is involved? By the time you beat him so well that he sees mummy and calls her daddy, then the message will register.

Maybe I should let you know what you referred to as becoming hyperactive could suddenly turn to him hearing strange voices, and following some imaginary instructions. Years ago, a boy of about his age almost lost his life, as a result of watching films like that. It got so bad he followed a voice in the cd that instructed him to climb a certain height, and then jump down headlong.

It took the intervention of his younger brother who shouted for help, to stop him. He would have wasted away just like that. Since you are now really interested in helping him to stop, your best bet will be to sit him down and tell him the many dangers in watching some of those films.

Let him know many of the characters in such shows are probably under some influence. You may have to stop him from continuing with some of the friends who might likely be influencing him along that line. And you can also report him to his class teacher, and instruct the school authority to give him capital punishment anytime such tapes are found on him.

But above all, spend more time with him than before, show him real love, as against scolding him always, and you could also take him up in prayers. At least if all else fail, that will surely not.

What can I do to stop my husband from inviting people into our bedroom? Anytime he considers a topic as very important, he would just hold the person by the hand from the living room straight to our bedroom.

This sounds both funny and interesting. But if I may ask, how is that your bedroom? I mean, does the setting look so straight that your husband mistakes it for his study?

Or better still, what type of people are we saying here? His friends or family members, and have you ever shown your displeasure about this?

Or have you taken time to discuss that with him?

One interesting thing about men is that some of them don’t see any reason why they cannot take close friends or relatives into their bedroom. But what they often don’t realise is that not every woman can take that, and that it is no longer a bachelor’s bedroom, but a matrimonial one.

So, you can just explain that to him without sounding as if you are complaining, or curtailing his movement in his home. A man will understand better when you give him your reasons in a friendly manner, than when you just bottle up and become

odunayomitide2010@gmail.com 08082592471 (sms only)

cold to him over what he does not even consider as an offence.

Tell him your bedroom is a very private place meant for just both of you, and the only persons who could be allowed in, are your children. If he refuses to stop, always leave the living room for your bedroom anytime he has guests he may likely want to have such important discussions with.

But if you get home at times, to meet him in such discussion in the bedroom, simply make a move to change from your outing wear to something else. I am sure he will get the message and take his guest back to the living room. Truth is, I don’t think there should be anything so serious or important that could not be discussed in the living room.

Another thing is that you should make your bedroom very romantic, I mean different from the conventional thing. That could get the message to him better; that it is a room to be respected, and not one to take just anybody, and virtually everybody to.

So, if words have failed in conveying your message, action can say it better. Transform your bedroom to a place of refuge; just for lovers, and your husband will learn to treat it with respect.

Talk to us What are you worried about? Your Health, Career, Children, relationship with Spouse, Partner, or in-laws? Do you have a question you want to ask, but you are embarrassed about? Why must you remain worried, sad or depressed when you could talk to someone? Feel free to talk to the counsellor on this page. You will be glad you did!

NOTE:

We will not publish your name or contact, for any reason.

Avoid negative people, for they are the greatest destroyer of self-confidence and self-esteem.

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. –Tom Ziglar

27

Success is not measured by what you do compare to what others do; it is measured by what you do with the ability God gave you.

–Zig Ziglar

Real men don’t do this!

CONTINUED from page 25

drinking cup. He used a belt to beat the child, and when she told him to be careful because of the metal end of the belt, he flared up. He asked her where all her family members were when he bought the special cup, and all the other expensive things in ‘his house.’

The situation later degenerated from bad to worse, as Maggi said he shifted the aggression to her at the slightest provocation. He has ‘tattooed’ her body with different designs, that her light skinned body had become blemished with dark patches. There was a particular incidence that prompted her to run to her Parents to come to her rescue before he killed her with battering, but she was sent back; because according to them, they were never in support of the marriage.

After listening to her story, I asked if we could invite him for a chat, but she said that would mark the end of the marriage, as he had warned her never to involve any outsider in their marital issue. She said he had warned her to be ready to leave the house anytime that happens. And since she did not have anywhere to go, or enough

money to survive on her own, she had to keep enduring the marriage.

Honestly, it gets me very upset each time a case of wife battering comes to the open, and the woman keeps insisting she doesn’t want to involve the authorities in charge. Little wonder cases of domestic violence leading to ‘accidental’, but brutal killing of wives have been on the increase in recent times. But it’s a pity some people will just remain blind to the truth, until their situation gets out of hand.

And to ensure this kind of violence is completely curbed, the Lagos State government runs a TV broadcast to educate both women and abused children on what to do, and where to turn for succour in such time of need.

Therefore, no one has any excuse to continue in an abusive relationship.

And that remains my reason for insisting that as bad as divorce is, it is better than the rut some people keep patching up, in the name of matrimony.

So when next you hear a man brags about how he brings his wife to order by battering her, tell him he is not a man, but a tyrant. Real men don’t beat their wives! Real men treat women with respect!!

A mother pledging her support to the 'Dettol Save Ten Million Children' Campaign at the Dettol Walkathon held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Lagos PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINi

28

Friday, June 27, 2014

BUSINESS FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Nigeria improves in UN eGovernment ranking Nigeria moved up 21 places to rank 141 out of 193 countries rated in the latest United Nations' eGovernment development ranking Index for 2014. Nigeria was ranked 162 in 2012. Aside that, the country also ranked 75 in the eParticipation index, up from 97 in 2012.

}p-30

FCMB plans to raise $300m for consumer lending The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc, that acquired the bailed-out FinBank Plc three years ago, plans to raise about $300 million this year to boost consumer lending, Bloomberg has reported.

}p-30

Insurers, PFAs’ battle for annuity business intensifies The tactical ‘ambush’ of annuity business from insurance operators

by Pension Fund Administrators has remain a source of concern to the underwriters who feel the fund administrators are taking advantage of the provisions of the new Pension Reform Act 2004 to corner retirees to themselves.

}p-31

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) GODSON IKORO , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

29 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

NIGERIA'S COCOA HIT BY BLACKPOD DISEASE }p-33

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

AFC to invest $1.450bn in Chad’s national oil company FINANCE Glencore set to provide financing of up to $1.450 billion to Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad (SHT), Chad’s national oil company

Appointed lead arranger of $1.305bn facility for Glencore October 2012.

AFC, a multilateral finance institution, was established in 2007 with an initial capital base of one billion dollar, to be a catalyst for private sector infrastructure investment across Africa. It was estab-

lished to help fill a critical void in providing project structuring expertise and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs, and is increasingly being seen as the benchmark institution for private sector-led investment in

the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport and telecommunications.

Commenting on the investment, Andrew Alli, President CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Siaka Momoh

T

he Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is a Mandated Lead Arranger of a $1.305 billion pre-payment facility for Glencore Energy UK, New Telegraph has learnt.

The facility will be used by Glencore to provide financing of up to $1.450 billion to Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad (SHT), the national oil company of Chad, while the pre-payment facility will, in turn, be used by SHT to acquire Chevron Global Energy Inc’s. 25 per cent participating interest in the Doba consortium, which owns and operates oil producing assets in Chad.

AFC was one of the six Mandated Lead Arrangers of the pre-payment facility, the others being Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Banking, Deutsche Bank, FBN Bank (UK) Ltd, Natixis, and Société Generale Bank, with Citibank N.A. as the Account Bank. AFC’s contribution to the financing was $100 million.

The Doba Consortium owns and operates the Doba Consortium petroleum assets in Chad, together with the pipeline companies responsible for transporting crude oil to Cameroon for export. The consortium comprises ExxonMobil Corporation (ExxonMobil), Chevron Global Energy Inc. (Chevron), and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). The field is operated

by ExxonMobil.

This investment marks the first project for the AFC in Chad, which joined the corporation as a member country in

L-R: Executive Commissioner, Legal and Enforcement, SEC, Sa’adatu Bello, Director General SEC, Arunma Oteh and Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, SEC, Zakawanu Garuba, at the Second Quarter Capital Market Committee Meeting in Lagos.

World’s second largest hotel chain owners eye Nigeria’s hospitality sector FDI Nigeria’s investment environment attracts top publicly-traded hotel Sunday Ojeme

M

arriott International Inc. (MAR), the world’s secondlargest publicly traded hotel chain, said it is planning an incursion into Nigeria and some other African countries within the shortest possible

time, adding that expansion into new Africa markets and a global economic recovery may boost revenue by as much as 10 per cent this year.

Bloomberg quoted the Chief Executive Officer, Arne Sorenson, as saying: “We would see the existing hotels grow their top line by something between four and six per cent and should add another four to five per cent new hotels. If you combine those two, you get revenue growth for us that is in the 10 per cent range.”

Marriott is boosting its presence in Africa and the Middle

East on the back of the acquisition of Cape Town-based Protea Hospitality Holdings for about $200 million in April.

The Bethesda, Marylandbased company will open as many as 50 new hotels in the region over the next three years, Alex Kyriakidis, the chain’s president for Middle East and Africa said in an interview.

That will bring the total to over 200.

“Today we have 45” new hotels in the pipeline, Kyriakidis said. “We will probably add sevCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8% Feburary 2014 ........................7.7%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at June 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N166.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N227.50 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.08bn as at 19/06/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at June 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N266.36 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N212.62 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Nigeria improves in UN eGovernment ranking TECHNOLOGY Local ICT initiatives pay off as country gets improved global rating Jonah Iboma

N

igeria moved up 21 places to rank 141 out of 193 countries rated in the latest United Nations' eGovernment development ranking Index for 2014. Nigeria was ranked 162 in 2012. Aside that, the country also ranked 75 in the eParticipation index, up from 97 in 2012.

The improvement in the 2014 ranking, according to the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (FMCT), is a welcome development that shows that progress is being made in the efforts of the Nigerian Government to enable and promote egovernance.

It will be recalled that the ministry has embarked on several initiatives to deploy ICT to drive transparency and efficiency in governance and public service delivery.

The ministry said that in order to enable internal efficiency in government, it was promoting ICT in government by facilitating e-Government, which enhances transparency,

efficiency, productivity and citizen engagement.

It said: “The ‘Getting Government Online’ initiative the ministry is facilitating is geared at ensuring that government deploys technology as a mechanism to transform the way government operates and enhance the effectiveness of government service delivery for the benefit of its citizens.

“This has led to the implementation of two flagship projects, namely the Government Service Portal (GSP) and Government Contact Centre (GCC). The Government Service Portal (GSP) provides a single window technology

access by citizens and other stakeholders to government services being provided by various Ministries Departments and Agencies MDAs. It is multi-featured and includes collaborative channels that deliver core content management capabilities.”

Government said that the primary objectives of deploying GSP was to create a single point of entry to Federal Government services, enhance accountability and improve the delivery and quality of public services through technologyenabled civic engagement (mobile technology, Facebook, Twitter, Interactive Mapping, Blogs, Wiki etc). it also said it wanted to transform government processes to increase public administration efficiency, increase end-user productivity by integrating many different services or data access

paths of MDAs - under a consistent presentation standard and mainstream some of the government’s non-sensitive datasets on the portal.

The Phase One of GSP includes the automation of 10 government processes from the Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Agriculture; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology. Some of the processes automated are Drug authentication, Farmer's Registration, Registration and Accreditation of Seed companies, Seed Import and Export Permit, Trademark registration, Patent registration, Acquisition of License for Class type license and Acquisition of individual type license, Spectrum License.

Fake phones put Nigeria’s ICT industry at risk Jonah Iboma

N L-R: Council member, Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), Mr. George Okoroma; Partner/Africa Head, Corporate Financial and Financial Advisory, KPMG, Mr. Dapo Olubadejo and ACEN President, Dr. Temilola Kehinde, during the association’s seminar on business growth in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

FCMB plans $300m for consumer lending

T

he First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc, that acquired the bailedout FinBank Plc three years ago, plans to raise about $300 million this year to boost consumer lending, Bloomberg has reported.

The bank may consider issuing Eurobonds if market conditions are favourable, its Chief Executive Officer, Ladi Balogun, said in an e-mailed reply to questions on Wednesday.

“Our preferred source of funding has been the loan mar-

kets as opposed to bond markets due to more stable pricing. We will probably get to about 40 per cent of our loan book being personal lending,” he said.

The CEO said that FCMB plans to increase its loan book by about 20 per cent to 540 billion naira ($3.3 billion) this year, as it joins other Nigerian lendersin raising debt to boost credit to consumers and fund infrastructure in Africa’s largest economy. The lender acquired FinBank in 2011, being one of eight banks

bailed out by the Central Bank of Nigeria during a debt crisis in 2009.

The bank is targeting a return on equity of 15 per cent this year and 20 per cent in 2016 compared with 13 per cent in 2013, Balogun said. FCMB plans to increase its customers to four million by 2016 from 2.5 million, he said.

FCMB’s profit rose 21 per cent to N5.05 billion in the three months through March from a year earlier, the company said in April.

okia Nigeria has warned that the country’s technology risked being ruined by the uncontrolled influx of fake phones and accessories.

The firm said in details released to our correspondent that fake phones and accessories have so become commonplace in Nigeria that the trend is making mockery of efforts to combat substandard devices.

According to Silvin Sinan, Head, Care Centre at Nokia West Africa, fake phones and accessories were among a number of issues that threatened the survival of the industry, as they are abundant.

AFC to invest $1.450bn in Chad’s national oil company CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

and Chief Executive Officer AFC, said: “We are particularly pleased to be able to finance our first project in Chad, a member country of the AFC since 2012.

This investment represents a continuation of our strategy to support the indigenisation of Africa’s oil and gas sector

World’s second largest hotel chain owners eye Nigeria’s hospitality sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

eral more over the next two or three years. Some of which will be construction. Some of which will be conversions.”

The report said that security concerns in Kenya and Nigeria, triggered by a series of deadly bomb attacks by Islamist rebels, won’t deter Marriott from further investment in those countries as the company is planning for the long term, So-

renson said.

“Many of the long-haul travellers that come to Nigeria are doing business. They will be less sensitive in some respects to security issues than a vacationer.

And when you look at Nigeria from a tourism perspective, much of the tourism in Nigeria is Nigerians living abroad.”

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., the biggest hotel chain, Radisson Hotels International Inc. and InterContinental Ho-

tels Group Plc are also expanding in Africa to take advantage of booming business travel and economies that are growing faster than their domestic markets. Marriott will enter seven new African countries including Ethiopia and Ghana as part of its growth strategy, and will invest about $3 billion in new builds alongside developers.

Economic recovery is also boosting luxury hotel stays at Marriott’s high-end brands in-

“One of such is the abundance of fake and substandard goods and accessories, a situation that has eaten so deep into the fabric of the sector and may destroy it if unchecked. The influx of fake and substandard products cut across all segments of the sector,” he said.

He said that consumers were so ignorant about products in the market, such that they find it difficult to differentiate between fake and real products, and often end up purchasing sub-standard products due to their lower prices.

“Incidentally, mobile phones and their accessories are not different as many consumers opt for substandard devices because they are cheap and look like the original,” Sinan said.

clude Bulgari, JW Marriott, Edition and Autograph Collection.

Marriott shares have rallied 29 per cent this year, valuing the company at $18.6 billion.

The stock declined 0.3 per cent to $63.58 at close in New York on Tuesday.

The owner of brands including Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance is benefiting from an increase in both business and leisure travel worldwide as the global economy improves.

through the provision of finance for the acquisition, or development of assets by local entities. By providing finance for Glencore’s pre-payment facility, AFC is ultimately supporting the industrial and economic development of the Republic of Chad.”

AFC is an African-led multilateral development financial institution, established in 2007, with a mission to improve African economies by proactively developing and financing infrastructure, industrial and financial assets.

It is involved as an investor, developer and financier of various infrastructure projects, and is gaining recognition as the benchmark institution for financing the development of infrastructure projects in Africa.

AFC’s current authorised share capital is USD2.0 billion with shareholders’ funds of USD1.28 billion and a 2014 funding programme of USD900 million.

Pension

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

RETIREMENT The ‘bad blood’ between life underwriters and Pension Fund Administrators over control of annuity business is still far from waning

Insurers, PFAs’ battle for annuity business intensifies

Sunday Ojeme

T

he tactical ‘ambush’ of annuity business from insurance operators by Pension Fund Administrators has remain a source of concern to the underwriters who feel the fund administrators are taking advantage of the provisions of the new Pension Reform Act 2004 to corner retirees to themselves.

Prior to the creation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, insurance operators were solely in charge of retirees’ annuity given the fact that the expertise to handle such transaction was also embedded in their professional calling.

However, the fact that the PRA 2004 mandated the PFAs to be in charge of workers’ contributions towards retirement has endeared them closer to each other thereby giving advantage to the PFAs to discuss and be in charge of their financial management after retirement. This has also been made possible by the fact that prior to the emergence of the CPS, not many Nigerians were too interested in taking life insurance where they would have been lectured on what to do when their investments mature. This is besides the existence of the poorly operated non-contributory pension scheme.

With the new scheme now boasting of over N4 trillion in assets and retirees getting their pensions as at when due directly under the control of the PFAs, insurers are beginning to fret that if everything is allowed to continue the way it is, it would take more than extra commitment to get retirees to their side.

Available records revealed that PFAs have continued to dominate pension benefits business as beneficiaries on Programmed Withdrawal stood at 86,628 as at March, while annuitants, managed by life insurers are 9,212.

According to PenCom, a cumulative lump-sum of N115.71 billion and average monthly withdrawal of N24.72 billion are made on Programmed Withdrawal managed by 20 PFAs, while a cumulative lump-sum N20.48 billion, premium of N45.27 billion and average monthly payments N465.13 million are made on life annuity offered by about 27 life insurers.

Besides the series of calls in the past for an awareness campaign on the part of insurers to get back some of what belongs to them, another practitioner, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, recently reminded them to take further steps in sorting out the knotty issues through persistent public awareness.

Ilori, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mansard Insurance Plc, said insurers needed collaboration, sustained awareness and cohesion to make significant progress in annuity business.

According to her, “I quite agree that insurers’ participation in annuity is still low, there are few things we need to do, for us to make progress in the business. We need collaboration and cohesion, starting from the regulators.

At a time, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) started by helping us by rolling out joint agreement with the National Pension Commission

31

Sunday-Thomas-DG-NIA.

Anohu-Amazu

Ilori

Commissioner-for-Insurance-Mr-Fola-Daniel.

(PenCom). But I think, what we need from them is sustained publicity.

“I know NAICOM alone cannot do this, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) should join hands with NAICOM to promote this agenda. To champion the agenda for the NIA in the Life Committee, which has some money set aside for the purpose, we have been on this for about two years, and are yet to see any advert published.

We need to create massive awareness.”

“Many a time, the Federal Government did send out publications on when prospective retirees will be meeting with them, we all need to be proactive, and take advantage of such meetings.

“Because the money at the moment is with the Pension Fund Administra-

tors (PFAs), it will be tough for them to let go the business that belongs to us. We need to do something about pre-retirement programmes, because a PFA will not take it upon itself to educate a client that is retiring about programmed withdrawal and annuity, for some of them do not understand what annuity is and how it works and would

I quite agree that insurers’ participation in annuity is still low, there are few things we need to do, for us to make progress in the business

not make promises on our behalf. So, we need to take it up on ourselves and change the situation.”

She also advised her colleagues on the need to be circumspect in the type of businesses they get involved in, saying, at the moment, not too many companies are licensed by NAICOM to do annuity because of its technicalities.

She said, “Life operators should make the work of the regulator easier by having the right skills and also be wary of the business, for it is not just taking the fund, for it was one of the businesses that wrecked the United Kingdom’s pension market.

“I do not suggest that it is something everybody should go into, for the right skills, actuaries, investment officers are required to be successful in the business.”

According to Section 4 of the Pension Reform Act, an employee is allowed to use the amount accumulated in his Retirement Savings Account (RSA) for the purchase of either programmed withdrawal or life annuity at retirement on attaining the age of 50 years whichever is the latter.

The retiree is also allowed to take a lump sum (at age 50 or at retirement whichever is the latter) from the RSA balance provided that the amount left after the withdrawal shall be sufficient to procure Annuity for life or fund Programme Withdrawals that will provide an amount not less than 50 per cent of his annual remuneration as at the date of his retirement.

The Programmed Withdrawal is provided by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) while the annuity for life is provided by licensed life insurance companies in Nigeria.

Before now, the acting Director-General of National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, had opened up on the concern by the insurers that the pension administrators were taking advantage of the Pension Reform Act 2004 to squeeze annuity business out of them.

She advised that rather than complain of being denied adequate participation in the programme, the management of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) should facilitate adequate sensitisation and public enlightenment programmes to create awareness on the regulation on annuity.

The PenCom boss, who said the complaint by some insurers was uncalled for, advised them to intensify efforts in marketing annuity business instead of complaining of de-marketing, saying that the Pension Reform Acts (PRA) 2004 had spelt out the roles to be played life insurers and PFAs in managing retirement funds.

The Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Sunday Thomas, also advised the underwriters to fight the alleged de-marketing of annuity business by pension funds administrators through development of good products that suit the needs of retirees.

He stressed the fact that insurers and pension operators ought not to fight over annuity and programme withdrawal as the law had specified the roles to be played by the operators.

32

BUSINESS | PENSION

RESPITE NELMCO heaves sigh of relief as PHCN pensioners’ moves to another agency

Sunday Ojeme

F

ollowing the Power Holding Company of Nigeria pension liabilities transfer from the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company to the Pension Transition Arrangement Department by the Federal Government, a PHCN pensioner, Mr. Olu Ayeni, has described the movement

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

PHCN pensioner faults transfer from NELMCO to PTAD as a trick to further enslave the electricity retirees.

Ayeni, who spoke to New Telegraph on the matter, said the Federal Government and stakeholders in charge of the pensions were only trying to postpone the evil day by further delaying the pension payment they had not paid in the last four months.

He said, “It is all a ploy to

make life more difficult for the poor pensioners. They are looking for a way to further delay the payment. They know what they are doing but we will go ahead with the struggle.

“What we have been agitating for is for them to pay us off instead of subjecting us to this unbearable situation.”

New Telegraph recalls that the Managing Director of

NELMCO, Mr. Sam Agbogun, disclosed during the week in Benin that the Federal Government had approved the transfer of the management of over 20,000 PHCN pensioners from the NELMCO to (PTAD).

He said that the pensioners were also owed gratuity, death benefits, outstanding electricity rebate, monetisation arrears, etc, running into billions of naira in addition to the N4.5 billion monthly pensions.

He said the capitalisation of PHCN pension’s provision as opposed to recurrent and inadequate budget appropriation was responsible for the delay currently being experienced in the payment of pensions, adding that the Federal Government came up with the transfer plan from the NELMCO to the PTAD to put an end to the irregular payments to

the pensioners.

He also attributed the delay to the huge finances deployed by the FG to fighting insurgency and other security challenge in the country, saying that following the reoccurring challenge that had led to inability to promptly pay the PHCN pensioners, the Board of NELMCO in its last board meeting resolved and directed that their payment and management obligations be transferred to PTAD within three months.

The PTAD was established under the Pension Reform Act, 2004, to manage the payment of pensions under the old pension scheme, the Defined Benefits Scheme. According to the Act, the PTAD will exist and operate up till the last person under the old scheme dies.

Retirees cautioned on choice of investment

C L-R: President, Bank Customers Associations' of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. ’Uju Ogubunka; Chairman, organising committee, Mrs. Olubukola Osindero; Pioneer President /Managing Director/CE, Afrexim Bank, Mr. Chuka Chris Edordu, and Director, Financial Market Department, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje, during the maiden Bank Customers' Summit, in Lagos

Widowed spouses to have benefit reinstated

W

idowed spouses of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers, who lost their pension when they remarried, are to have the benefit reinstated.

The change will apply to those whose RUC partners died in service from January 1989 and those who retired after that date and subsequently died.

The move reverses a policy introduced in 1988 that abolished RUC pensions for widowed partners who got remarried.

Justice Minister, David Ford, said the reinstatement cost was not yet known.

The new RUC pension policy was announced by the Policing Board on Friday and is due to come into operation from the beginning of July.

It follows a TUV amendment to a public pensions bill passed earlier this year.

The board has advised former RUC widows and widow-

ers who believe they have an entitlement as a result of this change to make contact with them by phone, letter or email.

The Policing Board said it is also exploring the possibility of extending the scheme to pre 1988 RUC pension schemes.

The chairman of the RUC

GC Foundation, Brian Rea, welcomed the news.

"It is recognition of the contribution made to this community by police officers and their families," he said.

"We would hope that the change will be extended to include pre-1988 RUC pension schemes."

onsidering the large scale failure of private businesses entered into by most retirees, an expert in post-retirement financial management has come up with steps to ensure that retirees take the best decision before investing their money.

In his analysis, a consultant with African Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr. Nathaniel Ohanado, said it was not only important to have a passion for a particular business idea but also very expedient to know if the person fit into the business considering his status as a retiree.

According to him, it is always very necessary to develop some ideas towards a particular business a retiree has passion for. This, he said, would enable the individual study the process and become grounded in the chosen business.

He said, “You don’t decide to open a clinic after retirement because you are a medical doctor. You don’t decide to open a security company be-

Insurers, PFAs’ battle for annuity business intensifies C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

According to him, the menace would have stemmed from the operators' lack of adequate knowledge of how the two businesses operate. They were designed to complement each other.

He said, “When we heard of the issue of de-marketing between the operators, I had cause to write to PenCom and copied NAICOM. I believe it is due to lack of adequate knowledge of the subject.

"I happened to be among those who were instrumental to give effect to the law, when I was with NAICOM. And annuity was not designed to be a conflict between the institutions. But the problem may probably be due to lack of proper understanding. The two are supposed to complement each other.

"The role of programme withdrawal is totally different from life annuity. There was a time the former Director-General of PenCom, was encour-

aging insurance companies to come up with products that will attract retirees and he gave a figure of which out of the total number of retirees, it was very small number that went by way of life annuity.

"If I am an operator, demarketing will not bother me too much, all I need to do, is come up with good products that would sufficiently be endeared in the minds of the retirees. I would go ahead and market the products and engage in public awareness."

cause you had worked as a security personnel for 30 years.

You don’t decide to open an accounting office because you are an accountant by profession or a legal firm because you are a lawyer. You must have inner love for the new business.

“If you are a gifted professional and have received series of training in a particular field, then think along that line of business provided you have an indepth love for it.”

He also advised that in drawing out a business plan, the retiree must endeavour to be himself instead of trying to draw from the success of someone else, saying that it was possible for one to fail in a particular business where other people are excelling.

On the best way to excel as an individual, the retirement expert advised on the need to develop a secret formula, adding that it does not matter if many people were already in the same line of business.

“What is important is to come up with a secret formula for your operation. Always avoid business insanity or madness,” he added.

He further hinted that making adequate survey was also very important as the potential investor would have garnered some first class information in the course of interviewing people who were already in the same line of business. He said this would also enable the individual develop a secret formula.

He said, “The fact that men in a particular town are going barefooted does not mean that they are in need of shoes.

Therefore, adequate survey is very necessary.”

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Agric

BUSINESS 33

Cocoa beans being sun-dried

Nigeria's cocoa hit by blackpod disease FUNGUS Cocoa farmers in trouble as beans are hit by disease. More rains make disease spread fast

F

armers in Cross River State, Nigeria’s secondlargest cocoa-growing area, are in trouble as their crop has been hit by blackpod disease with increase rainfall.

•Biomass that is produced in tropical and sub-tropical climates has an average productivity that is over five times higher than that of biomass grown in the temperate regions of Europe and North America.

• Since developing countries are located predominantly in the warmer climates and lower latitudes, they have a considerable comparative advantage.

•In terms of today’s utilisation of biomass resources, this comparative advantage is best illustrated by the development of

Biomass

“The rain pattern is causing infection to crops,” Godwin Ukwu, a farmer and spokesman for the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, said from Ikom, the largest cocoa-producing area of the state. “Fungicides are helping farmers control the spread.”

Farmers in Cross River State, which produces about 30 per cent of the nation’s cocoa output, “are worried that more rains will make the disease spread faster and are being cautious,” Ukwu said.

Blackpod fungus, which rots

cocoa pods and thrives in wet, humid conditions, is the most destructive disease for the cocoa trees in the state, he said.

The harvest of mid-crop beans began in April, when bean weights were 270 grams (0.6 pound).

That declined to about 250 grams due to the rains, Neji Abang, country coordinator for Socodevi, a Quebec City, and Canada-based organisation helping farmers in the country raise output and bean quality, said in an interview.

“Farmgate prices for cocoa beans in Cross River fell to 445,000 naira ($2,720) a ton from 450,000 as crop quality dropped,” Abang said.

Nigeria’s cocoa production is estimated at 300,000 metric tons this year from 295,000 in 2013, Sayina Riman, president of the country’s cocoa association, said. Farmers in Cross River are pruning trees to increase access to sunlight and reduce the impact of the rains, Abang said.

Nigeria’s cocoa year is di-

vided into two harvests. The main-crop season begins in October and ends in January, while the light-crop season, the smaller of the two, usually begins in April and ends in June.

The start and end dates of the two seasons may vary each year depending on the weather.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy ranks behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia as the world’s largest cocoa producer, according to the London-based International Cocoa Organization.

sugarcane in Brazil, AGRICresources INTELLIGENCE

Biomass, emerging delight of the industry mainly for ethanol but also for some industrial products such as bio-plastics.

•The example of Brazil provides the most commercially successful case of developing a biomass resource for energy and industrial applications.

•Latin America, along with sub-Saharan Africa, has been

estimated as having the highest biomass potential - after accounting for food production and resource constraints - among any of the major world regions.

•Using four scenarios, the potentials were assessed for various categories of biomass and categories of land use. The high potential results from large areas of suitable cropland, the low productivity of existing agricultural production systems, and the low population density.

•Such estimates of the longterm bio-energy potential for the various regions can serve as guidelines for development strategies that can harness the biomass resource base in a sustainable manner.

•Overall, the global potentials range from 30 per cent to over 200 per cent of current total energy consumption.

•Other sources of biomass that are not included in the potentials above include animal wastes, organic wastes such as MSW, bio-energy from natural growth forests, and water-based biomass such as micro-algae.

•It is important to note that these are techno economic potentials, and there will inevitably be social and cultural issues that would restrict use of some lands for biomass production.

•Many other characteristics would have to be considered in assessing the potentials. However, the considerable potential does provide some indication as to the vast scale of land resources and the low levels of current utilisation.

•As the role of biomass for energy and industry has become more economically competitive, there is increasing concern as to the impact on food security,

especially for countries that are net food importers or those that experience droughts and other disruptions in the food supply.

•However, there is not necessarily a negative correlation between food and fuel, and in fact there are many positive economic linkages that can arise.

•There exist potential synergies between food and nonfood uses, especially as new agro-industrial biotechnology methods are deployed. Where there are potential conflicts, it is crucial that bio-based industrial development is accompanied by investment in greater agricultural productivity and/ or due consideration for distributional issues that arise when the agricultural sector and industrial sector compete for the same raw materials.

Source: UNIDO

34

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Researchers’ conversation on how to tackle yam diseases Yam farmers in West Africa often fail to get good yields, with one major cause being disease in their crop. Unfortunately, diseases can be passed from one generation of the crop to the next, through the planting material. In response, farmers and scientists have been experimenting with a new technique to produce seed yam for planting, which has the advantages of producing more seed yams which are also free of diseases. Beatrice Aighewi and Danny Coyne, two researchers who have been working with yam farmers in Nigeria, discuss how the technique works and the benefits it offers

D

avison: Yam is a very important crop, feeding millions of people in West Africa. In Nigeria for example, there are many homes where yam is eaten three times a day, all through the year. But farmers who grow yam often struggle to get good yields, and one of the main causes of this is that their yam plants are infected by diseases. Yams are normally grown by planting either small tubers, known as seed yams, or planting pieces cut from larger tubers, which are known as setts. But this seed material is often infected by diseases, leading to unhealthy plants and poor yields.

Beatrice Aighewi, a yam researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria, explains more.

Aighewi: Farmers have a lot

of challenges as regards clean seed material. A major challenge is that the seeds are recycled year after year from one season to the other and they carry the diseases from one planting season to the next. So their yields keep reducing year after year.

Davison: Now the IITA, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, has been working with a technique to help farmers get better, healthier yam seed so that their production can increase. And this technique is called the adapted yam minisett technique. Just explain what is a minisett and how does this technique work?

Aighewi: The minisett technique really just means that the seed that you plant is small, much smaller than what the farmers are used to, and we plant that one after treatment

Yam tubers ready for homes

to be able to come out with the small tubers that later on will be planted to get the big tubers for eating.

Davison: I see.

Aighewi: So the minisetts is specifically to produce seed yams.

Davison: In Nigeria, when farmers want to grow their own seed yams, for planting the following season, they normally take a yam tuber and cut it into two or three pieces, which they plant.

Since the 1970s, work has been done to encourage farmers to use much smaller pieces of yam to grow their seed yam. These are

Agricultural Commodity Prices - Grains Commodity CBOT Corn CBOT Wheat CBOT Oats CBOT Rough Rice CBOT Soybeans CBOT Soybean Meal CBOT Soybean Oil ICE Canola

Softs

Commodity ICE Cocoa ICE Coffee "C" ICE Sugar #11 ICE Orange Juice Conc ICE Cotton #2 SFE Greasy Wool CME Lumber TOCOM Rubber CME Ethanol

Units USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USD/cwt USd/bu.

USD/st USd/lb.

CAD/mt

Price 440.75 580.75 332.00 13.70 1,224.50 387.10 41.17 465.70

Change -1.75 -8.25 -1.00 -0.07 -9.25 -7.50 +0.51 +1.30

% Change -0.40% -1.40% -0.30% -0.47% -0.75% -1.90% +1.25% +0.28%

Contract Dec 14 Sep 14 Dec 14 Sep 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Dec 14 Nov 14

Units USD/mt USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb. cents/kg USD/tbf JPY/kg USD/gal.

Price 3,043.00 176.25 18.69 154.10 76.49 330.90 216.90 2.01

Change -37.00 -1.15 -0.02 -7.30 -1.19 -1.10 -0.10 -0.01

% Change -1.20% -0.65% -0.11% -4.52% -1.53% -% -0.33% -0.05% -0.69%

Contract Sep 14 Sep 14 Oct 14 Sep 14 Dec 14 Aug 14 Sep 14 Nov 14 Aug 14

Time(ET) 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:23:09 Time(ET) 13:30:00 14:02:52 13:00:24 14:00:00 14:26:46 15:10:55 05:59:55 15:10:45

Livestock Commodity Units Price Change % Change Contract Time(ET) CME Live Cattle USd/lb.

149.65 +2.73 +1.85% Aug 14 15:13:26 CME Feeder Cattle USd/lb.

210.90 +3.00 +1.44% Aug 14 15:13:55 CME Lean Hogs USd/lb.

130.95 +1.98 +1.53% Aug 14 15:08:25 Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price.

Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

the minisetts which Beatrice referred to. And in the last decade, farmers and researchers have been experimenting to find out exactly what sized piece of tuber works best. Their results suggest that an 80 gram piece of tuber –around the size of a small condensed milk tin –works best in the most common type of yam. But as well as investigating the best size, they have also been testing different ways of treating the cut pieces of yam before planting, in order to tackle the problem of diseases.

Danny Coyne is a scientist who was involved in this research. I asked him to explain more about what farmers’ normal practice is when producing their own seed yam. Farmers traditionally use a cut sett for growing seed yam, usually larger size, and they normally dust it with wood ash. But what we found was, especially where you have got pests and diseases on the yam in the first place, it does not help a great deal. And we adapted the technique from the farmers’ technique by quite simply using a certain size and treating them with a pesticide coating.

Davison: Testing to find out what kind of pesticide would be most effective in treating the yam setts was another part of the experiments done by the farmers and scientists. I asked Danny to explain more about this and what benefits the pesticide treatment would have, compared to the farmers’ traditional practice of using wood ash.

Coyne: We tried a number of pesticides that are available and we eventually came up with a fungicide and insecticide dip, actually, and that seemed to do the job the best and it effectively treats disease that is actually already in the yam. And what often happens is because yam is a clonally or a vegetatively propagated crop, you cut a piece of the previous crop to plant the

next crop. So any diseases that are present in the tuber from the season before get transferred to the next season. And so the pesticide is effectively to cure and stop any further disease continuing. Stop the cycle basically.

Davison: The aim of the project has been to give farmers a new method, which will enable them to produce a sufficient number of seed yam using only a small part of their harvested crop, and also produce seed yam that are free of diseases. This should help to ensure that when the seed yam is planted in the following season, they grow into strong healthy plants which produce large, good quality yams for selling or eating. So what were the results of all these experiments? Did the new method, using 80 gram pieces of yam tuber dipped in pesticide before planting, give the results the farmers and researchers were hoping for? Danny Coyne again.

Coyne: We found that by treating the setts with the pesticide dip, on average, over a large number of farmers, we found that we increased the yield in the field by about double, doubling their yields. What is very important however is that the yams that were produced using the new technique and the pesticide dip were healthy, they did not have the disease. Whereas the farmers’ technique, they had the disease on them. And then when it goes into storage, this is where the big problem lies, that for three or four months of the year when they are storing the seed, that is when the disease eats away at the yam tubers and they decay. Some will not germinate at the end, and those that do germinate still have the disease and then the disease cycle is continued from year to year by the farmers unknowingly, and that is one of the problems.

Source: IITA.

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

35

Problem with Nigeria's cotton Nigeria’s cotton is known internationally to be polycontaminated due to the use of polypropylene bags by farmers to pick and deliver cotton seed to buyers and ginneries Siaka Momoh

B

ack in October 2004, the Raw Materials and Research Development Council had done a survey on raw materials in Nigeria and cotton was one of them. The survey noticed the following problem: Over the years, it was observed that there was a lot of movement of seeds across regions, which led to contamination and loss of viability. The Cotton Revolving Fund Management Committee (CRFMC), which was saddled with the responsibility of seed purification and development, took up the responsibility to purify and restrict movement of seeds across the regions. This was successfully concluded in the North East and North West.

Poly contamination According to the survey, Nigeria’s cotton is known internationally as poly contaminated. This is due to the use of polypropylene bags by farmers to pick and deliver their seed cotton to buyers and ginneries.

In the process, particles of the poly bag get mixed up with the cotton during ginning, spinning and even weaving. The damage will be seen only at the dyeing stage, thus most of the cotton lint, yarn or grey exported is discounted because there is no dye guarantee.

The survey noted that efforts were being intensified by stakeholders, which have led to the reduction in poly contamination. It said firstly, at the buying level, both at farm gate and market, “farmers are encouraged to use other packaging materials rather than poly bags.”

“In some cases, agents issue out cloth sacks, baskets or jute bags to farmers and encourage them to pick their cotton in those containers. This is called poly free cotton. Buyers pay a premium price for such cotton. Secondly, ginneries have also developed an ingenious ways of reducing the poly contamination using rolling spikes on the suction floor. There is also the manual picking of poly threads to reduce the contamination.

Cotton produced in this way is called poly reduced,” the survey said.

The worrisome point here is that Nigerian cotton is poly-

Cotton farm

contaminated. And this is a serious problem. Serious problem because it is of lees value; selling it means discounting it as stated earlier.

The survey identified other problems: Purchases are made outside the gazetted markets without inspection and grading by experts; possibility of adulteration of seed cotton.

(E.g. sprinkling of water, adding stones to seed cotton to gain extra weight); standard of cotton quality not assured; cottonseed multiplication system in disarray; different varieties are indiscriminately cultivated.

Demand and supply of cotton The survey also has information on supply and demand for cotton. As at 2004, according to the survey, there were 40 textile mills and an equal number of ginneries. Reporting as at 2004 the survey said: “Consumption of cotton lint by textile industry in Nigeria is about 100,000 tons plus or minus 15 per cent. Textile mills are therefore forced to import about 15,000 tons of cotton in order to cover the shortfall in local supply and for certain specific requirement for finer yarns such as 30-40’s, which is not grown locally. It is therefore clear that the local supply is not enough to meet the demand.

“Against a total demand of about 80,000 metric tonnes of lint per annum (240,000 metric tonnes seed cotton) by the textile mills, the total production of lint has been less, thus resulting in a gap between demand and supply. It is expected that this gap will widen further as the steps taken by the government to revive the textile industry may lead to increase in capacity utilization, thus resulting in higher demand for cotton. This initiative has led to an unprecedented prices increase for the second consecutive season.”

Olam’s view Interestingly, the current picture of the cotton sector painted by Olam Nigeria Limited is similar to the 2004 RMRDC surveys. Olam, in a paper presented to government said only 10 per cent of total ginning capacity is currently in use due to cotton seed shortage. Cotton production output, according to the paper, is declining with current year crop expected to be only 80,000 metric tonnes seed cotton (about 20,000 metric tonnes lint equivalent).

It added that “Nigerian cotton has very low yield levels (average 550 Kg seed cotton per hectare compared to global average of 2 metric tonnes per hectare. Oil mills that use cotton seeds as raw material are also facing raw material shortage due to cotton seed unavailability.”

According to industry experts, cotton production in the country has taken a downward trend as the gap between demand and supply is becoming wider and wider every year because the supply does not equate demand. If such situation persists, it means that the demand for raw material cannot be met by our local industries. The current cotton production in Nigeria as reported

by United States Agency for international Development (USAID) is 120,000 tons in the year 2012. USAID further reported that China, India, United States

In some cases, agents issue out cloth sacks, baskets or jute bags to farmers and encourage them to pick their cotton in those containers

and Pakistan accounting 70 per cent of the world total.

Olam, for instance, has a fixed investment of about $3 million in its ginnery based in Zaria. Its ginnery in Zaria has an annual ginning capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes seed cotton. Current utilization of this plant is only 25 per cent of installed capacity due to raw material non-availability.

Cotton production areas The cotton production areas in Nigeria are divided into three ecological zones, namely: the Northern cotton zone, which comprises of Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa States. These States contribute 60-65 per cent of the cotton produced in Nigeria. There is also the Eastern cotton zone, which comprises of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba States. This zone contributes 30-35 per cent of the total cotton production in Nigeria. The third ecological area known as the Southern cotton zone is made up of Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Edo States; it contributes 5 per cent of the total cotton production in Nigeria.

Impact on the textile industry It has been largely touted that policy inconsistencies have been responsible for the de-industrialisation of Nigeria, and Nigeria’s ailing textile industry is one of the examples listed on the victims list. Reports hold policy inconsistencies killed our textile industry; that now that the number of our textile plants has largely thinned out, we now depend almost wholly on the outside world for our clothing needs; that studies carried out on small scale traders in Nigeria by analysts show that we spend a minimum of about $158.4 annually on importation of fabrics and textiles from Dubai alone.

Way out The following recommendations have been made by the stakeholders in cotton business: •Government should source for foreign investors to invest in the purchase of cotton lint.

•Government should encourage textile mills by prohibiting the importation of finished textile products.

•Textiles mills should also be allowed to import lint.

•Government should reduce custom duties on spare parts.

•Government should provide low interest rate on loans to cotton farmers and manufacturers.

•Government should establish a gazetted market to control quality, stabilize price and ensure production of better quality cotton.

•Government should encourage research to provide farmers with high yielding variety and quality that could compete favourably in seed cotton production with other countries.

•Government should equip and regularly fund Research Institutes with mandates for cotton research.

•Government should set up agency to check quality of the raw materials from the farm.

•Government and private sector should encourage largescale production of cotton through mechanized farming to meet the demand of ginneries in the country. Enough farming inputs should also be made available.

•Government should support production, quality control and marketing.

•Need for investing in developing expertise for hybrid seeds production in Nigeria •Exploring partnership with Federal and State Governments to support cotton farmers through more elaborate outgrowers scheme.

•Zoning dedicated areas for corporates to develop the crop on the back of exclusive buyback arrangement with farmers.

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Investing in poultry hatchery Currently, the number of poultry hatcheries and incubators in the country cannot meet the demand of poultry farmers Olumakinde Oni

O

ne of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is the provision of adequate and qualitative food for all by the year 2010. An average person must consume 2,191kcal of carbohydrate and 53.8 grains of crude protein daily. The present level of consumption by Nigerians on the average is 1,200kcal of carbohydrate and 35.1 grams of crude protein daily. The crude protein deficit could be met cheaply from animal sources in terms of quality and quantity. One of the ways of achieving this is through encouragement of investments

in the animal husbandry sector of the Nations agriculture.

Currently, number of poultry hatcheries and incubators in the country cannot meet the demand of the poultry farmers. Establishment of this project will be a welcome relief to poultry farmers. What obtains at present is that farmers have to book for day old chicks at the existing hatcheries and wait for weeks or months before they can collect. Most of time, it is by allocation.

One of the greatest problems facing Nigeria today is unemployment. The causes of unemployment can be attributed to low investment in the productive sector. Establishment of this project is an addition to the productive sector, which on the short and long run will create employment opportunities.

Devil they say, creates jobs for the idle hands, this is the reason while we are having so many social vices in the country today.

This project is out to reduce social vices in the country.

The market for day old

chicks is very guaranteed.

The present operators operate what we call sellers market as they cannot meet the demand of their buyers.

The project is highly profitable and it is also technically feasible as it can be managed by middle level manpower.

Technical Information The project entails installation of incubators where fertilised eggs are kept for 21 days and they are hatched as day old chicks which are then sold to poultry farmers.

The fertilised eggs are earlier procured from established grandparent stock poultry farm. In essence, an investor will need to establish a grandparent stock farm where eggs are produced for fertelisation.

The eggs are later transferred to incubators where they will be hatched. Serious minded investors can be assisted in the establishment of the project.

Financial Implication To establish a hatchery of

10,000 eggs per 3 weeks capacity, the followings are the requirements: Pre-investments: N100, 000 Grandparent stock: N1,000,000 Poultry building +land: N1,000,000 Incubators + installation: N20,000,000 Utilities: N2,500,000 Working capital + others: N2,500,000 Total N26, 500,000 The project can be financed

by Agric Bank, Bank of Industry and bommercial banks if supported by a bankable feasibility report. This can be prepared on request for genuine and serious minded investors.

Profitability Annual turnover of N35 million has been computed while the profit margin of 40 per cent is realisable after all costs including bank charges.

This is, no doubt, a good investment that can contribute positively to our economy. olumakindeoni@yahoo.com

Day-old chicks

Where lumpy cocoa goes to die You may not care all that much, but at a place like Nestle, lumps in powdered beverages such as cocoa, coffee and infant formula are a big deal. So much so that the company conducts quite a bit of sophisticated research into ways to eliminate lumps in cocoa, coffee and infant formula.

R

ecently, the company claimed a breakthrough - a theory that predicts more accurately than ever before the

way certain substances, such as sugar and other carbohydrates, will dissolve in water. It turns out that until a doctoral student turned two video cameras on a droplet of water as it dissolved into a very thin layer of maltodextrose, this was a relatively poorly understood process.

The student, Julien Dupas of the École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles in France, spread the layers of carbohydrate so thinly that they refracted light as the water droplet touched them. Then he used that information and the “contact angle” of the water droplet and the carb layer to figure out how the solution process worked at its leading edge.

I was intrigued that so much work went into what, for me, was a matter of pouring water into a cup contain-

ing powder and stirring, so I read Dupas’s paper, published on May 6 in a physics journal (here’s the abstract). Suffice it to say that I didn’t understand much, if any, of the complicated description and formulas therein, so I interviewed Laurent Forny, a food scientist in the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, who worked with Dupas on the research.

Again, I was pretty much overwhelmed, but I managed to take this away from our conversation: “What we [were] not able to predict before is what is the mechanism that drives the wetting,” Forny said. “We didn’t know why the droplet was spreading and why in some cases (wetting) better, in some cases (wetting) worse.”

Source: Washington Post

Ghana's cocoa damaged without government pesticides

C

ocoa farmers in Ghana, the second-largest producer of the beans, are still waiting for pesticides from the government with recent rain making the crop vulnerable to disease, Bloomberg has reported.

Farmers should receive chemicals and fertilizers within two weeks, said Noah Amenyah, spokesman for the Ghana Cocoa Board. Nicholas Kobina, who supervises 200,000 farmers in western Ghana, said the deliveries are three weeks late.

Ghana will produce 900,000 metric tons of beans for the 12 months that end Sept. 30, the highest in three years, according to the Ghana Cocoa Board. Farmers are now collecting the smaller light crop estimated at 50,000 tons. Even with the increased output, global supply is lagging behind demand, sending prices 13 percent higher this year in New York.

“We really need the spraying of the chemicals now or else we risk losing the light crop to diseases,” Kobina, 83, said by phone yesterday.

Rain is expected to decrease the rest of this week in Ghana and Ivory Coast, the biggest producer, according to MDA Weather Services in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Some “minor dryness” is seen in western Ghana, it said in a recent report.

“The farmers’ concerns are quite speculative,” Amenyah said.

Cocoa for September delivery rose 0.6 percent to 1,921 pounds ($3,261) a ton on NYSE Liffe in London, advancing for the first time in three days. Cocoa for delivery in the same month advanced 0.7 percent to $3,063 a ton on ICE Futures US in New York.

Cocoa farmers get €14m support he Dutch Embassy in Ghana, in partnership with six Tprivate cocoa License Buying

Companies (LBCs) in Ghana, is supporting cocoa farmers with €14 million to boost the production of the cash crop, according to agency report.

Beginning with three cocoa-growing constituencies; namely Twifo-Praso, Bibiani and Sefwi-Wiawso, the programme, dubbed Ghana Cocoa Rehabilitation and Intensification Programme (CORIP), is expected to be extended to other cocoa-growing communities in the country after its first term.

Besides addressing the institutional challenges of the cocoa supply chain in finding efficient ways of providing support services to the farmers, CORIP aims to develop the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa

farming in the country.

The six private cocoa buying companies are Cargill, Armajaro, Touton, ADM, OLAM and Mondelez, with Solidaridad West Africa managing the entire programme for the two partners.

Other collaborating partners include the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Ghana Cocoa Board and Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, and the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).

Speaking at the official launch of CORIP at Cargill at the Tema Free Zones enclave, Ms Lilianne Ploumen, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, said the main strategy for implementing the programme would be through the establishment and operation of cocoa Rural Service Centres (RSC) across the cocoa belts.

CRIME

37

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JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

When killers hunt witnesses

Juliana Francis

I

n August 2008, a member of the Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji was killed. It was later reported that Ogundeji was killed by a gang of six armed robbers.

The incident allegedly took place at a point between Dopemu and Akowonjo area of Lagos about 11.45pm.

Investigations showed that his death was not random but premeditated.

The matter actually reached the court, but was stalled after one of the witnesses, identified as Tunmise, was killed by unknown gunmen.

Tunmise, a key witness was assassinated a month after Ogundeji was killed. The witness was said to have been with Ogundeji in his car on the fateful day he was killed. Many believed that the police were behind the murder of Ogundeji and Tunmise, but it is yet unproven.

A close friend to Tunmise, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke with the New Telegraph about her demise.

The friend said: “Tunmise was beside Ogundeji in the car when he was killed. Invariably, Tunmise knew who and how Ogundeji was killed. After the incident, she became paranoid and was relocated to her grandmother’s home in Ibadan for care and probably safety. Tunmise predicted her own death. She told us, ‘the trigger happy gunmen who killed Ogundeji could be after my life.’ Every sound and everything seemed to startle her. She was gunned down right in front of her grandmother’s house in the morning while she was washing clothes. She was shot twice. Since her death, her grandmother had never been the same.”

It is because of such mindless killings; like the murder of Tunmise, to keep her quite from testifying in court, that most countries in the world came up with the witness protection programme.

According to the Wikipedia, “Witness protection is protection of a threatened witness or any person involved in the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during and after a trial, usually by police. While a witness may only require protection until the conclusion of a trial, some witnesses are provided with a new identity and may live out the rest of their lives under government protection. Witness pro-

Okechukwu

WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME tection is usually required in trials against organised crime, where law enforcement sees a risk for witnesses to be intimidated by colleagues of defendants. It is also used at war crime trials. Not all countries have formal witness protection programmes; in-

stead, local police may implement informal protection as the need arises in specific cases.”

The programme’s operations are kept secret, but a few facts are revealed by the Department of Justice.

Witnesses are given 24-hour-a-day security while in a high-threat environment. Money for housing, essentials, and medical care is provided to witnesses. It also provides job training and employment assistance.

A witness who agrees to testify for the prosecution is generally eligible to join the programme. The programme is entirely voluntary. Witnesses are permitted to leave the programme and return to their original identities at any time, but this is always discour-

CRIME QUOTE “The EFCC has not dropped the case against the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. The trial is still going on; it is continuing at the Federal High Court, AdoEkiti. In fact, further hearing comes up on July 15, 2014. As you know, immunity from prosecution applies only to the President, the Vice President, sitting governors and their deputies.” EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, – Mr. Wilson Uwujaren

aged by administrators Some human rights lawyers have argued that there is a witness protection programme in the Nigerian Constitution, but there is however the question of how effective it is and how many threatened witnesses or victims had benefited from it?

The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) recently organised a two-day stakeholders’ senisitisation workshop on the reformed Lagos State Coroner System Law and procedures.

The workshop ran from June 11 to 12, 2014.

Many of the speakers urged participants, which ranged from journalists, policemen and women, members of the civil society organisations, to lawyers, to be brave enough to report crime discovered, no matter the risk to their lives. This ‘risk’ became the dividing nucleus in the interactive session, with many bluntly refusing to play the hero or heroine.

Chairman of the workshop, Executive Director, Confluence of Rights (CoR), Nigeria, Zacheus Senbanjo, explained the use of the Coroner Law and how it was the civic duty of any citizen to report a crime, especially against uniform personnel or other paramilitary and local vigilance organisations.

He said: “Don’t be easily intimidated! What is worth fighting for, is worth dying for. Don’t be chicken hearted.

We must learn to stand by what principles we advocate.

Let me posit here and now, that a properly administered Coroner System, anywhere in the world, is aimed at ensuring that the people, her government and all its institutions and agencies are diligently accountable, giving no room for courting rigging or rigging the courts. An inquest is held and a verdict at inquest is written.

Inquests are formal court proceedings, with a five-person jury, held to publicly review the circumstances of a death. The jury hears evidence from the witnesses under subpoena in order to determine the facts of the death.

The presiding coroner is responsible to ensure the jury maintains the goal of fact-finding, not fault finding.

“An inquest is held if the coroner determines that it would be beneficial in addressing community concern about death, assisting in finding information about the deceased or circumstances around a death and or drawCONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

When killers hunt witnesses

Witness protection programme CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 37

ing attention to a cause of death if such awareness can prevent future death.

“An inquest is mandatory if the deceased was in the care or control of a police officer or in a police lock-up at the time of their death. Everything must be done to make the Lagos State Coroner work, because it embraces international standard.”

Leonard Dibia, Director of Programmes, Access to Justice, who like magistrates in the workshop, insisted that witness protection was entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution, said that one of the factors militating against Coroner Law, was fear of reprisal attack from whosoever a witness was supposed to testy against.

His words: “Our level of public spiritedness or public interest is very low and weak. Relatives of persons who die in suspect circumstances would rather spend resources on a lavish funeral expenses than spending a little fraction of that money to pay for professional services like incisive autopsy and prosecution of inquests. Not more than 0.1% of our citizenry respond to their civic duties of

reporting the presence of dead bodies on the streets to ‘appropriate authorities’ as required by the Coroner Law. “This condition is further exacerbated by the general impression and fear (not unfounded though) of being arrested by the police for undertaking the civic duties ascribed every Lagosian under the Coroner Systems Law. “When in 2010, we instituted the Dangote accident inquest, only families of seven of the victims out of a total of 45 casualties come up to attend inquest. At the end of the inquest, only families of those seven victims received compensation. In the Omotosho inquest, the victim saw his friend being molested by the police about 8.00 pm in the Sogunle Area of Lagos State.

“The victim parked his vehicle and came down to plead with the police officers. The officers shot the victim and while he was on the floor reeling in pain, his wife who was now running to her husband’s rescue heard the officer asking the victim, ‘you never still die’? The officer shot at the victim a second time, killing him. It is sad to observe that the victim’s friend for whose interest the victim was killed, ran away beyond trace.

“He neither showed up at the police station, nor did he attend the inquest.

“In January, 2012, one Aderinto was killed by police bullets during the fuel subsidy protests in Agege area of Lagos State. In collaboration with the Lagos branch of the NBA, we commenced inquest proceedings over the matter. All relevant witnesses including the parents of the deceased abandoned the inquest even when we undertook to pay their expenses; the entire process floundered after several unfruitful adjournments.”

Some of the magistrates at the workshop argued that there is a witness protection programme for witnesses who come to the Coroner Courts to testify.

The magistrates, who are also the coroners, said that if witnesses fear for their lives, they could testify through a projector. But one of the participants pointed out: “But the projector will show the witness’s face. It won’t take long for security personnel to locate the person.”

It is clear that the Nigerian society has a lame witness protection programme.

This is why many people will never come forward to testy in cases that will see the ‘bad guy’ going to jail.

Indeed, in the workshop, many of the participants told our correspondent, that they had rather report a crime to the police anonymously, through police hotline, “Because we don’t trust the police.

They can reveal somebody’s identity to the suspect and the suspect could come after the person or family.”

A good number also refused considering going to court to testify against uniform personnel or known terrorists, for fear they would come after them or their family members.

It was however clear, that a lot of Nigerians will gladly testify against a suspected criminal if they are sure they would be protected by the government.

But how many had ever been given such protection?

And who gets to protect witnesses who are supposed to testify against the government?

Child sex tourism

L

ast month, the FBI asked for public help in a case involving a suspected serial child predator who for years taught in private international schools overseas. The suspect committed suicide after his employer saw pornographic images on his thumb drive, but as part of our subsequent investigation—when we began the process of identifying and notifying the victims,—we also asked that possible victims and others who may have information come forward, not only to aid investigators but to potentially access our victim assistance services.

Sex tourism—people traveling to another country specifically to engage in illegal sexual conduct with children—is a very real issue that causes devastating and long-lasting psychological and physical consequences for

victims. And the problem is growing, thanks to the relative ease of international travel coupled with the popularity of the Internet in helping individuals exchange information about how and where to find child victims in foreign locations.

The U.S. State Department estimates that more than a million children are exploited each year in the global commercial sex trade. That’s in addition to the untold number of young victims of non-commercial sexual conduct.

But whether it involves commercial or non-commercial sex acts, the FBI— in conjunction with our domestic and international law enforcement partners—investigates U.S. citizens and permanent residents who travel overseas to engage in illegal sexual conduct with children under the age of 18. Since

2008, our Child Sex Tourism Initiative has employed proactive strategies to address the crime, including working with foreign law enforcement and nongovernmental organizations to provide child victims with support services and to investigate and prosecute individuals engaging in child sex tourism.

The FBI also shares intelligence products with our overseas law enforcement partners that focus on trends, methods of operations, offenders, etc. And we offer training to foreign law enforcement and non-governmental organizations to build capacity and develop an effective team approach to address the problem.

Intelligence sharing and training help develop cohesive multi-disciplinary teams, which in turn enable better international cooperation during the investigation of these crimes.

The 3rd Eye State Police in Nigeria (2) Frank Mba

S

ome governors also favour the creation of state police so that they will be in full control of the policing structures in their states.

They contend that of all the progressive democracies in the world today, only Nigeria has a centralised unitary policing system in a nation presumably run by federalist doctrines and principles. Emboldened by the constitutional provision as contained in section 176(2) of 1999 Constitution which places the burden of the internal security of each state on the shoulders of the chief security officers – Governors – the idea of a single unitary Police Force which takes orders not expressly from Governors but from the Police hierarchy in Abuja, is considered an anomaly.

Expectedly, not many Nigerians are on the same page with these governors on the issue of State police. Many contend that the Governors want State police as instrument to wield egregious powers, to oppress their opponents and put them in check. These critics readily cite the example of what most governors have done with regards to State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in their various states. They note that most Nigerians, despite the somewhat imperfections of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would rather have INEC conduct their elections than have SIECs which have now become instrument in the hands of Governors to conquer opponents and allocate votes during Local Government elections.

Some have also argued that the expression of lack of trust in the present Police system is inappropriate. They seek explanation to why it is so easy for the same Nigeria police personnel who are so maligned at home, perform so excellently well in all the international policing engagements they have embarked on since independence?

They reason therefore that rather than blame the police or seek to create other Police units, it would be more profitable to studiously look at how we have funded the police and provided them with enabling tools, motivation and environment to operate.

SMS: 08189679439

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

39

E X H O RTATI O N

40

“O ye who believe! Fasting is

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prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.”

adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340

Qur’an 2:183

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014 l 29 Shaban 1435 AH

COUNTDOWN 1 or 2 day(s) to the commencement of Ramadan

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH QUESTION

How can we prepare for Ramadan?

ANSWER Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan, “It is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.”

Abdur-Raziq said, “When Ramadan came, Sufyan AthThawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.”

But for many of us the Qur’an has gathered a lot of dust since the last time we picked it up.

As Ramadan is fast approaching we must blow off the dust and start to build a close relationship with the Qur’an for it will intercede with us on the day of judgement: “Recite the Holy Qur’an as much as we can for It will come as an intercessor for its reciter’ on the Day of Judgement” (Muslim) The Recitor will be in the company of Angels: ‘Aa’ishah related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Indeed the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.”

(Al-Bukhaari & Muslim) There are Ten Rewards for Every Letter Recited from the Quran in normal times but in Ramadan these rewards are multiplied: “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allaah, he will have a reward, and this reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that ‘Alif, Laam, Meem’ (a combination of letters frequently mentioned in the Holy Quran) is a letter, rather I am saying that ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Laam’ is a letter and ‘Meem’ is a letter.”

(At-Tirmithi) So what better time for us to get into the habit of reciting the Qur’an than to begin to do so right now. We should recite the Qur’an with its meanings and try to understand and implement it into our daily lives.

We should set ourselves realistic targets for how much we should begin to recite each day for e.g. we will recite 1 or 2 pages a day, half a juz (chapter), or 1 juz etc.

TO BE CONTINUED

A cross-section of Trainees of Yuguda Vocational Training Centre (YVTC), during their visit to Governor Isa Yuguda, in Bauchi…

CHARGES YOUMBAS has urged Muslims to be closer to God during and after Ramadan

N

igerian Muslims will this weekend joined other faithful around the World to usher-in Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar, in which dawn to dusk fasting is enjoined.

New Telegraph observed that activities have been lined up by various Islamic organisations and missions to facilitate spiritual rejuvenation for Muslims during the blessed month.

Already, the President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs who doubles as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has tasked Muslims to look for Ramadan Crescent in line with the tradition of the Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUM) to herald the blessed month.

Chief Imaam, Young Muslim Brothers and Sisters (YOUNMBAS), Ogun state and Republic of Benin, Imaam Najeemdeen Adesina Yusuf Aduralongba tasked muslims

Nigerian muslims to usher-in Ramadan weekend lExcitements as preparation for blessed month reaches top gear

to take full advantage of the month to pray for Nigeria.

Imaam Aduralongba said: “God is giving us another opportunity in our life to witness the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a great time of God’s blessings and His mercy. Every Muslim should take full advantage of this time. We should get ready now to welcome this month and receive it with happiness.

“We should make a good plan for the whole month about how you are going to organize your days and evenings during Ramadan. Plan special schedules for your work so that you can pray on time, read the Quran and take Sahur (the meal consumed early in early morning before fajr prayer) and Iftar (breaking the fast at sunset, Maghreb prayer) on time.”

According to the Islamic cleric, Muslims must have sincere intention and determina-

tion to take full advantage of this time.

“We should also have a full determination and commitment that you will not do any sin or anything wrong during this time. Make sincere repentance and seek the forgiveness of those whom you might have offended. In this way you can benefit much more from your fasting and prayers,” he said.

He urged muslims to learn about the Rules of Fasting.

“Let your non-Muslims friends and neighbors know about this month and its blessings. Fiqh of fasting is very important so that you do not do anything that will spoil your fasts. Learn the way of Prophet Muhammad in fasting. That is the best way. Fast is not spoiled only by eating and drinking during the fast, but also by speaking bad words and doing wrong things,” he concluded.

Another scholar, Imaam Muzammil H. Siddiq added that Muslims should be more prayerful during the month.

He said: “Pray to God that this month reaches you while you are in the best of health and safety so that you can fast and do all your acts of devotion with ease and enthusiasm.”

According to him, it is reported by Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say from the beginning of Rajab in his prayers: “O Allah bless us in Rajab, bless us in Sha’ban and bless us in Ramadan.

“When he used to see Ramadan’s crescent, he used to pray: “O Allah, make this crescent to shine on us with safety, faith, security, Islam and good fortune to do what is beloved and pleasing to our Lord. Our and your Lord is Allah.” (AtTirmidhi)

IPAN President tasks Muslim Ummah on Dawa’h

T

he National President, Islamic Progressive Association of Nigeria (IPAN), Sheikh Abdul Rahman Adegboyega Lawal has tasked Nigerian muslim faithful and entire muslim ummah all over the World, to participate in the call to Islam.

This, he said, is with a view to advancing Islam, the religion of peace and to guard against on-going propaganda orchestrated by some elements to

tarnish the image of the faith.

Sheikh Lawal who doubles as the Spiritual head, As-salam praying centre, who said this in a lecture entitled: “The Islamic agenda for global peace and development,” called for collective action against any form of intolerance in Islam.

Dawah, according to the Islamic cleric, includes not only preaching and admonition but also the need for all muslims to retrace their

steps and rededicate themselves to growing the seed of lopve and unity.

This, he said, was done by the first generation of muslims known for their sincerity of purpose and willingness to help one another.

“Dawah involves counselling, setting and asserting Islamic values, establishing justice and equity, assisting the less privileged, promoting the religion, defending the religion against blackmails and striving

hard towards actualising both worldly and heavenly successes,” he said.

The IPAN leader maintained that for Dawah to provide excellent results, it must be founded on the right principles and contents, which must be characterised by accuracy, right messages and context, thoroughness and veracity.

“Every Dawah initiative must seek to improve the people by setting or righting the

wrongs of their lives and making them imbibe more virtues, hence the need for all muslims to go for a sound Dawah project towards a developmental instances needed to move the religion to a greater heights.

“Allah has conferred on Muslim Ummah, the responsibilities of showing good examples for people to follow, as did by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who was referred to as A-amin, the truthful,” he said.

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

41

‘Why Fidelity Bank supports SMEs’ disclosed this to New Telegraph yesterday.

Speaking on the bank's support for SMEs and the significance of the bank’s rating as the fifth in SME financing, Mbagwu said that SMEs were the bedrock of any economy.

He said the bank would continue to support the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and boost their output to meet national and international standards.

Explaining further, he said that every economy in the world that had ever grown did so on the basis of SMEs, adding that about 70 per cent of the population of Nigeria were actually involved in SMEs either as employees or engaged

ENTERPRISE SME remains the bedrock for Nigeria to deepen its economy

Godson Ikoro

A

s long as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) remain the bedrock of Nigerian economy, Fidelity Bank PLC will continue to support and partner with them until they establish and grow well structured businesses.

The Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank of Fidelity Bank, Mr. IK Mbagwu,

in commercial activities classified as SMEs. According to him, “We have over a million SMEs and the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry would tell you that the preponderance of businesses in Nigeria are SMEs, so it is only logical to focus on SME.” He said the bank competed in SME sector not just by reducing interest rate or offering them more money than others.

He said, “We have said to our SME customers that we are going to support you totally to grow. We are going to look at the way you do business; we are going to support you to improve your financial performance."

Nigeria sells N134.5bn in treasury bills at mixed yields N

igeria sold N134.5 billion ($825.9 million) in treasury bills with mixed yields on Wednesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria said on Thursday, amid lower subscription levels compared with its auction last week.

The bank sold bills with maturities ranging from three months to one year and received subscriptions of N 314.3 billion for the notes. Demand at a similar auction last week

stood at N404.32 billion.

With Wednesday's issue, Africa's biggest economy has raised N440.68 billion ($2.7 billion) in treasury bills this month as it seeks to manage money supply in the system, curb inflation and help government plug funding gaps in its budget.

It has said it will raise N936.92 billion ($5.76 billion) in treasury bills in the coming three months, according to Reuters.

The apex bank issued N21.53 billion for three months on Wednesday at a yield of 9.95 per cent, down from the 9.9 per cent it fetched at a previous auction on June 18.

It raised N31.83 billion for six months at a yield of 10.25 per cent as against 10.38 percent last week, and issued the one-year bill at 10.34 per cent yield to raise N81.2 billion.

It sold the one-year note at 10.39 per cent on June 18.

Economic Indicators

He added that the bank would help them improve their governance and use of technology and other areas of needs as well as support them to become better businesses.

According to him, it is after the SMEs become good businesses that they can become better customers of the bank; the support of SMEs is a win -win situation for both the customer and the bank.

In his words, “I hope you have also heard our radio programmes? What we did with the radio programme was to introduce people who are successful in business today who started small, and today, a lot of them are much bigger than that.”

He cited customer modes like Computer Warehouse, Sweet Sensation, Coleman Cable and Wine, and Stan Eke’s, Zinox among others as those who have transformed their SMEs. According to him, “Some of them were not even customers but by virtue of the radio programmes, they have become customers of the bank.

“These are the kind of things we are doing to encourage aspiring entrepreurs so that they see that they can become just

Jaiz Bank's assets hit N34bn PROFIT Financial performance of first non-interest bank excites owners

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

Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

aiz Bank Plc, the first fullJNigeria, fledged Non-Interest Bank in has grown its assets

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)

arclays' shares fell on Bstock Thursday, making the the worst-performer in

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

to N34 billion at the end of 2013 financial year from N14 billion in 2012, representing a growth rate of 141 per cent.

Chairman of the Bank, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Abdul Mutallab, CON, disclosed this in his statement read at the second Annual General Meeting yesterday in Abuja.

He said the bank had financed activities worth N9.3 billion in the year under review, signifying 365 per cent increase over the previous year.

Total customer deposits witnessed significant growth reaching N21.9 billion, representing 567 per cent increase over the previous year.

“These results are assuring and indicate that this alternative banking is feasible notwithstanding the difficult operating environment,” Mutallab said.

In his remark, the Managing Director of the Bank, Muhammad Nurul Islam, said the bank was in the process of securing national operating license before the end of the third quarter of the year that will enable it operate in all the 36 states of the Federation.

The bank, he said, had grown to 13 branches spread across eight states in Northwest, Northeast and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It is also expected to open at least four more branches before the end of the year.

Barclay’s shares fall after lawsuit

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

like these models.

“None of these people has two heads, they all did it by hardwork and that is why we are trying to encourage them to work hard too.”

Fidelity Bank, he said, is encouraging SMEs to run their businesses with proper governance, having proper technology and proper financials.

Aside that, he said financial services were essential, and that the strategy of Fidelity was giving it a differentiating factor.

He said, “Financial services are essentially making payments, loans and deposits.

You are either paying or you are receiving. If you look at it in that way, you see that if you can improve the processes for your customers, paying and receiving and making things easier for them, when they go to take a service, you will find that customers would come.

They would not need to be told, they would come.

"This is in line with the strategic objectives of FSS 2020 to strengthen and deepen the domestic financial market, integration of the domestic financial market and promote sustainable economic development."

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

percentage terms on the UK's main equity index, after the New York Attorney General filed a securities fraud lawsuit against the bank.

Barclay’s shares were down by 3.2 per cent at 222.65 pence in early session trading, making Barclays the worst stock in percentage terms on Britain's benchmark FTSE 100 index, which was up by 0.1 per cent.

Barclays also underperformed a 0.1 per cent rise on the STOXX Europe 600 Bank-

ing Index.

The New York Attorney General on Wednesday filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Barclays PLC for giving an unfair edge to its U.S. high-frequency trading clients even as it said it was protecting other customers from the traders.

In a statement, Barclays said: “We take these allegations very seriously.” It added that it was cooperating with authorities, looking at the matter internally, and that the integrity of markets was a top priority for the bank.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

26-Jun-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.

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

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

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

100.00 535.00 500.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 165.17 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.26 0.82 2.14 2.84 3.09 3.18 3.93 5.01 5.33 7.59 9.72 14.43 14.90 15.40 16.07

11.03 10.89 11.46 11.46 11.41 11.41 11.41 11.49 11.50 12.10 12.30 12.18 12.17 12.17 12.21

10.44 10.21 11.38 11.40 11.29 11.29 11.31 11.42 11.41 12.05 12.25 12.14 12.13 12.11 12.16

99.49 94.69 102.90 108.55 96.03 94.61 97.77 116.80 82.42 120.85 110.55 118.90 102.12 74.73 84.60

99.64 95.19 103.05 108.70 96.33 94.91 98.07 117.10 82.72 121.15 110.85 119.20 102.42 75.03 84.90

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

4,375.01 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

***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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue 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 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.35 0.91 1.39 2.46 2.82 3.03

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.66 13.50 13.31 13.36 12.39 12.41

96.13 88.79 105.21 98.55 97.07 94.60

05-Aug-14 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

0.11 0.30 1.18 0.78 1.08 1.09 2.81 1.64 3.52 2.49 4.27 2.69 2.69 3.07 3.14 5.41 3.20 3.81 6.42 6.52 3.82 3.86

1.56 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

11.77 13.87 15.38 14.13 15.35 14.38 16.98 12.15 13.20 13.16 12.42 12.38 16.16 12.41 12.41 12.52 14.15 12.41 12.77 13.73 12.85 13.36

100.17 99.93 96.94 99.74 98.52 101.31 84.83 102.55 102.19 101.93 105.08 104.67 95.65 105.14 107.90 107.58 101.49 106.76 103.13 105.36 116.66 116.34

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.28 0.48 0.52 0.66 0.97 0.82 2.26 2.33 3.26 2.08 2.04 2.20 2.20 4.24 2.31 2.39 3.52 6.39

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76

11.54 16.12 19.66 15.80 11.86 13.52 12.34 12.69 12.41 13.21 14.80 16.54 16.40 12.77 13.64 17.46 13.57 14.52

99.91 98.82 98.76 96.23 100.29 100.56 101.22 103.02 101.50 109.32 102.37 102.97 101.95 103.89 104.32 99.37 106.61 102.94

11-Feb-18

3.63

1.00

12.41

93.67

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto 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

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 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

05-Aug-09 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 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

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR 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

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13

11.50 13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.89

4.72

110.37

111.34

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.17

3.95

103.51

104.35

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.29

5.16

107.74

108.65

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

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.85

3.17

111.63

112.77

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.99

4.29

104.45

105.75

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.15

5.89

99.41

100.42

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.05

6.48

100.53

102.10

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.66

8.25

94.24

95.52

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.10

4.44

113.28

114.51

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.41

6.22

99.33

100.13

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.11

6.69

103.99

105.50

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.81

5.55

103.13

104.17

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

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49

FIXINGS Maturity 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.55 9.20 10.10 9.85 10.30 10.55 10.20

Offer Discount (%) 10.30 8.95 9.85 9.60 10.05 10.30 9.95

Bid Yield (%) 10.57 9.23 10.16 9.92 10.40 10.68 10.34

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5000 11.9667 13.0106 14.0181

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.75 163.00 163.26 163.87 165.01

162.85 163.26 163.60 164.54 166.19

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25

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

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

14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

165.17 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds AMCON

Sanctity of Truth

FMBN

NA

9.72 14.43 14.90 15.40 16.07

12.30 12.18 12.17 12.17 12.21

12.25 12.14 12.13 12.11 12.16

110.55 118.90 102.12 74.73 84.60

110.85 119.20 102.42 75.03 84.90

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

4,375.01 Description

Issuer

Friday, June 27, 2014

14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

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

43

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.35 0.91 1.39 2.46 2.82 3.03

05-Aug-14

0.11

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.66 13.50 13.31 13.36 12.39 12.41

1.56

11.77

96.13 88.79 105.21 98.55 97.07 94.60

Insurance sector records N285bn GPI ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto 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

GROWTH

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Despite prevailing apathy towards insurance in the country, the industry's performance remains positive

Sunday Ojeme

T

he volume of businesses written by insurance sector in Nigeria during the 2013 financial year rose to N285 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE billion from N247.58 billion.

The amount represents an Corporate Bonds increase of 15 perLAFARGE cent Gross A+/Agusto; AA/GCR WAPCO Aa/Agusto Premium Income GTB (GPI) writNil NGC ten during the previous year.

Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC Disclosing this at the 43rd A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR General Meeting Annual of the *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO Nigerian Insurers Association A-/Agusto FSDH (NIA) on Thursday in Lagos, A/GCR UBA the Chairman of the BBB-/GCR *C & I associaLEASING µ

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

*DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

05-Aug-09

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014

14.00Mr. NIGER 15-OCT-2014 tion, Remi Olowude, said the 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 improvement in the industry's 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 performance could be attributed 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 30-JUN-2016 to15.50 theIMO relative stability and sus10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 tained growth in the economy, 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 the increasing insurance aware14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00and DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ness government patronage NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 of14.00 insurance services.

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 HeNIGER alsoIII 12-DEC-2018 listed innovations 14.00 15.50improved ONDO 14-FEB-2019 and service delivery GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 by15.50 member companies as well 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 as14.75 the growing confidence in OSUN 12-DEC-2019 the system by the 14.75insurance OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 general public as additional 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 factors that influenced the 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 positive performance.

15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 He said, "This performance was also aided by better regu11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT latory supervision on2014 account GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 of13.50 the release of guidelines 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 for risk-based supervision; 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 anti-money and 12.00 FLOURMILLSlaundering 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 combating financing terrorism 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 guidelines and the adoption of 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 full International 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Financial Re18.00 C&I Standards LEASING 30-NOV-2017 porting (IFRS) for the MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14.00

15-Oct-09 14.00 2012 annual accounts.

31-Aug-10 12.50 "The enforcement 30-Sep-10 13.00 of the 30-Jun-11 of Section 14.00 50 (1) provisions 30-Jun-09 and (2) on premium15.50 payment 19-Apr-10 10.00 and 30-Jun-10 the regulation 13.75on premium collection and 30-Dec-10 14.00 remit30-Sep-11 14.00desired tance began to yield 04-Oct-11 14.00 results, particularly in terms 09-Dec-11 14.50 of curtailing large 14.00 volume of 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12debt in the 15.50balance premium 02-Oct-12 15.50 sheet22-Nov-12 of member companies."

14.50 Speaking further 12-Dec-12 14.75 on the 30-Sep-13 attained14.75 milestones by the in27-Nov-13 13.50 dustry within the same period, 31-Dec-13 15.00 Olowude, 31-Dec-13whose tenure 14.50 as the 06-Jan-14 15.00 ended association chairman yesterday, said the body of underwriters engaged in various 07-Oct-11aimed at enhancing 11.50 activities 18-Dec-09 of the industry 13.50 the growth in 01-Apr-10 17.00 Nigeria.

17-Aug-10 10.00 He09-Dec-10 listed some of12.00 the mile06-Jan-11 14.00 stones as the establishment of 29-Sep-11 Oil and Gas Energy13.00 Insurance 25-Oct-13 14.25 Pool30-Sep-10 and the creation of the 13.00 Nigerian Insurance Industry 30-Nov-12 18.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

T

he Nigerian stock market degenerated from sell offs AAA/S&P yesterday as theIFC bears overTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE shadowed the bulls leading to shareRating/Agency decline in most blue chip Issuer companies.

FGN Eurobonds The key market performance measures, the NSE All Share InBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P dex and market capitalisation, BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P dropped by 0.6 per cent as marBB-/Fitch; ket sentiments turned red on BB-/S&P the back of losses recorded by TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE two major oil marketing comCorporate Eurobonds panies, Forte Oil Plc and Onado B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I Nigerian Plc. GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; TheB+/Fitch bulls had regained marGTBANK PLC ket dominance previous day B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC following position B/S&P; B/Fitch investment FIDELITY BANK PLC B/Fitch by bargain hunters. taken AFREN PLC B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC Specifically, the NSE AllSupranational Bond

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

Share Index depreciated by 257.96 basis points or 0.6 per cent to close at 41,729.59 as against 41,987.55 recorded the 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 previous day.

The market capitalisation of equities equally Description declined

by N85 billion or 0.6 per cent to close at N13.779 trillion from N13.864 trillion the 6.75 JANrecorded 28, 2021 previous day.

5.13 JUL 12, 2018 At the close of trading, 21 6.38 JUL 12, stocks appreciated in2023 price during the day as against 35 others that depreciated in value.

Guinness Nigeria Plc adFEB 01, 2016 vanced by 11.50 N9.01 to close at 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 N189.21 per6.00 share to led the NOV 08, 2018 gainers' table.

7.25Similarly JUL 25, 2017 , Seven Up followed with a 09, gain 6.88 MAY 2018of N2.00 10.25 APR 08, 2019UAC of to close at N93.00 while 6.25 APR 22, 2019 Nigeria Plc trailed with a gain 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 6.63 DEC 09, 2020

100.17

3.29 13.87 country's oil and energy99.93 indus4.44 15.38 96.94 try," he added.

3.23 14.13 99.74 4.46 15.35 98.52 On NIID, he said the associa3.48 14.38 tion in the year under 101.31 review 5.59 16.98 84.83 sustained its positive response 1.00 12.15 102.55 to the of fake insurance 1.79 menace13.20 102.19 1.80 13.16 101.93 documents with the inaugura1.00 12.42 105.08 tion of the project, stressing 1.00 12.38 104.67 that third year of its 4.78within the 16.16 95.65 1.00 105.14 existence, the12.41 NIID had become 12.41 107.90 an1.00 established verification 1.00 12.52 107.58 tool for both law enforcement 2.74 14.15 101.49 1.00 12.41 agents and the insuring106.76 public 1.00 12.77 103.13 towards confirming genuine 1.94 13.73 105.36 motor 1.44 insurance 12.85 policies.

116.66

06-Jan-21

3.86

1.95

13.36

116.34

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.28 0.48 0.52 0.66 0.97 0.82 2.26 2.33 3.26 2.08 2.04 2.20 2.20 4.24 2.31 2.39 3.52 6.39

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76

11.54 16.12 19.66 15.80 11.86 13.52 12.34 12.69 12.41 13.21 14.80 16.54 16.40 12.77 13.64 17.46 13.57 14.52

99.91 98.82 98.76 96.23 100.29 100.56 101.22 103.02 101.50 109.32 102.37 102.97 101.95 103.89 104.32 99.37 106.61 102.94

6.69

103.99

105.50

5.55

103.13

104.17

Tantalizers plans sale and lease back arrangement

572.90

09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13

16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.11

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.81

Chris Ugwu

effort to improve its Iingncashancapital position and meet workneed, Tantalizers

Plc plans to do a sale and lease back arrangement using some of the company’s unencumbered assets.

The Chairman of the comof N1.10 to close at N61.30 per pany, Dr. Jaiye Oyedotun who share. stated this while addressing 180.17 Reversing the previous day's shareholders at the 16th Annual gains, shares of Forte Oil Plc General Meeting in Lagos, said 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.63 depreciated by N24.37 to close the initiative would be aggres12.00 at N25.64 per share, Oando fol- sively pursued for execution in lowed with N2.95Coupon to close at the third quarter of thisBidyear.

Issue Date (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Yield (%) N27.43 per share. Nigeria BrewOyedotun noted that the eries Plc depreciated by N1.98 to initiative would release about close07-Oct-11 at N170.02 per share.

N1 billion into the company 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.89 Meanwhile, a turnover of working capital, adding that 18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.17 441.4 million shares worth the company's would in addi5.29 N3.4 01-Apr-10 billion in 6,0406.38 deals was 500.00 tion pursue 12-Jul-23 the option of equirecorded in the day’s trading. 1,500.00 ty injection from institutional Just as in the previous day, investors. the banking sub-sector of the He noted that the company 01-Feb-11 11.50 01-Feb-16 3.85 financial services sector was 450.00 was working on repositioning 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.99 the most active during the day the brand towards the establish08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.15 (measured by turnover volment of a newTantalizers.

25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.05 ume); with 85.7 million “To make02-May-18 our outlets the8.66 pre09-May-13 6.88 shares 300.00 08-Apr-12 08-Apr-19 of choice, 5.10we worth N932.7 billion10.25 exchanged 300.00 ferred destination 22-Apr-14 500.00 22-Apr-19 and improv6.41 by investors in 1,400 6.25 deals. are streamlining

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

15-Oct-14 0.30 Database (NIID).

31-Aug-15 1.18 According to him, in a bid 30-Sep-15 0.78 1.08 to leverage 30-Jun-16 the nation's com30-Jun-16 1.09 parative advantage in the oil 19-Apr-17 2.81 and gas sector, the Oil and Gas 30-Jun-17 1.64 Energy Insurance Pool com31-Dec-17 3.52 30-Sep-18 2.49 menced the reestablishment 04-Oct-18 4.27 of an Oil and Energy Pool, an 09-Dec-18 2.69 initiative officially 12-Dec-18 recognised 2.69 3.07 as Energy 14-Feb-19 and Allied Insur02-Oct-19 3.14 ance Pool of22-Nov-19 Nigeria (EAIPN).

5.41 "The key objective 12-Dec-19 3.20of EAIPN is to30-Sep-20 enhance the 3.81 level 27-Nov-20 6.42 of participation of Nigerians 31-Dec-20 6.52 and Nigerian companies in the 31-Dec-20 3.82

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 4.50 2.05

Investors lose N85 billion Chris Ugwu

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

ing our menu, introducing new products and improving our outlet design. Franchising will be a major focus this year.

The new franchise will involve introduction of new outlet models, operational technigues and tools that will expand our franchise business. We will retrofranchise existing stores and open new franchise locations before the end of the year,” Oyedotun said.

He said the company’s plan 1.00 12.41 93.67 for further investment in a modern central kitchen this year would yield improved qualOffer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price ity and adequately position the Prices & to Yields company satisfy its franchisees' inputs. 111.34 4.72needs and 110.37 “As part of efforts to improve 3.95 104.35 profitability , 103.51 we will continue to 107.74and shut 5.16 108.65 analyse, identify down stores and institutions that continuously make losses at contribution level,” he said.

3.17 112.77 Speaking 111.63 on the company’s 4.29 104.45 105.75 performance, the chairman said 5.89 99.41 100.42 as 6.48 a result of 100.53 unfavourable busi102.10 ness the revenue 8.25 environment, 94.24 95.52 4.44profit in 113.28 and 2013 were114.51 worse 6.22 2012.

99.33 100.13 than

3,460.00

26-Jun-14

**Treasury The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List

Money Market (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products,FIXINGS fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market.

The use of this report is subject Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) DTM OTC PLC Terms Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) to the FMDQ of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

NIBOR

7 14 21 FGN Bonds28 35 42 Rating/Agency 49 56 63 70 77 84 91 98 105 112 119 126 147 161 196 210 224 238 252 287 301 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 315

3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 Issuer 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 20-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 VALUE23-Apr-15 7-May-15

10.55 9.20 10.10 9.85 10.30 10.55 Description 10.20 10.20 10.20 9.25 28-SEP-2014 10.40 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.65 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.75 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.50 10.75 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.75 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.75 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.55 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.35 10.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.45 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.35 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.35 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.25 10.15 10.05

10.30 8.95 9.85 9.60 10.05 10.30 Issue 9.95Date 9.95 9.95 28-Sep-07 10.15 23-Apr-10 10.40 16-Aug-13 10.40 27-Apr-12 10.35 27-Jul-07 10.50 31-Aug-07 10.25 10.50 30-May-08 10.50 29-Jun-12 10.50 23-Oct-09 10.35 27-Jan-12 10.30 14-Mar-14 10.10 10.15 28-Nov-08 10.20 22-May-09 10.10 20-Nov-09 10.10 23-Jul-10 10.00 9.90 9.80

*from the Amortising Description Rating/Agency Issuer # bonds, the average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Agency Bonds

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto 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

<3 3<5 KWARA >5 NIGER Market KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER

1,006.29 1,135.42 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 683.06 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 2,824.77 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

Bonds Tenor O/N

Volume(Bn)

953.07 951.30 756.74 2,661.11

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 Weighting by 06-Jul-12

Outstanding Vol

Rate (%) 10.5000 11.9667 13.0106 14.0181

1M 3M 6M Outstanding Value

100.00 NITTY 535.00 Tenor 500.27 1M 452.80 2M 20.00 3M 100.00 6M 9M 300.00 12M 351.30 233.90 600.00 NIFEX 165.17 Current 75.00 Price ($/N) BID($/N) 150.00 OFFER ($/N) 200.00 591.57

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 10.0589 27-Apr-17 10.2646 27-Jul-17 10.6159 31-Aug-17 10.8876 11.0362 30-May-18 11.1852 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 162.9250 22-May-29 163.0250 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

OBB

10.25

O/N

10.50

Tenor

Maturity Date

(N'bn)

REPO

TTM Call(Yrs) 1M 3M 0.26 6M 0.82

Rate (%)

Bid10.25 Yield (%) 12.35 13.30 11.03 13.83 10.89

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 6M 10.44 1Y 10.21

2.14 11.46 11.38 2.84 11.46 11.40 3.09 11.41 11.29 :Benchmarks 3.18 Bond 11.41 11.29 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 3.93 Bond 11.41 11.31 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.01 Management Corporation 11.49 11.42 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 5.33 11.50 11.41 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 7.59 12.10 12.05 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.72Contractors Receivables 12.30 12.25 LCRM: Local Management NAHCO: Nigerian 14.43 Aviation Handling 12.18 Company 12.14 O/N: Overnight 14.90 12.17 12.13 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 15.40 12.17 12.11 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 16.07 12.21 12.16 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

162.75 163.00 163.26 163.87 Bid Price 165.01 166.30 169.94 99.49 177.78 94.69

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.85 163.26 163.60 164.54 Offer Price 166.19 167.94 173.54 99.64 184.79 95.19

102.90 103.05 108.55 108.70 96.33 NA :Not96.03 Applicable 94.61Rate Bond 94.91 # :Floating ***: Deferred 97.77 coupon bonds 98.07 116.80 117.10 †: Bond rating expired 82.42 82.72 120.85 121.15 110.55 110.85 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 118.90 119.20 UBA: United Bank for Africa 102.12 102.42 74.73 75.03 84.60 84.90

4,375.01

Issue Date

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 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding Value(Bn)

10.57 9.23 10.16 9.92 10.40 10.68 Coupon 10.34 (%) 10.36 10.38 9.25 10.61 4.00 10.89 13.05 10.92 15.10 10.89 9.85 11.07 9.35 10.83 11.12 10.70 11.14 16.00 11.16 7.00 11.07 16.39 11.06 14.20 10.96 11.06 15.00 11.17 12.49 11.10 8.50 11.15 10.00 11.15 11.08 11.00

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

0.00 0.00 FMDQ FGN 17.25 BOND 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value

35.81 35.75 05-Aug-09 28.44 15-Oct-09 100.00 31-Aug-10

35.62 14.0040.20 14.0024.18 100.00 12.50

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

13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

978.35 24.56 INDEX 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

Bucket Weighting

1,304.32

0.36

17.00 0.36 6.00 0.28 8.50 1.00 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00

Maturity Date

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 06-Jul-17

Mod_Duration

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.35 0.91 1.39 2.46 2.82 3.03

Implied Yield

18.01 35.82 05-Aug-14 46.16 15-Oct-14 100.00 31-Aug-15

11.46 11.92 0.11 12.23 0.30 11.98 1.18

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

0.78 1.08 1.09 2.81 1.64 3.52 2.49 4.27 2.69 2.69 3.07

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 Implied 1.00

Portfolio Price

116.3744 131.8827 1.56 98.5055 3.29 116.8370 4.44

3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00

Valuation Yield (%) 11.66 13.50 13.31 13.36 12.39 12.41

INDEX

1,105.32 1,116.73 11.77 1,149.15 13.87 1,109.83 15.38

14.13 15.35 14.38 16.98 12.15 13.20 13.16 12.42 12.38 16.16 12.41

Indicative Price 96.13 88.79 105.21 98.55 97.07 YTD Return 94.60 (%)

10.5320 11.6732 100.17 14.9146 99.93 10.9827 96.94

99.74 98.52 101.31 84.83 102.55 102.19 101.93 105.08 104.67 95.65 105.14

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014

44

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035

Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 26, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions Other Financial Institutions Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

No. of Deals 36 14 50

Current Price 33.90 36.00

Quantity Traded 443,959 148,223 592,182

Value Traded 14,824,481.37 5,334,980.00 20,159,461.37

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 37 37

Current Price 3.10

Quantity Traded 2,099,470 2,099,470

Value Traded 6,572,436.60 6,572,436.60

2,691,652

26,731,897.97

Quantity Traded 110,288 52,767 89,503,371 374,347 90,040,773

Value Traded 162,976.88 198,403.92 427,426,770.85 22,911,841.56 450,699,993.21

90,040,773

450,699,993.21

87 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 4 9 683 58 (Equities) 754

CONGLOMERATES Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.44 3.95 4.73 61.30

754

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 1.30

Quantity Traded Page 1,030,696 1,030,696

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 76.45

Quantity Traded 45,470 45,470

Value Traded 3,309,141.10 3,309,141.10

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 18.00

Quantity Traded 86,709 86,709

Value Traded 1,539,514.99 1,539,514.99

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.47

Quantity Traded 2,600 2,600

Value Traded 25,870.00 25,870.00

1,165,475

6,210,627.97 Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Printed CONSTRUCTION/REAL 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CHAMPION BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS GUINNESS NIG PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

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. Daily Summary of 26/06/2014 Food as Products Totals Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Published by The Stock Exchange P Z Nigerian CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.©

UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

51

Banking Totals

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS Symbol INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 7 63 No. of Deals 21 137

Current Price 10.70 189.21 Current 26.03 Price 170.02

Quantity Traded 68,030 272,402 Quantity152,860 Traded 489,496 Page 982,788

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 93.00

Quantity Traded 315,917 315,917

Value Traded 29,431,791.00 29,431,791.00

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 40 86 48 44 73 3 10 304

Current Price 8.10 9.40 78.00 4.02 11.28 19.75 0.52

Quantity Traded 190,914 3,943,072 522,703 2,755,605 3,227,000 19,194 600,800 11,259,288

Value Traded 1,527,387.55 37,159,352.97 40,721,064.35 11,204,105.94 35,116,894.10 360,271.38 312,416.00 126,401,492.29

No. of Deals 47 92 Daily Summary (Equities) 139

Current Price 81.89 1,050.00

Quantity Traded 318,782 187,590 506,372

Value Traded 24,504,388.93 197,555,598.78 222,059,987.71

UNIC INSURANCE PLC.

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

228

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

Healthcare Providers Totals

Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Pharmaceuticals HEALTHCARE EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Value Traded 3 8,806,800.05 of 14 19,692,481.41 28,499,281.46

UNIC UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 146 70 94 110 240 (Equities) 115 53 201 52 21 No. of Deals 34 264

1,400

No. of Deals 1 35 5 2 4 1 20 1 1 1 6 19 37 6 (Equities) 9 6 3 1 1 No. of Deals2 1

1 1 87 251

Current Price 9.61 6.35 16.32 2.03 28.90 3.27 2.30 7.91 10.00 0.50 Current Price 0.95 25.00

Current Price 0.50 0.84 1.07 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.50 0.52 0.84 0.50 0.51 0.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 Current Price 0.50 0.50

0.50 0.50 0.77

Quantity Traded 22,408,075 5,164,334 5,769,697 7,200,484 7,869,762 7,079,163 4,157,967 12,096,610 295,425 3,326,660 Quantity Traded 1,994,220 8,395,926

85,758,323

Quantity Traded 500 1,995,699 1,278,000 Page 50,500 1,500,000 20 1,484,604 50,000 200 200 197,100 7,625,800 7,177,448 251,579 997,982 34,600 5,900 500 30 Quantity Traded 500 400

500 Page 25,430 23,061,212 45,738,704

Value Traded 217,663,753.43 32,862,437.83 94,443,040.65 14,668,518.34 228,295,964.39 23,270,467.69 9,587,686.26 95,611,161.72 2,944,047.23 1,663,330.00 Value Traded 1,903,121.00 209,880,984.81

250.00 14 of 12,715.00 17,677,115.33 33,502,323.25 Value Traded 1,048,430.00 1,048,430.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol RESORTSAL UNHOMES

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 40,000,400 100 40,000,500

Value Traded 20,000,200.00 50.00 20,000,250.00

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB NESF ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 69 38 450 86 1 3 33 88

Current Price 3.25 3.65 15.60 4.14 552.20 0.55 26.00 2.33

Quantity Traded 1,740,288 4,147,845 11,688,874 8,698,910 150 264,608 294,603 3,837,637

Value Traded 5,651,908.95 14,711,148.80 182,561,081.07 36,021,368.33 82,500.00 145,503.78 7,392,878.07 8,971,143.30

Page

6

of

Symbol EVANSMED Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 3 No. of Deals 28 26 35 14 1 107

Current Price 2.40 Current Price 3.06 65.00 1.76 1.21 1.50

Quantity Traded 10,300 Quantity Traded 4,209,826 181,803 2,419,050 299,894 500 7,121,373

Value Traded 23,484.00 Value Traded 12,877,164.60 11,651,641.50 4,356,686.17 367,085.34 750.00 29,276,811.61

7,121,793

29,277,048.01

109

Current Price 5.00 15.20

Quantity Traded 23,000 14,606 37,606

Value Traded 109,250.00 222,011.20 331,261.20

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 250,000 250,000

Value Traded 125,000.00 125,000.00

365,898

502,453.48

CHAMS Daily Summary (Equities)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS Published by The Nigerian Stock PLC Exchange © CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic Electrical Products Totals Daily Summary as of and 26/06/2014 Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

9

Value Traded 46,192.28 of 14 46,192.28

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 117 10 14 34 65 3 1 3 56 303

Current Price 29.00 9.00 40.00 11.60 235.00 1.11 0.50 4.90 111.00

Quantity Traded 5,256,864 48,669 Page 40,127 454,674 479,699 49,620 62,000 137,420 769,459 7,298,532

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 7 1 8

Current Price 1.88 0.50

Quantity Traded 238,686 100 238,786

Value Traded 449,092.70 50.00 449,142.70

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 16.59

Quantity Traded 2 2

Value Traded 34.00 34.00

7,537,320

361,614,234.98 Value Traded 11,351.50 Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities)

313

Value Traded 154,874,200.74 8 423,789.75 of 14 1,548,259.71 5,182,279.11 112,642,169.47 57,559.20 31,000.00 671,487.00 85,734,313.30 361,165,058.28

Symbol BOCGAS Symbol

No. of Deals 3 No. of Deals

Current Price 5.76 Current Price

Quantity Traded 2,063 Quantity Traded

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.50

Quantity Traded 450 450

Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,200,000 2,200,000

Value Traded 1,100,000.00 1,100,000.00

Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Paper/Forest Products Totals

Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.79

Quantity Traded 20 20

Value Traded 15.20 15.20

2,202,533

1,115,857.70

3

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Activity Summary on Board EQTY OANDO PLC

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

2,063

Page

6

9

11,351.50

of

Value Traded 4,491.00 4,491.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 242 242

Current Price 0.69

Quantity Traded 30,415,268 30,415,268

Value Traded 20,604,702.71 20,604,702.71

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 807 807

Current Price 27.43

Quantity Traded 22,739,566 22,739,566

Value Traded 631,732,004.88 631,732,004.88

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 11 34 22 23 16 15 122

Current Price 0.50 67.80 4.55 225.64 131.00 70.00 171.50

Quantity Traded 500 Page 27,398 660,424 152,534 110,157 15,322 34,583 1,000,918

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 675.10

Quantity Traded 3,850 3,850

Value Traded 2,594,750.00 2,594,750.00

54,159,602

715,520,893.52

Daily Summary (Equities)

OIL AND GAS Totals

5

Quantity Traded 1,151,000 1,151,000

Value Traded 36.40 36.40

No. of Deals 4 3 7

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 SERVICES Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC.

Value Traded 250.00 1,683,266.07 1,387,460.00 4 25,250.00 of 14 750,000.00 10.00 757,936.66 25,000.00 100.00 100.00 492,987.18 3,965,472.95 6,061,918.56 125,789.50 514,555.00 18,482.00 2,950.00 250.00 15.00 Value Traded 250.00 200.00

Current Price 0.85

Quantity Traded 20 20

Symbol CWG NCR

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

932,794,513.35

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 1.91

IT Services Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC.

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLCStock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

544,752,834.94

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 1

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035

Quantity Traded Page 251,817

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Daily Summary SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Symbol

Daily Summary (Equities) MORISON

7

Chemicals Totals

Current Price 35.00 50.00

13,754,406

Value Traded 200.00 200.00

Quantity Traded 78,292 Page 78,292

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals 45 73 118 821

Quantity Traded 400 400

Current Price 0.59

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

394,247 646,064

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 1 1

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals NATURAL RESOURCES B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals

Value Traded 188,336.94 188,336.94

1,242,883,048.90

No. of Deals 1 1

ICT Totals

Quantity Traded 43,877 43,877

203,321,442

Symbol UNIONDAC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 4.44

Value Traded 255,537,532.30

Symbol COURTVILLE

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

No. of Deals 14 14

Quantity Traded 30,672,915

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Computer Based Systems Totals

IT Services Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

Current Price

2,435

HEALTHCARE Totals

Value Traded 692,448.10 49,445,671.88 Value Traded 4,035,682.70 83,998,092.86 2 of 14 138,171,895.54

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

HEALTHCARE Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Healthcare Providers Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC

Value Traded of 14 1,336,101.88 1,336,101.88

No. of Deals 1 1

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE Published by The Nigerian StockINSURANCE Exchange © COMPANY PLC. CORNERSTONE CORNERST EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC LINKASSURE Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS Daily Summary OASIS INSURANCE PLC OASISINS PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS Activity Summary on Board EQTY SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS FINANCIAL SERVICES STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STACO Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE

UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC

1

Symbol DUNLOP

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANKon FOR AFRICA PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY UNION BANK NIG.PLC. FINANCIAL UNITY SERVICES BANK PLC Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

No. of Deals 768

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol

1,175

3,004,929.20 34,422,757.16 14,446,230.63 1,018,913.00 5,931,650.76 60,589,435.93

Current Price 1.03

Quantity Traded 749,500 749,500

Value Traded 770,293.19 770,293.19

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 4 1 5

Current Price 4.93 2.07

Quantity Traded 27,752 50,000 77,752

Value Traded 130,507.28 103,500.00 234,007.28

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 0.54

Quantity Traded 2,486,900 Page 2,486,900

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

Symbol Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals No. of Deals 8

Current Price Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded Quantity758,900 Traded

Value Traded Value Traded 666,140.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 11 5 17

Current Price 1.71 1.57 4.35

Quantity Traded 100 717,456 92,671 810,227

Value Traded 163.00 1,126,417.92 394,416.94 1,520,997.86

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 90 90

Current Price 0.93

Quantity Traded 20,225,710 20,225,710

Value Traded 18,205,112.43 18,205,112.43

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 19 52 71

Current Price 2.45 4.97

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 45 45

Current Price 6.90

Quantity Traded 1,220,340 1,611,903 2,832,243 Page Quantity Traded 1,177,597 1,177,597

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY PLC. TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals SERVICES 14:48:35.035 Printed 26/06/2014 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Published by The NigerianSolutions Stock Exchange Employment Totals © Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Hospitality Totals SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Value Traded 250.00

101,764,705.18 of 14

No. of Deals 18 18

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary as of 26/06/2014 Printed 26/06/2014 14:48:35.035

1 9

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals Equity Activity Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

3.88

420 759,320

Value Traded 1,304,865.01 111,304,865.01 of 14

1,549.80 667,689.80

Value Traded 3,159,872.00 7,973,885.85 11,133,757.85 12 of 14 Value Traded 8,160,609.30 8,160,609.30

280

29,119,449

41,997,432.72

6,040

411,480,343

3,421,306,323.40

6,040

411,480,343 3,421,306,323.40 Page 13 of 14

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

14

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

14

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 2,070.00 19.14

Quantity Traded 9 41,200 41,209

Value Traded 18,630.00 788,158.00 806,788.00

ETF Board Totals

3

41,209

806,788.00

ETP Activity Totals

3

41,209

806,788.00

45

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

DEMOCRACY People power in Benin as Edo indigines take over legislature Cajetan Mmuta

Edo House holds mock plenary as APC, PDP lawmakers refuse to sit principal officers, who state.

The 24 elected lawture that held the day’s makers of the ruling All Progressives Conproceedings.

They said there was gress (APC) and the opan urgent need for the position Peoples Demogovernor and officials cratic Party (PDP) from of the Ministry of the 18 local government Works as well as that areas on Wednesday adof the Environment/ journed after the draPublic Utilities, to ap- ma that has been playpear before them to ing itself out in the last explain some of the one month.

It will be recalled activities sur rounding the ongoing N30 that the elected 16 APC billion Water Stor m and eight PDP lawmakproject, challenges in ers in the House have, the health sector and for the past one month, the state of the roads refused to sit over the as well as other chal- suspension and counlenges confronting the ter-suspension as well

BENIN constituted the legisla-

A

mock plenary session of non-elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday summoned Gover nor Adams Oshiomhole and the Commissioner for Works to appear before it to explain some of the knotty issues affecting the people.

Members of the Assembly during the sitting, elected one Mr. Curtis Ugbo, as Speaker; Mr. Onome Otueroro, as Deputy Speaker and other

2015: Chekwas rues Igbo maginalisation Leo Sobechi

ounding National Chair man of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has called for an end to political corruption in the country, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should insist on observance of due process in political parties to ensure credible polls.

Okorie made the call while delivering a paper at the “Igbo Ekunie Lecture Series,” organised by the Ohanaeze youth wing in Enugu, yesterday. The UPP boss traced the political evolution of Nigeria, tasking young people, especially those of Igbo stock, to take the 2015 elections seriously if indeed we want change.

He regretted that despite the historical reality of 14 and 21 provinces made up of 12 South-Eastern provinces and Nine SouthWestern providences from which two provinces were carved out as Midwest in Northern and Southern Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon created 12 states with six states each in the North and the South.

The chairman noted that apart from the scrambling for political space, the principle of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ enunciated by the Gowon administration was observed in the breach, stressing that everything continued to be done to the disadvantage of Ndigbo, which crippled them politically.

“The post-war government of General Yakubu Gowon de-

F

clared a policy of ‘Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation’ known as the 3-Rs, but no deliberate effort has been made to implement this policy beyond mere rhetoric.

Needless to say, the plot to halt the development of Igbo people and their area has remained largely successful,” he asserted.

Okorie added that; “Subsequent military regimes continuously created states and local governments by fiat to the extent that Ndigbo have been made to become the minority on paper and made to suffer great reverses in revenue allocation and appointment to federal offices, while in reality Ndigbo are the largest single ethnic group in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

“It is indisputable that Ndigbo constitute the second largest ethnic group in 31 of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 99.9 percent of the population of the five states in the SouthEast geopolitical zone.

Nigerian brand of democracy has given credence both to majority vote and geographical spread as prerequisite for winning political power, especially the presidency.

“It is true that we have been wickedly reduced to minority on paper in order to undermine our relevance in the political equation of Nigeria and in revenue allocation, but we can put a lie to this wicked manipulation by using our vote to decide who wins or who does not in any election in Nigeria.”

89,070

as court orders by both sides in the intractable leadership and political crisis rocking the House.

Riot policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operatives drafted to ensure peace and order could not but allow people, who had condemned the political stalemate orchestrated by elected APC and PDP members in the House, in the premises.

Speaker of the mock Assembly, Curtis Ugbo, in a motion of matters

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

of urgent public importance, said it was important for the state chief executive and others to brief the people on the state of projects carried out by the administration.

They frowned at the crisis trailing the Assembly and the manner the lawmakers have conducted themselves in the business of legislation, which they described as “a mockery of democracy and deprivation of the right of every Edo sons and daughters’ rights to good governance and the rule of law.”

10%

The percentage of industrial use of water in low and middle-income countries.

Source: Unesco.org

Ugbo said: “The Edo people have elected me as the Speaker of the Assembly, this is not a PDP or APC thing, it’ is an Edo Assembly.

“We cannot continue to live like this since, we are tired of this show of shame being put together by the APC and the PDP lawmakers, since they have neglected their duties, the people have no choice but to elect me as their new Speaker and that is why you see us here sitting in front of the Assembly to address urgent legislative matters.”

N4.12bn

The internally generated revenue of Adamawa State in 2011.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

L-R: Deputy Chairman, (North) All Progressive Congress (APC0, Senator Shuaibu Lawan; National Chairman, Dr. John Odigie-Oyegun; National Secretary, Mai Mala-Buni and Deputy Chairman (South), Segun Oni, at the Maiden meeting of the Committee in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

FG urged to increase funding to FMC Makurdi Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

he Federal Government Tincrease has been called upon to funding of the

Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Makurdi, Benue State, to enable it complete on-going projects at the hospital’s permanent site at Apir.

Former Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Oyigeya, who made the appeal yesterday while handing over to his Deputy, Dr. Peteru Inyudugh, said the projects, when completed, would enable the hospital move to its permanent site as well as drastically minimise the cost of running it.

Oyigeiya, who recently resigned his appointment

as the boss of the FMC to contest next year’s governorship election, listed some of his achievements to include the increase in staff strength from 886 on assumption in 2008 to 2, 243 at the time of handing over as well as opening the floodgate of promotion to all deserving staff, among others.

He described Inyudugh as an embodiment of the drive, charisma and foresight expected of a leader, adding that he is a man qualified for the job who can also inspire others to work and accomplish set targets.

In his response, Inyudugh thanked his predecessor for the opportunity to work with him, promising to always reach out to him for consultation.

Assembly to invite Jang over SURE-P Buhari Bello

Jos

Minority Whip of Tofhe the Plateau State House Assembly and House

Committee Chairman on Public Accounts and Petitions, Hon. Gondina Sambo, has vowed to invite Governor Jonah Jang and his cabinet for questioning if they were found to be involved in financial misappropriation of the state’s funds.

Sambo stated this in an interview with journalists at the NUJ Press Centre yesterday.

He said: “The House has no option than to embark on a thorough investigation of anyone involved in corruption, we will implement disci-

plinary measures against cases of corruption involving SURE-P funds.”

According to him, the House Committee chairman has promised the people that those involved in acts of corruption would not go unpunished, if anyone is found guilty that person will be dealt with accordingly.

Sambo added that the petition received by the House was still an allegation, but that "it is the duty of the members to investigate the matter, because it has become a public document, if anyone is found guilty, whether it is the governor or his family or members of the House of Assembly, no one involved would go un-punished, that is what the law says."

46 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

2015: Amosun's loyalists begin campaign Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

State Governor, Osun,gun Senator Ibikunle Amowas yesterday urged

L-R: Chief of Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Akin Osibogun; Pro-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Dr. Segun Oshin and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, during the State Conference 2014 entiled: Academics, Politicals and Public Health, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos….yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE.

464,849

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Uganda in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

45%

The percentage of population under 15 years in Burkina Faso in 2012.

Source: Un.org

3-5m

The estimated number of cholera cases in the world annually.

Source: Unesco.org

Adejumo wants lawyers sanctioned for frivolous petitions LEGISLATION NIC President urges citizens to be part of the law making process Babatope Okeowo Akure

P

resident of National Industrial Court (NIC), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, yesterday pushed for the punishment of lawyers whose petitions against judges are thrown out by the National Judicial Service Commission (NJSC) The jurist and other legal practitioners, including Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), Justice Auwal Ibrahim and Dr Olubayo

Oluduro, also challenged lawyers and the public to take active role during the enactment of laws at the State and National Assemblies.

Adejumo who spoke at Akure, the Ondo state capital at the law week organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) bemoaned a situation where lawyers wait after the enactment of a law before challenging such laws at the court of law.

The jurist who was a former lawmaker said both lawyers and the public should be active in the process of making law, especially at the committee stage, so as not to be affected by bad laws being passed into law by the legislative arms of

government.

On the punishment for lawyers who have their petitions against judges thrown out, Adejumo said there should not be leniency for them as their intention was to throw such justices out of job.

His words "If a lawyer writes frivolous petition against a judge and the judge is exonerated by the NJSC, the lawyer should be made to face disciplinary action and possibly lose his wig and gown."

In his lecture titled "Law as an instrument for national development" delivered in honour of Justice Adejumo, Dr Adewole Adedeji said the development of the country should not be left for the executive alone.

Adedeji, a lecturer, said "lot of attention has been given to the executive arm of government under our present democratic dispensation as a result of the faulty belief that it is the executive alone that has the responsibility of launching the country on the part of national development.

"There is a need to focus on the legislative arm as well at all levels of government in the country.

Citizens need to get more involved in their activities and mount pressure on them to ensure that they performed their duties."

Adedeji said law reforms should be given the proper attention it deserves saying platforms should be created for every citizen to participate in the process of making law.

to remain focused in the task of delivering democracy dividends to people of the state and shun political detractors ahead of the 2015 general election.

The state coordinator, All-Amosun Campaign Groups (ACG), Mr. Oluwanbe Oyedele, made the declaration at a press conference in Abeokuta, where over 50 campaign groups formally endorsed the governor for a second term in office.

The group also subsequently presented its letter of endorsement to Amosun at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Members of the various campaign groups declared that there was

no alternative to the governor.

Oyedele, who stated that the governor had kept his electioneering promises in the areas of infrastructural development, health, education, security and employment generation, said Amosun deserved re-election in 2015.

According to him, the governor has re-written the history of the state for good and set a high standard for others to emulate.

The coordinator explained that ACG, as a unified body of constituent loyalist groups of Amosun, was committed to mobilising people of the state to support the governor.

Oyedele flayed opposition elements in the state for peddling lies against the performance of the state government in the last three years.

Bayelsa Correspondents eulogise Gbemudu he Bayelsa Correspon- opment of Bayelsa," he TNigeria dents chapel of the said.

In his comments, Mr Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday organised a valedictory session to bid farewell to its departed colleague, Mr Emma Gbemudu.

Gbemudu, Bayelsa Correspondent of National Mirror passed on in April 2014.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Markson Fefegha, Bayelsa Commissioner of Information noted that death was inevitable.

He said that Gbemudu was a resourceful journalist who did his job with utmost commitment.

"The battle of life starts from birth, death is no respecter of age, death is inevitable and a necessary end to life.

"The late Gbemudu was a gentleman and did his job and contributed his quota in the devel-

Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Media Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor urged the members of the chapel member to cheer up and take solace in Christ.

He described Gbemudu as a wonderful journalist and prayed God to grant the chapel members the grace to live right.

Also, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, the media coordinator of the joint military task force (JTF), prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of Gbemudu as well as to grant his colleagues and family members the fortitude to bear the loss.

In a vote of thanks, Mr Samuel Ese, Chairman, Correspondents Chapel, expressed gratitude to dignitaries and members for standing with the family of the deceased.

Boko Haram: Fears over Lagos explosions Juliana Francis

M

any people were believed to have been killed and more injured after a twin explosion rocked the Creek Road area of Liverpool Apapa, Lagos State on Wednesday night.

The explosions occurred between 8:30 and 9pm, and came within 10 minutes interval of each other. Nobody could confirm the number of people that died or got injured, but a policeman, attached to the Lagos State Monitoring Unit, said: “Many people

were injured.”

A tanker owner, who simply identified himself as Eric said: “Anybody who told you anything different from the fact that a bomb was inside the Sienna car is lying to you. It was a bomb explosion. The buildings in this area shook to their very foundations.

Take a walk around the street and see all the buildings affected. Yet, the blast happened quite few metres away from them. “ I personally counted four corpses. The woman who used to sell amala to

us died in front of Enterprise bank. A security guard attached to the bank died instantly. My tanker driver, who was even far from the Sienna car, was affected. His intestines gushed out. He’s right now in the hospital. Instead of denying the bomb explosion, security agents should try to forestall another explosion. Believe me, from what I have seen, there would be another attempt. Whoever came with that bomb, knew that this area is where gas and fuel companies are many.”

Another person revealed that aside from the security guard in the Enterprise Bank, two other persons from the bank were severely injured and presently fighting to stay alive in hospital.

The first explosion happened at Folawiyo Energy Company Limited. The company is a fuel depot; where fuel are discharged and later distributed. The second explosion, which was a Toyota Sienna car, occurred a few minutes walking distance from the Folawiyo Company;

right on the expressway, next to a tanker, suspected to be filled with gas.

Indeed, the Sienna car was boxed in between the gas tanker and Enterprise Bank Limited.

The second explosion actually led to the death and injury of many of the victims, but nobody could ascertain the numbers of people killed or injured in Folawiyo premises where the incident occurred, if there was any.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who was on ground at both scenes, revealed that

some Folawiyo workers staff told her that a tanker laden with fuel, exploded inside their premises, “But their fire and safety department controlled it.”

She added that the staff also showed her the tanker in question.

NEMA’s Public Information officer, Mr. Ibrahim Fayode, said: “It’s no longer NEMA’s job now, but police because it has become a matter that has to do with investigation. Except an investigation is carried out, there’s nothing we can say.”

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Osun: Parents condemn school uniform Adeolu Adeyemo

Osogbo

arents of public priPschool mary and secondary students in Osun

L-R: Supervising Minister, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson; Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, during the meeting/inspection tour of the National Council of Science and Technology in Minna…yesterday

25.7%

The percentage prevalence of diabetes (20-79 years) in Cook Islands in 2013.

Source: Idp.com

360,000

The total number of internet users in Georgia in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

0.26

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Chad in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

We'll floor Amaechi, says PDP Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

T

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has reassured its supporters that it would re-enact the victory of the party in Ekiti state in Rivers when the elections come up.

State Chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obua who made the declaration in a statement signed by his special Adviser on Media, Mr. Jerry Needam, said the party would repeat the same feat against Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s APC next year.

Obuah anchored his optimism on what he termed

the many failed promises of Governor Amaechi to Rivers people, saying, the women are disenchanted; the elders disappointed and the youths disenfranchised and discouraged.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, said PDP’s victory in Ekiti was a fluke. Its state chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya in a statement in Port Harcourt said: “This development, which was unexpected, does not portend anything or any danger for the APC in 2015, especially in Rivers State. ''The Ekiti election has come and gone and we have learnt our lessons

Court declares defection of Ex-PDP lawmakers legal, constitutional Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he Federal High court sitting in Ilorin yesterday declared that the defection of 22 members of the state house of assembly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All progressive Congress (APC) was legal and constitutional.

According to the court presided over by Justice Olayinka Faji, the 22 lawmakers, who were defendants in the case, would not lose their seats for another re-election because there was indeed an established case of crisis in their party which prompted their defection. The case was listed as suit no FHC/IL/CS/6/2014.

The plaintiffs are the PDP and Illias Ibrahim while

the respondents are Razaq Atunwa and twenty others in addition to INEC. The 22 lawmakers, including the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Razaq Atunwa had defected from the PDP to the APC on allegations of crisis within the party but one of their members, Ibrahim Illiyasu, who did not join the defectors decided to drag the others to court asking for an order to compel the defectors to vacate their seats and stand another election having dumped the party for APC. Counsels for the plaintiff, Salman Jawondo assisted by O.J Adeseko had urged the court to declare the seats of the speaker and twenty others vacant in view of the fact that they were elected on the platform of PDP.

which will ensure better outings in other elections.

That election will go a long way to unite and strengthen us the more to present a better APC to Nigerians as the battle to rescue and reposition Nigeria hots up”, Ikanya said. ''The PDP regrets that rather than improve the welfare of the people through provision of necessary social amenities and infrastructure, Amaechi has chosen to impoverish the people the more by encouraging corruption and diverting State resources to personal, group and APC interests. ''These and many other sundry misdeeds against his fatherland have already

pinched Gov Amaechi against the people and should be sure the people can no longer be deceived the second time having known him better now'', Obua said.

On the lull being experienced by social and business activities in the State, the PDP further regretted that all the investors attracted to the State by the robust State economy under Dr. Peter Odili administration have all left.

This, the party said is due to Amaechi’s ambiguous and undefined policies that serve more as a threat to their businesses as well as the hostile attitude of Amaechi’s men to investors.

Kwara floats AMA University Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government announced yesterday that it has concluded arrangements with the government of the Philippine on the citing of a Philippino University with focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the state.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago who made this known in Ilorin, the state capital while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, said the move was at enhancing access to quality education in the state.

He said the executive council has approved the choice of the old Ilorin

Teachers College, Lagos road, Ilorin which has seven hectares of land as the temporary site of the university.

The university is known as AMA University and according to Onimago is wholly owned and will be funded by the Philippine, while the state government just provided the land as its temporary site.

Onimago who addressed newsmen along side his ministry of Health’s counterpart and the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state governor, Dr. Muhideen Akorede also announced the resolve of the government to gradually ease out primary and post primary school teachers with no qualification in education from their teaching job.

state yesterday described the tablets of knowledge (opon imon) introduced by the governor, Rauf Aregbesola led administration as a fraud.

The parents, who said this at the state secretariat of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) located at the Osogbo Government Technical College, said the tablets did not go round the students in the state as claimed by the government.

Their spokesperson, Alhaji Mayowa Popoola argued that tablets given to students were not sufficient "as many of our children could not benefit from it."

They also protested against the common uniform introduced by the state government into the public schools.

"The quality of school

uniforms given to school children in the state is of low quality and could not last. The price of the uniform which they introduced was too expensive and many of us could not afford it for our wards and children", they said.

Po p o o l a further frowned at the introduction of a new education policy by the Aregbesola's administration, describing it as unpopular.

Popoola who spoke on behalf of the parents warned Aregbesola against playing politics with the lives of their children.

He said the new education policy of the state government has affected socio-economic activities.

However, the state chairman of the PTA, Dr Ademola Ekundayo charged the embittered parents to be patient assuring them that their demands would be tabled before the state government.

Insurgency: Oyedepo downplays foreign help Mojeed Alabi

he founder and general overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Dr. David Oyedepo has explained that the solution to the violent activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and all other crises rocking the country cannot be found in the foreign support currently being sought by Nigeria but by looking inward and developing indigenous initiatives to tackle the menace.

Oyedepo, who doubles as the Chancellor of the Covenant University, CU, Ota, in Ogun State, stated this yesterday while speaking at a lecture held on the campus as part of activities marking the university’s 9th convocation ceremony.

The lecture, delivered by the former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was titled: Repositioning Nigerian Universities for the 21st Century: Paradigms for Innovation and Change.

The Chancellor, who lamented the growing spread of bombings in the country, said the situation was already degenerating to a situation whereby the nation’s flag was being lowered and the jihadists’ being flown very high. He challenged the nation’s leadership to be proactive and concentrate on gathering local ideas that could help resolve the contradictions rather than looking up to the developed nations to

T

help out.

He said: “Our inability to address our problems lies in our constant search for helpers. Since I began to note that plants and animals except human beings don’t relocate from their habitats but remain there confronting the challenges that come their way without looking for external support, I have come to realise the fact that solutions to our indignities rely in us.”

Oyedepo, who condemned the ongoing National Conference, said the problem with the conference began with the restrictions placed on certain issues that are not meant to be discussed. He said what Nigeria needs is a people’s conference that will subject all aspects of national life to public debate and not a gagged confab like we currently have.

Osinbajo, in his lecture, said the country’s education system as it currently stands offers no hope for national development, saying apart from poor investment the cankerworm of corruption has also eaten deep into the sector with lecturers now in the habit of plagiarism, bribery and sexual harassment.

He said salvation is in the restoration of a sound, qualitative and entrepreneur-based education that can add values to the foreign ideas currently being absorbed by the country.

The occasion was graced by scholars and university administrators.

Ekiti 2014

48 NEWS HONOUR Politics is not all about last minute achievements, Fayose reminds Fayemi Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State GovernorElect, Mr Ayodele Fayose and his Deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka, yesterday received their Certificates of Return as winners in last Saturday's poll from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Ado-Ekiti.

The presentation was sequel to their victory over the incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fayose contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking after receiving the certificate, Fayose warned Fayemi against creating more local governments or employing people at the twilight of his

75.5%

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Fayose receives Certificate of Return, knocks LG creation tenure.

He was reacting to the creation of 18 additional Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).

“I want to thank Governor Kayode Fayemi for conceding defeat to me. He has proven to be a statesman. But it will be ungentlemanly for him to start creating local governments or employing people he has not employed in four years now. I want to advise that he has been honourable and he has to maintain this.”

Commenting on Saturday's election, Fayose said, “With this election, INEC has proven that it has the capacity to put Nigeria back on track. You did not choose a governor for us in your office, but you allowed Ekiti people to freely choose.

This will forever remain in history”.

Fayose advised those

The percentage of households with a computer in developed countries in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

who are not from the state to desist from making harsh comments about the election, saying “democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

“I will go for the goal like Chief Obafemi Awolowo because I will not look sideways. It only takes the kindness of God for people to rise twice. And I am making this pledge that I will serve the common people and I will also respect the elite.”

He said as a leader of the PDP in the South-West, he would do everything within his power to re-awaken and re-energize the party in the zone.

Fayose urged all Ekiti indigenes not to entertain fear, saying he would not persecute anybody on account of political differences.

Presenting the certificate,

22

The number of players from the USA’s MLS that will participate in the World Cup in 2014.

Source: Goal.com

the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, promised that the commission would continue to replicate the achievement recorded in Ekiti in subsequent elections.

Jega, who was represented by the INEC Commissioner in charge of South-West, Prof Lai Olurode, stated that many top functionaries of the commission would have been sacked, but for good performance in the Ekiti election.

He said the Ekiti election “was not delivered by caesarean section because we did not predict the outcome. We never allowed our personal predilection to determine the outcome of the election. That is why we are celebrating today “Before, we have seen a governor who won election and could not stay in his state to celebrate with the

29.1

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Namibia in 2004.

Source: Blatantworld.com

people. So, I plead with Nigerians to continue to have confidence in us. If you see any of our officials perpetrating fraud, try and gather evidence, Prof Jega will not spare such person."

Jega remarked that Fayose and Fayemi displayed high level of political leadership, particularly with their utterances and body languages after the election, urging politicians to emulate the gesture.

He urged politicians to stop the bashing of INEC to prevent its credibility from being eroded in the eyes of the public, particularly the international community.

He said, “We never knew what would have happened to our jobs if the election had ended the way of Anambra. But we thank God that the Resident Electoral Commissioner saved our jobs.

“You know Ekiti election came after Anambra election. But we were not happy with what happened in Anambra because we prepared for it better than Ekiti .

“The anxiety before the election was unprecedented and nobody knew what would happen to Ekiti after the election because of the trepidation”.

‘Falana must stop playing God' Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor-Elect, Evised Mr Ayo Fayose, has adLagos-based lawyer,

Mr Femi Falana (SAN) to stop playing God in the lives of the people of the state.

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, he said it was wrong and a sacrilege for Falana to feel he could decide what the future of people would be.

He was reacting to a news item by Falana that Fayose had nothing good in him to offer the people of the state and that the people should stop celebrating

Fayose's victory.

"We thought Falana is a lawyer; we never knew he had turned a mind reader and could predict what people would do in months and years to come.

"If he was good at that, why didn't he use his supernatural powers to predict to his sponsors how the election would go.

"Once again, Falana has shown the doublespeak in him. One understands the fact that he is suffering from post-election trauma, as the people of the state overwhelmingly rejected his choice in the poll and he is yet to recover from the shock.

...Group describes Osun gov's reaction as absurd group within the Ekiti APeoples State chapter of the Democratic Par-

Fayose receiving his Certificate of Return…yesterday

Aregbesola to governor-elect: You’re intoxicated by victory Adeolu Adeyem

OSOGBO

O

sun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday blasted the governor elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayoseon his outburst that (he) Aregbesola is 'dangerous to Nigeria's democracy'.

That reaction was over Aregbesola’s alleged call on his All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to dare security agents during elections.

Aregbesola, who

frowned at the outburst of Fayose, described it as 'over-reaching euphoria of a coincidental victory.'

Speaking through his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon in a statement in Osogbo, the governor further referred to the statement as indecent and unexpected from an elected governor.

"It therefore amounts to a contradiction for anybody to think that daring the security agencies would be the

ideal thing to do for the peace-loving people of Osun.

"Asking the people to dare soldiers or any security agency at that, will amount to promoting anarchy which a governor like Aregbesola will not do."

According to the statement, "the governor is a lover of peace and his government has never treated security issue in the state with a kid gloves."

"Osun did not become one of the most peaceful states in the country

overnight but for the diligent efforts of Governor Aregbesola in promoting harmonious rapport between the citizenry and those who have the constitutional duties to protect them.

"To put the record straight, the governor only directed the people across the state to go out enmass to vote, protect their votes and not to be intimidated by security agents or members of the opposition political parties before and during the election."

ty (PDP), the PDP Youth Coalition, has described the reaction of Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to the PDP's victory in last Saturday's governorship poll in Ekiti State as absurd.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Mr Wale Ayeni, which was made available to

journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he challenged Aregbesola to prove his allegation that the poll was fraught with irregularities.

Ayeni urged the governor to save Osun State from the embarrassment that his utterances, actions and inactions were inflicting on the integrity of the people he governs in the eyes of the world.

Fayemi to create 18 new LGs Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Government Etional is set to create addi18 Council Devel-

opment Areas from the existing 16 local governments, it announced yesterday.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, in Ado-Ekiti, said the development followed the adoption of

the recommendations of the White Paper Committee set up by the government.

The new council areas are to be created from the existing 16 local government areas after the conduct of a referendum by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Amaechi opens up on Ekiti election, says he is committed to development Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

overnor Chibuike GState Amaechi of Rivers yesterday opened up

on last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Breaking his silence for the first time since Saturday, the governor said he was disturbed over the militarisation of the election in the state.

Amaechi, who spoke during an interview with Government House correspondents on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, reaffirmed his commitment to politics of development and providing dividends of democracy to the people.

The governor said numerous projects executed by his administration are geared towards meeting the needs of the people, particularly in education and healthcare.

He noted that the people do not require payment for healthcare services or educational opportunities as far as his administration is concerned.

"We will continue to champion the cause of all Rivers people by fulfilling their needs through projects implementation,” he said.

On the Ekiti gover norship poll, Amaechi said while he would not disprove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the fairness of the poll, he was disturbed by the militarisation of the process.

“From INEC’s point of view, yes you can say it was fairly done, but what do you say about the military? The military officers were escorting PDP people sharing money and sharing wrappers, rice and beans; and that influenced things.

Grounded chopper: Oshiomhole threatens court action Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

State governor, Adams EtodoOshiomhole, has vowed challenge any authority

which seeks to infringe on his fundamental human rights to movement from one place to another within the country, if such rights are violated again.

Oshiomhole spoke yesterday when the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) Benin Airport branch, paid him a visit to apologise over the recent incident at the Benin Airport, where his chartered helicopter was stopped from flying.

The governor, who said he had direct contact with President Goodluck Jonathan, following the incident said; “I’m convinced that he (President) didn’t give those orders that I should be stopped.

“The next time I’m so interrupted, I will not fail to go to court and challenge the infringement on my fundamental right to movement. We need to strengthen our democracy.

We need fresh air in our multi-party democracy.”

He advised airport authorities to shun partisan politics and insist on professionalism, saying; “It will be a sad day if the management of a sensitive institution that has to do with air safety, joins the club of politicians and political actors.

“I am saying this from my experience over the cause of my stewardship

here. Twice my chartered chopper has been stopped by your agents and the airport authority for reasons that have nothing to do with professional judgement, but purely partisan reasons.

While apologising to the governor, the Airspace Manager, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Benin Airport, Mr. Ibekwe Ikechi, said; “If things have happened before, let it be in the past, please.”

He sought a cordial working relationship with the government with a view to further improve on the operations of the Benin Airport.

Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima Niboro (fouth right) and members of NAWOJ National Executives, during their visit to NAN Headquarters in Abuja…yesterday

Senate probes Tinubu over comments on its performance Chukwu David

Abuja

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he Senate yesterday directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senator Oluremi Tinubu, over alleged criticisms of the upper chamber and its leadership in a recent comment she allegedly made in the media.

The action was sequel to a motion raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, under Order 43 (Privileges) of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended).

Ndoma-Egba had drawn the attention of his colleagues to some newspaper publications on the interview granted

by Tinubu, where she reportedly condemned what she described as the ‘rot’ in the Senate.

Tinubu, who represents Lagos Central senatorial district, had allegedly said that the actions of the Senate leadership were always sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led executive arm of government.

Ndoma-Egba said: “I would have brought this matter on the first day of our resumption, but for respect for the memory of our departed colleague, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.

“Today, therefore, is my earliest opportunity to raise it and that is why I raise this matter of privilege.

“There's a story carried in Thisday newspaper of June 5, 2014, attributed to a distinguished colleague of ours, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the headline is this: Activities in the Senate are depressing,” and I will read with your kind

permission.

“Part of the story reads, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central senatorial district took a swipe at the leadership of the Senate, accusing it of poor performance.

“Tinubu, at a media parley, to mark her third anniversary in the Senate said activities in the upper legislative chamber were depressing because its leadership failed to address a lot of pressing national issues for partisan reasons."

“She accused the Senate leadership of pandering to the wishes of the executive arm of government, which is led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I will just stop here.

“There's another story in the Daily Trust of Monday, June 9, 2014, again attributed to Senator

Oluremi Tinubu, which is titled, “Why I may not return to the Senate in 2015,” and with your kind permission, I may just read a little of it.

“Wife of the former Lagos State Governor, Oluremi Tinubu, said she may not return to the Senate next year if the rot in the upper chamber persists... Mrs. Tinubu said she's depressed with the various activities going on in the Senate...”

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, as I said before, I’m a Senator first and foremost and by the grace of my colleagues, a member of the leadership of the Senate and to the best of my knowledge, Senator Tinubu has never raised any concern with me or with the leadership on the activities of the Senate."

FG flays TI over statement Matthew Willsher Appointed CEO Etisalat …As MTN gets new CFO on Abacha loot Joseph Onyekwere

he Federal Government yesterday decried the Transparency International’s (TI) report which accused it of encouraging corruption and impunity.

TI had criticised the Federal Government for freeing Abacha family over funds looted by their patriarch, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, saying that “allowing the theft of public funds to go unpunished sends the wrong message that those with powerful connections can act with impunity.”

It also added that “the case should have been fully prosecuted, and the government has not given adequate reasons for dropping the charges.”

But the federal

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government in a statement endorsed by Ambrose Momoh, the Chief Press Secretary to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, yesterday described the statement as an unfortunate rush to judgment without the benefit of facts.

“It is pertinent to state that the recent withdrawal of the criminal proceedings against Mohammed Abacha in Nigeria will facilitate the recovery of the sum of $380 Million from the Luxembourg proceedings and $550 Million from forfeiture proceedings instituted by the US Department of Justice."

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tisalat Nigeria has announced the appointment of Matthew Charles Willsher as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Willsher previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer and has been Acting Chief Executive Officer since August 2013, in place of Steven Evans.

According to the firm, in under a year of Willsher’s leadership, Etisalat has recorded over 20 per cent growth in its customer base, increase in spend per customer, significant strengthening of margins, and maintained top position on customer satisfaction.

Matthew Willsher, a physics graduate from the prestigious Oxford University and a holder of

a Masters in Management from McGill University, started his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble. He joined Etisalat Nigeria with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications.

Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Hakeem BeloOsagie, speaking on the new appointment said: “Matthew’s creativity and deep understanding of emerging markets has played a pivotal role in Etisalat’s strengthened market position in the highly competitive telecommunications industry.

Meanwhile, the MTN Group has named Ferdi Moolman, as its new Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for its Nigerian subsidiary.

Moolman was moved from

Irancell to Nigeria to succeed Andrew Bing.

Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group President and CEO said in a congratulatory message that a few executive movements had taken place within the group affecting Nigeria, Uganda and Iran.

Moolman will be replaced as chief operations officer of MTN Irancell

by Mazen Mroue, head of MTN Uganda, while Brian Gouldie, moves to the top position in Uganda from MTN South Africa, where he was chief marketing officer.

“We are delighted that we are able to fill these executive management positions from within our leadership ranks, in line with our leadership development strategy,” said Dabengwa.

50 WORLD | NEWS

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Sending children illegally into US ‘pointless’

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he United States yesterday warned Central American families to stop sending their unaccompanied children across the Mexican border into the United States, calling the trip dangerous and pointless.

These children will not be granted residency, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in Nogales, Arizona as he visited a detention center housing 900 minors who came to America alone.

“This journey is a dangerous one and at the end of it

there’s no free pass. There are no ‘premises’’ for your children who come to the US,” Johnson said, referring to the coveted residency permits that are hoped for at the end of the journeys.

Johnson said the United States is taking measures to boost ties mainly with Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. He said the goal is to fight gang violence fueling much of the flight and to spur economic development so people have more of an incentive to stay home and also deal with chil-

dren who are deported.

The United States says such gang violence rampant in Central America is at the heart of a surge in unaccompanied children crossing the border from Mexico into the US, mainly through the borders with Arizona and Texas.

US media have reported some of the kids are as young as four or five, some of them having to appear before a judge.

From October of last year through June of this year, some 52,000 unaccompanied minors entered the United

Prostestors blocking traffic near the White House in Washington in response to President Obama’s decision to delay the deportation review.

K

enyan police arrested a politician who is a county governor in connection with gun attacks in his area that killed about 65 people, the government and police said.

“Lamu (County) Governor Issa Timamy arrested over recent violence and deaths in the Mpeketoni area, appeared in court, yesterday,” the presidential State House said on Twitter.

“It’s true. We have him with us,” Mombasa County police chief Robert Kitur told Reuters.

Lamu County is north of Mombasa County, home to the country’s main port. Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamist group claimed responsibility for the attacks this month around Mpeketoni in Lamu County, but President Uhuru Kenyatta has dismissed that and accused local political networks and local politicians of being behind them.

Ethnic violence has erupted in the past, notably after a contested 2007 election when about

Kenya arrests governor over attacks that killed 65 1,200 people were killed in tribal clashes. Lamu is an area where ethnic-fuelled disputes over land and other issues have festered for decades.

Odinga, a former prime minister who was Kenyatta’s main challenger in last year’s presidential vote, has said talks are needed to discuss security failings and other problems. The government has dismissed the demand, saying Odinga is trying to manufacture a crisis to claw his way back to office.

Police also arrested 13 members of the outlawed separatist movement, the Mombasa Republican Council, two days ago and accused them of planning ethnically-motivated attacks similar to the Mpeketoni killings. The Council denies any role in the Mpeketoni attacks and there was no immediate

comment from the group after the detentions.

“The 13 arrested by police are suspected to be planning to attack four areas - Witu, Kipini, Marereni and Garsen - all in the coastal region,” the ministry said, saying they had planned an “ethnic cleansing attack similar to Mpeketoni”.

Officials said security forces killed five of the suspected Mpeketoni attackers last week. Police said they had not established their identities and no one had collected the bodies.

Many Kenyans accuse the government of doing too little to prevent violence. Rights groups say the police often use heavy-handed tactics, such as mass roundups of Somalis or Kenyans with Somali links, only to free most of them, an approach they say breeds more resentment.

States. That was double the number from October 2012 through the end of 2013. Arizona’s Republican governor Jan Brewer urged the government of President Barack Obama to tighten border security.

“It’s the problem that we

have been facing for years now,” she said, according to the newspaper Nogales International. Detention centers for these children are packed, so authorities want streamlined procedures for deporting them.

Militants take Iraqi gas field town, president calls parliament session

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ilitants took a town an hour from Baghdad that is home to four natural gas fields yesterday, another gain by Sunni insurgents who have swiftly taken large areas to the north and west of the Iraqi capital.

Iraq’s presidency said a session of parliament would be held, July 1, the first step to forming a new government that the international community hopes will be inclusive enough to undermine the insurgency.

The overnight offensive included Mansouriyat alJabal, home to the gas fields where foreign companies operate, security forces said.

The fighting threatens to rupture the country two and a half years after the end of U.S. occupation.

The insurgents, led by the hardline Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) but also including other Sunni groups blame Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for mar-

ginalizing their sect during eight years in power and he is fighting for his job. Three months after elections, a chorus of Iraqi and international voices have called for the government formation process to be started, including Iraqi’s most influential Shi’ite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

The presidency issued a decree yesterday for a parliament session on July 1, state television said. Parliament will then have 30 days to name a president and 15 days after that to name a prime minister although the process has been delayed in the past, taking nine months to seat the government in 2010.

Maliki has dismissed the call of mainly Sunni political and religious figures, some with links to armed groups fighting Maliki, for a “national salvation government” that would choose figures to lead the country and, in effect, bypass the election.

Over 100,000 seeking shelter in South Sudan UN bases

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he number of civilians seeking shelter in United Nations bases in war-torn South Sudan has reached over 100,000 for the first time in more than six-months of conflict, the UN said yesterday.

The continued rise in the number of people fleeing violence offers a clear indication conditions continue to worsen in the impoverished nation, with over 101,000 civilians crammed inside squalid camps across the country and the numbers continuing to rise.

The largest increase has been in the northern oil-own of Bentiu, state capital of Unity, where over 45,000 civilians are now packed in a makeshift camp in dire conditions, with many areas flooded due to torrential rains. The town has been badly damaged in heavy fighting between rebels and government, changing hands

several times.

Many in camps have fled ethnic violence by rebels loyal to ousted vice-president Riek Machar, from the Nuer tribe, or forces behind President Salva Kiir, from the larger Dinka tribe.

“People are voting with their feet, many do not feel safe,” UN chief in South Sudan Hilde Johnson said, after visiting Bentiu this week. “This is also reflecting a terrible consequence of the fighting, which is food insecurity,” she added, according to the statement released yesterday.

“People are hungry, there is severe malnutrition and civilians are also coming to the UNMISS base for food.” The conflict in the world’s youngest and one of its most poor countries has killed thousands and forced more than 1.5 million to flee their homes since the war broke out in mid-December.

S Yobo

We gave our all against Argentina –Yobo

uper Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, has said that the team fought hard and gave all that was possible against Argentina on Wednesday in Porto Alegre.

The Argentines won the Group F encounter 3-2 with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa getting two goals each. Marcos Rojo was the scorer of Argentina’s last goal.

Yobo said the match was a very tight one and it would be unfair to blame anybody for the outcome simply because Nigeria lost.

He said; “We played against one of the best teams of all times and we really pushed them to the limit. We gave a good account of ourselves and I believe every Nigerian should be proud of our performance.

SPORT

“In the first half, we were a bit reserved thinking we could play for a draw but in the second half we played better and wanted to win the game.”

The skipper said he was happy with the qualification of the team more than anything else including his centenary achievement.

Yobo added; “Moving to the next

51

round is the most important thing for me and for the team and we thank God for it. Now that we are in the knock out stage we have to play the way we played the Argentines in the second half. This team has done well and will do better as we move on “We played against a great side and still put up a good show.”

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

FRIday, June 27, 2014

Eagles not aggressive enough –Argentine coach lHails Enyeama as brilliant Sabella

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rgentina coach, Allejandro Sabella, has said the Super Eagles were not aggressive in the game against his side decided at the Estardo Beira in Porto Alegre.

Lionel Messi scored two first half goals while Ahmed Musa scored a goal in each half in the 3-2 win the South Americans recorded over Nigeria. Marcos Rojo scored Argentina’s third goal.

Sabella said he was impressed with the Eagles, but was surprised that the team could not utilise space aggressively each time the opportunity came.

“Nigeria has a versatile team but the players were not aggressive especially when they had space to do so. It was a good match for both sides and the two teams

showed why they are the best in the group, “he said.

The coach however showered praises on his wards for putting up a good display to record a 100 per cent performance in the first round of the World Cup. He said; “As a coach you cannot ask for more.

Winning all games in the preliminaries gives us more confidence into the next stage.

“I am particularly happy that we created more chances in this match. We had many shots at goal but for the brilliance of the Nigerian keeper, we could have scored more.

Generally the attackers were wonderful.

“The team performed better than what we saw against Iran. That is very Super Eagles players failed to deal with Lionel good for us as we move Messi’s free-kick in Wednesdays’ match into the knock out stage.”

These Nigerians are good - Messi

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rgentina skipper Lionel Messi has rated the Super Eagles highly especially the team’s attack and praised his team for overcoming the Nigerian hurdle.

Messi, who scored twice in the game against the African champions, said Argentina will have to step up their performance as

the competition enters its tougher phase.

“I think we have improved from the last two games. We played against a team that was going forward with good players,” Messi said.

“We saw a good Argentina, despite the two Nigerian goals. Now

we want more, we have to keep improving.

“We said before: our strikers had to move a little bit more because we weren’t finding spaces.

We had that against Nigeria and we have to work, so the next game we won’t concede goals.”

The Barcelona forward also

revealed that he was en­joying the atmosphere surrounding the tournament, as he bids to lead Argentina to their first World Cup trophy since 1986.

“It’s great to see so many people here. We were expecting it and in the previous games it was like that,” he continued.

Messi

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

News Updates

Suarez banned for four months

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uis Suarez has been suspended for nine matches and banned for four months “from any football activity” by FIFA for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suare z looks likely to m i s s L ive r p o o l ’s f i r s t nine g ames of the Pre-

...plus nine-match suspension

mier League season, which include fixtures ag ainst ch a m p i o n s M a n ch e s t e r City and Ever ton. He is also set to miss out on Liver pool’s first three Champions League games next season.

Delia Fischer, media relations manager for FIFA,

More to come from Argentina – Messi

said in a statement: “The player Luis Suare z is suspended for nine matches and banned for four months from any football related activity.

“The FIFA disciplinary committee has decided the player is re garded as having breached article 48

parag raph one and article 57. The player is to be suspended for nine matches, the first is the upcoming match between Uruguay and Colombia on Saturday.”

It is the third time in his career that Suare z has been involved in such a

Coach Appiah insulted me –Boateng K evin-Prince Boateng has accused Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah of insulting him ahead of his expulsion from the World Cup. T he midfielder and teammate Sulley Muntari were dismissed from the Ghana squad on Thursday morning before the country’s Football Association announced that they had both been suspended indefinitely.

Boateng, who plays for

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ionel Messi has declared that there is still more to come from Argentina at the World Cup, despite seeing his side take maximum points in Group F. The 25-year-old scored twice against Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon as La Albiceleste rounded off their group stage campaign with a third straight win, courtesy of a 3-2 triumph over Nigeria.

“We were more threatening [against Nigeria], found the spaces to exploit and had more chances to score,” Messi is quoted as saying by BT Sport. “But we still want more. The good thing is we improved and it’s a wonderful experience with the people here.

We’re all still chasing a shared dream.”

Argentina, who also defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in Group F, will face Switzerland in the last 16 on Tuesday.

controversy.

He was suspended for seven matches after biting PSV midfielder Ottman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in a Dutch Eredivisie g ame in November 2010, and banned for 10 games after doing the same to Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in 2013.

Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini

Germany, USA through lAs Portugal, Ghana crash out

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ermany beat the United States 1-0 on Thursday to progress as winners of Group G, with the US joining them in the last 16, while Portugal and Ghana crashed out.

A draw would have sent both Germany and the US through regardless of the result between Portugal and

Balotelli overrated, says ex-Italy star F

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores the second goal against Ghana

Ghana but, in the end, Portugal’s narrow win sent the US through on goal difference.

Thomas Muller gave Germany the lead after the break with a superb measured finish from 18 yards out t grab his fourth goal of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo however scored for the first time in Brazil for Portugal against Ghana but it was not enough to secure a place in the last-16 of the World Cup. Ghana defender John Boye gifted Portugal the lead when he turned a cross into his own net, but Asamoah Gyan headed in an equaliser.

Ronaldo however capitalised on a poor clearance to sweep home and give Portugal hope.

But they could not find the three Argentina’s Lionel Messi blocked by Nigeria’s Juwon more goals they needed to take second, Oshaniwa which went to USA on goal difference.

Schalke 04, told German magazine Sport-Bild: “Sulley Muntari and I were just joking around and the coach stopped the session and sent us back to the changing room.

“Afterwards I went to see him and asked what he had against me and he started yelling. He insulted me.

“No one should think I insulted the coach. I’m travelling now and I wish my colleagues all the best.”

ormer Italy international Mauro Camoranesi has taken aim at Mario Balotelli and claimed the striker is “overrated”.

Balotelli has come in for criticism in the wake of Italy’s exit at the FIFA World Cup, with their failure to advance from Group D resulting in the resignation of coach Cesare Prandelli.

Italy team-mate Daniele De Rossi appeared to criticise Balotelli following the nation’s 1-0 defeat to Uruguay on Tuesday. And Camoranesi – a World Cup winner in 2006 – has joined the list of disgruntled Italians voicing their displeasure with the 23-year-old striker.

“I fir mly believe Balotelli is a very overrated player, both by the media and those who train him,” said Camo-

ranesi, who earned 55 caps for Italy between 2003 and 2010. “It really infuriates me to see someone on the pitch who isn’t working as hard as he ought to. I really don’t know what his problem is.

“I would’ve liked to play like Luis Figo, but I became aware of my own limitations. Every now and then I did something stupid too, but I learned from my mistakes.”

Balotelli

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Super Eagles Focus Samba notes from Brazil Compiled by Adekunle Salami Flight disappointments As at Wednesday, there were four chattered flights here in Brazil being used by Nigerians to shuttle between venues of the ongoing World Cup games. Two of these aircraft however, were nowhere to be found as many Nigerian officials were stranded in Sao Paulo and could not make it to Porto Alegre for the Nigeria, Argentina match. The NFF plane was therefore invaded by ministry officials who were disappointed by a Nigerian travelling agency. A broadcast sports outfit also came with a chartered flight but the plane left Sao Paulo on Tuesday and could not help stranded NFF officials mostly the FA chairmen.

NFF groans over Jamboree The Nigeria Football Federation officials are groaning over the effect of numerous people on their bill at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. All the Chairmen of the state football federations are currently in Brazil on the ticket of the football ruling body. It was learnt reliably however, that all of them will be leaving latest on Friday June 27. “It has been a huge burden on the federation and now that the first round is over, there is need for more concentration and that can be achieved after some of the invited guests have left,” a member of the NFF said.

The Argentine invasion in Porto Alegre The venue of the Nigeria, Argentina match, Porto Alegre, is like home to the South Americans.

The venue is about 631 kilometres to Argentina and about eight hours drive. It was not a surprise as Argentines were everywhere on Wednesday before the match. Reports say over 80,000 Argentines entered Brazil both legally and otherwise to watch their team at the Estardo Beiro. Some of them fought with the Brazilian police on Tuesday and on match day thousands of them were held by the police to avert trouble at the stadium. One of the fans was shot in the leg. A Nigerian journalist, Felix Okugbe, was allegedly robbed by the Argentines as they were desperately looking for tickets to watch the match. He lost his valuables to the rampaging fans.

Moses refused to join bench

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Enyeama banks on familiarity with French players

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uper Eagles Vincent Enyeama is banking on his knowledge of French players to lift Nigeria over France when both countries meet in the knock out stage on Monday.

“It is an added advantage for me, but the match is not only about me, it is for the entire squad. I hope to do my best to stop the rampaging French players, who are hot at the moment”.

Enyeama was formidable a goalkeeper in the whole of Europe over the course of the last year, recording more clean sheets than any other custodian in the continent’s big six leagues. Such form has not deserted him during the World Cup, in which he already boasts two shutouts to his name.

And while France’s at-

Eagles’ Enemies’ Camp Dzeko: I’ll never forget disallowed goal

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Enyeama

tacking form at the World Cup has been fearsome, which is perhaps the best in the competition, their players will know the challenge that face them in the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper.

“French strikers are arguably the best at this competition, but we are not doing badly either, we shall match

them ball for ball and take it from there”.

Enyeama is a goalkeeper blessed with outstanding reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, and this is reflected by the 20 clean sheets he kept in Ligue 1 in 38 outings for Rene Girard’s side, including a club-record 1058 minutes without conceding.

osnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko has insisted he will never forget the goal he had wrongly disallowed against Nigeria in this year’s World Cup tournament.

The 28-year-old inspired his side to their

Dzeko

first ever win in the competitionWednesday night, opening the scoring in the 23rd minute against Iran with a fine strike which helped the Golden Lillies to a thirdplace finish in Group F. However, the Bosnian Diamond found it hard to gain comfort from that feat, instead reiterating that it’s the memory of the effort that was incorrectly ruled-out that will stay with him forever.

Dzeko declares: “Despite the victory, we go home sad as we could’ve gone further.

France must fight to beat

...complained to referee about Messi Nigeria – Deschamps F

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ne of the lasting images viewers and spectators took away from the Nigeria and Argentina clash on Wednesday afternoon was the friendly banter between Vincent Enyeama and referee Nicola Rizzoli before the start of the second half.

The Nigeria number one was caught on camera jokingly complaining to the Italian official that too many of his calls were in favour of

Argentina and Lionel Messi precisely. ‘’Oh Messi, you gave much advantage to him.

Two or three fouls were awarded for him and were not. ‘’I’m trying because the (Argentina) guys are good, I know, and if you do not think they are good, then I’m rubbish,’’ said Enyeama.

The Nigeria delegation returned to the team base camp, Vitoria Hotel Con-

cept, Campinas on Wednesday evening at around 20:30 hours local time.

No training activity was scheduled for Thursday morning, but in the evening the squad departed for the hotel to have a recovery session at the Brinco de Ouro.

The Super Eagles will continue their search for a first ever qualification for the quarterfinals of the showpiece event when they lock horns with France on Monday.

We will go past France –Ambrose S uper Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose, has said Nigeria will go past France on Monday because “we want to go higher” at the World Cup. Eagles tackle the impressive French on Monday in Brasilia and Ambrose said the African champions are

ontrary to media reports that Chelsea winger Victor Moses has been injured, given his absence in the 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the 3-2 loss to Argentina, it has emerged that Moses isn’t injured.

According to a very reliable source inside the Super Eagles camp, the relationship between coach Stephen Keshi and Moses is strained, hence his omission from both Ambrose games.

looking beyond the round of 16.

Nigeria and France have clashed only once at full international level with the African champions running away 1-0 winners in a friendly staged in Saint Etienne five years ago.

“We will be ready to face France in the round of 16.

We desire to go higher as we can,” he said.

Ambrose told AfricanFootball.com it took Lionel Messi’s magic to beat the Eagles.

“We played to win and I must commend my mates for a great game, we played well but we lost. Argentina have to thank Lionel Messi for this victory because it

took his magic to beat us,” he said.

“They are a very good team, but we go into the game with confidence because we know it is a winner takes all.”

rance coach, Didier Deschamps, has stated that his team must “fight” to get past Nigeria in the World Cup round-of-16 clash in Brasilia.

Les Bleus secured a last-16 showdown with the Super Eagles on Monday despite being held to a goalless draw at the Maracana by Ecuador, and Deschamps, at the end of the game, said: “I’m satisfied. We have finished first in Group E, we are qualified for the knockout round and all is well.

“My team selection was not by chance and it’s important that all players get into the rhythm. Now we have five days to pre-

pare for our game against Nigeria.”

He added: “Some people thought we were the kings of the world after beating Switzerland [5-2] but Ecuador showed they have qualities, and Argentina had a difficult match against Nigeria.”

Deschamps

Babatunde undergoes surgery N igeria forward Babatunde Michael has undergone surgery after he suffered multiple fractures on his arm during the 3-2 loss to Argentina at the World Cup on Wednesday.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu Maigari said the Ukraine-based player has already undergone surgery in Porto

Alegre.

“He has undergone operation already and we are positive he would be fine” Maigari told AfricanFootball.com “It’s a very sad news for the team.”

It is believed that the rebound from a fierce Ogenyi Onazi shot at goal broke the player’s arm.

Babatunde, who played against his idol

Lionel Messi on Wednesday, is now most likely to miss the rest of the tournament.

He has brought a lot of energy to the Eagles midfield after he was picked ahead of Chelsea winger Victor Moses.

He was a surprise name on the final 23-man squad but he has since gone ahead to justify his inclusion.

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Friday, June 27, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP

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year ago, Paul Pogba looked on from the bench as France lost their third and final group match to Spain at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013. The slip-up would have no serious consequences for Les Bleus, who qualified for the Round of 16 and eventually went on to lift the trophy.

“I just hope that we’ll see a repeat of what happened at U-20 level,” the powerful midfielder said with a broad smile, referring to the successful run he and Lucas Digne enjoyed twelve months before.

“We struggled against Spain in our third match in Turkey, but we still ended up winning the U-20 World Cup. If we could go on the same kind of run here in Brazil, that would be amazing,” he said.

Pogba has come a long way since that famous day in June 2013. A revelation with Juventus this season, the dynamic Frenchman has since established himself with Les Bleus, despite having only recently turned 21. Against La Tri at the Estadio do Maracana, he put in the kind of strong display with which he made his name at U-20 level.

“I’m happy and I feel good, but I’d prefer not to dwell on my own performance and

talk about how the team played instead,” he said.

I don’t think this match will have any kind of negative effect on our confidence. We drew, we didn’t lose. That’s an important distinction Modesty aside, Pogba had an impressive 90 minutes in Rio de Janeiro, dominating in midfield and creating some of the best chances of the Group E clash, including a header – expertly saved by Alexander Dominguez – in the 38th minute, a 58th-minute shot that was blocked by Cristhian Noboa, a further headed effort in the 73rd minute and an 89th-minute attempt that went just wide.

“We played well and put in the performance that was expected of us, but we didn’t get the result we deserved.

All we lacked was a bit of a break in front of goal, that’s all,” explained the Juventus star.

“I don’t think this match will have any kind of negative effect on our confidence. We drew, we didn’t lose. That’s an important distinction. We can be satisfied with how we did overall and with our qualification for the knockout stages.”

Pogba: France can be world champions Pogba

With a berth in the next round now assured, French eyes will likely turn to the subsequent hurdle that awaits in the shape of a Round-of-16 clash

with Niger i a .

“It could have been Argentina, or another team, but no matter who it is, our goals of winning and getting as far as possible

in the tournament don’t change.

We’re doing everything we can to achieve those aims,” said the confident No19.

It is probably wise to take Pogba’s comments seriously, because just after the U-20 World Cup, he spoke of his ambition of playing on football’s greatest stage. “I really wanted to play at the senior World Cup, that’s true. Now that’s it’s become a reality, I’m very happy. But I don’t want things to end there; I would like to keep making progress,” he concluded with confidence.

We disappointed Japan fans –Hasebe

J

apan’s players trooped out of the Arena Pantanal and boarded the bus bearing expressions of understandable dejection, having seen their chance of advancing from Group C slip through their fingers.

At half-time in Cuiaba, against an already-qualified Colombia, there looked to be hope. Having levelled the score at 1-1 with the last touch of the first period, and with Côte d’Ivoire trailing to Greece, it meant all they needed was a goal. Unfortunately for the reigning Asian champions, that necessity was ultimately their undoing, as the South Americans roared to a 4-1 victory against their overcommitted and exposed opponents.

Shinji Okazaki, whose header had given Japan a twinkling of belief that

they could overcome a disappointing previous pair of results to reach the Round of 16, found the final score tough to take.

“All we could do was try to win and score as many as possible,” he said.

“It was disappointing that we conceded early but we fought for goals after that. However, I cannot face the fact that we lost with a score of 4-1 at this very moment.”

They found themselves in their all-or-nothing position after falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Les Elephants in their opening game, before playing out a goalless draw with the eventual second-placed qualifiers.

The failure to take their chances and get points on the board stung for Captain Makoto Hasebe.

“In the football world, it’s all about results,” he said.

“After four years of effort, we could not achieve positive results in the end. I feel responsible as the captain.

“I am proud of everyone in our team, not only including the players but also the coaching staff and of course the manager.

But, in the end, we could not get through the group stage. So I feel very sorry for all the supporters.”

Hasebe believes the brand of football Japan adopted and developed under Alberto Zaccheroni, building upon the Japanese approach of slick interplay, is one that needs to remain for them to come back stronger in four years’ time. Having produced arguably their best football of the tournament against Colombia, rediscovering some of the cohesion they lacked in their first two games, Hasebe felt it showed the potential their system holds.

Hasebe

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, June 27, 2014

Wimbledon: Nadal reaches third round … As Serena cruises with easy win

R

afael Nadal was one point away from falling behind by two sets before rallying on Thursday to beat Lukas Rosol - the Czech player who knocked him out at Wimbledon in the same round and on the same court two years ago.

Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion, raised his game just in time to avoid falling into a deep hole, rallying for a 4-6, 7-6

(8-6), 6-4, 6-4 victory on Centre Court to advance to the third round.

Whileit took Serena Williams 49-minutesto dispatch Chanelle Scheepers, a 30-year-old South African.

The hard-hitting, 6-foot-5 Rosol had a chance to go up two sets Nadal to love when he had a set point at winner and Rosol double-faulted 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker. two points later to give the SpanBut Nadal saved it with a forehand iard the set.

ITTF Lagos Open: Egyptians reign supreme

…As Oshodi calls for more local sponsor Charles Ogundiya

T

he International Table Tennis Federation World Tour came to an end on Thursday with Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly the star of the day causing an upset against Africa’s number one, Han Xing of Congo Brazzaville as she added the ladies singles title to the girls U-21 crown she won on Wednesday.

Ranked third in Africa, the 21 year old Nadeen won 4-1 against Han Xing, a finalist at the first edition of the event last year. She had earlier won the girls U-21 singles against another Egyptian, Dina Meshref.

Speaking after her victory, Nadeen said: “I am so happy because the victory is beyond my expectations.

Coming here I was hoping

to use the world tour as a preparation for the Africa Top 16, so I am excited winning here in Nigeria.”

In the men’s singles final, Omar Assar defended his title, beating his Egyptian counterpart, Lashin ElSayed 4-1 in the final.

Meanwhile, the president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi, has called on other African countries to look inward for sponsors for major sporting events to be staged in their countries instead of waiting on government and the International Table Tennis Federation for funds.

While thanking the National Sports Commission, the Lagos State government and some companies for their support, he advised other countries and other sports federation in the country to do same.

NOC backs Eagles to beat France IfeanyiIbeh

Brazil 2014 Group Stage Fixtures Date

Thursday June 12 A Friday June 13 A Friday June 13 B Friday June 13 B Saturday June 14 C Saturday June 14 C Saturday June 14 D Saturday June 15 D Sunday June 15 E Sunday June 15 E Sunday June 15 F Monday June 16 G Monday June 16 F Monday June 16 G Tuesday June 17 H Tuesday June 17 A Tuesday June 17 H Wed June 18 B Wed June 18 B Wed June 18 A Thursday June 19 C Thursday June 19 D Thursday June 19 C Friday June 20 D Friday June 20 E Friday June 20 E Saturday June 21 F Saturday June 21 G Saturday June 21 F Sunday June 22 H Sunday June 22 H Sunday June 22 G Monday June 23 B Monday June 23B Monday June 23A Monday June 23A Tuesday June 24 D Tuesday June 24 D Tuesday June 24 C Tuesday June 24 C Wed June 25 F Wed June 25 F Wed June 25 E Wed June 25 E Thursday June 26 G Thursday June 26 G Thursday June 26 H Thursday June 26 H

Group Teams

Brazil V Croatia

Mexico V Cameroon

Spain V Netherlands

Chile V Australia

Colombia V Greece

Uruguay V Costa Rica England V Italy

Côte d’Ivoire V Japan

Switzerland V Ecuador France V Honduras

Argentina V Bosnia & H Germany V Portugal

IRAN V NIGERIA

Ghana V USA

Belgium V Algeria

Brazil V Mexico

Russia V Korea Republic Australia V Netherlands Spain V Chile

Cameroon V Croatia Colombia V Côte d’Ivoire Uruguay V England Japan V Greece Italy V Costa Rica Switzerland V France Honduras V Ecuador Argentina V Iran Germany V Ghana NIGERIA V BOSNIA & H Belgium V Russia Korea Republic V Algeria USA V Portugal

Netherlands V Chile Australia V Spain Cameroon V Brazil Croatia V Mexico Italy V Uruguay Costa Rica V England Japan V Colombia Greece V Côte d’Ivoire Nigeria V Argentina Bosnia V Iran Honduras V Switzerland Ecuador V France Portugal V Ghana USA V Germany Korea Rep V Belgium Algeria V Russia

Time

9pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 2am 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 10pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm 5pm 5pm 11pm 11pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm

Venue

Results

Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio das Dunas, Natal Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Amazonia, Manaus Arena Pernambuco, Recife Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena da Baixada, Curitiba Estadio das Dunas, Natal Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Arena Amazonia, Manaus Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio das Dunas, Natal Arena Pernambuco, Recife Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena da Baixada, Curitiba Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Arena Amazonia, Manaus Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Pernambuco, Recife Estadio das Dunas, Natal Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena Amazonia, Manaus Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Pernambuco, Recife Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

3 - 1 1-0 1 - 5 3 - 1 3-0 1-3 1-2 2-1 2-1 3-0 2-1 4-0 0-0 1-2 2-1 0- 0 1-1 2-3 0-2 0-4 2-1 2-1 0-0 1-2 2-5 1-2 1-0 2-2 1-0 1-0 2-4 2-2 2-0 0-3 1-4 1-3 0-1 0-0 1-4 2-1 2-3 3-1 1-3 0-0 2-1 0-1

T

he Nigeria Olympic Committes (NOC) has expressed its full support for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their quest to reach the quarterfinal of the on-going World Cup, a feat which will equal Africa’s best record at the Mundial.

Despite a 3-2 loss to Argentina on Wednesday, The Super Eagles became the first African team to reach the second round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup and will meet France on Monday. And the NOC has declared support for the reigning African champions in the belief that Stephen Keshi’s side can go a step better than the country’s best

outing at the World Cup which was reaching the second round at the USA 1994 and France 1998 editions.

“The Super Eagles have done Africa proud by qualifying from the group stage but as the best team in Africa, a lot is expected of them to keep the continent’s flag flying at the World Cup and that is why we at the NOC are in full support of the team to march further in Brazil,” Sani Ndanusa, the NOC President said.

Ndanusa observed that the team has upped its game after the widespread castigation that greeted their performance in their first match against Iran, a point he said the NOC is banking on to see the team soar over France on Monday.

Africa top 16 Cup: Nigerian quartet battle for top prize

Charles Ogundiya

N

igeria’s male stars, Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola, and the female pair of Edem Offiong and Funke Oshonaike will from Friday battle other players on the African continent for the Africa Table Tennis Federation Top 16 Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The Top 16 serves as the qualifiers for the ITTF World Cup in October with the winners in both the men’s and women’s event

flying the continent’s flag at the event.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, the president of ATTF, Khaled El-Salhy said it is pertinent to have the best from the continent, while stressing the need to give all the member countries a sense of belonging.

The Nigerian players will have to do better than they did at the Lagos World Tour where they all crashed out without getting to the final, with only Quadri getting to the last four.

World Record

On Marble

I don’t want any yes men around me.

I want everyone to tell me the truth even if it costs him his job.

– Samuel Goldwyn

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha FRIday, JUNE 27, 2014

Brahim Takioullah, 29-year-old from Morocco, has the largest feet. He has a left foot measuring 1ft 3in (38.1 cm) in length, while his right measures 1ft 2.76 in.

N150

So what next, Mr. President?

E Graffiti xactly a week ago today, President Jonathan and his minders faced an uncomfortable reality. On April 14, this year, insurgents abducted over 200 female students from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok. Events thereafter showed that all those charged with security, especially the Presidency, thought it was a hoax.

The military was the first to muddy the waters with a rescue claim that was a deception. Then followed the widely publicised bizarre intervention by the President’s wife.

Dame’s hectoring of two Chibok women, aided by her band of sycophants including the leader of some market women, to change the narrative of the abduction, was unsuccessful. Her breaking down in tears and making the now famous reference to God, was by no means empathy for the girls but a lamentation for what she perceived as a hoax orchestrated to undermine her husband. The perception remained even when the public outcry by concerned women and other sympathizers attracted international attention and eventually translated into actionable interventions. One of such initial interventions was the security summit in Paris, summoned by the French President, involving Nigeria and her immediate neighbours affected by the worsening insurgency, On May 6, Jonathan inaugurated a committee headed by Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo, which was neither a judicial or administrative panel of inquiry, on the Chibok abductions. That it was named a fact-finding committee gave further indication that the feeling of a hoax still thrived along the corridors of power.

The Sabo-led panel was to liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the school remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed; to liaise with relevant authorities and parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and identities of the girls abducted; and, to ascertain how many of the abducted students have returned.

The other terms of reference included mobilizing the surrounding communities and general public on citizen supports for a rescue strategy and support; articulating a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue effort; and, for the committee to advise Government on any matter incidental to the incident.

Five weeks later, including spending less than an hour in Chibok possibly because of serious security challenges despite the claim that security had been beefed-up in the place, Sabo’s committee delivered the facts it was able to garner. The report firmly dispelled any illusions of a hoax. Rather it affirmed

EMMAN USMAN SHEHU prohabe@hotmail.com - 08051614969 (sms only)

that there was a siege on the Chibok school on the night of April 14, as a result of which 119 students escaped from the school premises, and 276 were abducted. Fifty-seven of that number eventually escaped, thus leaving 219 still in the hands of the abductors.

So the hoax perception has been deservedly buried, and the abductees are identifiable Nigerian citizens who merit to be rescued by those constitutionally empowered for the task.

Close-watchers of the Jonathan administration know that setting-up committees is a clever subterfuge of spreading the largesse in a bid to curry favour, as well as a means of buying time and eventually not doing anything tangible. The evidence establishes a pattern of a record number of committees whose reports have remained in the deepfreezer of inaction even after a handsome amount of money has been spent. The ulterior motive being that the impression is created that at least some kind of action has been taken.

A typical example is the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee which was inaugurated in March 2011 to take stock of all federal projects and determine whether the contracts for them were in compliance with due process; determine the status and assess the level of execution of each project, including the amount spent and the amount outstanding; and to also determine the constraints militating against the execution of each project and make recommendations to accelerate its completion.

A year later the committee submitted its report which identified 11,886 abandoned federal government projects all over the country.

Two years later, the report itself remains an abandoned project in the Presidential Villa.

It is an unfortunate fate that has befallen several reports set up by the current administration.

The same fate must not befall this report on the April 14 Chibok abduction. The needful should not be averted with another trademark smokescreen of inaction, such as a review committee. Thankfully Sabo and members of his team had the valor to make a statement that should keep reverberating in the President’s mind and which he should take seriously: “Much as Nigerians and the

rest of the world have been galvanized to drum up support for freedom for the Chibok schoolgirls, little will be achieved through finger-pointing. Getting the girls out, and safely, too, is by far more important than the publicity generated by the blame game that has tended to becloud the issue.” This statement succinctly ties in with the position of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy which the president and his blinkered aides have sought to demonize.

Bringing back the girls, alive and well, must not be another abandoned project for any reason. The longer the rescue lingers, the more the administration’s credibility diminishes in the eyes of those who take accountability seriously. A negative perception is gaining ground within the international community about the administration’s incapability to save the girls. This opinion is typified by a feature article last week in the New York Times, based on an interaction with Africom officials working on counterinsurgency in West and Central Africa.

Part of the article reads: “In Nigeria, the military is essentially an oil-skimming operation so dysfunctional that it has been unable to act on U.S and foreign intelligence provided in the search for the abducted schoolgirls. According to Human Rights Watch, the joint task force of the Nigerian military assigned to battle Boko Haram ‘has engaged in excessive use of force, physical abuse, secret detentions, extortions, burning of houses, stealing money during raids and extra-judicial killings of suspects.’”

Certainly Jonathan cannot pretend not knowing about these and other issues which have inadvertently besmirched the country’s image in the eyes of those offering assistance for the rescue of the girls. A way must be found to deal with the failings that have undermined the military’s capability of specifically rescuing the girls, and to generally deal with the insurgency.

As President Hollande stated in Paris:”When more than 200 young girls are being held in barbaric conditions with the prospect of being sold into slavery, there are no questions to be asked, only actions to be taken.”

It is not the action of militarizing state elections as shockingly manifested in Ekiti

State last week. That pervasive act of subliminal coercion was not only ill-advised against the background of the hard fact that not one single girl is yet to be rescued by the military seventy-five days and counting, but it reveals the administration’s self-preservation antics even if it means impudently trampling on the tenets of democracy.

The military is on record as saying, almost a month ago, that it knows the girls’ location.

The inexplicable lack of rescue result not only worsens the fate of the girls, but adds undue agony on their relations and concerned Nigerians. The fate of the girls should not be a pawn in the 2015self-preservation gambit. Suspicions in this direction are being fuelled by thenon-rescue,andapossibleFreudianslipby the President when receiving the Sabo report.

While one hopes that the news report of his beingtheinitiatorof the“SafeSchools”project was a misrepresentation, the records need to be put straight.

Gordon Brown kick-started that initiative as the United Nation’s Special Envoy for Global Education, in response to the outcry by the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy. It was launched with other international partners with an initial $10 million, with the Federal Government providing an additional $10 million.

As Jonathan, hopefully, ponders a resultoriented rescue operation without political manipulation, he should visit the Safe Schools Initiative website which proudly displays the #BringBackOurGirls logo. He should also revisit the group’s “Citizen’s Questions” document given to his aides when he conveniently avoided meeting the group. Results from the rescue operation are long overdue.

OmoBaba

PDP, APC LAWMAKERS IN EDO FIGHT OVER UMBRELLAS - News

– Next time, they will fight over broom!

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