Binder1 tuesday july 15,2014

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 147

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CBN jettisons probe of bureaux de change Ayodele Aminu

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have jettisoned its planned investigation of Bureau De Change (BDC) opera-

tors, New Telegraph learnt yesterday.

The decision to halt the probe, according to a top CBN official, stemmed from fact that the recent review of BDC’s capital

requirements from N10 million to N35million and the introduction of a mandatory refundable cautionary deposit of N35 million, will in the end weed out unserious BDC operators

from the system.

A top CBN official said the new capital requirements “would automatically and drastically reduce the number of BDCs,” currently put at about 3,208 as

at last May. About 1,417 others are said to be awaiting the apex bank’s approval.

New Telegraph had reported month that the CBN, in a bid to sanitise the foreign exchange mar-

ket, had launched a ‘special examination’ into the foreign exchange transactions by banks.

The investigation had included a review of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

resource control

Confab pushes final decision to Jonathan lCalls for technical committee lAdjourns till August 4 to adopt final report lOhanaeze Ndigbo demands N2.4 trn civil war reparation lNiger Delta leaders threaten to shut down oil production Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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he National Conference yesterday finally gave up trying to forge consensus on the thorny issue of resource control that has pitted Northern delegates

against their Southern counterparts during its deliberation.

At the resumption of plenary yesterday, the conference after about five hours of waiting for the verdict of the Committee of 50 and the 18- member Consensus Committee on

some outstanding issues in the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power, adjourned plenary without resolving the is-

sues of resource control, derivation formula, mineral development fund and post- insurgency rehabilitation fund which have

been lingering for several weeks.

It however passed to President Goodluck Jonathan final decisions on the

issues, in a strategic move to avoid ruffling more feathers on the matter.

It recommended that CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Finally, president agrees to meet Chibok girls’ parents lDanjuma to head committee to mobilise funds for insurgency victims lMalala to Boko Haram: Lay down your weapons Anule Emmanuel, Yekeen Nurudeen and Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

months of preAfter varication, President

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Goodluck Jonathan at last agreed yesterday to meet parents of over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April.

The president, who has also promised scholarships for schoolgirls abducted from any part of the country when they return home, was convinced to change his mind by visiting Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani school pupil CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

President Goodluck Jonathan welcoming initiator of Malala Fund, Malala Yousafzai, during her visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Al-Makura, another APC governor, faces impeachment

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Malala to Boko Haram: Lay down your weapons CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and education activist who had defied the Taliban by defending her right to education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012, but survived after a series of surgeries performed on her in Britain.

Jonathan had met with Malala behind closed doors during her visit to the State House.

About 217 of the girls are still in captivity after others escaped from the insurgents.

Since the abduction of the Chibok girls, the president had not visited neither the parents nor the community.

The president’s plan to visit Chibok en route France, in May was cancelled at the last minute amid denial that Jonathan did not intend to go to the community as reported a day earlier in the media.

Jonathan also yesterday named former Minister of Defence, Lt.-General Theophilus Danjuma, to

head a 26-member committee to raise funds to support victims of Boko Haram Malala, who is in Nigeria to join in the campaign for the release of the Chibok girls, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the president promised her that he would meet with the parents of the abducted girls as well as ensure the safe return of the abductees.

Accompanied by the Special Adviser to the

President on Media Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, her father, Mr. Ziauddin Yousafzai and the Director of Operations, Malala Foundation, Eason Jordan, Malala said she was in Nigeria to support girls’ education and advocate the release of the Chibok girls.

According the 17-yearold Pakistani girl in whose honour the United Nations declared July 14 the Malala Day, she met with parents of some of the girls the previous day and they

had expressed the longing to meet with the president and anybody who can help them find their girls.

She said: “I am here in Nigeria on my 17th birthday to see that every child goes to school. This year, my objective is to speak up for my Nigerian sisters, about 200 of them, who are under the abduction of Boko Haram and I met President Goodluck Jonathan for this purpose. I conveyed the voice of my sisCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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

From left: Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, during a a visit of APC leaders to Oshiomhole in Benin City...yesterday.

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Ohanaeze demands N2.4 trn civil war reparation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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the Federal Government should set up a technical committee to examine the issues critically and determine the right direction to go.

Notwithstanding its middle-of-the-course approach, some aggrieved stakeholders have warned against allowing the present derivation formula to remain at 13 per cent as being canvassed for by Northern delegates.

Niger Delta leaders threatened to shut down oil production should the conference and subsequently the Federal Government refuse to yield to their quest for an upward review of the derivation formula.

Besides, Igbo leaders have also cashed in on the agitation to demand N2.4 trillion as civil war reparation to the Igbo.

The sign that the conference had not been able to resolve the controversy on resource control emerged yesterday shortly after it reconvened for the day’s business.

Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, suspended proceedings at

10.22 am to enable the enlarged intervention group conclude their discussions on the outstanding issues.

Kutigi said since the meeting could not hold on Friday because of some logistical problems and absence of some delegates, the intervention group should be given two hours to resolve the issues and return to plenary.

Although the conference was expected to reconvene at noon, it did not until 14.40 pm.

But on resumption, Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, announced another short meeting with key personalities in the mediation efforts.

They included Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Mr. Mohammed Kumalia, Chief Olu Falae and Dr Iyiocha Ayu who met with the leadership of the conference behind closed doors and returned to the hall at 14.50 pm.

It was after this brief meeting that the conference told delegates who had waited patiently for the final verdict on the contentious issues of resource control, mineral

resource development and post-conflict reconstruction funds that the president would be the one to take the final decisions on the controversial matters.

Kutigi, while announcing the decision of the conference to the delegates, said: “Having critically examined the issue in contention, the conference agrees on the need to review the percentage of revenue allocation to states producing oil and other resources; reconstruct and rehabilitate areas affected by problems of insurgency and internal conflicts and diversify the Nigerian economy by first, tracking the development of the solid minerals sector.

“The conference also notes that assigning percentages for the increase in derivation principle and setting up special intervention funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, requires some technical details and considerations. Conference therefore recommends

that government should set up a technical committee to determine appropriate percentage on the three key issues and advise government accordingly.”

The announcement was greeted with mixed reactions from the delegates but its formal adoption in a voice vote signalled the full adoption of the report and recommendations of the Committee on Power Devolution.

Kutigi later announced the end of debate on committee reports and plenary sittings, adding that the conference will reconvene on August 4 to ratify the final report.

But some delegates expressed different opinions about the turn of events with the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , Chief Victor Umeh, applauding the decision, which he described as the best way out of the logjam.

“The conclusion of the plenary today (yesterday) recommends to the president to appoint a technical committee to look at the issue of derivation, special funds, solid mineral develCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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 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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Al-Makura, another APC gov, faces impeachment Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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he Nasarawa State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against the Governor, Alhaji Umaru Al-Makura.

The Assembly yesterday directed its Clerk, Ego Maikeffi, to serve Al-Makura with the impeachment notice for alleged gross

misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

The Assembly gave the order after considering a motion of public interest raised by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Yahaya Usman, during plenary in Lafia.

Usman presented a document signed by 20 of the 24 members of the Assembly, which contained the allegations of gross misconduct

against the governor.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 20 members in the legislature while the All Progressives Congress (APC), to which the governor belongs, has only four lawmakers.

Al-Makura is the second APC governor, after his Adamawa State counterpart, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, that will face impeachment from PDP-dominated legis-

lature.

The 16-count charge bordered on alleged extrabudgetary expenses by the governor.

Usman said: “I am on my feet to raise a motion under matters of public interest and I will go directly to read the document I have in my hand.

“This is a notice of impeachment for Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Na-

sarawa State for gross misconduct.

“For violating the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, today being the 14th day of July, 2014, the 20 members of the 24 members of this house unanimously endorsed to serve Governor Tanko Al-Makura notice of impeachment,” a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying.

The Chief Whip Mr. Mohammed Okpede, seconded the motion.

The Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed, who officially received the impeachment notice, said the Assembly had complied with the provision of the constitution to serve the governor with impeachment notice.

He directed the clerk to immediately serve the notice on Al-Makura on July 14.

He said: “In the event His Excellency, Governor Tanko Al-Makura, could not be reached for service, the clerk is directed to serve him with the impeachment notice through the media.”

CBN jettisons probe of bureaux de change CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

L-R: Olumegbon of Lagos, Chief Fatai Lawal; Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello; the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Chairman, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Mr. Owolabi Isa, during the 2014 tree planting campaign in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Ohanaeze demands N2.4 trn civil war reparation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

opment and establishment of special intervention fund.

“The way it ended is the best way out. The delegates failed to reach agreement on this very important issue. But the resolution as read out captured the essence and minds of everybody.”

But Senator Anietie Okon, a delegate of the South- South, described the development as postponing the evil day.

“There is no question about the fact that we are in fiscal federalism and the basic principles that are enshrined in fiscal federalism is that there will be resource ownership and that attribution will be to those states that own the resources. We have a reverse arrangement of federalism here, states own them but the Federal Government collects revenue on their behalf and begins to allocate. We have a situation where a lot of states don’t contribute anything to the Federation Account. Now, what we are trying to do is to engineer a situation where revenue contribution to the national treasury will

be widespread. I do believe that we can come up with the sense of having nonstop significant achievements because of a sheer ostrich type of denial, we have had to leave the onus, we passed the buck back to the presidency on the core issues of federalism,” Anietie said.

For Mr Sola Ebiseni, a delegate from Ondo State, the conference had by its final resolution shirked its responsibility to the people.

He expressed dismay that the conference failed because it returned the assignment given to it by asking the Federal Government to set up a technical committee to examine the knotty issues.

In another dimension to the agitation for resource control, leaders of oil-producing communities yesterday threatened to shut down further exploration and production of oil and gas in their respective areas until the multinational oil companies put in place measures to remediate the environment and safeguard the Niger Delta region from imminent threats of earthquakes and tsuna-

mis.

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, who spoke on behalf of the “oil landlords” told delegates at the ongoing National Conference that after 58 years of fossil fuel extraction across the Niger Delta, the oil-bearing communities were beginning to experience earth tremors and were no longer feeling safe.

Alamieyeseigha said leaders of the oil-bearing communities expressed these fears when they visited him at the weekend in Bayelsa State. According to him, an estimated two million barrels of crude oil have been extracted from the soil without any remediation plans by the oil multinationals.

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the socio- cultural organisation of the Igbo yesterday demanded from the Federal Government N2.4 trillion as reparation for the loss of lives and destruction of property of Igbo extraction during the Civil War. It said it made the demand because the Igbo had suffered atrocities in Nigeria over the years.

Chairman, Ohanaeze Reparation Committee, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, said the demand was based on the archival records of the atrocities penetrated against the Igbo as well as from the interviews from some of the survivors of these inhuman acts.

Amechi urged the Federal Government to invest in the massive re-planning of Igbo cities with proper structures for the provision of urban water works. He also demanded a state apology to the Igbo for the wrongs the Nigerian state had visited on them.

“It is incalculable to put a price on the lives of millions of Igbos who were killed in the civil war and on other occasions .

The Federal Government should pay N400 billion each to five states of the South-East as compensation to those who lost their loved ones, lost property and those suffering dislocation today in Nigeria.

The same amount should also be paid to the government of Delta State for the benefit of the people of Anioma area of the state,” he said.

foreign exchange utilisation at the twice-weekly Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) and interbank market where banks purchase foreign currencies.

The probe, which began on June 9, covered between January, when Nigeria’s foreign reserves took a hit, and May. The reason for the examination was to determine if the foreign exchange purchased during this period is being utilised for eligible transactions as presented by the banks and that all extant rules and regulations are complied with by both the banks and the BDCs – majority of which have several licences by the same promoters in order to buy foreign exchange multiple times from the CBN window.

The examiners, among other things, were expected to get transaction details of the BDC operators that purchased foreign exchange from banks during the period under review, match them with the books of the BDCs along with their colleagues from the Other Financial Institutions Department (OFSID) and find out from the BDCs the ultimate users of the foreign exchange.

But the expected probe of the BDCs has now been overtaken by events, as the CBN has indirectly weeded out a large percentage of the BDCs –which would now be forced to coalesce or shut their operation obviously because of the huge capital outlay.

If the capital requirements of the BDCs had not been reviewed upward, the CBN examiners were expected to submit their reports on July 20 to the management of the central bank, which would sanction the banks or the

BDCs that were found wanting.

The thinking of the banking watchdog is that some of these transactions are spurious since the BDCs have no ceiling on the amount they can purchase from the banks.

“The CBN is concerned that the foreign exchange demands are going up and this is affecting reserves.

“We are also working on the theory that some of these BDCs may have been used for money-laundering because they require minimum documentation unlike banks, which have to do detailed documentation before they can wire money abroad,” the source said.

The CBN targets a range for the naira threepercentage points above or below N155 per dollar at its twice-weekly currency auctions.

The last time a special examination of banks was conducted was about two years ago, when it scrutinised banks’ foreign exchange transactions to verify their huge demands at the foreign exchange market.

The results of the audit were made available to the managing directors of all the banks and those that contravened were sanctioned by the CBN. Twenty-one banks were examined. In the first batch were banks that are top foreign exchange players such as Stanbic IBTC, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Access Bank.

The other 14 banks were examined in the second and third phases of the plan. The three-bridged banks (Keystone, Mainstream and Enterprise) are excluded because they are new in the system.

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Impeachment: Nyako heads to Appeal Court as panel submits report Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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damawa State Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, has gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge the legality of the seven-man panel constituted by former acting Chief Judge , Justice Am-

brose Mammadi, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against him and his deputy, Mr. Bala James Ngilari.

New Telegraph learnt yesterday that the governor had instructed his legal team, comprising Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), among others, to query im-

proprieties in some of the impeachment procedures adopted by the House.

The committee, which wound up its sitting on Saturday without Nyako or Ngilari appearing before it, yesterday submitted its report to the state House of Assembly.

In the appeal, Nyako is challenging the violation

of the impeachment procedure as outlined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

Nyako averred that it was a violation of the law for the lawmakers not to personally serve him the notice of impeachment as enshrined in the constitution and to go ahead with the proceedings without

L-R: Executive Director, South-South/South-East, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong; Division Head, Line of Finance, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Salah Babale; Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo; Deputy Managing Director, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu and Principal Lawyer of the corporation, Saani Ibrahim, during the ICD team’s visit to the bank in Lagos…yesterday

satisfying the vital condition.

He is also challenging the decision of Justice Mammadi, who had ordered the Assembly not to proceed with the impeachment proceedings without personally serving the governor and his deputy to constitute the probe panel a day after, despite his ruling in a suit before his court.

It was also gathered that some supporters of Nyako had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the Justice Mammadi over his conduct in the impeachment saga.

Irrespective of the impending legal fireworks, the committee yesterday submitted its report to the Speaker, Mr. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The seven-man panel, led by its Chairman, Mr. Buba Kaigama, arrived at the Assembly complex at 2:20pm amidst tight security.

Presenting the report before the lawmakers,

Kaigama said the panel had examined the presentations and other evidence provided by the Assembly objectively and made its recommendations.

He explained that the panel admitted six exhibits on the deputy governor while it admitted 24 exhibits on the governor, adding that the panel prepared its report in four volumes which include letter of appointment of members, proceedings of the panel, exhibits tendered during the proceedings and report of the panel.

Kaigama however refused to disclose the outcome of the investigation when asked by reporters, saying: “The findings could not be disclosed to you because we have submitted the report to the right channel, you can go to them.”

Receiving the report, Fintiri commended the committee for a job well done; assuring members that the report will be look into at the appropriate time.

But it was gathered that while the panel indicted the governor, it cleared Ngilari of the allegations levelled against him.

ECOWAS abolishes Malala to Boko Haram: Lay down your weapons residence permits for member states CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ters who are out of school or who are still under the abduction of Boko Haram to him. I also spoke about those girls who escaped from the abduction but still do not have education.

“And at the meeting, I highlighted the same issues which the girls and their parents told me in the past two days. The parents said they really want to meet with the president to share their stories with him. And I asked the president that if he wants to meet with the parents of the girls, the president assured me that he would meet with them.”

She added that during her interaction with them, the parents of the girls have not given up hope that someone could help them rescue their children.

“They asked me if there was any chance for them to meet the president because at this time, they need the president’s support. I am hopeful that these two promises, the return of the girls from Boko Haram and meeting with their parents will be fulfilled and we will see it soon,” she added.

Malala also told journalists that the Malala Foundation had raised $200,000 “and we want to use it to contribute to those children’s education. We

have started working with two organisations here in Nigeria to be able to help these girls continue their education.”

She explained that having as much as 10.5 million children out of school in Nigeria was not encouraging as some of these children could end up as terrorists or being violated.

She also urged the president to increase the budgetary funding for education, saying: “If Nigeria must have a bright future, every child must have an opportunity to go to school.”

Malala further said from her interaction with the president, he looked pained about the abduction of the schoolgirls whom he described as his own daughters.

“The president said these girls are his daughters and he is pained by their sufferings and that he has his own daughters and he can feel what they are feeling. The president has expressed his solidarity with those girls and his sadness. He has assured the people that these girls will come back home safely. He has several options but that he will choose the best to ensure the girls are released safely, she said.

The Director of Operations of Malala Foundation also told journalists that Jonathan said to Malala that “he can guarantee

that all the girls that have been kidnapped, including the ones that escaped will be given scholarships to go to school in other parts of the country”.

At the briefing, Abati said the president used the opportunity of the meeting to brief Malala on some of the programmes being carried out by the Federal Government, including the Presidential Initiative for the NorthEast and the Safe School Initiative which has already been launched with an initial $10 million fund.

He added that the president emphasised his commitment to making sure that schools are safe, every child enjoy rights to education and that that right is no way violated by anyone.

While also briefing a cross-section of activists, students and journalists in Abuja on her meeting with the president, Malala said she told the president that “as you are the elected president you need to fulfill your responsibilities and your responsibility is to listen to your people who are saying ‘bring back our girls”.

She also urged members of Boko Haram sect to stop misusing the name of Islam, adding that they should lay down their weapons.

“Release your sisters, release my sisters and

release the daughters of this nation, let them be free they have committed no crime,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday announced the constitution of a 26-member team to mobilise funds to support victims of Boko Haram.

A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the Committee on Victims Support Fund would mobilise resources and administer appropriate support to victims of insurgency and Boko Haram terror activities all over the country.

Besides Danjuma, other members of the committee include former Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Fola Adeola, who is named the deputy chairman; Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Abdulsamad I. Rabiu, Alhaji Sani Dauda, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Mr. Cosmas Maduka, former Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Jim Ovia; Managing Director, Oando Plc., Mr Wale Tinubu; Director General, National Emergency Management (NEMA)Alhaji Sani Sidi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Uche Secondus and All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Alhaji Tijani Tunsah.

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has abolished residence permits and approved the introduction of the biometric identity card for citizens of the sub region.

It also directed ministers in charge of security in member states to review all the security implications of the measures prior to the signing of the supplementary Acts on the issues.

The President, ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, represented by the acting Director, Multilateral Surveillance of the commission, Dr. Nelson O. Magbagboeola, said yesterday in Abuja that the decisions had been approved by Heads of state and government of ECOWAS. Ouedraogo, who spoke at the 37th meeting of the technical committee of West African Monetary Zone(WAMZ), urged member states to continue to ensure that non-tariff barriers are reduced to the barest minimum by reducing and consolidating the checkpoints along the international transit

corridors.

“ECOWAS commission is committed to the integration, inclusive growth and development of the region. We shall continue to work with all stakeholders, including WAMI and WAMZ member countries to ensure that the standard of living of the community citizens improves on a continuous and sustainable basis,” he said.

On monetary integration, he said the ECOWAS at its meeting on July 10 in Accra, Ghana was briefed

by President of Niger, Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou, on the modalities for accelerating the establishment of a single monetary zone in ECOWAS by 2020.

“The authority endorsed the recommendations of the two presidents relating to top review of the macroeconomic convergence criteria, rationalisation of the institutions and revision of the roadmap on the ECOWAS single currency programme,” he added.

Other measures adopted by authority, according him, included, the creation of a fiscal union to compliment the monetary union and reduction of macroeconomic convergence criteria from 11 criteria to six.

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NPC promotes graduate entrepreneurial skill Igbeaku Orji

UMUAHIA

he National Population Tcalled Commission (NPC) has for the introduc-

tion of graduate entrepreneurial skill as part of the training for youth corps members to make them gainfully engaged after service.

This, according to the Commissioner representing Abia State in the commission, Dr Sam Ahaiwe, is one way to guarantee their future and ensure that the tension associated with youth restiveness was removed from the polity.

Speaking in Umuahia, as part of the activities marking this year’s World Population Day, Ahaiwe

said that the reform in the NYSC should be done in such a way that the young graduates would be taught entrepreneurial skills which they will use after leaving the service.

NYSC graduates, he maintained, should be taught the rudiments of farming, “As the Federal Government had brought up loans for farmers, they will benefit from the loan with which they will engage themselves”.

He further noted that apart from training them in farming, the youths should also be trained in other forms of skills, stressing that when the youths are properly trained the society would be the better for it.

Atiku calls for education summit Lateef Ibrahim

Abuja

Vice President, Fhasormer Alhaji Atiku Abubakar harped on the need for

the Federal Government to, urgently, convoke a national education summit with a view to solving the problem of educational development in the country.

The former Vice President made case for the summit yesterday in Abuja, even as he hailed the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to suspend its 10-month old strike that had left polytechnic students across the country out of their classrooms.

According to him, the unwholesome situation whereby government and lecturers will continue to trade blames while the future of the youths remains on a pause is to say the

least, unacceptable.

Atiku, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, noted that through the convocation of a national summit on education, such issues relating to building more capacity for our tertiary institutions of learning will be addressed.

The former Vice President, in a statement from his media office in Abuja, said, “It is noteworthy that the issue of funding is very germane to the management of our public sector education; and so, both government and practitioners in our public education system must come to terms with the parameters of the existing budgetary allocation for education and also create new methods of sourcing funds.

"They must do this without causing harm to the future of our youths,” Atiku said.

Nigeria has great investment opportunities Sony Neme

he Treasurer General of Africa National Congress, ANC, South Africa, Dr. Zwelini Mkhize, has described Nigeria as a country with great investment opportunities.

Mkhize, who doubles as Brand Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, in an exclusive chat with New Telegraph, also said that South Africa is on the verge of relaxing visa hurdles for Nigerians.

He said, his two-day visit was for a sustainable bilateral relationship with Nigeria in particular and the Africa continent in general According to him; “Nigeria has great potentials for investors. For most South African companies, Nigeria is a place where they need to invest heavily in, but they have to start by partnering with Nigerian businessmen. Already, many Nigerians do business in South Africa. All of these

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are important. These for us are very important” In terms of positives, Mkhize said, “There are too many positives. And of course, the main positive is that Nigeria and South Africa have lots of them. So, both countries must work together in partnership, in brotherhood and ensure that what each of them has must be shared with the in other in terms business and political progress. In that vein, whatever weaknesses, whatever challenges they might be facing must tackled for a way forward.”

He further stressed that, “In so saying, we must look at a number of issues in relation to some of the challenges that should be resolved. For example, the issue of business, everybody is of the opinion that there is need to make it possible for easier visa application. South Africa Ambassador has assured they are going all out to talk to business people.

L-R: Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Dr. Leke Pitan; APC chieftain, Surulere, Mr. Kamal Labinjo and ViceChairman, Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Chief Kunle Adeyoyin, during the inauguration of governorship aspirant campaign team in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

4,764

The number of air travel passengers of Akure airport (domestic wing) in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

111,445

The number of refugees/people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Eritrea at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

45.43

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Australia in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Doctors' strike: Deadlock as Reps invite Okonjo-Iweala, Okogwu NO DEAL Nigeria Medical Association not in any hurry to go back to work Philip Nyam

Abuja

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he meeting convened by the House of Re p r e s e n t a t iv e s with the striking Nig erian Medical Association (NMA) members and the ministers of health and labour and

p ro d u c t iv i t y was yesterday deadlocked as the doctors insisted on continuing with the work to rule action.

Chair man of the House committee on Health, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) however invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Director General of Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogwu, to attend the next stakeholders meeting fixed for next Thursday.

Elumelu, who assured the striking workers that

he will make sure both the minister and DG attend the meeting, urged all the stakeholders to maintain status quo.

At the meeting, stakeholders urged the Federal Government to include the sum of N6.7 billion required for the payment of relativity for a year in the supplementary budget that will be transmitted to the National Assembly.

While addressing the meeting on the issue, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, appealed to the striking doctors to suspend the strike pending the outcome of negotia-

tion.

He submitted that 23 out of the 24 demands have been assigned to respective personnel to be addressed.

While acknowledging delay in acceding to the demands, the minister requested for between 30 days to three months to enable Federal Government to address all the issues especially the outstanding debts.

In his presentation, Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, expressed the readiness of Federal Government to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis.

APC accuses FG of impunity, abuse Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

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he national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday warned the Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the brazen display of impunity and attacks on APC controlled states.

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, made the declaration when he led a high powered delegation of leaders and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on a solidarity visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the government house Benin, Edo State, over the lingering crisis in the state house of assembly.

Oyegun maintained

that with the unstable political scenarios in states of Rivers, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kano and now Edo, it was clear to the opposition party that the forces of the Federal Government and the PDP were out to destabilize the APC. According to him; “What is going on and what the party has come to realize is that there is a properly mapped out war against the APC, to destabilize the APC. While you are going through your travails here, we also trying to contain the fires that have been emitting in Adamawa. We are preparing for the one they are promising in Nasarawa State and so on and so forth and the bombs have started exploding in Kano”.

Besides, he blasted the Federal Government for tagging the APC as sup-

porters of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram, insisting that in spite of the intimidation the leadership and members of the fold would continue to cooperate in the fight against the scourge of security challenges threatening the unity of the country.

He assured Oshiomhole that the party was solidly behind him and the 15 APC lawmakers in the legislative arm of government in the state over the failure of the PDP legislators to obey various court orders and the use of security agencies as against their constitutional role of protection of lives and properties.

But the party said the agencies have reduced themselves to a willing tool in the hands of the powers that be at the Aso Rock in Abuja.

He said “We came to

solidarize with you. Mr. Governor sir, after very due consideration at a meeting we held only on Thursday, we decided to come and tell you that it was immediate and urgent that we pay a visit to you, to come and tell you and all the legislators that we know all you have been passing through.

We understand what you have been passing through. We are glad at the way you have been managing what you have been passing through. For the simple reason to use your own phrase this kind of rascality, indiscipline and the rest of it must be seen to be reverted”.

Oshiomhole in his remarks said he would not be distracted by the activities of the PDP lawmakers and the national leadership of the party.

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Sanctity of Truth

Monday, July 14, 2014

Judgment in BringBack OurGirls suit stalled Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

J L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Neo Media and Marketing, Ehi Braimah; Igwe of Aguleri, Eze Christopher Nwabunwanne Idigo IV; Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor on Finance, Tony Oli and Associate Director, also of Neo Media and Marketing, Donald Abbe, during a visit of Gulder Ultimate Search 11 contingent to the monarch in Anambra State.

JUSUN strike: Paralysis hits courts Joseph Onyekwere, Tunde Oyesina, abuja Sola Adeyemo, IBADAN

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ctivities at the Lagos High Courts were paralysed yesterday as the Lagos chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) joined its national body in the ongoing strike embarked on by the union.

Judges, lawyers and litigants that came to court as early as 7:00 am were stranded as all the gates in the court premises were shut and chained by the striking workers.

Most people who had cases in the various courts were caught unawares, as the courts were empty.

Few workers that reported for work were refused entry into the court premises by JUSUN executive members stationed at the gates.

Chairman, JUSUN Lagos Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Abioye said the branch was merely complying with the directive of the national body.

He stated that a Federal High judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi had

on January 13, 2014, gave a judgment in favour of the judiciary, in which the court ordered the 36 state governors and the FCT to comply with constitutional provisions on financial autonomy of the judiciary.

According to him JUSUN had in 2012 challenged the piecemeal payment of funds accruing to the judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund contrary to the provisions of Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution.

He added that despite several letters and warning strikes urging the State governments to comply with the judgment, they have been flouting the order.

Surprisingly, the strike which entered day two yesterday did not affect the Abuja High Court as courtrooms were open for lawyers and litigants to pursue their matter.

The union had in a statement issued in Abuja confirmed that the strike was to press home its demand for various state governments in the country to comply with court judgments which granted

financial autonomy at both the state and federal levels. The statement was jointly signed by its National President of the union, Mr. Marwan Adamu and its General Secretary, Mr. Isaiah Adetola.

The union had also directed its members in the federal judiciary to be on the alert as they could also be asked to join the strike anytime in solidarity with their state counterparts. “After the exhaustive deliberation on the refusal/failure of state governments to respect/ implement the Federal High Court, Abuja, judgment/orders in respect of financial autonomy of state Judiciaries as well as failure of stakeholders to abide by the decision to set up a technical implementation committee of the FAAC meeting of June 17, 2014, it is resolved by NEC as follows: “That all Judiciary staff at state level nationwide should proceed on an indefinite strike with effect from Friday, July 11, 2014. That the national secretariat of the union shall notify federal judiciary workers to join the action as events unfolds".

udgment in the suit filed by the #Bringbackourgirls group against the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of police, Joseph Mbu before an Abuja High Court was yesterday stalled as the court said it is not yet ready.

The trial judge, Justice Sunday Aladetoyinbo had at the last adjourned date fixed yesterday for judgment in the suit.

When the matter came up yesterday, Justice Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

ollowing the demise of Faging New Telegraph ManEditor (North),

Suleiman Bisalla in last month’s bomb blast at Emab plaza, Abuja, wellmeaning individuals, government and groups have continued to send in their condolences to New Telegraph.

Aladetoyinbo then told parties that it was not ready.

He however told parties that he would get back to them when the judgment is ready.

The group had on June 2 sued Mbu for his ban on protests, rallies and demonstrations.

However, the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, overturned the ban the following day.

"The force has not issued any order banning peaceful assemblies/protests anywhere in Nige-

ria,” the force stated.

At the hearing of the suit on June 12, counsel to the #Bringbackourgirls group, Femi Falana (SAN), had argued that the ban on peaceful protests by Mbu constituted an infringement of the rights of his client.

Defendant’s counsel, Simon Lough, countered the argument, saying the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The court after hearing submissions of parties later adjourned for judgment.

Bisalla: Interior Ministry condoles with New Telegraph The Federal Ministry of Interior in its condolence regretted the death of Bisalla, describing it as untimely.

A statement signed by the honorable Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro eulogized Bisalla as an astute journalist.

“Every death is a sad reminder of the ephemerality of our existence, and while I am saddened by the untimely demise of Suleiman, it is an adequate solace that he had lived up to the glory of the press in the country”, Moro stated.

Two dead, four in coma in Anambra Onah O. Onah

tleast two persons were Acommunity feared dead at Nanka in Orumba

North Local Government Area of Anambra State as six persons were electrocuted by a 33kv high tension wire belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC). The incident New Telegraph reports happened during preparation for the burial ceremony of a chieftain of the community, Sir James Ibe. One person died instantly, another one allegedly died at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, (NAUTH) Nnewi while the remaining four others, who were in critical condition were rushed

to different hospitals at Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area. The high tension wire, it was learnt was sagging such that it was lower than even the low voltage cable and had passed through the premises of the deceased (James).

When New Telegraph visited the community, people were wailing.

Eyewitnesses told our reporter that the tragedy had occurred when the victims were setting the canopy for the burial ceremony of their illustrious son. They narrated that the men had lifted the canopy to place it in the appropriate spot when the tip of the canopy iron touched the 33kv wire

and got the six severely electrocuted with one person dying instantly, while others were rushed to the hospitals.

An eyewitness, Mr Julius Ezeogbo confirmed the story. He said: “The people had set the canopy, and thereafter wanted to shift it to the other end so that it could be in line and immediately they lifted it up in other to carry it over to where it was supposed to be, it touched the EEDC High Tension wire and six of them were electrocuted.”

Ezeogbo, who is the Secretary-General of Nanka Community, slammed the officials of EEDC for their negligence, adding that the officials were unperturbed about the situation.

...Lawyers, litigants helpless in Umuahia, Benin Cajetan Mmuta, benin Igbeaku Orji, umuahia

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embers of JUSUN Edo State chapter yesterday complied with the directive of its national body to embark on a nationwide strike action.

This is coming barely four days after the body embarked on strike action to demand for autonomy for the judicial arm of government in Nigeria.

The Edo state Secretary of the union, Mr. Muhammed Adetola told newsmen in Benin that the federal courts are being put on red alert with the possibility of asking

them to join their state colleagues.

He said the move would be total if the federal government does not act urgently to their demands.

Similarly, legal activities were yesterday grounded at the Umuahia High Court as lawyers and litigants were shocked to see the gates of the Court locked as a result of the nationwide judiciary staff strike.

The scenario was the same in all the courts in the state as the Judiciary workers in Abia continued the nationwide strike which began on Friday.

The unsuspecting lawyers and litigants had come

to the court for normal transaction but were surprised that they could not gain entry to the premises.

They were seen at the gate of the judiciary complex in Umuahia, which was under-lock-and-key, discussing the situation in groups.

Some of the litigants and lawyers, who spoke to our correspondent on the development, described it as “disappointing and embarrassing.”

Mr Bethel Eluwa, said such strike action has caused a lot of inconvenience to the people.

“I came for a case in the magistrate’s court but found out that the gate to

the court premises is locked,’’ Eluwa said.

While courts were under lock and key across Edo state, attempts to speak with the union officers in the state including the state chairman, Mr. Kayode Igbarago on the extent of the strike action has proved abortive as the union secretariat inside the high court premises on Sapele Road, Benin City was locked and leaders were said to have gone out monitoring the strike.

At the High Court complex along Sapele Road, housing over 20 court rooms the area was completely without any activities while lawyers

and judicial workers complied fully with the strike directive and the courts remained deserted.

Chief Maurice Ucheji, a private legal practitioner in Umuahia, lamented that the issues between government and the Judiciary Staff Union have lingered for long even after the warning strike by the union last year.

Ucheji urged the state and federal governments to return to the negotiating table with the union leaders in order to resolve the issues in dispute.

He noted that the demand by the workers were not outrageous, wondering why both the

state and federal governments refused to meet the union’s demand.

Mr. Sam Ogbonna, who is on a six-week court placement at a Chief Magistrate Court at Olori, Ikwuano Local Government Area, lamented that the action would affect his internship.

Other litigants, Mr. Victor Onuoha and Mr Festus Onyemauwa, argued that the action would delay the dispensation of justice.

Some lawyers, who also came for pending cases in court, blamed the state and Federal Governments for allowing the dispute to degenerate into a major industrial action.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Boko Haram: Lagos schools beef up security Muritala Ayinla

ollowing series of attacks and threats by Boko Haram insurgents in the country, the Lagos State government yesterday advised school principals and head teachers in the state to be safety and security conscious.

The government, which expressed concern over the security of pupils and students in primary and post-primary schools in the state, said everything must be done to prevent any security breach in public schools.

The government also warned school managers and administrators not to allow unknown persons gain access into their school premises, except the parents of the pupils.

Noting that the lives of the pupils and students are entrusted into the care of the school managers from the time they assemble in

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the schools till afternoon when schools close, it warned school managers to be more security conscious.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Fatai Olukoja and the Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, who both gave the advice at an interactive session with schools managers, noted that the advice was imperative in view of the prevailing security challenges facing the country.

Olukoga said: “I wish to specifically charge principals of boarding schools not to release their students to anybody that is unknown to them and the child, even the drivers except their parents.

Schools’ managers should always be conscious of the next person. Government is concerned about our safety, security and the general wellbeing of every Lagosian.”

Ajimobi, Akinjide mourn as Raimi is buried Sola Adeyemo and Yekeen Nurudeen Ibadan/Abuja

he Governor of Oyo TAjimobi State, Senator Abiola and the Minister

of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, yesterday mourned the death of a former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi. Raimi, who died on Sunday was buried in Ibadan yesterday.

Ajimobi in a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the death of the politician as disheartening and unfortunate. Akinjide described the death of Raimi as another big loss to the people of Ibadan, Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole.

The Minister, in Abuja yesterday by her Special Adviser on Media, Ayodeji Adeyemi, described the late

politician as a thorough bred professional.

Among the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were at the burial yesterday are the former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, who led others among them Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarunmi, Professor Soji Adejumo and Engineer Seyi Makinde, all PDP governorship aspirants in the 2015 election.

Others included former Minister for Power and steel, Elder Wole Oyelese; President of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes(CCII) Chief Bayo Oyero; Alhaji Mufu Lanihun and scores of other sympathizers.

High Chief Eddy Oyewole represented the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade Odulana at the burial of the late Ibadan-born politician.

Wike’s alleged resignation deepens Rivers’ PDP crisis •Minister says his jittery political enemies are behind the campaign GRAPEVINE Minister of state for Education stays put as gossip takes control of politics Emmanuel Masha and Mojeed Alabi

he alleged resignation of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan, has further deepened the crisis rocking the River State chapter of the party.

Some top members of the PDP in the state, who are strongly opposed to Wike’s governorship ambition, have accused the

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former Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, of being insensitivity to the plight of other ethnic groups, especially those in the riverine areas.

In the last few days, there have been reports that Wike has resigned from the PDP as he was said to have lost favour in “Abuja” for allegedly stepping on some toes even as the minister has not in any way said anything about the purported resignation.

But he denied ever resigning his position yesterday while he also refuted reports by a section of the media that he had resigned from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Reacting to the rumour yesterday, he said ‘there was no iota of truth in the report.’

Wike, in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, accused his political opponents of being behind the rumoured resignation, even as he insisted that their gimmicks would not work as it has shown that they are jittery of his political strength.

He vowed to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state.

The minister, who said he was in Akwa Ibom State on Friday for an official engagement, was yesterday in Abuja playing host to the Pakistani teen education activist, who was shot

by Taliban forces, Malala Yousafzai.

Malala was in Nigeria to stage a campaign for the release of the abducted Chibok girls, who have

been in captivity for more than 80 days.

Reports said some aides of the governor were celebrating the purported resignation at the weekend, alleging that the minister was working against Abuja while working for his interest.

But the Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, described as false and misleading the report that Wike has resigned his appointment as minister and member of the Federal Executive Council.

Obuah, who has been accused of being used

by Wike to force himself on members as governorship candidate in 2015, said the minister remains a minister and a member of the president’s cabinet.

L-R: Coordinator, Corporate Planning/Research, Dr. Timothy Okon; Director, Commercial, Mr. Francis Amengo and Manaing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery Company, Dr. Bafred Audu Enjugu, during GPAD Capacity Building Workshop for Media Practitioners in Uyo, Akwa Ibom...at the weekend

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

War on terror: There are no foreign troops in Nigeria – COAS

NAPTIP, Italian firm train ...Says FG reequipping Army to contain Boko Haram staff on security, investigation Emmanuel Onani (US), United Kingdom were not being complement- ment.

Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

s part of efforts to Aabreast make its personnel of global chal-

lenges particularly in investigating human trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with an Italian firm, Sirfin-PA, would train 36 operatives drawn from its zonal offices nationwide, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on security and

investigation-based Information Technology (IT) software, known as SIDDA-NET. A statement issued in Abuja yesterday, by Giant Gee Nigeria Limited, an international business consultancy firm and representative of Sirfin-PA in Nigeria, said the training would better expose the potential participants to a more effective and efficient use of IT software to detect and investigate human and drug trafficking-related crimes.

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he Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, yesterday in Abuja, stated that there were no foreign troops in the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram sect in the North East.

The COAS made the clarification at the opening ceremony of The Chief of Army Staff's 3rd Quarter Conference, held at the Army Headquarters Command Mess.

Minimah's position is coming on the heels of popular belief that troops from the United States

(UK), France and Israel, were on the battlefield, fighting alongside Nigerian soldiers, to rescue the over 200 students of Government Girls' Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who have remained in Boko Haram's captivity, since April 14, when they were abducted.

In clear terms, Minimah said "there are no foreign troops on ground."

According to the Army chief, what the foreign nations are doing, is sharing of intelligence with the Nigerian armed forces, noting that the military operations,

ed by foreign troops.

"The foreign partners we have, have not come with boots on ground; they have come to share some level of intelligence with us.

"And so, I think too, we should exercise some patience because it takes time for intelligence to be gathered and shared and for actions to be taken", he pleaded.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has announced that the Federal Government was enhancing its capacity to fight terrorism, with the procurement of more sophisticated equip-

This is even as the force declared that it was adopting new measures to up the ante of its counter-insurgency fight in the North East, adding that "a lot of gains have been made in the various operations."

Answering reporters' questions yesterday, Minimah, who declared the three-day conference with General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and other operational commanders open , said: "Yes, we have equipment, and the Federal Government is also introducing fresh and newer equipment to us..."

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Sanctity of Truth

Monday, July 14, 2014

Oko poly petitions IG over insecurity Tony Okafor, Awka The Federal Polytechnic, Oko Anambra State has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar over a plot by some people to unleash mayhem on the institution.

In a petition signed by the Chief Security officer

of the School, DSP Emeka Eze, and made available to newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, yesterday, it alleged that one Okonkwo Okom and his cohorts had perfected arrangements to frustrate the best intentions of the institution and cause mayhem in the area.

Ajimobi, Akinjide mourn Raimi Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has commiserated with the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and the family of Dr. Dejo Raimi over the death of the PDP stalwart and former Secretary to the

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili (middle), leading other Members of #BrinBackOurGirls group protesting the rescue of the abducted Chibok school girls, during the visit of the Pakistani school activist, Malana Yousafzai in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Dutse Airport begins commercial operation

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he Dutse International Airport constructed by the Jigawa State government yesterday recorded its maiden commercial flight operation.

The ceremony, which was marked by a commercial flight of Overland Airline, which made a maiden landing

from Abuja at exactly 12.45pm at the Dutse International Airport.

The first flight was accompanied by the Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Alhaji. Ahmed Mahmud Gumel, top government functionaries, and others excited indigenes.

In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA) Alh. Bashir Suleiman commended the Jigawa State government for completing the first ever fastest gigantic International Airport of a repute with all modern

facilities at a short period of time.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sule Lamido said the success of the edifice was informed by the commitment and collaborative efforts among the state government and the airliners.

Fashola blasts PDP for hosting Fayose at Lagos Park

I don't have any anointed aspirant, says Balogun

Muritala Ayinla Three days after the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose stormed Lagos State on a ‘thank you’ visit, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola yesterday lampooned the Peoples Democratic Party for hosting the governorelect at the Gani Fawehinmi park built with tax payers’ money.

The governor, who described the PDP’s action as shameless, said the party could not find other place in the state to hold their ‘welcome rally’

Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan AGAINST the allegation that he has thrown his weight behind one of the many aspirants angling to occupy the Agodi Gover nment House in Oyo by 2015, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Senator Lekan Balogun, has denied having an anointed one among them.

The aspirants including former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; his former deputy, Azeem Gbolarumi; former Minister of Sports and Spe-

except the park, they once described as cosmetic project. He blamed the party for being “unworthy of trust and lacking in consistency’, saying it shameful that the party could hold its rally at the garden they once criticized when his administration embarked on its development.

He said: “They always turn security personnel against the people they are supposed to protect instead of against those who threaten the people.

But our opponents have no shame."

cial Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja; Seyi Makinde, Professor Soji Adejumo, Femi Babalola, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, among others, have signified their desire to have a shot at the plum job.

Balogun described the allegation as a figment of the imagination of the promoters of such wild allegation, adding that there was no way he could align with any of the aspirants because of his position, not only as a leader, but also as an elderly person to all of them.

53rd birthday: Obi objects to NCDMB commends newspaper advertorials General Electric for Tony Okafor, Awka Immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has asked his friends and well-wishers not to place advertorials in the media to congratulate him on his birthday as he turns 53 on 19th of July. .

He made this appeal while answering questions from Journalists at the traditional marriage ceremony of Mr. Obinna Anyaegbu, the son of Chisco Motors Ltd at Amichi in Nnewi South Local government of the state.

“When I look around, I notice that Nigerians celebrate for wrong reasons.

As the Governor of Anambra State, I celebrated excellence, but not birthdays and related events that do

not add value to our lives.

Today, when you look around, you see Nigerians going to India for medicals, but if you relate to the people, you will see that some Nigerians do not even have money to visit ordinary patent medicine dealers.

“We have a lot of poor ones around us and I tried as much as I can to touch such lives, whether as a Governor or not. As I am about to turn 53, may I appeal to Nigerians, most of whom have already informed me of their intention to place adverts for me, that I do not need that.

I am happier if they utilise money for adverts to helping the poor among us and rebuilding schools in their communities”, he said.

technology transfer

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has praised the General Electric (GE) Nigeria for the kind of highend technologies it has brought into the country and for promoting capacity development among Nigerians.

The NCDMB team gave the commendation in Lagos when it paid a visit to “The Garage” – GE’s innovation and manufacturing centre where aspiring makers and entrepreneurs can go to develop new skills and learn about advanced manufactur-

ing technologies.

Speaking during the inspection of the GE Garages, Mr Okey Egbuta, Manager, Projects and Operations, NCDMB said his Board had come a long way with the General Electric.

According to him, the NCDMB and GE have embarked on a journey with a common goal of giving prominence to local content. He noted that the NCDMB was encouraged by GE’s sustained efforts in prioritizing indigenous human capital in its operations across critical sectors in the country.

State Government.

The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the death of the politician as disheartening and unfortunate.

Flood claims lives, property in Edo communities Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN Heavy downpour on Sunday wreaked havoc on the agrarian communities in Igarra town, headquarters of AkokoEdo local government area of Edo State leading to the loss of three lives and more than 50 houses and properties valued at several millions of naira destroyed in the process.

Among the properties pulled down by the flood were parts of the perimeter fence of the local government secretariat.

Also, the victims of the

disaster were a young girl and a pastor of one of the new generation churches.

The deceased were said to be travelling to Igarra from Auchi in a commercial vehicle It was gathered that the vehicle in which they had traveled broke down in Egbigere about five minutes’ drive to their destination. On an attempt to push the vehicle, they were swept away by the flood caused by heavy rainfall which started at about 11 am.

Ngige raises the alarm over Facebook fraudsters Tony Okafor, Awka The former governor of Anambra State and now Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr Chris Ngige has raised the alarm over the activities of fraudsters who are using facebook to swindle unsuspected citizens.

In a statement made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igboeli Arinze urged members of the public to be on

their guard as fraudsters were trying to use the Senator’s name to swindle people. Arinze said the Senator does not have a facebook account but only fan pages.

He said: "This statement is for the purpose of preventing such an embarrassing act from occurring again let me state here that the Senator does not have a Facebook account, what he has are Facebook pages managed by his media team.”

Taraba convenes Security Council meeting Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

In its efforts to strengthen the security situation toward ensuring a sustainable and prevailing peace in Taraba state, the government on yesterday conducted another Security Council Meeting with the traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen and Security Chiefs in the State.

The meeting which was conducted at the official resident of the State Acting Governor

in Jalingo, aimed at discussing among many other critical security issues, the appropriate measures and modalities on how to broker lasting peace in the communities affected by the recent ethno-religious crises in some parts of the state.

Acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar said it has become imperative for them as stakeholders to discuss on how to foster unity and peace among the aggrieved communities.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, July 14, 2014

2015: Imo PDP promises level playing ground for contestants fair play

There are no sacred cows, anointed candidates, not even godfathers in Imo Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the weekend, assured all members of the party seeking elective positions in the 2015 elections of transparency, justice and fairness in the conduct of the party’s pri-

72

maries.

Chairman of the party in Imo State, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, said to this end, the party has installed the necessary machinery to ensure that money bags and those who feel that they have strong connections do not hijack the primaries to realise their ambitions.

Anyaehie gave the assurance while receiving a chieftain of the party, Chief Chikwem Onuoha, who visited the State Working Committee (SWC) at the party’s secretariat to intimate them of his intention to run for Okigwe North federal constituency in

The number of men per 100 women above 60 years old in Bulgaria in 2012.

Source: Un.org

2015.

“Let me assure all who cares to listen that our party is one for everybody, where members can seek elective positions of their choice without any strings attached, because we want progress, growth and development for our country.”

The PDP boss frowned on the attitude of some politicians, who deserted their party after losing at the primaries, calling on those who may fail in the primaries to demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship and queue behind those who emerge victorious.

He commended Chief

$1,813.9m

The capital importation of the shares sector of Nigeria in 2009.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Onuoha for his continued contribution toward the growth of the party, wishing him well in his endeavours.

Earlier in his speech, Onuoha, a former deputy chief of staff in the last administration, commended members of the party that had remained steadfast and committed since the conclusion of the 2011 governorship election.

He decried the activities of those who fled the party following its defeat in the last election; some of who he alleged have now staged a comeback to hijack its machinery to achieve their selfish interests.

$US2.5bn

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

9

Okigwe youths say no to imposition Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

under the ausYof ouths pices of the Coalition Okigwe Youths (COY)

yesterday rejected a communiqué issued after the Okigwe Youth Delegate Conference, endorsing aspirants for the Imo North senatorial seat.

The coalition alleged in a news briefing in Owerri that delegates to the conference merely settled for their preferred aspirants without consideration for any known standard or parameter before their endorsements.

Speaking during the briefing, President of the group, Hon. Ugwu Osuagwu, vowed to stand against any form of imposition of candidates in the area. He said the existing zoning formula in Imo North was adopted by few leaders who are members of a certain political party for their perceived interests, depriving the zone

of its expected developmental gains.

“The time has come for the people of Okigwe senatorial district to come together and shake off the old order, which has in no small measure impoverished the people and made them slaves in their own land.”

He added that the beauty of democracy is widespread public participation of the people which often leads to a government of the people for the greater good of a greater majority.

The youth leader also added that the said zoning arrangement has done more harm than good to Okigwe people, as credible candidates, who were passionate about working for the masses, were technically schemed out in the electoral process, while political jobbers and those he described as opportunists, have a field day in determining who gets what at the expense of the people who elected them.

NULGE flays Abia govt’s stand on LG revenue Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he National ViceTtional President of the NaUnion of Local

L-R: Director Mission and Dialogue, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Prof. Cornelius Omonokhu; Executive Secretary, Tetfund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro; Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada and President, Nigeria Guide of Editors, Mr. Femi Adeshina, during the presentation of Award on Academic Life Dialogue and Peace in Abuja…at the weekend.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Three council areas protest inclusion in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

T

housands of indigenes from Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Local Government areas of Ebonyi State yesterday demonstrated their unwillingness to remain as citizens of the state.

They were protesting to be included in the proposed Etiti State, an additional state proposed by the on-going national conference for the SouthEast geopolitical zone of the country.

Protesting under the umbrella of Ezumezu Ohanivo, they gathered in their large numbers at Isu in Onicha Local Government area, car-

rying placards with various inscriptions like; “We belong to the proposed Etiti State;” “We support the creation of Etiti State;” “Those fighting our interest are against Ohanivo people and our destiny;” “We support an additional state for the South-East geopolitical zone,” among others.

In a communiqué issued and signed by the Coordinators of Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha Local Government areas, Hon. Green Obasi, Chief Silas Okoro, Mallam Gabriel Ani respectively and others, the group expressed their determination to be part of the proposed Etiti State.

They appealed to delegates at the national conference, particularly South-East delegates headed by General Ike Nwachukwu, to ignore the few political office holders from Ebonyi State, who had chosen to remain in Ebonyi, because of their selfish political ambitions come 2015.

The communiqué reads in part: “First, we want to publicly state that we the people of Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha Local Government areas popularly called Ohanivo, belonging to one federal constituency, wish to join our kit and kin in the proposed Etiti State and

our demand is not new.

“That a people with one culture, one language and lying contiguously together cannot and should not be separated such that one local government area will be in the proposed Etiti State while the other two are forced to remain in Ebonyi State; that to separate us will put us in worse perpetual minority than we are now in Ebonyi State.

“We the people of Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha Local Government areas, hereby unequivocally state that there is no going back, as we march inwardly to the Promised Land. The people have spoken.”

Government Employees (NULGE), South-East zone, Comrade Eze Idima, has described the stand of the Abia State government on local government revenue as double standard.

He said the charge by Governor Theodore Orji to the newly inaugurated transition committee chairmen to look inwards to generate revenue to improve their council areas, only for the government to close all revenue windows to the local government, was counterproductive.

“Recall that when Governor Theodore Orji in-

augurated the transition chairmen, he charged them to look inward and see how they could use their internally generated revenue to improve their councils, " Idima said.

"But it amounts to double standard for the government that charged council chairmen to fall back on internally generated revenue to turn around to close all revenue windows in the council areas. How are they expected to generate funds in such situation?”

Idima observed that the proposed takeover of the revenue windows in Abia State; “Apart from being unconstitutional, will impoverish local government councils the more and by extension hamper further the much talked about rural development.”

APC condemns transition committees Igbeaku Orji, Umuahia

hairman of the All C(APC) Progressives Congress in Abia State, Fa-

bian Okonkwo, has condemned the use of transition committees to run the affairs of local governments in the state, saying such was illegal and unconstitutional.

Okonkwo, who was reacting to the recently inaugurated transition committee chairmen in Abia State, said the government has been using illegal and unconstitutional methods in running the local governments for years, urging

the revenue and fiscal commission to stop disbursing money to local councils administered as such, since those running them are not democratically elected.

The APC chairman also denied the existence of factions in the party, saying APC is one united happy family. He said after its congress held at the War Museum, Umuahia, the party has remained one, adding that in any election, there must be winners and losers, but that in the case of the party people did not show any interest in picking nomination forms for the congress.

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014

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

0802 393 8212

Policeman, three others die in shoot-out with robbers GUN DUEL Four persons, among them a policeman, die in encounters between the police and suspected robbers in two states

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

commercial sex worker in Bayelsa State AN20,000. gave birth to a baby girl and sold her for

Emmanuel Masha and Cheke Emmanuel

A

policeman and three suspected robbers lost their lives yesterday during gun battles in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The policeman was shot dead by gunmen who raided the premises of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporations, the publishers of Tide newspapers.

The victim, who went to rescue the production staff of the newspapers, while they were being robbed by the gunmen, was said to have shot and killed two of the hoodlums.

The gunmen, who stormed the production room of the newspaper about 1am, announced they were robbers and ordered the production staff to surrender their valuables.

They were said to be wielding AK47 rifles and pistols.

Some of the workers sustained injuries, mostly gun shots and were rushed to the hospital.

One of the workers, Emughedi Isaiah Sam, who was shot in the leg, said they did not know when the gunmen entered the building as they were busy working to get the newspaper on the newsstand in the morning.

He said: “We were working when we saw strange faces in the production room. The next thing we knew was

File picture of policemen.

that they surrounded us and asked us to submit our valuables.

“They said they were going to deal with whoever refused to cooperate with them. Before I knew it, one of them had shot me in the leg.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Mohammed, confirmed the incident.

He said: “We have not made any arrest yet, but we are on the trail of the fleeing hoodlums.”

In the Lafia shootout, one suspected robber was shot dead.

At the end of the gun battle, police arrested three members of the gang.

Before the encounter, the gang was notorious for inter-state robbery in Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states.

The police also recovered an Lx470 Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) from

the robbers.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ismaila Umaru Numan, confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists in Lafia.

Numan disclosed that the bandits robbed their victim at his resident in Taraba State and snatched an Lx470 Lexus SUV and drove straight to Lafia before a special squad went after them following a tip off.

The PPRO said that the robbers came all the way from Jalingo, the Taraba State capital to Lafia and tried to rob some banks.

He said: “They were apprehended upon a tip off, a team of eagle-eyed detectives gave them a hot chase and engaged them shootout. One died during exchange of fire.”

NSCDC raids baby factory, rescues 19 pregnant girls Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

O

fficials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have rescued 19 pregnant teenagers during a raid on a baby factory at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.

Parading the girls and some of the workers in the baby factory in Umuahia, the state Commandant of NSCDC, Andy Dateer, said that the corps got information about a home were pregnant teenage girls were kept until they delivered and the babies sold.

Dateer gave the name of factory Nma Charity and Motherless Babies’ Home.

According to him, the owner, who is on the run, brings in men to impregnate the girls and after delivery their babies are sold, while they are given peanuts.

The commandant said that his men raided the place early yesterday morning and rescued the 19 girls with three two-year-old babies ready to be sold.

Prostitute sells own baby for N20,000

Ade Abolurin, NSCDC Commandant

He added that four ‘social workers’ and four men were also arrested in the process.

The commandant said that he decided to parade the girls and the suspects to “tell the people of Abia state that such people exist in the state and since the state is God’s Own State, such operations are not supposed to work here”.

According to Dateer, though

the raiding of baby factory is not within his operational sphere, “it is part of security work in which we do.

“I have called the police, Women Affairs Department and office of the governor to tell them about the development”.

He added that he would hand over the girls and the suspects to the appropriate authority.

“But we are going to monitor their repatriation to their different homes to be sure that they are home and to appeal to their parents to take them back without any fuss,” he said.

The NSCDC boss said that one of the pregnant girls was in a bad condition and that she had been taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Dateer said that the girls told him that they had not been fed for the past two days.

“But I have made arrangement for them to be fed and I am calling on the state government to come to their rescue by taking them to a better place before returning them to their parents,” he said.

This happened at the red light zone area of DSP Alamieyeseigha Road of the Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The child, according to report by the police, was sold to a family in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident yesterday and said police had traced the family involved to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said: “Though the details of the investigation are sketchy, men of the special unit of the police are on their way to effect the recovery of the baby and arrest the family that bought the child.”

Meanwhile, the residents of the Bayelsa State capital have raised the alarm over the rising incidents of robbery and burglary by a criminal syndicate with the use of a special powder suspected to be anaesthetics known as ketamine.

The syndicate broke into the house of an employee of the Niger Delta University Hospital in Okolobiri and stole his valuables, including laptops.

“What we noticed was a residue of white powdered substance by the window. The burglary was cut and their footprints were seen on the powder they must have blown into the house to make us fall into a deep sleep,” the victim said.

Akhigbe told our correspondent that though the victims had not reported such development, the police would investigate and apprehend the criminals.

PDP chieftain, three others remanded for theft Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

our persons, including a ward Fcratic chairman of the Peoples DemoParty (PDP) and a brother

of a top aide to Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State have been remanded in Enugu Prisons by the Federal High Court in Enugu.

They were accused of tampering with electric cables, property of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The accused, who appeared before the court presided over by Justice D. V. Agishi, are Ude Ifeanyi, Emmanuel Okolo, Afam Ude and Ifeanyi Okeke.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them in the suit, No FHC/EN/CR/60/2014.

Ude is said to be the PDP ward chairman for Obinofia Ward of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

After listening to the charges against the accused by the prosecution and the oral application for bail by the defence counsel, G. C. Gboko, the judge turned down the application.

He remanded the accused in prison custody.

The accused were said to have tampered “with electric cables,

property of PHCN contrary to Section 19(6) and punishable under Section 9 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act; CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.

The charge sheet reads: “That you, Emmanuel Okolo and three others about the 13th day of November, 2013 about 15:20 hours at Obinofia community, in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State did unlawfully disconnect, remove, tamper or meddle with low tension cable wire from a transformer of PHCN. “That you Emmanuel Okolo and three others did steal four low tension cables valued at N700,000 property of Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 9 Miscellaneous Offences Act; CAP M17.”

Rejecting the oral application for bail, Agishi held that he could not entertain the application because it should have been put down in writing and properly filed.

The judge agreed with the prosecution that the accused were served arraignment notice in good time and, therefore, were in a position to do the needful by putting down the application in writing.

Agishi adjourned the case till November 6.

METRO

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

United Aladura Churches hold three-day revival he United Aladura Churches will hold a Tperity three-day revival tagged: “Peace and prosin a God-fearing Nation,” from July

24 to 26 in Lagos.

The revival, which will be hosted by the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), will kick off on Thursday, July 24 with a service at the Gymnastic Hall of the National Stadium by 5pm.

This will be followed by a seminar the following day at the CCC, 4, Celestial Church Street, off Amaraolu Street, Agidingbi, Ikeja by noon.

The programme will be rounded up on July 26, with a thanksgiving service at the same venue by noon with eminent personalities in attendance.

Man held for attempting to kill brother Dahiru Suleimann Dutse

en of the Nigeria Security and Civil DeM fence Corps (NSCDC) in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State have ap-

prehended a former policeman, Isah Suleiman for attempted murder.

Suleiman of Kanti Ward in Kazaure local government was arrested for trying to stab his younger brother, Sadik Musa.

The NSCDC Commandant, Gidado Muhammad Fari, said Suleiman was still in custody pending the outcome of investigation.

He said if found guilty, the suspect would be arraigned in court.

Fari warned people to avoid committing crime because “the law is no respecter of anybody except those who respect it”.

Zebrudaya, 699 others matriculate at NOUN Leo Sobechi

T

he renowned thespian, Chief Chika Okpalla aka Zebrudaya, was among 700 students who matriculated at the Enugu Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Zebrudaya told journalists at the study centre on Nike Road, Abakpa, Enugu, that his decision to enrol for the Master of Business Management at NOUN stemmed from his belief that “age is no barrier to education”.

He said: “As long as you can feel, as long as you can understand and practicalise you are qualified at any time to go in and read to better your education.”

According to him, since Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now in vogue, “whether you like it or not, you must go back to school to learn it”.

Zebrudaya at the matriculation

Okpalla, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Zodiac Brains Limited, noted that though he had made a mark in entertainment scene in Nigeria, he decided to read management to be able to manage himself.

“Yes, I might have made a mark in entertainment industry but that is entertainment, this is management.

Nobody is managing me so I decided to go and read management to be able to manage myself,” he disclosed, adding that his desire for higher education would not make him to abandon his ‘Zebrudaya language’.

Okpalla, who is also a NOUN Am-

Camillus Nnaji

on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for a performance analysis and resource training retreat.

The Chairman, Organising Committee and Zonal Head Public Education Department of FRSC, Assistant Corps Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the retreat would analyse the performance of officers in the zone and be a platform for rewarding those who had distinguished themselves with different awards.

He said: “The retreat is a platform where senior FRSC personnel in our zone converge for identifying and analysing our strength and weaknesses in our different units and sector commands so as to serve the public better by ensuring accident-free vehicular movements on our roads. We will also use the opportunity to reward excellence.”

The theme of the retreat, according to Ogungbemide, is: “Building a reliable framework for public Education and Communication Management.”

He said: “It is also a capacity building exercise for senior officers of FRSC in the zone towards ensuring effective control and management of the motoring public.

“The programme also serves as a resource training opportunity for our officers. FRSC is not all about enforcement, we also take stock on qualitative advocacy to prevent tragic occurrences on our roads.”

Expected at the retreat which holds at DarkTac Hotel, Abeokuta, include Deputy Corps Marshal Danjuma Garuba as the special guest, John Meheux (chief host) while Commander Kayode Olagunju is the guest resource person.

bassador, said he was proud to have groomed some notable Nollywood actors like Nkem Owo, Patience Ozokwo among others.

Earlier, the Acting Director of NOUN, Enugu Study Centre, Mrs Maria-Theresa Onyehalu, disclosed that every semester the school admits students twice, adding that about 700 students were involved in the matriculation.

She said: “The emphasis in open and distance learning is not on facilitation rather it is that you use your study materials which are produced in diverse formats.”

Group names Ilori Nigeria’s best public sector environmentalist

FRSC holds performance analysis retreat ll senior officers of the Federal Road AOgun Safety Commission (FRSC), RS2 Lagos/ Zonal Command will today converge

11

Ilori (middle) and others at the event

country by the association.

Presenting the award of NACJ Integrity Man of the Year in Environmental Management in Nigeria 2014 to Ilori, the Award Committee Chairman of NACJ, Mr Bola Alawode, said the special adviser deserved the award.

According to Alawode, Nigerians determine winners of various categories.

He said three persons were nominated and published in the dailies asking Nigerians to vote for their preferred nominee.

Alawode added that by the time the votes were counted, Ilori emerged the winner of the award.

He said: “As journalists monitoring and criticising the continued downward slide of Nigerian value of dedication

to service, integrity and innovation in governance, we must not fail to comment and signpost the few oasis of hope when we sight them.

“Ilori’s consistent sterling performance in three different states of Lagos, Ondo and currently Osun, is proving him not to be a fluke. He is about the most experienced government sector environmentalist today in Nigeria, having managed three different states’ Ministries of Environment in the country.”

In his response, Ilori expressed gratitude to Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the entire members of the Osun State Executive Council particularly the Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, for their support.

he Special Adviser Osun State governor on EnvironTment and Sanitation, Bola Il-

(NACJ) conferred the award was on Ilori because of his landmark achievements in environmental development in the country.

The award came after a nationwide assessment and voting carried out throughout the

Buhari Bello

Cholera kills four siblings, two others in Plateau

ori, has been named the Best Government Sector Environmentalist in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists

Jos

outbreak of cholera has four children from Athenclaimed same family and two oth-

ers in Dangi town, Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Several others are said to be receiving treatment in various hospitals.

The Deputy Chairman of Kanam Local Government, who is also the Supervisory Counsellor for Health, Umar Yakubu Alabura, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Jos at the weekend.

He said: “The recent outbreak of cholera in Kanam has become a source of worry to the health department of the local government because three days ago four children of one family and two other adults died of cholera and many others are affected by the disease.

“We are highly disturbed by the spread of profuse diar-

Jona Jang, Plateau Gov.

rhoea and vomiting in Dengi and the surrounding villages.

Although we received medical support from the state Ministry of Health in order to curtail the spread of the disease, a good number of the affected persons prefer patronising local health workers for treatment rather than going to hospital, which has negative effect on efforts

to coordinate and control the disease.”

On his part, however, the state Epidemiologist, Dr Raymond Juryit, who led an outbreak investigation team and journalists to Dengi, said that there were no confirmed cases of cholera in Kanam because all the patients admitted were affected by malaria, typhoid and other tropical infections associated with diarrhoea and vomiting.

He said: “We have gone round hospitals and clinics within Dengi town, including the General Hospital, but we could not establish a single case of cholera. All those we found are malaria, typhoid and other infections.

“But three weeks ago we received a report from our Disease Surveillance Officer in Dengi. We verified and 34 suspected cholera cases were

recorded with one dead.”

In his remark, the Chairman of Kanam local Government, Hon Ado Yusuf, blamed the outbreak on the influx of displaced persons from Taraba State sectarian crisis.

He said: “The situation is deteriorating and the local government has reported to the Ministry of Health and also disbursed fund to curtail the scourge.”

Yusuf appealed to the state Ministry of Health to set up a medical team that would ascertain what exactly the cause of diarrhoea and vomiting was.

Only last Tuesday, the member representing Dengi constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Abbas Wakmut, moved a motion of urgent public importance on the outbreak.

He said that many people were dying of cholera.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, July 14, 2014

Again, Chukwuma condemn zoning in Enugu Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

U

nperturbed by the barrage of attacks fired at him last week by some political and opinion leaders of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone for opposing the zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, which has agreed to allow Nsukka people to produce the governor of the state in 2015, the Anglican Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has insisted on fighting to scuttle that arrangement.

New Telegraph gathered that his re-engineering of the verbal war was a continuation of

the supremacy fight between Governor Sullivan Chime and Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, over who takes what, come 2015.

The cleric is seen as a close ally of Ekweremadu.

Chukwuma at the weekend fired back at his critics on the sensitive political matter and further kicked against the zoning of the governorship position to Enugu North Senatorial Zone(Nsukka) by the Enugu chapter of PDP. In fact, the cleric warned that no person or group of persons operating under any guise, including Chime, would be allowed to sit down somewhere and restrict people from other zones from contesting any elec-

tion in 2015.

Last week, there was a deluge of angry reactions from political and opinion leaders in the Enugu North senatorial zone of the state when a newspaper report quoted Bishop Chukwuma as opposing the Enugu PDP zoning arrangement that would allow the Nsukka people, who occupy the Enugu North zone and part of the Enugu East zone of the state to produce the governor of the state in 2015.

Gen. Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd), chairman of the

Enugu State Committee on the Actualization of Adada State, had reacted thus “this man has been in Enugu and knows that for over 16 years now, the principle of rotation has been in force, making for Enugu East and Enugu West taking their turns, and now approaching Enugu North.

“Even in his home state, Delta, his own ethnic group is seriously agitating and indeed banking on it for 2015, same as in every other state of the federation. In Anambra,

N447.1m

The IGR realized from road taxes in Edo State in 2011.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

this same principle was largely what contributed to the emergence of the current governor. Yet, he has not been heard or read criticizing the coming arrangement in his state”.

Coordinator of a pressure group, Nsukka Zonal Awareness Forum(NZAF), Chief James Ugwu and Enugu State PDP Chairman, Chief Vita Abba, had also hit at the cleric, accusing him of propounding hate theory and being meddlesome in his campaign against the party’s arrangement even when

28%

The percentage of female population above 60 years old in Bulgaria in 2012.

Source: Un.org

he was not member of the PDP. Yet, last Sunday when Chukwuma was at the Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Ngwo in Enugu North Local Council Area of the state for the second session of the second synod of the Enugu Anglican Communion, he insisted that the decision taken by the ruling party was not a step in the right direction, maintaining that the governorship race should be thrown open so that everybody would have an opportunity to contest.

56.55%

The percentage of individuals using the internet of Croatia in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

2015: Controversy trials pruning of aspirants in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ontroversy has continCming ued to trail the trimdown of the number

of governorship aspirants in the Masev Iharev and Nongov Development Association (MINDA) bloc.

Aspirants under the forum yesterday rose from a meeting and condemned the arrangement.

The Tiv paramount ruler, HRH Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, who also hails from the MINDA bloc, was reported to have assembled the over 15 PDP governorship aspirants in the area, where he trimmed their number to four, a situation that has generated tension in the area.

The Tor Tiv and elders forum in the area took the decision to reduce ten-

sion, acrimony as well as unnecessary spending by the aspirants. The zone is likely to produce the next governor to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam in 2015.

Chairman of MINDA PDP governorship forum, Prof. David Ker in a statement, regretted that their meeting with the paramount ruler which the aspirants were "only advised on the need for peaceful conduct, and introduced to the royal fathers could be reported to have been a screening and selection exercise for the emergence of some preferred aspirants".

The forum called on the people of the state and their supporters to disregard such rumour as such was capable of breeding hatred among the people of the area.

Security alert in Bayelsa as Youths protest here was a security of no confidence on the Tformations alert among police Bright Igrubia-led leadin Bayelsa ership of NYCN in the State yesterday, following the protest by youth groups under the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). They were protesting over the alleged manipulation of the group by the state government and the imposition of a management committee for the voluntary organization.

The agitated youths, under the aegis of the Bayelsa Youth Coalition of Uniform and Non-uniform Bodies (BYCUNB), in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa and signed by its Chairman, Livingstone Ayawei and Secretary, Ebiakpo Bribena, claimed that the state government led by the State Commissioner for Youths Development, Akpoebidei Alamieyeseigha, organized a vote

state and inaugurated a caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the Council.

New Telegraph gathered that the management committee set up by the government was to look into the protracted crisis that had engulfed the council. The Commissioner for Youths Development was also reported to have charged the newly constituted caretaker leadership led

by Emmanuel Dede to work in tandem with the Restoration Agenda of the Dickson led administration, urging them to be of good conduct in character and leadership with a mandate to inject a new lease of life and conduct elections and usher in new executives within ninety days.

President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mrs. 'Debola Osibogun (left) and Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, during a Presidential visit to the Bank in Lagos

Adeyeye: APC only wasting time on Ekiti election arrogance

New minister of State for works berates APC for waking up late against Ekiti results Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T

he Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has said the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election is not only a waste of time,

but a further demonstration of the party's selfishness, arrogance and hatred for democratic process.

Speaking through the Director General, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Hon. Bisi Kolawole, he said, "The APC is only advertising its shamelessness as a party by challenging the results of an election in which its candidate could not win his own local council."

He described as laughable, APC's claim of “manipulation, undue militarisation, impeachment as well as EFCC’s cases hanging on the Governorelect, Dr Ayodele Fayose,"

adding that; "Only a party comprising people that are interested in dancing naked in the market place would make provision of adequate security for an election a tribunal issue."

Adeyeye said the APC was only complaining because the heavy presence of security men during the election scuttled its plans to use armed thugs it imported to the state and lodged in various hotels to rig the election.

"While we recognise the inalienable rights of all Nigerians to approach the courts for redress on any issue, we must say that going to court to challenge an election in which

Dr Kayode Fayemi, a sitting governor, lost even in his local government is a waste of time and a clear demonstration of the APC's hatred for Nigeria and its people.

"This is more so that the APC candidate, Governor Fayemi had accepted the election results and congratulated the winner.

"Most importantly, when has the provision of adequate security for an election become an electoral offence? Was Edo State not militarised during the governorship election of 2012, which the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) - now APC won massively?

USAID ends support for orphans Comfort Chukwu Abuja

he United States Agency Topment for International Devel(USAID) in Nige-

ria is concerned on how to strengthen social welfare systems for orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria. That is even as 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indi-

cates that nine per cent of children in Nigeria are orphans or are vulnerable due to illness of adult household members.

Mission Director, USAID in Nigeria, Michael Harvey,yesterday in Abuja said USAID would continue to facilitate lasting partnership and systems to promote tangible policies for Orphans and Vul-

nerable children (OVC) in Nigeria.

His comment came as the Community Based Support (CUBS) for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) activity in Nigeria which commenced October 2009 ended.

The US$20 million (N3.25bilion) project, which lasted for five

years, tried to improve well-being of vulnerable children by scaling-up service delivery, testing new approaches to build community ownership of vulnerable children initiative and addressing gender discrimination in 11 states. Harvey said, "the work for disadvantaged children in Nigeria is not yet over"

OSUN GUBER: ISSUES AS OMISORE REACHES OUT TO VOTERS / PAGE 14 | JIGAWA: TURAKI, LAMIDO TEST MIGHT / PAGE 17

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

13

LAGOS PDP: PLUGGING THE GAPS AHEAD OF POLLS

p-16

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014

A major issue that will shape the 2015 governorship election in Kwara State is the contentious issue of zoning, and which of the three senatorial districts of the state will produce the governor, BIODUN OYELEYE reports

Zoning: Kwara senatorial districts on warpath an upward of 12 years, it was only logical to leave the slot for both Kwara North and South in the spirit of fair play, justice and equity.

“The decision, the governor further disclosed, would go a long way to allay the fears of dominance by the other two districts, pointing out that it would help to subdue the unwholesome acrimonious politicking. Saraki told the party leaders and stakeholders that they have the responsibility to provide the pathway for strengthening the party and ensure that we all move forward to achieve a common goal. He however enjoined party members to work hard to ensure the emergence of all the party’s aspirants for the National Assembly election, noting that a vote for them is a vote for the party.

“Responding, other aspirants from the North and Southern senatorial districts all aligned with the party’s decision and pledged to support whoever among them emerges as the party’s flag bearer at the end of the primary election”

T

he matter has to do with what is now being treated as a political booby trap set by former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki before he left office. In the wake of interests by several of his close associates to succeed him in office, the then governor had announced an arrangement whereby the governorship ticket went to Kwara South Senatorial District, and was meant to be there for only four years, after which it would go to Kwara North for another four years before coming back to Kwara Central.

His argument then was that the central had by the end of his tenure in 2011, had been in the saddle for 12 years hence the need to allow other zones to also have a taste of the pudding for fairness. This arrangement was a major weapon that enabled his party (the Peoples Democratic Party before his defection to the All Progressives Congress) to win the election as political leaders in Kwara South teamed up with him against the formidable political prowess of his father, late Olusola Saraki.

Among the prominent groups and leaders that joined him were Chief Wole Oke, who, as head of The Kwara Patriots (TKP) was a thorn in the flesh of the then administration. It was also for the same reason that the governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Khalil Bolaji, dropped his ambition to work for the victory of the incumbent governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed.

Details of the zoning arrangement were contained in a January 9, 2011 press statement signed by Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, then Chief Press Secretary to Saraki. Excerpt from the statement reads: “Ahead of today’s nation-wide primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), The Kwara State chapter of the party has unanimously adopted the principles of zoning and fixed

Saraki

Ajadi

tenure for the next political dispensation in the state to promote a sense of belonging by all.

“Under the unanimous arrangement, the governorship slot would now to be rotated among the three senatorial districts for a fixed term of four years, starting with Kwara South Senatorial District for the next political dispensation.

This decision was arrived at by the party during an emergency meeting of all PDP aspirants in the state and other stakehold-

ers of the party with the state governor, Dr Bukola Saraki in Ilorin.

“Going by the principle of zoning as adopted by the party, all governorship aspirants from the Kwara Central Senatorial District have withdrawn from the primaries with immediate effect and pledged their loyalty to the party as well.

“Among the aspirants that withdrew ahead of the party’s primaries were Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, Alhaji Abdul-Rasaq Atunwa and Alhaji

Folorunsho Ayinla, all from Kwara Central Senatorial District.

“Speaking at the meeting, the state governor and leader of the party, Dr Bukola Saraki said the decision on zoning and tenure was arrived at in order to ensure a good sense of belonging for all and allows the party to remain united. He said ‘I believe that as a party, we must take certain position in order to ensure a sense of belonging and also fairness, equity and everlasting unity among us all.’

“According to him, he noted that to ensure that the party remains united, Kwara Central having produced governor for

CROSSFIRE All of you are witnesses to what happened in Ekiti State election where PDP won. Osun election is coming up; Ekiti feat would be repeated there also. We are taking them one by one -Emmanuel Uduaghan

I don’t believe that what happened in Ekiti would repeat itself in Osun.

The state is unique, that is why we are supremely confident that by the grace of God, our people will make the best choice on August 9, if there is free and fair election -Sola Adeyeye

Effect on Kwara North Although most of those who brokered the deal have since parted ways, the reality of the circumstance that created that agreement has not and may not be easily wished away by any political party in the state. Since the advent of the present democratic dispensation, Kwara Central with the largest population and highest number of votes has ruled for 12 years – the Saraki years and that of his predecessor, late Alhaji Mohammed Lawal.

The South Senatorial District, represented by Abdulfatah Ahmed, would have done four years by 2015. The North is yet to taste the office since 1999 and by 2015 it would have waited 16 years, and if it fails to get it, it would have waited for 20 years.

While it is not yet clear if Saraki will insist on the principle of the agreement for the APC in 2015, the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Alhaji Makanjuola Ajadi has cried out, insisting that the PDP must throw it away. This insistence, it is feared, may become a big issue within the party, particularly CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

14 POLITICS The PDP’s candidate in the August 9 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has continued to traverse the length and breadth of the state, canvassing for votes and intimating the people with the programmes he intends to implement if voted into power.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Osun guber: Issues as Omisore reaches out to voters

A

s the campaign train of the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, moves from one community to the other; the people’s unity of purpose comes to fore together, they want change and in unison, they had a message.

From community to community, from one rural setting to another urban landscape, one thread appeared to join all residents of Osun State, who have so far, received Senator Omisore, the party hierarchy at the national and state levels and a retinue of leaders of the party at the state and local levels expectations.

Like a typical trade experience, the Senator Iyiola Omisore Campaign Organisation as well as the leadership of the party who went into the hinterland and urban settlements of the state had a goal, canvassing for votes to win the forthcoming August 9 governorship election, but to achieve that goal, the campaign train had also continued to demonstrate the willingness to listen to the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate.

In all, the campaign train has berthed in nine local governments, namely: Oriade, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Irepodun, Ede North, Ede South, Ayedire, Ifedayo and Odo Otin local governments. But apart from the local governments already visited, those that are only on the routes to the various destinations, triumphantly halted the campaign train and practically delayed it to pass one message or the other across. Across these local governments, voters had been taken by surprise, as the party’s strategy of house-to-house and ward-to-ward campaign appeared to have caught them unawares.

The characteristic pouring of water on the vehicles in the train or on the ground, which to any other party would signal rejection, had demonstrated the people’s acceptability for Omisore.

While the PDP’s standard-bearer, Omisore, said his desire to know the challenges facing Osun people, with a view to addressing them as soon as he emerges governor, is the reason for moving deep into the hinterlands of the state, touching communities so hidden that development appeared alien, the turnout of the residents showed the readiness of the electorate ahead of the polls.

From Owena, where the campaign train began its journey in Oriade Local Government, to Oyi-Ayegunle and Isinmi-Olootu in Ifedayo and Iperindo and Osu in Atakumosa East and West, Omisore and the PDP had demonstrated that there was no town or village too far that they could not reach, a development which Omisore himself attested to in a media interview. He noted that he had chosen the option of reaching all Osun indigenes and residents no matter how farther away from the state capital they might be, adding that he would employ the same approach as governor, spreading development to all nooks and crannies of the state.

In all the places visited, the Omisore campaign was regaled with a gamut of challenges facing the people, as young and old trooped out to show solidarity with the governorship hopeful and to demand for a positive reversal of for-

Omisore

tune. But how can Omisore remember the plethora of needs being put forward by people across the state on an almost daily basis?

The Director-General of the Iyiola Omisore Campaign Organisation (IOCO), Chief Lere Oyewumi, said they had groups of people collating the needs of each community, noting that that was the reason IOCO did not fix campaigns for weekends, which they use to compile the development needs of each community. Some of the following issues have dominated the campaign so far.

Civil servants, traders’ complaints Described as indispensable to the success of any government, the civil service in Osun State has had different treatments in the hands of successive governments, with some of them saying they were passing through another phase under the incumbent government. While some of them said the irregularity in the payment of salary was worrisome, the government recently said it did not owe workers except June salary, which just ended.

However, the workers have become one of the main campaign subjects of the PDP, with each opportunity used to assure them of better life when and if the PDP takes over the state. At every stop, Omisore was always quick to reach out to workers, urging them to vote out the incumbent government, “which has maltreated them for so long.” According to Omisore, maltreating workers is APC’s stock in trade, as he noted that Chief Bisi Akande, the “role model of this government” did the same when he was in office, even as he said he and the workforce had been together for long.

Chief Oyewumi, while addressing a crowd of supporters at Ijebu-Jesha also stated that if his principal is elected, “Osun State workers will not collect March salary in May and the pensioners who have laboured for the state will collect their money as and when due.”

The other category of residents of the state, which the PDP has continued to appeal to in its campaign are the traders and artisans. According to the party, the incumbent government has destabilised the economy of the state through capital flight and demolition of people’s means

By August, Osun State’s money will be spent by Osun people. Enough is enough of our resources being taken to Lagos of livelihood.

The Osun PDP chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa noted that Igbo traders were leaving the state in droves, because their businesses have been grounded by the government’s harsh policies. But the question is: Are traders and artisans really suffering in Osun State or those complaining merely doing so because they were PDP members?

For instance, at the Oja Alamisi Ikirun and Odo Ori market in Iwo, market women had stopped Omisore and his entourage last week, complaining that they were not making sales and that things are been hard in the state economically.

“By August, Osun State’s money will be spent by Osun people. Enough is enough of our resources being taken to Lagos; businesses are collapsing because Lagosians have taken over in Osun State. Vote for the PDP, we will run a government in which all of you will be stakeholders. Carpenters, bricklayers, fashion designers and all artisans, you will rejoice again because there will be abundance. The people of Osun State will be gainfully employed and engaged in rebuilding our state and our collective aspirations will be fulfilled,” said Omisore, while appealing to artisans and workers, at Ipetu-Ijesha.

New lease of life for students, youths At Ora Igbomina, secondary school students, with worn-out uniforms, had gathered in scores, chanting that they wanted Omisore as the next governor of the state. When asked why they wore their school uniforms to a political rally, one of them boldly said his uniform had become a rag, as it was the only he had been using in the last one year as a result of the same uniform policy of the gov-

ernment. But Omisore had a message for the students. “When we win on August 9, the same uniform policy will be abolished and every school will be able to wear the uniform with which it has been identified before Aregbesola came from Lagos. In fact, the not-well-thoughtout school reclassification, a strategy they devised to milk our dear state, will be cancelled,” Omisore said.

According to him, at every opportunity he had to speak during the campaigns, education would be given absolute attention with a view to restoring the glory of the state. The PDP candidate also had nothing but condemnation for the incumbent government’s Opon Imo, which he said has been a deception to siphon the state’s resources and at best confusion to students. While speaking at Ijebu-Jesha, Omisore said the tablets contained the same syllabus for students in Senior Secondary School One to Three, a development which he noted showed the ill-thought-out policy was injurious to education.

For tertiary institution students, not only has the PDP made it a case to fight for them, it has also pleaded with Aregbesola to settle the issues with lecturers so that the students could return to school.

He had also continually sent words to another category of youths - the unemployed. For Omisore, the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme of the incumbent government, which hands N10,000 to youths monthly and has been erratic in payment was an aberration.

Road infrastructure Another issue that has dogged the Omisore campaign is the poor condition of roads that lead to the state’s rural communities. The PDP candidate had made a point of the deplorable roads leading to rural agrarian communities such as Oke Ila, Ora Igbomina, IpetuIjesha, Ijebu-Jesha and other communities in Atakumosa East and West, which he visited, giving the settlers a message of hope that his government would not abandon them. Omisore, who accused the APC government of only concentrating on a few roads in the urban centres for the sake of propaganda, said the PDP government will work for the people and will deliver on promises of building roads in order to develop the state, saying this was part of his eight cardinal programmes.

Respect for traditional institution Omisore, while speaking at the palaces of the Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesha; Orangun of Oke Ila and the Akesin of Ora Igbomina, Omisore and his team had spoken about their party’s deep regard for the traditional institution, berating the APC for the acute disrespect for royal fathers in the state. According to Omisore, his government would show commitment and respect for traditional leadership, with the assurance that his government will reverse the poor treatment which the Aregbesola government had meted to the royal fathers in the state.

Apart from these issues, which residents of the state continued to bring up at different campaign venues, Omisore said he would remain true to his promise of developing and transforming the state through the eight cardinal programmes of restoring the dignity of education; health, well-being and safety nets; gender equality and youth development; gainful employment and wealth creation; technology and infrastructure; agriculture, food security and rural development; public service administration, monitoring and accountability and good governance, peace and security.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

15

‘Why Aregbesola’ll win guber poll’ unresolved murder of Chief Bola Ige is an indictment on judiciary. Rather, what that reminds us is the need to grow a just society because many of the problems facing us as a country arose from injustice. It is just to sound a note of warning that the public are watching the judiciary. Even the Chief Justice of Nigeria agreed and accepted that there are bad eggs in the judiciary.

I don’t think we should give clean bill of health to all judges, otherwise, the National Judiciary Council (NJC) will have no reason to be monitoring the behaviours of the judges. Recently, some judges were sent away by the NJC. Therefore, such statements is not an indictment; we are just trying to build the system and not presume that those people are innocents so as to let other people know that they are being watched in order to be fear and just. I don’t think talking about the unresolved issue is an indictment on the judiciary but to put judiciary on their toes and understand that they sworn to an oath as the last resort for the common man.

John Adebunmi Ayoade, a professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan and former Deputy Director, Centre for Democratic Studies is the Secretary of Governor Rauf Aregbesola Re-election Campaign Committee. He speaks on the selling points of the governor in the August 9 governorship election and why he will win the poll convincingly. Excerpts: What are the selling points of your candidate in the August 9 governorship election?

His selling point is that Governor Aregbesola is a man of ideas and has put the ideas into practical use in Osun. He has implemented many very important projects that are firsts in the history of Osun State, Firstly, when you look at our cities; there is urban renewal that is going on in the state. New roads are being constructed; they are rehabilitating the existing roads. The governor is systematically building education not only in terms of infrastructure development but also in terms of curriculum and quality of teaching which has brought a lot of improvements. It is also important to look at the programmes put in place in schools, the attention of the children have been shifted to feeding, clothing. These mean a lot to the children, because if the school children especially those in the elementary level are not well fed, it is most likely not to perform as expected and might not be able to learn properly. If the children are hungry, underfed, they are equally prone to health challenges, looking at the totality of the education not just the teachers and students but the learning environment and the multiplier effects on the economy, I think there is a lot going for Aregbesola in the August election.

Despite the picture of Aregbesola’s performance in education that you have just painted, a great number of students still fail the SSCE exams. What may have been responsible for that?

Well, you are judging by end result and when you look at the end result, we are using the education system of 6-3-34 and when you critically look at that, you are judging with the people who started six years ago, our candidate got to the office three and half years ago.

Definitely, the poor background some of the students might have had some years ago are just coming to show now.

For you to be able to access properly, you have to look at the children who are now in JSS 3, those are the ones you can use to judge our performance and that will be in the next three years.

Some of those you are talking about are the people we inherited from the old system and the fact that you have the result as better as it is, was the result of the reform and changes that have taken place in the system otherwise, the result would have been much more woeful than what you are talking about. But I assure that in the next three years, you would have seen the result of the changes Governor Aregbesola has made in the educational sector The grouse of the opposition against

Aregbesola

the Aregbesola administration is that it borrowed heavily and inflates contracts, what is your take on that?

First, let me remind you that the Debt Management Office under the watch of the Presidency has just put an end to that spurious lie that Osun has borrowed beyond its capacity.

Those peddling that rumuor of heavy debt are just not being honest and mischievous. It is not true that the state has been plunged into debt as claimed by the opposition; they are just bandying figures as they like. The fact is that Aregbesola borrowed and has not borrowed beyond the capacity of the state, and we are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the borrowings are justified. There will not be infrastructural development you are witnessing if Aregbesola has not taken that bold step to rescue the state from the previous stagnancy and absence of social amenities, which had before his coming derailed the economy of the state, even the developed nation borrow to develop their country, the question they should be asking is the capacity of the state and what the government is using such fund for. The simple answer is that the government is using it for massive infrastructure development and transformation of the state. Those who are alleging contract inflation could not make distinction in the quality of job Aregbesola is doing, during their own time, they were constructing roads that could not

There will not be infrastructural development...

Aregbesola has not taken that bold step to rescue the state from the previous stagnancy and absence of social amenities

last six months. There is no road that Aregbesola is constructing that will not last for 20 years. These are clear issues they fail to address.

During your campaigns, the governor always encourages voters to arm themselves with traditional weapons on the day of election when they are going to vote. Is that not a violence incitement to cause pandemonium?

I’m not sure that such incitement exit. Is it a crime for a candidate in an election to tell his supporters not to go to election with guns, cutlasses and any dangerous weapon but should go there armed with the potency of their faiths? If you are a Muslim, Christian, or traditional religion worshippers, don’t you leave your house everyday calling on something? That was what he said and only mischievous minds would read other meanings into that.

What the governor is simply saying is that people should be vigilant, as Yoruba people usually say Oju la lakan fi sori, everybody is already aware of this and anybody telling people to protect their vote is not inciting anybody. He is just telling them to be alive to their responsibilities. I believe that it is only a fool that will take an advice that is not favourable to him and in this circumstance; we are talking about adults and reasonable people. Nobody that is able to vote is below 18 years and anybody above 18 should be able to decide on what is good for him. So, there is no argument of incitement. Another area we are not talking about is the fact that there is poverty in the land. With poverty, people are easily called into action and that is what we are campaigning against for people to reject monetary inducement to cause violence. Our governor is peaceful, our party is peaceful and all we are going to continuously ask for is peaceful election and one man one vote.

Your candidate is a beneficiary of judiciary but still attack judiciary on the unresolved murder of Chief Bola Ige, ditto Senator Adeyeye, chairman of your committee, have they lost faith in the judiciary?

I don’t believe that speaking on the

Some parents protested on the school uniform demanding the decentralization of selling of the school uniform against the monopoly of ministry of education?

First, we have established the fact that no genuine parent was among those who protested. They were just hired people from outside Osun who stage-managed a protest for you journalists to take their photos and make it look like Osun people are against what Aregbesola is doing. It is all propaganda. On what you called monopoly, those who criticize the single uniform policy do not even look at the industrialization aspect of it. That factory making uniforms has provided jobs for about 3,000 people. Let me say that when you start a system, you study the system because there is no perfect system and you can improve on the system. At one time or the other, every system will have to be looked at again. If there are problems with the school uniform, the government will look into it. You are aware that before, no one was asked to pay for this school uniforms and when it was the time to pay for it, it was not more than what a committed parent should do for his child who is also enjoying free meal in school and other benefits including now being taught under ultra-modern classrooms. I must correct one impression, I don’t know where they got their own figure, and some people are so mischievous on this school uniform issue that they carry about wrong figures.

Some political parties are allegedly purchasing voter’s cards, photocopying them which are equally raising apprehensions on the unclaimed Permanent Voters Card from INEC, of what implication would the trend have on the general conduct of the election?

Ayoade: Yes, our party has been shouting about the attempt to corrupt the INEC data base by those collecting the Voters Identification Numbers (VINs) of registered voters. There is a form they called Omo Ilu Foundation forms which they have been throwing about to deceive people to collect their voters identification numbers. This is fraud and that shows you that the opposition knows it has no support in Osun and the only thing they have resorted to is fraud, propaganda and cheap blackmail. I think it is the responsibility of all citizens who have registered to go and claim their cards and there should be a political education on this. What is important is for INEC to serve as the faithful keepers of those cards and make sure it does not get into the wrong hands.

16 POLITICS

George

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no stranger to crises. In fact, its chances at previous polls in the state have largely being ruined by internal wrangling. In this report, WALE ELEGBEDE examines the party’s bid to pick up the gauntlet against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and how it intends to select a credible governorship candidate that will be acceptable to all interest ahead of the 2015 election

F

or Lagos PDP, the trauma of playing second fiddle to an opponent whose supposed deficiencies are known is the biggest nightmare the party has been seeking to get over especially as the 2015 elections approach.

With a dismal outing in the 2011 general election, the party pulled its strings together to slug it out with the APC at the local council polls, but its efforts did not translate to being declared chairman of any local government though the party didn’t go down without giving a fight at the tribunal. It however made a loud statement with its performance as it also got a handful of councilors.

Sensing measures of soft-spot for the party from residents after the local government election in 2011, the party swiftly put a team together headed by its state chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle to embark on a massive mobilization and sensitization in the 245 federal recognized wards across the state, thereby using the means to create awareness for the party and possibly get more converts.

Having being held in the web of altercation between the Union and Establishment groups for a spell, the party was at a time torn apart by the machinations and influence of two gladiators, Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe. During the period, the duo gave out peace to the dogs and became combatants on the pages of newspapers.

With the strength of the party depleting by the day and its influence weaning on party members and residents, the leaders opted for a belated reconciliation. Probably to keep Ogunlewe busy and get the party up and running, the

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Obanikoro

Shelle

Lagos PDP: Plugging the gaps ahead of polls Federal Government appointed him the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB). Since then, relative peace pervades the corridor of the party.

Though some still believe that the peace in the party is a graveyard one, adding that it is conflict and wrangling by any other name, others averred that the major gladiators involved in the ‘ego war’ have sheathe their swords especially when it is becoming clear that they are edging out of relevance and the younger folks are already building structures and networks independent of them.

While it will be convenient to argue that the blight on the party overtime is internal crisis, some analysts also make plausible case for absence of empowerment for the members of the party especially those who kept faith with the party under rain and sun.

According to a member of the party who leads a South-South group, the issue had always being what the people who defied all sense of political reasoning to follow the party as against the goodies offered by the ruling party, would fall back on if the roof crashes on the party as was the case after the last election.

“The situation before now was terrible but it is to the delight of party members that they are now adequately empowered through one means or the other. The decision of the president to give some appointments to some party members in the state either in the min-

The party has not made any decision either through consensus or selection. All the aspirants met recently with the state executive and it was agreed that a credible primary would be conducted

istries, agencies, boards and parastatals, have liven up motivation among our people because it is because of uncertainties that made some of our people jump the boat before election.”

Expectedly, the race for who will emerge as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in 2015 has started. Several names are already flying around, some pretenders, others contenders. Determined to keep a level playing ground for all aspirants, the party instituted guidelines for prospective candidates which among other things include a draft of letter of intention to be addressed to the Shelle-led state executive.

As at the last count, seven aspirants have already signified their intention to join the fray for the PDP ticket. Though some of the aspirants have had a turn in previous race for the party’s ticket, the sweeping victory of the party in Ekiti State seems to have jerked up their momentum to vie for the ticket.

Those aiming to get the party’s nod for the governorship ticket include its candidate in the 2011 election, Dr. Ade Dosunmu; a former Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Segun Ogundimu; a university lecturer, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse; a leader of the party in the zone, Engr. Adedeji Doherty.

Others are a candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2011, Dr. Adegbola Dominic; a United States based lawyer and former governorship aspirant of the party in 2011, Owolabi Salis and Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi.

Though the aforementioned aspirants have started testing the waters and are already mobilising to see if they can emerge as the flag bearer of the party, some members of the party believe that they are only making up the numbers, as they cannot be seen to lead the onslaught against the domination of the APC in the state.

A member of the party, who spoke with NewTelegraph at a rally held by the party last week, noted that, “the big masquerade will soon be unveiled.”

For those in the know, the party leadership is only bidding its time before it unveil its plans. Already, with unconfirmed reports saying that Abuja has already chosen its candidate for the state, the fear of the ambition of the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is the beginning of agitation for a credible primary by some aspirants.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Ad-

egbola who is one of the party’s aspirants said: “The party has not made any decision either through consensus or selection. All the aspirants met recently with the state executive and it was agreed that a credible primary would be conducted and whosoever wins would be supported by others. So, the issue of imposition is just a non-issue in Lagos PDP because we have all decided to close ranks and work as one.”

At a meeting of Lagos PDP stakeholders held last Thursday at the instance of the governor elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the neutrality of the party leadership in Abuja was emphasised with a standing order that all the groups and caucuses in the state should fuse into one for the party to have a bite in the state. Obanikoro was also present at the gathering.

A major twist that party members are still wary about is the ambition of Obanikoro. While some party members are of the view that he should be the candidate of the party, others want him to continue to lead the battle front against the APC as Minister.

Obanikoro, who has never hidden his gubernatorial interest after failing in 2007, is expected to be one of the henchmen together for President Goodluck Jonathan if and when he decides to seek re-election in 2015.

However, Obanikoro said during the rally last week that the heightened tempo of the PDP in the South-West is not about him, adding that the victory of the party in the zone is bigger than the ambition of any individual.

Maybe the masquerade about to uncover is the 2007 Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, whose name has become an item of sort in the party, and a plot which some members of the party said will meet with a brick hall.

A party member who chose to remain anonymous noted that the high powered network to use Agbaje in 2015 is real and working assiduously to ensure that he comes out as the blanket, acceptable candidate of the party, especially as a result his goodwill, pleasantness, charisma and intelligence.

Though the pharmacist-turned politician has not openly identified with the party, it remains to be seen whether the influence of his backers, among whom CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Jigawa: Turaki, Lamido test might Muhammad Kabir

I

n Jigawa State, the incumbent governor, Sule Lamido seems to have carved out a niche for himself over time, by trying hard to ensure that the total political structure of the state remains in his hands, and by also making sure that all the main troublesome actors remain loyal. However, the recent event where Ibrahim Saminu Turaki stormed the state with a brand new movement ‘Saminiyya Hallaci’, is already threatening Sule’s political stronghold on the state.

There is no doubt that Governor Lamido has in the last eight years or so, formed a formidable political base in Jigawa, using all sorts of maneuvers to make sure that no name has achieved the same sort of popularity in the political scene of the 21 year old state. He has also tried hard to bring close, actors that matter in the state, thereby making them loyal to him.

It is indeed, necessary to critically look into history and see, how Lamido who was in oblivion politically now turned out to be the main decider as far as Jigawa politics is concerned, and even makes sure that nothing gets done in the state without his firm directives or control.

In 1999, Lamido tried in vain to make it to the exalted seat of the Government House. Although it is true that at that time he was popular among the masses, but he was faced with heavy opposition from of the elites, who were mainly from the old (National Party of Nigeria) NPN block, that included Bashir Dalhatu and his entire political family on the one hand, and the so called Jigawa Political Mafia who were not much known then.

He was thoroughly rejected and nearly expelled from the state political scene. Reprieve however came his way from Abuja when then President Olusegun Obasanjo out of share concern for his godson made him Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position in which he also encountered serious criticisms concerning his qualification for such an office.

During Lamido’s stay as Minister of Foreign Affair and back home with Ibrahim Saminu Turaki as governor of the state, Jigawa was plunged into serious political bickering, backbiting, character assassinations and all sorts of bad political undertakings, which resulted into Sule being further alienated from the political scene in the state.

Everything concerning him was relegated to the background, as even the media, which is supposed to be an unbiased watcher of happenings and persons, rejected anything that seemed to emanate from his camp, but favoured the government with adequate coverage of its events and activities.

Therefore, Lamido was in oblivion and left to wonder around without any place to give him any form of solace in the state, coupled with the fact that he seemed to generate more of his political activities from within Kano than Jigawa. He also got more mention in Kano based media due to the long relationship he had created with them over time, because of his radical mannerism and bold approach to issues no matter what.

He therefore fell back to them, and the Kano journalists did not hesitate to give him what he asked for, and even made sure that they followed him to Jigawa to give all the necessary coverage he required.

Governor Saminu was not happy; he did all he could, including trying to coerce some journalists from Kano to his side, using Engineer Baba Aliyu

Lamido

Santali as a go-between, but to no avail.

Many believe that the ploy to turn around the newshounds failed, mostly because of Lamido’s personality, as a likeably person when one gets close to him. He was outspoken, radical, and at the same time propounding progressive ideologies.

So many cases were created against Lamido including being accused of defaming the names of Governor Saminu Turaki. He was taken to the Sharia Court where one of the Saminu boys almost manhandled him by allegedly organizing a mob action against him, a situation that forced him to flee from the court premises.

Lamido faced a huge and serious fight from Governor Turaki, but as a true of the Mallam Aminu Kano political school, he resisted them all, standing his ground to make sure that his relevance in Jigawa does not diminish because of anybody.

He did all he could to make ensure he remained relevant with active participation in Jigawa politics; challenging Turaki to the end, till a time the governor because of fear of humiliation from Abuja had to surrendered the state to him.

However, it is pertinent to state that Turaki’s tenure as governor also had a lot of good sides, as he was noted for his kindness and generosity, and he was able to make sure that he created opportunities for a good number of his ‘Boys’, as many of his loyalists were referred to.

Ironically, some of such boys in a twist of political events are today Lamido’s boys. These include, the Chief of Staff to Lamido, Aminu Ringim, the State Deputy Governor Ahmad Kulikuli, who was rumoured to have allegedly sent assisted the former governor financially when he was said to have been broke.

It was reported that when asked by Lamido on the authenticity of the reports, Kulikuli was reportedly quoted not to have hesitated in answering in the affirmative. He allegedly said to the governor, “Don’t forget that Saminu was governor of this state and I was his Commissioner of Finance, so and as a friend what do you expect”.

Others that were loyal to former

Turaki

The battle line has been drawn, the fight has began, indications point to the fact that the permutations for 2015 in the state will be an interesting to watch as they unfold Governor Turaki and now in the fold of Lamido’s camp include, the State Commissioner of Works, Engineer Baba Aliyu Santali, who is was said to be not only Turaki’s Commissioner but a closed friend who was ready to do everything for him.

It is a fact that today Lamido has created a political empire for himself in Jigawa. However, watchers of events in the state contend that there are posers that need to be addressed, as his empire is facing serious challenges. As it stands, Turaki, all of a sudden from Abuja, has staged a comeback into the state’s politics, and in the same party with Lamido.

This scenario came as a result of the fact that Lamido is reportedly no longer in the good books of the president after making a number of frantic efforts to truncate the president’s moves to come back in 2015, by earlier joining the camp of the seven aggrieved PDP governors, from which five later defected to the APC. Similarly, he was also quoted to

have made a lot of critical statements against President Jonathan including accusing the president of not being there but allowing one of his female minister to control the Avery tower.

The Federal Government retaliated by arresting two of Lamido’s sons through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and subsequently accusing them of alleged money laundering. All these seemed not enough to intimidate him, even as the presidency now unleashed Turaki on Lamido.

Turaki who left Jigawa because of Lamido’s harassment and moves to nail him over alleged looting of the state’s treasury to the tune of over N30 Billion, and taking him to court to face legal actions, now seems to be somewhat having some reliefs.

He is doing so because of the cover from Abuja, and he is now firmly on ground in Jigawa with his ‘Saminiyya Halaci’, pet project within the same PDP, and the calculation is for him to take over all political structures from Lamido before 2015.

The battle line has been drawn, the fight has began, indications point to the fact that the permutations for 2015 in the state will be an interesting to watch as they unfold, because Turaki is back with the full backing of Abuja, and Lamido who refused to dump the PDP but seems rejected by the powers that be in the party’s national headquarters is on ground with the full complement of his political empire. Which way the pendulum will swing, and who will go down will all be revealed as the race to 2015 heats up, and the people hold their breath to see the outcome of the encounter.

Plugging the gaps ahead of polls CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 6

is said to be a South-West governor, will prevail.

Speaking to New Telegraph on the development , a gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Chief Owolabi Salis, refuted claims that the party has adopt Agbaje or anyone as its candidate, adding that, “it is not true that the party has chose Agbaje or anybody. In as much as he is welcome into the party, it is not only goodwill that wins election. Are you saying that those of us who has remained and kept faith with the party all along don’t have goodwill?”

For those who witnessed the large turnout of party members at the Ojota rally last week, the PDP might have made a resounding statement of reloading to face the APC. But whether the crowd will translate for massive votes for the centre’s ruling party in Lagos State is a different kettle of fish.

For analysts, only time will tell whether the party will sustain the current momentum, by intensifying its grassroots mobilisation as well as ensure that its aggrieved members are brought back into its fold.

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Participants at a five-day workshop in Kaduna for media coverage of elections canvassed for cordial working relation between the media and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

ONYEKACHI EZE reports.

UNDP: Bridging the gap in media coverage of elections

F

or journalists covering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the one week workshop was not only necessary to update their knowledge in election coverage but to also interface with one another. Perhaps, this was the first time they were sitting together since the conduct of the 2011 general election.

Many things appeared to have gone wrong since then. Although, Professor Attahiru Jega has become the first Nigerian likely to conduct two general elections in a row, journalists covering the beat seemed to have been relegated to the background and hardly get invited in INEC activities. This was one of the issues that dominated discussions at the workshop.

Organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), BRIDGE, which stands for Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections, was an expose of some sort. It was more of an interactive session than tutorial. Throughout the five-day period, reporters were not bored by verbosity which is normally witnessed in lecturer-student relationship.

The programme was so designed that the facilitators can as well learn from the participants.

BRIDGE, which was developed by the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (Inter IDEA), the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), according to information, is adaptable to regional and cultural contexts. Its methodology is to allow “very little traditional lecturing in the course”, rather “participants are called on to play an active role in the course, the aim being to draw on their own skills and experiences”.

That may be why group discussions, knowledge/ experience sharing and drama display were employed throughout the period of the workshop. Areas covered during the workshop include sources of information by the media, media and democracy, role of media in election, categories of media coverage, election cycle, media as a watchdog, balanced news coverage, election management bodies (EMBs) and the media, media accreditation, regulation/interference with media, online presence, media and gender, the disadvantage groups, public outreach campaigns, among others.

The hallmark of election reporting by the media is independence from government and foreign interests, freedom from censorship and arbitrary attack or interference, free and equitable access to necessary information by all groups within the society, a pluralism of voices in the media and pluralism of ownership.

The frequently asked questions therefore, are: is me-

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

given the speculation that the Presidency has settled for Mr. Dele Belgore as its candidate for the election.

Belgore, is perhaps the biggest catch of the party in the state given his achievement in the 2011 polls, where he made a statement of his political strength. If the Presidency prevails on others to step down for Belgore, and he does eight years, the North would have waited for 24 years by the time they may be considered for the post. By then the Central would have ruled for 20 years while the North remains in the dark.

The only option to save the PDP from implosion over the choice of candidate will be for whoever is chosen outside of the North district to agree to a term of four years in order not to unduly rob the district. But doing that will come back to working with the Saraki formula which many in the party today would not wish to concede to.

If Saraki and APC decide to allow Ahmed to continue, the PDP may be forced to pick its candidate from the same zone to avoid being seen as antiSouth, which Ajadi appeared to be preaching, and which has been a major factor in the relationship between the Central and South districts over the years.

Stalemate Those close to Ajadi argued that the presidential adviser was only pointing

Jega

dia really free in Nigeria? What sort of problems or restrictions is placed on the media? Are they internal, external or personal? Is censorship an internal or external phenomenon? How does it affect the perceived integrity of the election? How has Nigerian media coped with these challenges?

Isa Modibbo, consultant with Democratic Governance for Development (DGD), one of the organisers of the workshop, described Nigerian media as special specie, which played important role in Nigeria’s independence, adding that democracy is sustained by free and credible press. Drawing from his experience when he served in General Ibrahim Babangida government, Modibbo said Nigerian media participated in election coverage, not only in Nigeria but in other African countries. He noted that there is always excitement in the media when there is election coverage, and said INEC press corps has a role to play in stabilising Nigeria’s electoral process.

Section 4 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) guarantees freedom of the press. But despite this, media in the country still face a lot of interference, ranging from government/ownership interference, threats and intimidation by politicians, interference by powerful individuals, editorial censorship to legislations. The general aphorism has been: press freedom is freedom of the media from interference.

The Nigerian press is said to be the most freest in Africa. But experiences of journalists who covered previous elections show that there are still some challenges. There were reported cases of harassment, in-

timidation and outright assault by political thugs, and in certain cases, security personnel. Yet, in some other instances, news stories were slanted to suit the ‘taste’ of powerful politicians different from the report sent by the reporter on the field.

Free and independent media are essential in providing voters with the information they need to make informed choice. That is why there is need for an effective liaison between the media and the EMB. Through the media the people get to know about the election timetable, the commencement of voter registration exercise, the participating political parties and their candidates as well as the result of the election.

It was agreed that information flow between the two can be effective with the establishment of EMB media liaison office to be manned by a trained journalist.

The media liaison has the responsibility of ensuring that the media has access to information in a planned and timely fashion. This is necessary for transparency and credibility.

Poor information flow from EMB to the media, on the other hand, has adverse consequences. The belief is that “if media give inaccurate electoral information it can invalidate an election, or worse still, bring down a government or cause riots, instability or even civil war”. Participants at the workshop agreed that the EMB and the media have an obligation to manage information flows responsibly, promote peaceful acceptance of results and avoid fanning the flames of violence.

The media should as well, ensure balancing in the reportage of electoral activities. Beyond that, they should be objective, fair, accurate and impartial in their reportage.

Media as a watchdog of the society is for public interest. The media should understand that there is no absolute press freedom anywhere in the world. Press freedom is predicated on certain responsibilities. That is why there is need for discretion for purpose of national interest, adherence to accuracy, objectivity and balance in news report.

The media Code of Conduct is developed to encourage compliance or facilitate oversight of media functions by a regulatory authority. Journalists should observe this especially during election coverage. The problem however, is the social media, which are yet to be regulated. The social media are like double edge sword that can cut both ways. While they are easy channels to reach active electorate, especially the youth, posting of unauthorised information such as election result can lead to social upheavals.

Indeed, participants at the workshop have something to go home with. If the rules are observed, there will be a better understanding between the media and INEC in developing the nation’s electoral process.

Kwara senatorial districts on warpath

Ahmed

out what is fair and just – two principles the current leadership of the party both at the national and state levels have promised to keep. Ajadi himself said recently that allowing a candidate from the South is most logical for the party: “The quest by Kwara South to be governor now is very simple. It is just a commonsensical and logical thing to ask for. The Kwara southerner has been in the saddle for four years. Is it not commonsensical for the Kwara South to do a second term? Nobody knows when it is going to be the turn of Kwara South

again after this one.

“So, the issue is that Kwara South should do its own second term after which it can go elsewhere, rotating from one place to another. In fact, this is happening in Nigeria as a whole and this is why some of us align strongly with the South-South that President Jonathan should contest and win the 2015 election. Why would you say Jonathan should not do a second term? When Alhaji Shehu Shagari was president, did he not contest for a second term and win? When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was there, did he not contest and win? If Umaru Yar’Adua were to be alive, would he not contest for a second term? Why would you say Jonathan should not do second term? Is it because he comes from the South-South?

“So, why would you say Kwara South should not do their own second term?

Kwara South are calling on their children, saying go there and fight for it and bring it back, otherwise you will not come back to Kwara South. And, they are calling on other people in Kwara State to vote for somebody in Kwara South, so that the district could do its second term.”

It is clear that Kwara South will be the greatest loser if the ticket goes back to the Central, as being speculated in

the PDP. It will mean that the zone may not have the chance of producing the governor for the state until 2030, since after the second round of eight years by the Central, the North will definitely make a case for the ticket, and will rule for another eight years making a total of 16 years wait by the South.

But some stakeholders in the Central district have dismissed the argument by Ajadi, saying the principle he enunciated for the state does not capture the electoral interest of the PDP in 2015 and are only meant to profit his personal ambition which may become unrealisable after 2015. According to some of them, the party needs to pitch its tent in the Central district to gain the sentiment of some voters in the emirate who might not be members of the PDP, but would vote for one of their own if given the ticket just as they did for Belgore in 2011.

They also argued that the party needs to pick somebody from the Central district, which has the highest number of voters to confront the suave political machinery being operated by Saraki.

As events continue to unfold ahead of the general election, the Kwara PDP faces a Herculean task maneuvering the political landmine laid for the state by Senator Saraki.

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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

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

TUESday, JuLY 15, 2014

Investing in the Nigerian youth

igeria joined the rest of the world four days ago, to commemorate World Population Day (WPD)aimed at increasing people’s awareness of various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.

Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Eze Duruiheoma, speaking in Abuja in commemoration of the 2014 WPD, revealed that Nigeria’s teenage population has risen to 60 million from 44 million in 2006 and is even expected to rise to 73 million by 2020. According to the 2006 census, young people aged 20-24 stood at 44, 470, 448 (33.1 per cent) of the total population. In 2014, it increased to 60,447,431. By 2020, the number of young people is expected to reach 73,188,057, out of projected population of 221 million.

Duruiheoma added that the Commission is set to launch a platform for interaction with young people. “We are partnering with young people including adolescent girls. Safe, successful and health passage from adolescence into adulthood is the right of every child…” This is a welcome step in the right direction as these forecasts will help the country to plan.

Given this development, the most sensible thing to do is to make them part and parcel of governance. It is also pertinent to add that young

people in the country need more than interaction; they need the right information on issues that concern their reproductive health, as well as youth-friendly centres where they can walk in and interact with peers and health professionals who will attend to their needs without stigmatization.

Government should ponder the number of young people in the country whose lives have been in disarray over unfulfilled dreams, dashed ambitions, unmet needs and desires and make a concerted effort to plan around them with a view to protecting and empowering them. It is equally important to offer them detailed knowledge about sexuality, getting married when they are able to understand their responsibilities and the effects of unwanted pregnancies.

Several events in the country have painfully shown that young people are the endangered specie.

Generally, they are still very far from being integrated into the mainstream of governance in the country as a result of gender-based inequalities, which have thrown up a lot of negative issues that are inimical to their development.

Adolescent pregnancy is one of the destabilizing factors in the life and progress of this segment of the society. A large pool of them especially the females do not realize their full potential, necessitating government’s action to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health education. It is equally important

to understand that adolescent pregnancy does not only add to the rate of mortality, it can result in school drop out, increased incidents of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and jeopardy of ambitions and potentials of girls.

Globally, about 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year and 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions. In Nigeria, young people contribute more than 60 per cent of unsafe abortions annually, according to a study by Campaign against Unwanted Pregnancy (CAUP) in 2006. Complications from pregnancy and child birth are the leading cause of death among girls between age 15- 19 in developing countries.

These complications may cause obstetric fistula, illness, injury and death. These are the major causes of death where abortion is illegal and highly restricted even as Africa reportedly has the highest abortion rate in the world with an estimated 680 deaths per 100,000 abortions.

Millions of girls are coerced into unwanted sex through marriage or rape, increasing the risks of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and STIs, including HIV, as well as death or disability due to childbirth. What readily comes to mind is the plight of over 200 hundred abducted Chibok girls, who may have become sex slaves.

The number of youths without employment is unacceptably high, leading to involvement of some of them in criminal activities.

Also, several youths are co-opted

as thugs by politicians and some of them have lost their lives in the cause of achieving other people’s ambitions, while a large number is participating in prostitution or other menial jobs to make ends meet. This situation is deplorable and must be nipped in the bud with youth-friendly budget and policies.

Several social, cultural and economic factors are responsible for adolescent pregnancy. Some of them are early marriage, poverty, and rape. In simple term, the better educated young people are about their reproductive health, the better prepared they are to make wise choices.

It is, therefore, imperative for federal, state and local governments to help young people make a healthy transition to adulthood, which in development circle is very critical to the country’s development and prosperity of its future population. One of such is continued school attendance as well as delayed sexual initiation, marriage, and childbearing. Since adolescence is the time that young people develop physically, emotionally and intellectually before becoming parents or primary wage earners, it also presents new vulnerabilities to human rights abuses.

As we take stock of the progress of young people, let us resolve to work assiduously and in concert to remove all obstacles to their full participation in nation building and thereby ensure a better future for all.

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 If Segun Osoba had failed…

Banji Ojewale

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hen Sir Alex Ferguson was retiring as the manager of English football giants Manchester United after a remarkably unprecedented term spanning 27 years, he handpicked fellow Scot Mr. David Moyes to succeed him. Moyes was a middling figure, alien to trophywinning ways. His years at Everton were barren, neither capping the season with laurels nor moving the club into Europe’s lucrative Champions League glare.

How the departing coach and the Malcolm Glazer family that owns Man United expected Moyes to succeed the success of the old Scot would remain a debate for a long time to come. For, to consummate a succession, the successor must either sustain the good work of his predecessor or surpass it. We can’t talk of a transition as a fait accompli if upon the handover of a baton, we observe a drop in fortunes in the state of affairs.

We may describe what Ferguson did as a radical shot.

But alas Moyes did not follow up by radicalizing the club, by properly connecting and converting Ferguson’s move into thunderous medal-gathering goals Man United was use to.

He failed and paid the supreme penalty: an embarrassing sack!

Here in Nigeria years ago, it was not so with one professional godfather and his protégé. In the 70s when it was time for Alhaji Babatunde Jose to make changes at Daily Times Nigeria Limited (DTN), where he was the lordly chairman and Editor-in-Chief, he took quite earth-shaking steps that saw him bring in Mr. Segun Osoba his godson as the editor of Daily Times, the company’s influential flagship, bypassing others perceived as deserving of the office.

There were other appointments. But it was the unfortunate chain reaction to Osoba’s that sparked the inferno that eventually consumed Daily Times. Godfather Jose meant

well for godson Osoba and the newspaper group, just as Ferguson did for Moyes and Man United. I don’t think there is any doubt about this.

The ball would always be in the court of the protégé to play, not in the court of the godfather. Moyes let down his benefactor most woefully and gave rise to mischievous remarks questioning Ferguson’s skills in boardroom decisions.

It was not so in the case of Jose and Osoba, although we have an apt analogy in two godfathers influencing the upward positioning of their mentees.

Jose did what he believed was right for the DTN group, with his mind far into the future, even if the changes he put through were thought to be punitive. Given the success he had achieved for DTN, he reasoned this could only be maintained by someone like him. That future could only be guaranteed by Osoba who had proved highly successful through his industry, discipline, professionalism and loyalty in his work as a reporter and editor, following in the footsteps of Jose.

Even when Jose had left Daily Times group and the government of the day wanted to reorganize the media house, they approached Jose. This is what the godfather said about what transpired: “…in advising on the reorganization of the Daily Times, the man my mind went to was Segun Osoba as managing director. And I could justify it. I made him editor of the Daily Times and some people said it was a hazy, hasty decision. He did for a while. Then another publishing organization, though smaller in size, the Herald, appointed him general manager at a stage when they were just developing.

He built up the company. Then the Sketch wanted the man.

He also developed the Sketch and turned it into a profitable company. So, I said time had proved me right. Of the young people I knew, worked with or groomed at the Daily Times, Segun is a man who has proved himself and proved me right.

I recommended him and he was appointed managing direc-

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

tor of the Daily Times. As managing director I think he took after me.”

Jose spoke in radiant terms about Osoba because the latter succeeded as a journalist, manager and governor. So partly, Jose’s record as an acclaimed journalist and administrator stemmed from Osoba’s success. Viewed from the reverse, if Osoba had failed, he would have mired Jose as Moyes did Fergie.

For Osoba to be seen as a remarkable professional he apparently needed to meet the expectations of both his mentor and those he worked for. But what was weightier: satisfying the mentor or your constituency (those you are accountable to)? I think both reflect one and the same pursuit: the mentee can only please his mentor by posting a good performance, this being the trademark of the successful mentor himself.

There is only a change of personalities; there is no displacement of excellence. One good actor leaves the scene, expecting the incoming one to earn the applause of audience through his own outstanding achievements.

This essay is a tribute to senior colleague, elder statesman and ex-governor Segun Osobo as he marks his birthday today. I am compelled to see him as the reappearance of the patriarch Ismail Babatunde Jose.

Classical German philosopher of the 19th century Wilhelm Hegel said that great personalities in history appear twice, as it were. Several years later, Karl Marx, his compatriot of a more radical persuasion, ran a cynic’s post-script.

According to him, Hegel forgot to add that when history so resonates, the first apparition is a tragedy and the second a farce.

Jose wasn’t a tragedy nor Osoba a farce. Happy birthday, Aremo Segun Osoba!

• Ojewale is a media consultant and writer in Ota, Ogun State.

Reversing Africa’s Frontiers of Conflicts (1) Okechukwu Emeh, Jr

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oday, most of Africa is bloodied, divided and destabilised by conflicts of various forms and dimensions. The high hopes that the historic end of the fierce ideological rivalry (or the Cold War) between the United States-led capitalist world and the former Soviet Bloc countries 1989 would bring a semblance of peace, stability and security to this seemingly disconsolate continent have been dashed by ensuing new upheavals.

Consider ethnic nationalism. In an age of globalism, it has been made more glaring by the subsisting separatist/secessionist uprisings in Ethiopia (in Ogaden and Oromoland), Kenya (in North Eastern Frontier District), Senegal (in Casamance), Angola (in Cabinda) and Morocco-occupied Western Sahara. While Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1994 as a result of such struggles, South Sudan broke away from Sudan in 2011. Despite the ethnic, religious and cultural homogeneity of its population, Somalia has been balkanised since 1991 along clan cleavages, leading to the emergence of self-declared independent ministates of Somaliland, South-West Somalia and Puntland.

Adding to the struggles for national selfdetermination in Africa is the resurgence of secessionist rebellion by the Tuaregs in

Mali (in “Azawad”) and Niger (in Agadez).

Also observable is the inchoate ethno-political activism that has found outlet in autonomist and secessionist impulses in Nigeria (as seen in the southern axis), Cameroon (in Anglophone part), Namibia (in Caprivi Strip) and Zambia (in Barotoland).

Apart from the tensional forces of micro nationalism, religious fundamentalism is another source of violent unrest in Africa.

This can be glimpsed from the rise of Al Qaeda-style militant organisations that are hell-bent on overthrowing their secular regimes – as made poignant in the bloody campaigns of bombings and shootings of jihadist groups in places like Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Somalia, Kenya, Mali and Nigeria. A Christian variant of such extremist terror groups on the continent could be found in the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has been waging a brutal guerrilla war since the late 1980s in order to establish in Uganda a government based on Bible’s Ten Commandments.

Ethnic and religious fault lines have also buoyed vicious conflicts in Africa. Turning the spotlight on this are the incessant bitter sectarian violence and bloodshed, marked by reprisals and atrocities, in plural societies like Nigeria, Chad, Cote d’lvoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Kenya, Central African Republic

(CAR), Burundi and Rwanda. Factors informing such identity-driven strife include intolerance, crude hatred, virulent nationalism, fanaticism, reckless and provocative comments of sectional leaders, longstanding communal rivalry, social exclusion, fragility of culturally-defined plural societies, the enduring strength of ethnic and cultural loyalties, overbearing influence of dominant groups in power, group self-assertiveness, physical insecurity of a group and sectional grievances. Other causative factors are impact of socio-economic and power disparities (or regional relative deprivation), grinding poverty, Chronic unemployment, ignorance, irregularity, injustice, corruption, bad governance, ignorance, struggle for territory, reckless competition for scarce resources, divide-and-rule manipulation of members of the elite in their inordinate ambition for political power and foreign interest.

Political struggle is also a major driving force behind conflicts in Africa. This is mainly ignited by elite power struggle, intra and inter-party crises, political exclusion, absence of constructive political engagement, disputed election, coups and dictatorship. In one time or the other, political friction has snowballed into tension, violence or bloodbath in countries like Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Togo and

Nigeria. The grave aspect of such struggles has often cascaded into armed insurgency in places like Liberia, Sierra Leone Cote d’lvoire, Uganda, DRC, CAR, Algeria, Egypt, Chad and Congo-Brazzaville.

Africa’s convulsive conflicts could equally be viewed from the kaleidoscope of class struggle. This is partly symptomatic of widening gap between the rich and the poor, mounting economic austerity, mass poverty and decline of social welfare in different parts of the continent.

Class struggle has manifested in different forms in many African states like robbery, kidnapping, youth militancy, insurgency and terrorism. This is not to gloss over conflicts arising from the plight and rising discontentment of the working people, as seen in the spate of strikes in countries like South Africa and Nigeria in recent years.

Notably, the strike in South Africa by restive gold miners at the Marikana platinum last year was protracted and violent, claiming scores of lives following police intervention. With the founding of ultraleftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) by firebrand Julius Malema, former president of African National Congress (ANC) youth wing, the grave concern about combustible class struggle amid growing poverty among the country’s blacks in the post-Apartheid era is mounting.

ARTS TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014

21

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TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

"The drama is not dead but liveth, and contains the germs of better things." ― William Archer

theatre

For Soyinka at 80, Crown Troupe confronts A Dance of the Forests

Stage performance of A Dance of The Forest at Terra Kulture, Lagos.

Ebere Ameh

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erra Kulture was agog at the weekend as the Crown Troupe of Africa entertained the audience with a spectacular performance of Wole Soyinka’s play A Dance of the Forests in celebration of the author’s 80th birthday. Directed by Segun Adefila, the performance gave the audience their money’s worth.

A Dance of the Forests is regarded as Soyinka’s theatrical debut and one of the most complex and at the same time, most recognized of all his plays.

Filled with observations about religion, tradition, history, honour, freedom, forgiveness, courage, and love, it mixes dialogue with poetry and acting with dancing.

Written to celebrate Nigeria’s independence in October 1960, Soyinka used the allegory of ‘The Gathering of the Tribes’ in the play to represent the new Nigerian polity.

According to Niger Delta Directory,

‘The Tribes’ celebration is, “dented by the fact that (i) the commissioned totem which was supposed to represent the spirit of the gathering turns out to be a sacrilegious epitome of evil and (ii) the representatives of the ‘proud’ ancestral past turn out to be victims of past despotism and violence crying for justice.

Their presence causes a play-within-aplay, depicting past evil, to be enacted.

The work ends in a spate of negative prophetic utterances and a climactic failure to lead a half-child (abiku) to safety. The play, therefore, aimed at countering the (now) unfounded euphoria of the independence days. Why celebrate the birth of an abiku?”

However, Nigerian officials in charge of the independence celebrations, it was gathered, rejected the play. They were angry because it disparaged the glorious African past and warned Nigerians and all Africans to spend their energies trying to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. It was a revolutionary work at the time of its release

and politicians were particularly infuriated because of its prophetic portrayal of post-colonial Nigerian politics as aimless and corrupt, a problem we still face 54 years after the publication of the play.

Soyinka is the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

He was born on the July 13, 1934. Different activities by different groups are ongoing in celebration of this great man of our time who turned 80 last Sunday.

Among such activities are the staging of his play by the Crown Troupe and the staging of a Special Birthday Celebration performance on Sunday July 13, 2014, at the same venue.

The Crown Troupe has so far created new and topical works which have been presented at various events and staged plays by great authors since 2006. Their interpretation and presentation of the play in their signature spectacular manner left the audience satisfied and looking forward to more of their action filled performances.

Madam Testimony thrills fans at The Storm is Over launch Tony Okuyeme

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ast rising gospel music act, Biola Akintomide has launched her sophomore album to the delight of music lovers in Lagos. The promising artiste who delivered an electrifying performance kept her audience on their feet and asking for more.

Indeed, the audience savoured each music rendition at the prestigious M.A.N Event Centre, Ikeja, venue of the album launch. The album titled The Storm is Over is a 4-track composition that was produced

by Richard Efunbote, music producer/arranger extraordinaire. The audience danced and

Madam Testimony thrilling the audience

enjoyed every live performance during the album launch as Biola Akintomide aka Madam Testimony enthralled her fans with her stagecraft.

Madam Testimony, the energetic and consummate Afrosoul singer whose musical repertoire bears a semblance with Tope Alabi, said she believes

that her music is meant to inspire and heal wounded souls. ‘‘As a gospel singer, I believe that beyond the entertainment value one should derive from my music, it should also minister healing and life to people.

My songs cut across every aspects of life; and like the title of the album depicts, there is hope for us, even in the worst situations’’.

The producer, Mr Richard Efunbote in his remarks, disclosed that the album is a combination of modern trends in music that give delight to everyone that have preference for good gospel music. He added that, in few months the songs will be available in major music

store and the online audience will enjoy it on youtube and other platforms to reach audience in Nigeria and beyond.

Audience at the album launch revelled at every live performance which offers hope for restoration for a generation.

One of the popular tracks that got the audience enraptured was “Baba to S’ekun mi derin” , which means ‘The God that turned my sorrow to joy’.

As the occasion wound down, it became very clear to attendees at the album launch that Madam Testimony’s album is a must buy for homes, car owners, shop owners and other places where music can be propagated for positive living.

22 ARTS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Stakeholders urge government to release amended National Cultural Policy Tony Okuyeme

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articipants at a two-day 3rd International Convention on Art and Development (CONADEV 2014) organized by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) have called on the Federal Government to release the amended National Cultural Policy of Nigeria.

The Convention themed The Role of Art in National

Development, and held on the 7th - 8th July 2014 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted stakeholders in the art and culture sector, including scholars, critics, art aficionados, among others. The call was contained in the communique issued at the end of the convention and signed by Dr Victor Ecoma (Secretary), Dr Etiido Inyang ( Member), Dr Best Ochigbo

(Member), and Dr Harri Bazunu (Members).

They noted that whereas the Visual Arts and Craft related sectors have made significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product of the Nigerian Economy, the Society of Nigerian Artists as the pivot of this growth provides the manpower for these attainments. “This year's convention to which more than thirty (30) papers were presented pro-

vided the avenue for deliberations from professionals on key issues upon which the following resolutions were reached: Efforts should be made by government, nongovernmental organisations, artists, designers and other stakeholders to determine the enormous contributions of art in the GDP. These significant contributions are imminent in the activities of art auctions, booming craft trade, fashion

National Theatre

and textiles, art expos, advertising design, among others.

Government should support the self sustaining entrepreneurial engagement of skills acquisition in all sectors of the arts and crafts which provide for self employment, income generation and job satisfaction. Government should fast track the actualisation of the Artists Registration Council, the National Endowment Fund for Arts and the implementation of a certain percentage of contract sum for embellishment of public buildings/ spaces. Government should as a matter of urgency commence the building of a National Gallery of Art Complex in order to fully contribute to national development. Government should release the amended National Cultural Policy of Nigeria. And that government should take proactive steps to secure the artistic heritage of the nation at the National Commission for Museum and Monuments as a tool for promoting tourism.

The convention vehemently opposes the merger of the National Gallery of Art with the National Commission for Museums and as it is not part of global best practices. The National Gallery caters for the contemporary arts while the National Museum takes care of artistic heritage.

Chicago’s Hen House Prowlers dazzle with P Square’s Chop My Money Ebere Ameh

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he Siverbird galleria came alive last Monday when the Chicago’s Hen House Prowlers performed different songs including P Square’s hit track, Chop My Money which featured Akon and May D. What was more astonishing was their smart and fast use of their traditional Bluegrass musical instruments like the banjo, stand up bass, violin and guitar, which they also used to perform Chop My Money. The lunchtime performance by the visiting band saw many leaving their businesses at the galleria to cheer and sing along with the band.

“It was an amazing performance”, some observed, asking if they were Nigerians. What with their flawless pidgin and precise rendition of the lyrics and tunes of the award winning hit single raising the roof and causing the excited spectators that gathered both on the gallery and down to ask for more. A request they’d have gladly obliged had Nigerian Electrical Distribution Companies not welcomed them with a few minutes of power outage.

The Hen House Prowlers, which is an American Bluegrass band has been in Nigeria on the invitation of the US State Department for their yearly Cultural Envoy celebration and would be around for some time.

Talking about their visit, Benny Uche, an official of the US Consulate explained that the State Department has many cultural and arts programmes to encourage mutual understanding, sharing of ideas for a better world.

“Our department of state under the culture office invited them to come and play under the Art part of the Culture Envoy Programme. For the artists, it’s really been worthwhile, they’ve been on that programme and it has given them the opportunity to share this wonderful music with other parts of Africa and

Europe.

“They band would be going to be with one of the schools in the slums of makoko. There are many schools in that waterways and they are hoping to meet as many of the students around to inspire and talk to them. Those schools don’t always have the opportunity of having celebrities and live bands. It will be fun. It will be an opportunity to shake hands with them and interact and even take photographs. It’s a lifetime opportunity and you will be surprised a couple of them may have the talent and benefit from their presence,”

Hen House Prowlers performing at Silverbird Galleria

Uche said.

Noted for their non-stop touring and hard work, they play music inspired by the roots of bluegrass while branching out into a sound uniquely their own. The band also engages in teaching their kind of music to students in various schools.

Nigeria won’t be an exception as they interacted and even taught the Nigerian children they met at the different venues.

“We have been going to schools in Abuja and we are going to one tomorrow morning. Whenever we go to

schools, we talk a lot about the music and about the different instruments and we also play songs and sometimes they like to sing along with us.”

Talking about their kind of music, Jon Goldfine, a founding member of the band said their instruments make them stand out. Our music is very calm like in the rural areas so they chose the name “Pen House, something that is reminiscent of the rural area.

Prowlers is like giving it a little bit of an edge.”

“Our instruments are all acoustic, they are meant to be played without plugging them in. They are meant to bring the natural sound of the instruments. However, in cases where we need to be amplified, we do. We amplify it where necessary.

Our music is kind of country music but different in the sense that our instruments are all acoustic, no drums.

It started in the 1940s in the Eastern part of United States.

And it’s becoming more popular throughout the state and other parts of the world.”

The band was first in Abuja where they thrilled their audience with their spectacular performances and visited schools and orphanages. Their stay in Lagos would also be eventful as they would perform at different places including Terra Kulture, SPAN Jazz Academy in addition to the schools at Makoko.

MOM&PARENTING

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OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI oluwatosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com tosin042001@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014

Before religion destroys your family What is the place of religion in the home? How far does it affect the activities of a family? In fact, what will not happen under the influence of religion? A lot does happen for sure.

Women gullibly fall into religious traps, seeking for children, spouse or material needs. Men too fall prey while seeking for what they believe will give them authority in their homes and a meaning to their human existence. Children are not left out. In fact, they are the worst hit. Being under the control of their parents, they have no much say. They toe the lines marked out by their parents. But to what extent should your children be exposed to religious influences? OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI reports.

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he is supposed to be a proud mother.

Having laboured through life to raise her three children who are now grown up and successful, she would have felt her days of reaping are here. After all, she is mother of a senior manager with Nigerian Flour Mills, Ilorin branch.

That is one of her very successful children.

Two weeks ago, a haggard, lean and very unkempt woman walked into the church in the Ojodu area of Lagos and was heading to the front where the pastor was dishing out the Sunday sermon. On getting to the front, the pastor paused with his micro phone to listen to her. All she could say was “where is my house, where will I sleep?”

Understandably, the pastor cajoled her and beckoned on the ushers to come and lead her to the back of the church. After service, New Telegraph approached one of the pastors, who narrated her story.

He said the woman was a very well to do woman, who single handedly raised her three children to a successful stage of life.

One is a manager with the aforementioned company; the second is a staff of MTN, a telecommunication company and the third born, a lady is a medical doctor in New York.

“That is how far she got her children to,” the pastor said. How on earth will the mother of such ‘successful’ children wander about and left uncared for? It is the handiwork of the church they attend.

Parents and pastor praying for the young man.

The church, according to the pastor, told the three children that their mother is responsible for their predicaments. The lady had series of disappointments from male suitors, while the males had it tough seeking for job and material breakthrough.

They were told in the church that until they stayed away from their mother, they cannot make any headway. True to the church’s vision, the children stayed away and fortune beamed its smiles on them.

The lady got married to a Nigerian-American citizen, who took her to the land of opportunities. There, she finished and became a medical practitioner. The males got jobs with good companies, where they can afford the desired luxury of life. Definitely and automatically, the church is ever right and became their mini god. As the fortune of these children boomed, their mother’s life nose-dived.

First, it was her block of shops that crossed the path of Lagos State government, somewhere in Ikeja. They got demolished. Again, her two-storey building along Agege motor road, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos got demolished because the renewed rail road was passing through there. Somehow, she couldn’t follow up the process of getting the compensation the State government earmarked for victims of demolished

Pastor Egwuonwu

buildings.

While she was facing this phase of life, there was no one, family, children or relatives to lean on. No place to sleep.

The church (Cherubim and Seraphim) she attended refused to let her sleep in the church premises because she was labelled a ‘witch.’ She began squatting where ever space is available and by morning, she looks for where to shower or eat. Again, she took to the streets, begging for survival from passers-by. She gets constantly chased from schools where she does petty trading.

With this type of tragedy, it is expected

PHOTO: www.onlinenigeria

of the woman to lose her sanity, especially with the knowledge that her children she affectionately worked hard to train are doing well somewhere around the world and she is suffering. “What a fate of life? It is indeed torturing,” the pastor said. Well, the church is making frantic effort to reconcile both mother and children, according to the pastor.

This woman is not alone. Caroline Ajayi, a major distributor with Unilever Company, is another good example. For Ajayi,54, it is ‘thus sayeth the Lord.’ It’s as bad as when she wants to drink water; she would enquire from the ‘Lord!’ If she were to be doing this to herself, it probably wouldn’t have posed a danger to those who perceived so.

She destroyed the lives of her four children with her religious policy. Her first daughter had been married and divorced thrice because according to her, God did not ordain it. The second daughter is currently in a psychiatric home, Yaba, Lagos where she is receiving treatment because she did not do the course her mother said God ordered her to do. The third, an English graduate relocated to Ogbomoso, Oyo State, where she is a major dealer in yam powder. She is also married to a truck driver.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Sierra Leone girls trade sex for mobile phones – Report

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eenage girls in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown are selling their bodies to buy mobile phones, putting them at increased risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, says a study by Save the Children, an international based organisation. “Mobile phones represent everything that an adolescent associates with being young, hip and fashionable. They are part and parcel of the idea of what they want to become, and to get them they engage in risky sexual behaviour,” said Krystle Lai, the research author. “Young girls are driven to seek older, richer men who can afford to buy them mobile phones, but the economic power in these relationships is unbalanced and influences the bargaining power of using a condom,” added Lai, noting that Sierra Leone has poor sex education. She said once girls own a phone, especially poorer girls, the maintenance and top up may mean they have to continue selling their bodies.

The research in Freetown appears to reflect a wider global trend. The report said there was growing evidence that the demand for mobile phones was among the key drivers for young girls in lowincome countries to engage in transactional sex. Girls in Freetown also use transactional sex to buy fashionable clothes, good exam results, known locally as “sexually transmitted grades”, and even staple foods, researchers found.

The girls often have different partners to meet different needs. “One girl at school was in love with three boys. One of them did her (school) assignments, one would buy her clothes, and the other one bought her phone and other things like money. One man won’t do,” one girl told researchers.

There are different types of man.

The ‘old pa’ can be over 50 years old, the ‘big man’ is 25 to 50 years old and then there are the young guys – those are the ones the girls actually love, the report said. “Many girls consider going with old men much better as they pay

Teenage girls in Sierra Leone selling sexual activities for mobile phones.

more money and they will only ask for oral sex instead of intercourse, so there is no chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases or becoming pregnant,” Lai told Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Freetown. One girl told researchers: “The ‘old pa’ ask the girls to just touch them but usually no sex.

The ‘big men’ ask for everything, kiss, oral sex and sex.”

Many adolescent girls in the study demonstrated little understanding of HIV or other health risks surrounding concurrent relationships. Lai said worldwide data showed an increase in teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, due to transactional sex between girls and older men. Parents reacted differently to their daughter’s behaviour, the research said.

While fathers came down hard, mothers were often fully aware of their daugh-

ter’s activities and chose to ignore them, or even encourage them. “If there is nothing at home, the mother will ask the girl to go out and ‘find something’. This word is very common in the community.

If your mother says this, you know what she means,” said one girl.

Another described how her friend lost her virginity for an onion. “My friend dropped an onion; she didn’t have the money to replace it so she had to beg from a boy. They boy gave it to her for Le 1000 ($0.23) and then asked for sex.

She lost her virginity to buy an onion,” she said.

Lai said poverty drove mothers to make difficult decisions. “You have to step into the shoes of a mother with four children. You are poor, you may be single, and the only way that you as a mother have seen in the past that you can make some money is by using your

body. “As a mother, you can send one child out to somehow get some money, which will have a benefit for your other three children, or you have all four of your children suffer. These are the decisions that mothers face in Freetown on a daily basis.”

Lai says punishing mothers is not the answer, its sex offenders who should be penalised. “We need income generating activities and to teach better parenting skills to mothers, who may have been brought up by teenager mothers themselves. The cycle of parenting has been broken and it’s up to civil society to try and patch things up again,” Lai said.

“However, sex offences must be punished to the full extent of the law, which says anybody aged under 18 years is a child, and identifies any form of sexual relationship with a child as an offence warranting five to 15 years imprisonment.”

Saving your family from religious insanity C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

The fourth, a biochemical engineer from Ladoke Akintola University, is a road side mechanic along Lagos-Ibadan Express road because a man of God told him that his breakthrough is in America.

Since then, he has been struggling to secure an international passport and visa.

These children according to their father, showed the prospect of doing well up till their university level, until their mother began taking them to different churches in a bid to know what the future holds for them. “I believe that was when my children lives were tampered with and turned upside down.” He added, “I will never go anywhere called Church. I hate anybody called pastor with passion, because they destroyed my happiness and home.”

Another victim is Aunty Shomade as she is fondly called and a micro-finance bank owner. She missed her first choice

of heartthrob because her mother took her to a pastor, who told her that the man would die two months after wedding.

Aunty Shomade would never forgive her parents because the man according to her, 14 years after, is still on earth, living and doing well. She said he is one of the big shots importing rice to the country. “He is married with five children,” she said.

Aunty Shomade would neither go close to her parents nor go to church any more.

She said she tried to continue attending church thereafter but all she understood is fakery and lies told by the church leaders.

At 54, she is yet to be married but is a well accomplished woman.

There are lots of people out there that religion has misled or destroyed. “That is those who chose that type of religion; those who are not truthful to themselves and who instead of patiently following the right procedure of life, seek for the shortest way out,” Comfort Oluwadara, an evan-

gelist with Christ Apostolic Church said.

She said in as much as she is not advising children to neglect or be defiant to their parents; they should embrace the truth which is through Christ. By doing this, they have the guiding light, so that when their parents or so called men of God want to misdirect them, they correct it by the truth they already possess and stand firm in it.

Tunde Obe, a water engineer and pastor said no true religion would ever turn parents and children against themselves. Truly, he said some mothers could be overbearing in nature and children if unwise could become wood-wink to fake visions. He advised that under such circumstances, they should pray on their own and seek God’s face, “my candid opinion is for us children to be wary of these so called men of God and their visions, so that we don’t attract God’s wrath,” he said.

Pastor Timothy Egwuonwu of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, MFM, said no matter the circumstances, children should obey their parents, which is enough to guide and protect them against misdirection. He said it is not ideal for children to neglect their parents even when tagged a witch. He urged that they should do as commanded by the holy book, to regard and take good care of their parents. It is even a curse for them not to take care of their parents, according to Pastor Timothy. He cited the biblical injunction, (Ephesian 6:1-4,) that spoke to parents and children, “children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

BUSINESS

25 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Tuesday, JULY 15, 2014

What's news Litigation fears delay $20m Brass LNG investment The Federal Government has explained why the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the $20 million Brass LNG project is being delayed. It said that making such investment now would make government run into a serious litigation with other shareholders.

}p-26

BAT regains losses in US from Nigerians smokers With the global campaign against cigarette smoking gaining momentum and telling on the fortunes of renowned cigarette producers, British American Tobacco is covering up its losses in places such as the United States and Europe through the increasing number of smokers in Nigeria.

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Senate promises to rescue GENCOs, DISCOs from bankruptcy The Senate, at the weekend, vowed to avert the imminent bankruptcy of generation and distribution companies in Nigeria’s power sector.

}p-27

Nigeria’s oil production hits four months high Nigeria’s oil production has risen to 1.98 million barrels per day this month, the highest since March.

}p-32

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

Curbing aviation security threat }p-37

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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$218m oil revenue: Presidency wades into Senate, NNPC’s row RECOMPENSE The Senate had, last Thursday, asked the NNPC to remit to the federation account the sum of $218.069 million

Adeola Yusuf

T

he Presidency has intervened in the wrangling between the Senate and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the $218 million oil revenues, New Telegraph has learnt.

The Senate had last Thursday asked NNPC to remit to the federation account the sum of $218.069 million, being the share of the federation from third party financing agreement it did not remit.

But the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, hinted that there was no such an amount to be remitted, saying that if he had not spent the money to curb fuel scarcity, the same Senate would have summoned him for not doing the right thing.

A source at the Presidency however told this newspaper that Aso Rock did not want the issue to degenerate.

“This government does not want this issue to degenerate again and order has been given to those in-charge to act on this.

Government is bent on ensuring that the right thing is done, and in the right way,” he said.

“Those in charge of liaising with the Senate are already in touch with the leadership of the upper National Assembly and the reason why the Presidency is taking this serious is to avert undue sensationalism or confrontation, which happened during the time of former Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,” he stressed.

Sanusi had earlier alleged that NNPC failed to remit the $49.8 billion proceeds from oil sale.

During the presentation of

the report by its finance committee, saddled with the responsibility of investigating the veracity of that claim and chaired

by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Upper Legislative Chamber, however, faulted Sanusi’s claim with regard to the “missing funds,” but submitted that the corporation nonetheless had a debt of $218,069 million.

But the Group Managing Director of NNPC kept mute on whether he would remit the amount or not.

He said: “We will collect the report, we will look at it again and we will continue to explain.

It is left for them to judge. I am an accused; I cannot be a judge in my own case. Should I be punished for doing the right things? We will continue to talk to see may be by and large they will have a change of mind,” Yakubu said.

He continued: “If you are going to go into a profit-making venture, you must operate within the business environment

that will make you make that profit. So, if you create a pricing template that does not take into cognisance some of the challenges that are faced, by virtue of the operating environment, that is difficult.

“We have had challenges in Arepo, you know very well that any time that line is breached I cannot use that line, I have vessels and I am made to understand that to avert energy criCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

L-R: Chief Monitoring Officer, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mrs Pauline Ehusani; Regional Sales Manager (South-West), MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr Adekunle Adenuga; Public Relations Manager, DStv, Ms Caroline Oghuma and Branch Manager, MultiChoice Office, Ibadan, Ms Bukky Awofeso, during DStv Customer Forum in Ibadan .

Experts lament rippling effects of Abuja airport closure HOWLING Experts said the losses could even be more they take other factors into consideration Wole Shadare

F

or the second time in one week, airlines into the Federal Capital City, Abuja, could not operate to the Nnamdi

Azikiwe International Airport.

Reason: The aerodrome was shut for second phase of rehabilitation on the lone runway that had developed cracks and potholes.

The economic loss, according to experts, is unquantifiable owing to numerous agencies that had lost money. Airlines, aviation agencies, concessionaires, aviation oil marketers, aviation ground handlers, service providers, among others, are counting their losses.

For three days, Arik Air, the biggest local carrier, which operates 36 flights to and from Abuja daily, could not fly. It lost over 65 flights. It could not sell over 5, 200 seats at approximately 80 per cent load factor or average of 80 passengers per flight.

If Arik carried 80 passengers per flight at the cost of N31,000 per ticket, it would amount to N20 million excluding passengers on business class, which CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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 May 2014..................................8% April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at July 11)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N166.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N288 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223.00 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $38.13bn as at 11/07/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at June 11)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N261.45 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N212.90 Source: CBN

26 business | news SHARE HOLDING The NNPC has said that it was not yet time for the two-train, 10 millionmetric tonne per year project Adeola Yusuf

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he Federal Government has explained why the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the $20 million Brass LNG project is being delayed. It said that making such investment now would make government run into a serious litigation with other shareholders.

The FID for the project had suffered several postponements, as it should have been executed in December 2006 and later in December 2008.

It was also postponed to the first quarter of 2011, with construction expected to start by mid-2011. It was subsequently postponed in 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. But up till now, it is still hanging in the balance.

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who confirmed these developments, added that the FID has to wait until the right legal process has been taken.

“We have to do what we did (putting FID on hold) to avoid litigations and to prevent running into trouble with our partners,” he said while answering questions from newsmen at an event to mark his two-year in office as GMD. “ I am sure it is better to sort out everything before we go into the FID and I think that you will

Litigation fears delay $20m Brass LNG investment agree with me that this has to be done properly,” he stressed adding: “I am your representatives as a Nigerian on the project and I should do the right thing to protect your interest.”

Meanwhile, indications have continued to emerge that the FID for the Brass LNG project is being delayed due to the shareholding vacuum created by the exit of ConocoPhillips and low interests from financiers, among other critical challenges.

“The project’s FID is not likely to be taken any time soon,” a source said while reacting to statement of the NNPC GMD. Aside from this, he said, there is a shareholding lacuna created by the exit of ConocoPhillips, which had yet to be resolved.

“No company had showed interest in taking up the 17 per cent stake left by the firm,” he said.

According to the shareholding structure of the Brass LNG, the NNPC holds 49 per cent; Eni, 17 per cent; ConocoPhillips, 17 per cent; and Total, 17 per cent.

ConocoPhillips had, however, announced the intention to divest its Nigerian assets.

Though it signed a purchase agreement for the Brass LNG in a $1.5 billion asset acquisition deal with Oando Plc, the latter had terminated the deal, leaving the 17 per cent shareholding interest held by ConocoPhillips

Experts decry Abuja airport closure C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

makes accruable revenue to be as high as N21 million per flight.

For three days, the airline’s loss is in the region of over N756 million for 36 flights it failed to operate just for one day.

For three days, the carrier lost about N2.2 billion.

Aero Contractors, the second largest domestic carrier, operates 22 flights to and from Abuja daily, while Medview Airlines operates 12 daily. Their losses too are also in that region amounting to about N4 billion losses from the airline sector alone.

During the period, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), operators of airports in Nigeria, said it had issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) of all the airlines to inform them that they should not operate to the airport within that period.

So, from early Saturday morning, FAAN could not collect landing and parking charges. With an average of charges between $400 on smaller aircraft and $3000 on bigger aircraft, the loss is said to be over N80 million.

For aviation fuel, an oil marketer, who spoke on condition of anonymity told New Telegraph, that at N175 per litre, volume could be up to two million litres that should have been sold to airlines per day if the airport had

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

remained opened.

So for the three days of inactivity, their loss is put at over N1.4billion. Aside that 40kobo is charged per litre in what is generally referred to as fuel sales charge on about four million litres daily sales from all airports or 1.5 trillion litres sales annually.

Also, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the FAAN, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have equally lost enormous amount of revenue on Passenger Service Charge (PSC), which is N1000 paid by each domestic passenger.

For Arik’s 36 daily flights, the carrier pays N664, 000 at Abuja airport alone while other airlines put together pay slightly higher than that from Abuja airport.

On the other hand, international passengers pay $50 each as passenger airport service charge. International airlines that were affected by the airport closure were British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Air France-KLM among others.

With an average of 250 passengers airlifted by each of these foreign airlines, cumulatively, the country failed to collect over $9 million; this is aside the navigational charge that a source in NAMA put at to N5 million.

hanging.

“With the exit of ConocoPhillips from the Brass LNG project, it has been challenging finding who will replace it and take over its shareholding. The shareholding of ConocoPhillips has

been marketed globally and no company has shown interest,” the source said.

He said that every shareholder in the Brass LNG project had a gas supply commitment, adding that Agip and Chevron

were expected to provide about 5.0 trillion cubic feet and 2.3TCF of gas, respectively.

Total is expected to supply about 3.2TCF of gas, while ConocoPhillips is also expected to provide about 2.3TCF.

L-R; Former Head, Media and Communication, Western Operation SPDC, Mr Aoiri Obaigbo, GMD NNPC, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, New Group Public Affairs Division, (GPAD), Mr Ohi Alegbe, Chairman/Lead Consultant WENHUD Associates Limited, Mr Weneso Orogun, Deputy Director, News at the NTA, Mr Walter Nnaji and Deputy Director, Photography at the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Tony Nwosu as NNPC GMD chat with resources persons at NNPC GPAD capacity building workshop for media practitioners held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

BAT regains losses in US from Nigerian smokers Sunday Ojeme

W

ith the global campaign against cigarette smoking gaining momentum and telling on the fortunes of renowned cigarette producers, British American Tobacco, is covering up its losses in places such as the United States and Europe through the increasing number of smokers in Nigeria.

According to a Bloomberg report on Sunday, the US tobacco expenditures were about $86 billion in 2013, down from $111 billion a decade earlier.

The prevalence rate of smoking in the US slid to about 18 per cent last year while it rose in countries such as South Africa, Malaysia, Nigeria, France and Colombia, the data showed.

The proposed merger between North Carolina’s Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and Lorillard Inc. (LO) is already giving BAT some nightmare that is compelling it to focus more on territories where the

campaign is still having little or no effect like the countries listed above.

The merger agreement could be announced as early as yesterday, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg News.

BAT, as the company is known, owns 42 per cent of Reynolds and expects to maintain that stake after the deal closes. Since reports of the possible tie-up first emerged in early March, about $7.8 billion of value has been created for BAT shareholders, even as the company reported disappointing sales growth, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

New Telegraph recalls that in 2008, the Nigerian government launched a £22billion lawsuit against three multinational cigarette manufacturers it accuses of trying to hook young Africans on tobacco to replenish a market that is dwindling in the west.

The first legal case of its kind against big tobacco in

the developing world opened at Abuja's high court. The government sought the multibillion pound damages from BAT, Philip Morris and International Tobacco Ltd over what anti-smoking activists in Nigeria have characterised as a cynical disregard for young African lives through strategies seeking to glamorise cigarettes in ways that are now banned in Europe.

But critics accused the Nigerian government of pursuing cash from firms that just a few years before then were given tax breaks to expand their operations, and of concocting figures for damages that bear no relation to the budget of the country's collapsing health system.

The government's case is built around documents it says demonstrate that tobacco firms identified teenagers as a target market in a country where 18billion cigarettes are sold each year to a value of about £600million, numbers that are rising.

$218m oil revenue: Presidency wades into Senate, NNPC’s row C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

sis in the country I must have strategic storage.”

According to the NNPC helmsman, the corporation does not “have access to my onshore facilities, I don’t have access to my pipeline, so I have offshore storage facility, that

is not reflected in the pricing template and when PPPRA is reconciling with me, they use their template.

“What we are simply saying is that if we have to do this job, this is the real and true situation of things. Senate in their wisdom, looked at it and said, ‘well, if it is not

captured in their template, we don’t care.’ The question is: If I did not do it last year, I don’t think I will be here to talk to you.

“The same Senate will summon me and ask me why there is no fuel. It is left for them to judge, I am the accused and not the judge.

27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Senate promises to rescue GENCOs, DISCOs from bankruptcy CAPACITY The TCN has set a 2017 deadline for it to evacuate 10,000 Mega Watts of electricity from the national grid Adeola Yusuf

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he Senate, at the weekend, vowed to avert the imminent bankruptcy of generation and distribution companies in Nigeria’s power sector.

New Telegraph had earlier reported exclusively that Nigerian and foreign banks have developed apathy to requests for loans by investors in power sector, a development that is still threatening the success of the power privatisation.

The Senate Committee on Privatisation, however, said at the weekend, that it was aware of the threat, which could also lead to total collapse of the nation’s power industry.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gbenga Obadara, who said this, maintained that the present status of power generation is so low that it cannot take the country anywhere.

“Do we think we can grow with the present situation?” he retorted during the committee oversight visit to the National Control Centre (NCC) of the Nigeria Electric Power Grid in

Oil rig

Osogbo, Osun State.

He said that the Senate is not happy with the present state of electricity in the country and would try its best to address it.

Charging stakeholders in the power generation and transmission sub-sector to be contentious and dedicated, Obadara said that the Senate would do all that is necessary to address all the issues involved.

Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, had earlier

hinted that the global lenders were beginning to evade investment in Nigeria’s power sector due to fears that the nation’s electricity tariff order could not guarantee good return on investments for the new owners. He maintained that the situation on ground at the power industry made efforts to make the electricity tariff competitive necessary.

A source at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commis-

How Nigeria loses $2bn yearly to gas flaring, by Bassey NNPC: Flaring reduced to 10% FIRST FOR WORSE The World Bank had insisted that Nigeria is Africa’s biggest in terms of gas flaring Adeola Yusuf

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igeria loses about $2 billion to gas flaring annually, an environmentalist, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, has said.

Gas flaring is an economic crime committed by the oil companies.

But the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said that gas flaring has reduced from 25 per cent to 11 per cent.

The World Bank had listed Nigeria as Africa’s biggest in terms of gas flaring while a report published by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also ranked

Nigeria as the second highest gas-flaring nation in the world.

Bassey, a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, disclosed that the flared gas also has negative impact on the health of people in the area, especially the prevalent of terminal diseases.

“This gas that is being flared in the oil fields equally impacts human health as it causes acid rain, cancer, breathing difficulties, skin and other diseases such as bronchitis, asthma and acid rain.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been setting and shifting deadlines to end gas flaring for years, but despite the expiration of several deadlines, the most recent being December 31, 2013, gas flaring continues in Nigeria.

But Bassey said: “Communities have experienced a drop in agricultural yields when you get nearer to gas flaring fields.

“You have to be as far away, at

least one kilometre to expect to have fair yields from your crop because some of this gas is being flared in communities.”

He said that the committee had made far-reaching recommendations aimed at protecting Nigeria’s environment from danger, explaining that the conference adopted most of the recommendations of the environment committee, which included outlawing gas flaring.

“We cannot continue to kill our people on the altar of cash; we need to have an environment where people will survive,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Andrew Yakubu, said that gas flaring had reduced to 10 per cent. He said this at a conference organised by the Senate Committee on Gas in Abuja.

Yakubu said that some progress had been made in reducing gas flaring in the country, as many international oil companies are fast approaching full flare-out.

sion (NERC), said at the weekend, that the opposition to new tariff was not unexpected, said that the review became necessary to sustain the investments in the sector by the new owners.

Global and local lenders, he said, “want new electricity tariff order implemented to sustain the on-going level of investments by new owners through their various lenders.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Transmission Com-

pany of Nigeria (TCN), Sahid Mohammed, said that the company was capable of evacuating 7,000 Mega Watts of electricity.

By 2017, according to him, the company would have been able to evacuate 10,000 Mega Watts of electricity.

Mohammed, however, identified poor funding, gas pipeline vandalism and grid generation inadequacy, among others, as part of the challenges facing power supply.

Cameroon raises salaries after cutting fuel subsidies ameroon has raised the Cment base salary for governworkers and the mili-

tary, entering negotiations with transport workers in an effort to stop potential social unrest, according to Reuters.

Subsidies on petrol, diesel and cooking gas were reportedly cancelled last week in an attempt to cut costs – pushing up the price of petrol by 14 per cent, diesel by 15 per cent and gas by eight per cent.

“The monthly base salary of civilian and military personnel is, from the date of the signature of this decree, raised by five per cent,” read the decision signed by President Paul Biya.

Transport workers had threatened to go on strike from yesterday (Monday) to protest the decision to cut the subsidies, raising the spectre of unrest as the country tries to please international donors.

However, union officials said that they agreed to a government request for a onemonth delay of the planned

strike to allow time to negotiate a settlement.

“Since the government began with the increase in civil servant salaries, we are confident that our complaints will also be taken into account,” said Jean Vidal Nji, president of one of the transport unions.

The unions, representing drivers of buses, taxis and trucks, argue that the increased fuel prices will lead to higher operating costs and cut into their earnings.

Cameroon has long produced both oil and cocoa, but analysts say a lack of reform and political stagnation under President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, have stymied economic growth and development.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has projected Cameroon’s economy to grow by 4.8 per cent this year and 5.1 per cent in 2015, has, for years, called for subsidies, which cost around $600 million a year, to be cut.

28 business | ENERGY RESOURCES Nigeria has what it takes to host the centre Adeola Yusuf

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he United Nations has nominated Nigeria to lead Africa in fight against marine pollution in the continent.

Executive Secretary of the Abidjan Convention, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Mr About Bamba, disclosed this in Abuja.

He added that the Federal Government has been officially notified of the nomination for Nigeria to be the headquarters of the Regional Coordination Centre to combat marine pollution emergency in West, Central and Southern Africa.

Bamba said during his courtesy visit to the Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia I. Mallam, in Abuja, that the UNEP would soon meet with the Federal Government to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it will sign with the Abidjan Convention for the establishment of the centre, estimating that it will be operational in the next six months.

A statement by Deputy Director/Head, Public Affairs of the Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Henshaw Ogubike, quoted the Executive Secretary to have said that this decision was taken after some long and difficult deliberations at the 11th meeting of the conference of the parties to the Abidjan Convention in South Africa this year.

Bamba said that the decision to establish the centre in the country under its laws and regulations to undertake regional activities in accordance with the functions and terms of reference of the body was based on 12 criteria, including party to the Abidjan Convention, political stability, qualified and capable staff and established similar national centre.

He added that with a coastline of 853km, 9,000km of navigable inland waters, being the

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Nigeria to lead Africa's war against marine pollution Country gets December target sixth largest oil producer in the world and with about 50 years of experience in marine pollution management, Nigeria has what it takes to host the centre.

The Executive Secretary listed the objectives of the proposed centre to include promotion of cooperation in the region in the field of preparedness and response to pollution incidents, assisting the countries of the region, which so request, in the development of their own national capabilities for response to pollution incidents and facilitating in-

formation exchange, technical cooperation and training.

He named the functions of the centre, amongst others, as to collect and disseminate relevant information, initiate, design and assist in the running of national and regional training courses and exercises; assisting the countries in ensuring the sustainability and revision of their national plans and of the sub-regional plan; coordinating international assistance in case of emergency and providing secretariat for the regional agreement and the regional

Gas flaring

Power producer seeks S’Africa prices reflecting costs

E

skom Holdings SOC Ltd., the South African utility that won half the powerprice increase it sought for the five years through 2018, wants tariffs to mirror costs, so that it can stem a revenue gap and prevent higher debt-servicing expenses.

Without cost-reflective prices “we are compromised,” Finance Director, Tsholofelo Molefe, said after a Johannesburg presentation at the weekend. “We rely on borrowings currently and we enjoy government support through guarantees, but we need to make sure that we don’t stretch our balance sheet beyond that which we can manage.”

The utility is cutting expenses to plug the 225 billion-rand ($21 billion) cashflow shortfall through 2018 caused after the energy regulator refused in March 2013 its request for 16 per cent annual tariff increases.

Standard & Poor’s last month downgraded South Africa’s

contingency plan, including the organising of regular meeting.

Bamba stressed that the administrative and financial implications of establishing the centre will require Nigeria providing adequate office space, staffing, material and equipment, as well as covering the initial and recurring operational costs needed for its work.

In her welcome address, the Minister of Environment noted that it was good news for Nigeria to be nominated as the proposed headquarters of the Regional Coordination Centre

to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Southern Africa, adding that the position was hotly contested and the country won the bid, which, according to her, will increase its international profile.

The minister sakd that Nigeria was equal to the task of hosting the regional centre, counting on the support of both the Federal Government and the NOSDRA. She assured the Executive Secretary of Abidjan Convention that she will brief Mr President on his visit so that he will support the nomination of the country to host the proposed centre.

rating and placed Eskom on negative CreditWatch, meaning it has a 50 per cent chance of being lowered again within 90 days to below investment grade.

A downgrade would raise debt-servicing costs by 30 per cent to 40 per cent, Molefe said.

The company is the country’s biggest corporate borrower, with 254.8 billion rand of debt securities and borrowing outstanding at March 31, it said.

The revenue shortfall “can’t be solved through cost savings and efficiencies alone, cost-reflective tariffs remain a key imperative,” Acting Chief Executive Officer Collin Matjila said.

To close the gaps, Eskom is considering a variety of funding options, including the issuing of international bonds, Treasurer Caroline Henry said.

The company “is just getting ourselves fit for it as we’re not going to do something about it now, but we’re definitely going to do something about it this financial year,” she said.

Tariffs may increase by more than the allowed average of 8 per cent starting April 1, 2015, should South Africa’s energy regulator find that Eskom’s actual costs in the three years through March 2013 exceeded projections. Nersa, the regulator, will announce its decision at the end of this month.

Eskom’s primary energy costs, mostly coal, rose at rates of 23 per cent to 31 per cent in each of the three years to 2013. They were 60.7 billion rand in 2013, exceeding the regulator’s projections by 34 percent. The utility uses coal to generate about 85 percent of its electricity.

Eskom’s profit rose 37 per cent to 7.1 billion rand ($662 million) in the year ended March 31, it said. The utility reported a 2.1 billion-rand gain on derivatives related to negotiated pricing agreements and changes in the rand-dollar exchange rate, with the local currency weakening 12 percent in the reporting period.

East Libya rebels commit to keeping largest oil-port open ibya’s eastern rebels say Lagreement they are committed to an to re-open the

North African nation’s largest oil port, Es Sider, dissociating themselves from a protest that shut a smaller crude export terminal.

“This incident, in the port of Brega, according to Bloomberg news, has no impact on the agreement with the government to open Es Sider and Ras Lanuf,” said Ali al-Hasy, a spokesman for the self-declared Executive Office for the Barqa region. “We stand by the agreement with the government. Es Sider and Ras Lanuf will stay open.”

Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, Libya’s third-largest oil port, have a combined daily loading capacity of 560,000 barrels.

Brega, which was reported to have been shut by guards seeking better pay, can export

60,000 barrels a day, according to the Oil Ministry.

The Executive Office for Barqa seeks self-rule for the eastern region also known as Cyrenaica. It took control of four oil ports about a year ago, handing back two of them to the government in April and the remaining two this month.

Although located in eastern Libya, Brega was not among the four ports that fell under the rebel group’s control, and it continued to supply a refinery controlled by the government in the nation’s western region.

The July 3 agreement under, which Barqa rebels agreed to surrender Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, helped push Brent crude prices lower. The benchmark grade for more than half of the world’s oil closed at $106.66 a barrel on July 11, its lowest in three months.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 29

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

2014 Half Year Review

Energy: Dashed hope, failed expectations ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf x-rays the energy sector in the second quarter of 2014 in this report.

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he energy sector retained its status as the cash cow for the Nigeria’s economy in the second quarter of 2014. From the major increase in crude oil production to stability in supply of premium motor spirit (PMS) and other refined products, the oil and gas sub-sector of the industry share similar achievement with the power sector which witnessed concerted efforts by new investors to stabilise power generation and distribution through investments.

But these achievements were dotted by myriads of challenges ranging from the dearth of investments in the oil and gas sector to the incessant drop in the power generation due to gas insufficiency.

The Good The oil and gas sector has witnessed a long list of achievements starting from a daily production of 2.4 million barrels per day, which had been restored to the crude oil output available for export in the country. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) acknowledged this feat in a statement.

“The restoration of the 2.4 million barrels to the daily production output was made possible by the re-opening of the three major trunk lines, which were shut down due to the activities of pipeline vandals.

“The affected trunk lines are the Trans Niger Pipeline, the Nembe Creek Pipeline and the Tebidaba-Brass Pipeline,’’ the NNPC said.

It said that efforts by the Federal Government resulted in the restoration of the three lines. “One of such is the setting up of a Security Strategy Committee headed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State,’’ the statement said.

It added that the restoration of the pipelines would enhance increased production and shore up the revenue accruing to the country.

The statement commended what it described as the renewed proactive measures by the Federal Government to curb pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the country. It said that efforts by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, had also started yielding positive results in the fight against vandals.

The statement recalled that pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft had resulted in the shutdown of three major trunk lines, accounting for the shut-in of 400,000 barrels per day. It said that the rise in crude oil production in the country to 2.4 million barrels per day was as a result of the recent intervention by the Federal Government.

“The NNPC implore Nigerians to appreciate the negative impact of crude oil theft on efforts to meet production target. Therefore, well-meaning people in the country need to support the government towards ending the scourge of pipeline vandalism.’’

It assured that the recent approval of N15 billion by the National Economic Council (NEC) would go a long way in curbing the menace.

The fund had been approved for an adequate policing of oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

Mrs Alison-Madueke

The statement said that the major achievements of the Petroleum Resources Minister in recent times included the sustained petroleum products’ supply and distribution across the country.

The bad A review of the energy sector in the last six month showed that the Federal Government’s 7,000 megawatt power generation projections by the end of this year would remain a mirage unless there is a boost in gas supply to raise generation beyond the current average of 3,500 megawatt, a level, which it attained since 2007.

Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, had said that the solution to the cyclical problems at the hydro stations was to increase gas supply to the gas-fired power stations to compensate for the expected fall in generation from the hydro stations.

“The answer to the cyclical hydro problem is to increase gas supply so that we can compensate the expected fall in hydro power generation to the national grid by enhanced supply from gas turbines,” he said.

But instead of gas supply to increase and boost generation at the gas-fired power stations so as to compensate for the drop in generation at the hydro stations, the supply of gas to the generating stations during the period under review was grossly inadequate due to vandalism of pipelines.

Shell’s Afam power plant and the Rivers Independent Power Project plant are currently down, making the peak electricity generation in the

Experts have, after assessing the growth prospects of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, raised the alarm over the declining investment in exploration and production since 2009, when PIB became controversial

Professor Chinedu Nebo

country to stay at 3,700 megawatts.

The power plants are undergoing maintenance, Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Power Systems, Mr Jonathan Ogbonna, said in an interview.

He, however, confirmed that the Utorogu and Ughelli East gas plants, hitherto shut down about four weeks ago, were now functional, hence the slight improvement in power generation lately.

The shutdown of the gas plants had drastically affected power generation as supply fell from over 4,000 megawatt to as low as 2,900 megawatt.

Pipeline vandalism Pipeline vandalism disrupted power supply in the last six months, with the NNPC claiming that about N800 million had been spent on the repair of the pipelines.

Over 30 per cent or 480 million standard cubic feet per day (MMsf/d) of the installed gas supply capacity was out during the period due mainly to vandalism.

The lost gas was equivalent to the gas requirement to generate about 1,600 megawatts of electricity.

The pipelines involved were the Escravos-Warri stretch of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline (ELPS), which accounted for (190 mmcf/d) and the Trans-Forcados crude pipeline (230 mmcf/d).

An explosion was said to have rocked the ELPS and NNPC’s investigation revealed that a dynamite was used on four ruptured points on June 25, 2013.

Engineers from the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary of NNPC, carried out repair works, but as repairs progressed, more points of rupture emerged.

Though the lines have been repaired, electricity generation, which hit an alltime high of over 4,700 megawatt in 2012, averaged between 3,500 and 2,500 megawatts at the first quarter of 2014.

Stalled PIB The hope that the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would be passed in the first half of 2014 was dashed and except a miracle happens, the out-going National Assembly may not pass the PIB. The legislators, with less than one year to the expiration of their tenure, are now neck-deep into their re-elec-

tion bids, culminating in more political activities. A source at the Federal Legislative Chambers told this newspaper that curtains had finally been drawn on the bill, even though it had gone through advanced stages at the National Assembly.

“The PIB has reached an advanced stage at the National Assembly, but the tempo on deliberation on the bill has been doused seriously. Except a miracle happens at this time, it will not see the light of the day until after the 2015 elections. “The legislators are politicians and what pre-occupy their minds now is their re-election bids and the security situation in the country,” he said.

The imminent delay in passage means that the loss to the bill will exceed $125 billion by 2016 when serious deliberations are likely to be re-opened on the bill. Federal Government’s loss to the non-passage of the PIB from February 2009 to February 2014, had already hit $125 billion, occasioned by the inability of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, to attain her annual crude production capacity of about 3.6 million barrels per day due to investment draught in her oil and gas industry since five years ago.

Experts have, after assessing the growth prospects of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, raised the alarm over the declining investment in exploration and production since 2009, when PIB became controversial.

Immediate past president, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), George Osahon, said that Nigeria’s target of 40 billion barrels oil reserves would remain ‘a tall dream’ if the foot-dragging on the PIB passage continues.”

He said: “That we are yet to have the bill has implications on exploration activities in the country and, like I said earlier, it is in the interest of all of us that the bill is passed,” he told newsmen in a recent interview.

At the Chatham House forum on the controversial PIB, experts from the private sector, operators in the oil and gas industry, management and financial consultants also warned that government’s business was facing a turbulence, which may wreak havoc on the economy of the country that depends largely on oil proceeds to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

30

BUSINESS | ENERGY

EXPERTISE The Army has deployed ‘Swamp Buggy’ machines in a renewed fight against oil thieves Adeola Yusuf

C

rude oil theft in the Niger Delta continued to worsen with a revelation by the Joint Task Force (JTF) at the weekend that it had destroyed 110 illegal refineries in seven months operation in Rivers State.

The Commanding Officer of 29 Battalion of the 2 Brigade of the Army, Lt-Col. Olusegun Oladuntoye, said this in Port Harcourt.

In a statement, he said that the Army recorded the success with the use of ‘Swamp Buggy’ machines deployed.

He vowed that the operation would continue until all the illegal refineries in the area were completely destroyed.

The commander maintained that despite the new approach, the task force would carry out constant air and ground surveillance of the creeks to ensure that new illegal refineries did not spring up.

“The illegal refineries were destroyed in Soku, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area,” he said.

The ‘Swamp Buggy’ machines are used to completely crush metal storage tanks, reducing the capability for oil thieves to revive the refineries.

He disclosed: “We have destroyed over 40 illegal refineries in Alakiri, Dutch Island and Victoria Island (in Rivers), and in Soku oil field areas.

“We have also destroyed over 70 illegal refineries. In early 2014, there was a review of (JTF) strategy, which has to

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

JTF declares war on illegal refiners, destroys 110 refineries do with the use of swamp buggy (machine) for the destruction of illegal refineries.

“So far, the use of swamp buggy is very effective, in the sense that previously when we destroy and set ablaze illegal refineries; the metal cooking pots (storage tanks) still remained because the metal cannot be

burnt.

“The challenges that we have had are that within three days (of destroying the refineries), the criminals put in (repair) one or two places that had been burnt and start their illegal operation all over again.

“The strategy had been

very effective because most of the illegal refineries that had been destroyed had not been re-activated,” he said in the statement.

No arrest was made at the refineries, according to Oladunjoye, “because oil thieves with the help of civilian informants, usually fled the

refineries on speed boats on sighting JTF troops.”

He added that the JTF leadership endorsement of the strategy was in line with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah’s mission to optimise the army capacity to reduce national and global security threat.”

Illegal oil refinery

2014: Nigeria, others’ oil demand slashed to 92.7m barrels GROWTH CUT IMF has said that the 3.6 per cent global growth forecast for 2014 may have to be trimmed Adeola Yusuf

With Agency Reports

T

he International Energy Agency (IEA) has cut its forecast for 2014 oil demand for Nigeria and other oil producing nations, to 92.7 million barrels a day due to weaker than expected global economic growth.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

The revised forecast shows a drop of 130,000 barrels a day from the IEA’s prediction a month ago.

It said that the cut reflects the “growing realisation that macroeconomic conditions, although still likely to strengthen

in the second half of the year, will probably now do so at a less dramatic pace than previously forecast.”

IMF Chief, Christine Lagarde, hinted that the 3.6 per cent global growth forecast for 2014 may be trimmed.

Her warning that the strength of the global economic recovery could be “less robust than expected” appeared to be borne out of a series of economic data released recently.

Europe’s biggest economies this week reported slumping industrial production – a key indicator of‎economic health.

And the US said last month its economy shrank a steep 2.9 per cent in the first quarter, its worst contraction in five years.

On the supply side, members of the OPEC cartel pumped out 40,000 barrels a day less in June to 30.03 million on a daily basis, with decline in Iraqi output partly offset by

small increases from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria and Angola.

The IEA said that the siege by jihadists in Iraq had led to output falling by 260,000 barrels a day in June to 3.17 million, after the fighting forced the closure of the country’s biggest refinery at Baiji and slashed production from the giant Kirkuk field.

But the prized oil fields are so far insulated from the

fighting. The IEA said however, that there are still risks that the militants could target the infrastructure.

“Should ISIS militants strike the southern oil network – now churning out nearly all of Iraq’s supply to world markets and generating most of Baghdad’s revenue – Asia, which takes roughly 60 per cent of Basra Light shipments, would be most vulnerable,” it said.

Tullow books $415m exploration write-off il and gas producer, Tullow Opre-tax Oil, reported a $415 million write-off in net explo-

ration in the first half of 2014.

This move followed disappointing results in Mauritania, Ethiopia and Norway.

Tullow also said production at its flagship Jubilee oil field in Ghana was expected to remain at 100,000 barrels of oil per day, while its TEN project in Ghana was on track for first oil deliveries in mid-2016.

The energy company is now counting on new drilling

projects planned in Kenya and Ethiopia for this year and next to improve its exploration performance.

Despite poor drilling results in some areas, the Africa-focused explorer maintained its full-year production guidance of 79,000-85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Dry holes drilled in Mauritania, Ethiopia and Norway over the past six months and various licence cancellations forced Tullow to report the write-off in the first half of the

year, amounting to $305 million after tax.

It also expects a loss on disposals of $115 million over the same period.

“With potential basin-opening wells across the portfolio coming up in the second half of the year and strong revenue and cash flow, Tullow is in a strong position for the remainder of this year and into 2015,” said Chief Executive Aidan Heavey.

The company said gross firsthalf profit came to $650 million and revenue reached $1.3 bil-

lion, in line with the firm's expectations for the year.

Heavy also said Tullow’s asset disposal programme was making steady progress, with further deals expected to divest its remaining UK and Dutch North Sea portfolio.

Tullow sold some of its assets in the area to Faroe Petroleum in April for $75.6 million after struggling to attract buyers over the previous 18 months.

Shares in Tullow were up 0.4 per cent at 859.35 pence in early trade in London.

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

NO ROYALTY NEITI has said that mineral resources like gold and barites are mined without royalty paid to government Adeola Yusuf

G

overnment has earned N26.9 billion from mining of solid minerals across the country in 2011, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) has said.

NEITI said this in its latest report, maintaining that out of these earnings, N26.8 billion represents funds paid by companies in the sector.

The report also showed that Nigeria exported a total of 7,115,088.50 metric tonnes of solid minerals valued at N11.9 billion during the period but that a review of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) records on exported minerals, showed that there were discrepancies in the value of exported minerals as well as the associated companies.

The new audit report of operations in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector also noted that for year 2011, gold and barites are mined across the country and exported without records of royalty payments to the Federal Government.

It also indicted various agen-

FG makes N26.9bn revenue from gold, barites mining, says NEITI cies of government involved in the management of activities within the country’s solid minerals sector of poor synergy in their related responsibilities.

The aggregated revenues received by government in 2011 were, according to the report, significantly higher than what it got in previous years.

Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, recently presented a summary of the audit report to the public in Abuja.

While speaking on the outcome of the audit, which covered a total of 87 companies on the materiality level of N1 million and above as defined by NEITI, Ahmed said: “The report contains dependable information and data, outlined salient observations and insightful findings. It also made far-reaching recommendation.

“It observed that there is poor synergy between the various government agencies such as the ministry of mines and steel development, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mining and Cadastral Office on tracking records and revenue on exported solid minerals.

Pollution permits to gain 28% as EU cuts supply glut

E

uropean pollution permit prices are poised to rise as lawmakers work on a proposal to permanently cut a record supply in their system.

Carbon allowances will climb 28 per cent to 7.50 euros ($10.21) a metric ton by December after jumping 18 per cent in the first six months of the year, according to the median of 11 estimates compiled

by Bloomberg. UBS AG in Zurich said prices will rise 71 per cent, while Paris-based Societe Generale SA expects gains of about 11 per cent. They slumped to as low as 2.46 euros in 2013.

Rule-makers are debating whether to remove about 60 per cent of the 2.1 billion tons of spare permits in the $54 billion market and put them in a reserve. A key challenge is agreeing on the levels of supply at which allowances would be withdrawn from the market and then returned for use by power stations, factories and airlines as the economy expands.

“They’ve shot an arrow in the right direction,” Henry Derwent, chief executive officer at Climate Strategies in London, who also worked as an adviser to former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said by phone on July 9. “There needs to be more modeling and simulation to make sure it’s headed for a bull’s-eye.”

Each allowance gives the owner the right to emit a ton of carbon dioxide. The surplus adds up to more than a year’s

31

worth of European pollution, according to European Union data.

All of the traders and analysts responding in this month’s survey said carbon prices would rise through December because of efforts to trim the surplus. EU carbon allowances for December rose 0.9 per cent to 5.75 euros a ton on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London on Sunday.

The EU’s emissions trading system allocates for free or by auction allowances to more than 13,000 factories and utilities which must surrender enough permits to match their discharges of carbon dioxide or pay fines.

The credits slumped to a record low last year after too many were handed out in response to requests by industry groups and as the financial crisis slowed manufacturing.

Under the European Commission’s reserve plan, the supply sold at auction would be cut by 12 per cent annually until the accumulated surplus falls below 833 million tons, according to the draft law. If the excess supply drops below 400 million tons, the EU will return 100 million tons of allowances to the market each year.

It’s those trigger points that the commission needs to spend more time modeling, said Derwent. Take too many allowances out, prices may rise too far and hurt the economy. Take too few out; the market fails to discourage coal burning.

“It noted that despite the fact that gold and barites were mined across the nation, there were no records of any royalty or similar payments,” Ahmed added.

On the key recommendations contained in the audit report, Ahmed said there was a need to check the incessant smuggling of solid minerals out of

the country through deliberate creation of boarder market at strategic boarder points across the country.

She said: “Minerals analysis laboratories that meet ISO certification standards should be established in each of the six geo-political zones of the country for the purpose of analysing minerals extracted or

discovered.

“It recommended that the existing laboratories such as the National Metallurgical Development Centre Jos, National Iron Ore Mining Company Itakpe and the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency Kaduna should be upgraded and equipped to conform to international standards.”

L-R: Commandant, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Headquarters, Abuja, Mr J.I. Iyogho; Chief Finance Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), Mr Aigbe Olotu; Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna and Area Controller, IKEDC, Mr Dare Oyedotun, during a courtesy visit to IKEDC by NSCDC recently.

Africa’s natural resources to attract $1.25tr investments

have estimated that Iednvestors $1.25 trillion would be investover the 2001 to 2030 period

in African energy.

The continent is home to some of the world’s fastestgrowing economies with many of them buoyed by new oil and gas finds.

There are currently 500 oil companies exploring for natural resources in the continent, considering Africa’s proven oil reserves have grown by nearly 120 per cent in the past 30 years, from 57 billion barrels in 1980 to 124 billion barrels in 2012, according to US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The organisation also estimated that at least another 100 billion barrels are offshore Africa, only waiting to be discovered.

In March, Repsol announced its plans to spend $95 million drilling its first well offshore Namibia, proving that exploration in the South Atlantic Coast will ramp up in speed from exploration and production companies.

The company is willing to take this risk considering that last year, 11 out of the top 20 oil and gas discoveries made in the world occurred in Africa, according to the company’s January 29 pre-

sentation.

Cairn Energy plc commenced drilling operations last month on the Fan-1 well offshore Senegal, making it the first deep water well drilled off the coast and only the second and third deep water wells along the central Atlantic margin of West Africa.

“It’s a tremendous risk they are taking and one that raises hope for us,” Petroleum Commissioner Immanuel Mulunga told Bloomberg, referring to Repsol’s activity offshore Namibia. “It’s a risk worth undertaking as we believe this block has oil.”

PIB halts construction of new refineries –NNPC Adeola Yusuf he delay in passage of the TIndustry controversial Petroleum Bill (PIB) is respon-

sible for why new refineries are not being constructed, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said.

NNPC which said this at the closing ceremony of a workshop for Energy journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, maintained that the loss to the PIB passage delay is much.

Dr. Tim Okon, one of NNPC's general managers

expressed optimism that the National Assembly would pass the bill soon.

"The refinery project is capital intensive and a decision to build new ones will have to be made after the passage of the all-important Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)," he said.

According to Okon, the National Assembly has been working on the legislation "and we believe that they will pass the bill soon."

This, he said, is as a result of the importance of the bill to the entire operations of the oil and gas industry in Nige-

ria.

The PIB has been faced with controversy and bickering between the Federal Government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs).

This controversy has led to the delay in its passage 14 years after the legislation was conceived.

While the Federal Government believed that the bill contained a favourable fiscal terms, the IOCs argued that the fiscal terms in the bill encourage double taxation and this would halt development in the sector.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Nigeria’s oil production hits four months high DOUBTS Uncertainty surrounds the rise in oil production as spills, due largely to crude oil theft and unrest, continue in the Niger Delta

Adeola Yusuf

N

igeria’s oil production has risen to 1.98 million barrels per day this month, the highest since March.

The latest Platts survey, which revealed this, added however, that the outlook remains uncertain as spills largely due to crude oil theft and unrest continue in the Niger Delta.

Nigeria’s production stood at 1.87mb/d in March.

Together, oil production from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) dipped by 30,000 barrels per day in June to 29.94 million b/d, according to Platts survey of OPEC, oil industry officials and analysts.

The survey showed Iraq’s output plunge of 160,000 b/d was largely offset by production increases from several other OPEC member countries.

“Small though it may be, a dip in OPEC output is the last thing the consuming world wants to see,” said John Kingston, Platts global director of news.

OPEC also sees the call on its crude averaging 30.4 million b/d in the second half of this year, so any drop in production from the organisation – even an invol-

untary one – could be viewed as a move in the wrong direction.”

The 40,000 b/d boosts from Libya last June marks the first increase since the beginning of the year, when output was estimated to have risen to 530,000 b/d in January from 250,000 b/d in December.

Libyan production declined steadily in recent months as the stalemate between the authorities in Tripoli and the protesters occupying oil facilities and blockading ports continued.

Production in the beleaguered country has begun to climb again after agreements between the government and the protesters that resulted in the Sharara oil field restarting production last Tuesday and the lifting of force majeure at ports Es Sider and Ras Lanuf on Sunday.

But, given the continuing political turmoil and the likely constraints on production as a result of fields having been shut in for long periods, industry sources and analysts are far from optimistic that Libya will be able to restore output to the 1.4 million b/d level achieved during the early part of 2013 any time soon.

Iraq’s southern production and export facilities have not been affected by the jihadist onslaught across the northern part of the country in June that has put paid to any hopes Baghdad might have had of resuming exports of Kirkuk crude via the Iraq- Turkey pipeline to Ceyhan.

Northern exports, which averaged 293,000 b/d in February, have been suspended since sabotage closed the pipeline in early March.

Baghdad is now entirely reliant on the southern system, which has been blighted by a number of technological problems, not least of which are pumping constraints that are limiting the volume of crude available for export to around 2.5 million b/d.

Saudi Arabia’s output of 9.78 million b/d was highest the kingdom has produced so far this year.

OPEC issued its first forecasts for 2015, saying that increased world oil demand would be met entirely by non-OPEC producers and that the call on OPEC oil would drop by 300,000 b/d to 29.4 million b/d from 29.7 million b/d in the current year.

During the second half of this year, however, OPEC expects demand for its crude to average around 30.4 million b/d.

Oil spill: US court allows trial of ex-BP chief

A

US Federal Appeals Court has reinstated a criminal charge of obstruction of Congress against a former BP Plc executive accused of downplaying the severity of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last Friday said that a lower court judge misinterpreted the obstruction statute in dismissing the charge against David Rainey, a former BP exploration vice president.

Rainey was also charged with making false statements to law-enforcement agents, which was not at issue in the government’s appeal. He has pleaded not guilty.

The April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig led to 11 deaths and the largest US offshore oil spill.

Prosecutors accused Rainey of telling the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Environment on May 4, 2010, and in a subsequent letter that just 5,000 barrels of oil a day were being released, when his own estimates suggested a much higher flow rate.

In May 2013, US District Judge, Kurt Engelhardt, dismissed the obstruction charge,

calling it uncertain whether the law, which refers to “any committee of either House,” applied to subcommittees as well. He also said that the indictment did not allege that Rainey knew of the subcommittee probe he allegedly obstructed.

Overturning that ruling, Circuit Judge Stephen Higginson, wrote for a three-judge 5th Circuit panel that the law’s “plain meaning” shows that subcommittees are covered.

He also said that while the indictment did not “exactly recite” that Rainey knew of the probe, one could “fairly import” such knowledge from its details.

Michael Magner and Reid Weingarten, two of Rainey’s lawyers, did not immediately respond on Sunday to requests for comment.

BP agreed in November 2012 to pay $4.5 billion in fines and other penalties and plead guilty to criminal charges related to the spill.

Three people have also been criminally charged.

Former BP engineer, Kurt Mix, on June 12, won a new trial as a federal judge threw out his conviction on an obstruction charge, citing misconduct by the jury forewoman.

FG builds up 40b barrels of crude oil reserves Adeola Yusuf Federal Government Twashe said at the weekend that it working to accumulate

40 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and produce four million barrels per day.

Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, who said this on Sunday, maintained that government is optimistic that these reserves target would be met by 2020.

At the just concluded media workshop for energy editors and correspondents in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Yakubu said:

"Ahead of this, there is an aggressive exploration campaign in offshore, onshore and the inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue, Bida and Sokoto Dahomey.”

According to the NNPC's helmsman, there is on-going infield developments, which have resulted in increased reserve.

"We are also carrying out infield developments, which have resulted in increased reserve and with the intensified approach. This include the expedited action on new projects like Egina, the reserve and production targets is realisable," he said.

Gas Plant

MPN JV sponsors 41 youths for aviation training Adeola Yusuf he Nigerian National PetroTMobil leum Corporation (NNPC)/ Producing Nigeria

(MPN) Joint Venture said that it sponsored 41 indigenes of Bonny Island to study aviation courses at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State.

This, the MPN said in a statement on its website, was part of its efforts to develop capacity and human resources within communities near its areas of business.

The courses are intended to equip the beneficiaries with skillsets necessary for job opportunities such as aviation services required at the new Finima Airstrip, which was recently constructed in Bonny Island.

A send forth ceremony for the trainees was held at the King Perekule Royal Palace, Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, where

the students were presented to the Bonny Chiefs Council before proceeding to the College.

Chairman of Bonny Chiefs Council, Chief (Col) A.O. Manilla-Pepple (rtd), expressed the appreciation of His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple – the Bonny traditional ruler – for the opportunity granted to the selected trainees.

He referred to the programme as a “lifeline opportunity”, and thanked the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture for their latest effort in enhancing opportunities for youths in its areas of operation. Chief D. Wilcox, Vice Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, advised the beneficiaries to demonstrate high level of discipline in their studies.

In his address, Mr Adeyemi Fakayejo, representing the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, charged the beneficiaries to be diligent and focused during their train-

ing in the College, not only to justify their selection but also to be worthy ambassadors of Bonny Kingdom and increase the chances of their employability in the aviation industry.

The 41 trainees were selected through the combined efforts of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) group (an indigenous Non-governmental organisation), the Bonny Kingdom Development Committee and the Mobil Producing Nigeria Public and Government Affairs team.

They will be trained in various aviation skills including standard piloting, apron control, telephony, cargo handling, advanced diploma in aviation management and aviation security.

The first batch of the beneficiaries arrived at the college yesterday to commence the training. Others are expected to leave in August based on the schedule of the college.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, July 15, 2014

NMRC, IFC, MBAN fine-tune uniform underwriting standards GLOBAL STANDARD

On Funding, Ayere disclosed that the equity has already been raised and that the first tranche is in the tune of $20 milllion, adding that the company got another N7 billion and additional N3 billion from other sources.

According to him, another N10 billion will come in after certification.

The standards will promote efficiency and mitigate mortgage financing risks Dayo Ayeyemi

O

perators and regulators in the sector comprising members of the Mortgage Banks Association of Nigeria (MBAN), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), government officials, lawyers and other stakeholders have begun the process of fine-tuning uniform underwriting standards for the nation’s mortgage industry.

At a two-day workshop attended by stakeholders in the sector, participants realised of the need to have uniform guidelines for the success of mortgage creation and refinancing in the country.

This workshop became necessary due to recently-launched NMRC, which is set to commence operation soon.

IFC was represented by her Senior Consultant, Ms Pamela Hedstrom.

Speaking after the workshop, the Chief Executive Officer of NMRC, Mr Sonnie Ayere, explained that the workshop was organised to provide support for private sector housing finance in the country by promulgating mortgage lending standards and procedures within the Nigerian mortgage market.

Access to finance This, he said, would facilitate improved access to housing finance by promulgating criteria for acceptable mortgage loans, including payment performance, financial terms, legal contract terms, mortgage loan product designs, underwriting criteria, and the contents of loan documents.

Formulating lending standards, he said, would promote efficiency and mitigate the legal and operational risks inherent in mortgage lending by developing quality collateral, adequate property title, proper registration and enforcement of mortgage liens, and maintenance of efficient collection processes for up to 20 or 30 years.

He said: “Such standards balance the requirement for responsible finance, which lenders need to enforce the contracts. NMRC’s goal is to act as a catalytic and focused advocate to address the issues of standardization and effective risk management.”

Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Pamela

Ayere

Prime water-2, a modern housing development in Lagos

According to him, the mortgage eligibility standards developed by NMRC would act as industry standards, thereby promoting efficiency and mitigating the mortgage financing risks in the market.

Explaining, he said: “You know NMRC is still in information stage having started in January and is working with stakeholders to work on not just putting the final things together, but also to work on enabling environment issues to allow a mortgage finance market in Nigeria.

“We have Dr. Elias here who represents the six law firms who have been hired to work on producing modern mortgage laws, foreclosure laws and others. We also have Pamela who is representing IFC and to work with us on uniform underwriting stan-

dards under which NMRC will finance mortgages.

“We also have the president of MBAN, who is representing the mortgage originators of Nigeria, because is no longer going to be mortgage banks but a commercial banks.”

Underwriting standards On the activities that took place in the last two days of the workshop, the NMRC boss said stakeholders were crafting the underwriting standards, which are basically mortgage rules; and dealing with agreement on the issues of tenor, equity contributions and payment method to be adopted.

He said, “What we are doing today is actually spending time crafting the underwriting standards. This is the rules under which mortgage will be rating

ongoing. Once we have agreed that lenders will underwrite mortgage using these criteria, they will be able to get long-term finance that is required to provide Nigerians mortgages.

“For instance, what is the remaining tenor for the property that you are financing? We are saying right now 20 years or 40 to 45 years minimum duration, once we agree, that becomes a standard for mortgages. Anything less than that, mortgage banks can do it, but they won’t be able to get financing from NMRC.” “So these are the things we are putting in place right now so that they would form conditions for which we can underwrite mortgages for PMBs to give out loans and secure the requisite long term mortgage refinancing that will come from NMRC.”

Expert's perspective Representative of lawyers hired for the formulation of underwriting uniform standards for mortgage finance in the country, Dr. Gbolahan, Elias (SAN), explained that 21 states have already showed interest in the scheme, adding that his team was proposing the drafting of modern mortgage laws to be adopted by these states for seamless operation.

He said: “We are trying to talk to the states on the need for uniformity in laws relating to mortgagees. One of the challenges is the issue of Land Use Act; but we are already working with the states for uniform standards to be adopted. Land in Nigeria is a state matter, it is not a federal matter. We need uniformity as we cannot get that at the federal level now.”

On the readiness of PMBs for the scheme, especially when some of them have not been cleared by CBN to have crossed recapitalisation hurdle, President of the Mortgage Bank Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr Femi Johnson, disclosed that although CBN has not disclosed the names of qualified mortgage banks officially, but that 36 names of PMBs that met the deadline had been forwarded to him.

He, however, declined to mention the 36 primary mortgage banks.

“CBN has given the number of mortgage banks that crossed the hurdle of recapitalisation.

CBN says they are 36,” he said.

He expressed joy over NMRC, saying that the company will be responsible for refinancing of loans that were originated by mortgage banks, pointing out that the loan must be seasoned for at least six months before they could qualify for refinancing.

The mortgage eligibility standards developed by NMRC will act as industry standards, thereby promoting efficiency and mitigating the mortgage financing risks in the market.

During the workshop, according to a statement by Dunn Loren Merrifield, advisory partners of NMRC, uniform underwriting standards were exposed to Primary Lending Institutions C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

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property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

How Lagos HOMs is creating jobs, by Fashola INNOVATION Creating value-chain through home ownership scheme Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

W

hen the Lagos Homes Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMs) was kickstarted in March with a promise from the state government to roll out at least 200 homes per month, little did one know that the success of the exercise will trickle down to the grassroots soon.

However, five months on, new homeowners have emerged in Lagos, while the housing construction activities of the state government have provided succor for many skilled and unskilled labour.

Altogether, 337 winners have emerged since the draw began on March 4. The first draw produced 31 new homeowners while the second drawn in April produced 36

winners. In May, 76 new homeowners emerged while the fourth draw in June produced 92 new home owners.

Reeling out the success recorded through the introduction of LagosHOMs during the 5th edition of the draw held to select home winners in July, Governor Babatunde Fashola stated that his government was working on 23 additional construction sites for the sustenance of the scheme.

According to him, 193 contractors have been engaged, adding that in the process of implementing the quotas, 2,481 people comprising artisans, welders and iron benders have been provided jobs.

He said: “1,598 sub-contractors are also employed consisting of quantity surveyors, architects and builders; and because people working on those sites must eat, there are 175 different food vendors supplying food and water.”

The governor said those who supply sand, water are more than 1,727 adding: “That is the value chain that the economy of Lagos State has provided.

Those are men and women, boys

and girls who, because of Lagos HOMS, can wake up every morning and tell their families: “We are going to work.”

He disclosed that housing construction activities are ongoing in Ibeshe, Mile 12, Akerele Extension and Iponri, Oko-Oba and Amuwo Odofin, among others, adding that more schemes are coming up.

“Today, we are constructing

Fashola

at 23 schemes simultaneously across the state,” the governor disclosed.

Other objectives being achieved by the scheme, according to the governor, include creating a homogenous community devoid of ethnic and religious dichotomy.

He explained: “The other thing that we see here, and it is a lesson that all of us must take away, a lesson to imbibe, lesson to be internalised, is the diversity Lagos represents. This scheme has not asked where you came from. It only asks ‘do you live here?’ If you have your resident registration card you are eligible.

“So we see people from across the country, from the north, from the south, from Niger Delta, from the east, from Yorubaland. There is only one thing that binds them together – residency.

And perhaps we have heard the names and their different religious connotation. The scheme does not ask that question.

There is no Christian house and no Muslim house here; it is a Lagos HOMS for Lagos residents.”

Meanwhile, it was a moment

A jubilant Mrs. Afolashade Olatunbosun, walks with excitement to collect her certificate as her name was called among winners of a three bedroom flat at Shogunro Scheme 2, Ogba, Ikeja, during the fifth draw to pick winners of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) last week in Lagos

90 foreign firms for Nigeria's construction fair O ne of the challenges confronting production of mass and affordable housing in Nigeria is the need to engage appropriate modern technology for building construction.

Perturbed by this development, the firm of Messrs Atlantic Exhibition has concluded plan to stage the first machinery and construction fair in Nigeria, while over 90 foreign exhibitors have already indicated interest to participate This is to avail government, property developers and researchers to key into the idea of engaging modern technology when developing enduring building, bridges and roads in the country.

Tagged: “BUILDMACEX Nigeria”, the exhibition will feature construction machinery and hand tools; bathroomkitchen equipment; concretereinforcement; pipes and fittings; industrial materials,

wall blocks and elements; door systems and accessories; roofs and floor covering, cotton wall system, lights and fittings, welding machine; building system, plumbing works and many others.

Managing Director of Atlantic Exhibition, Mr Ayodeji Olugbade, told journalists at a briefing that 90 international exhibitors have indicated interest to participate in the fair holding between September 9 and 11, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island , Lagos.

Most of them, he said, would be coming from Ukraine, Turkey, United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Dubai, Italy and others, adding that many indigenous companies would be participating in the exhibition.

He said: “The exhibition is opened for potential investors that are ready to do business in Nigeria through collaboration.

There is opportunity awaiting Nigerians because there is the

need to step up which is the reason for the exhibition of machinery for the real estate and construction sector.

“Free entrance awaits Nigerians to take up the opportunity as we are partnering with Turkey’s company.”

Some of the machines that

will be showcasing, Olugbade said, would be new generation ones for concrete mixers and for renovation of building, adding that his company is in the forefront of reorientating Nigerians in the drive to make building stand.

Speaking also, the President

of joy for 120 new homeowners that emerged in the fifth edition of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LAGHOMS) held on Wednesday in Ikeja as they expressed appreciation to God and Governor Babatunde Fashola that gave them the opportunity of becoming instant landlords.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with New Telegraph, said that they came to the draw event after they have submitted all necessary documents with an open heart, not knowing that luck would smile on them.

Mr Obi Mordi, a banker, said that the transparency that goes with the selection process of LAGHOMS’ draw has shown that things could work right in Nigeria.

He lauded Governor Fashola for giving him the opportunity to become a landlord in Lagos, stating that he got to know about the scheme through his friend that applied and won a house two months ago.

He said: “ My colleague applied for the scheme and won.

He later encouraged me to do same which I obliged. I thank God that I won.”

Another winner, Mrs Morenike Lefamoh, an engineer, said she never knew she could win when she was applying for the scheme, adding that” for now, I feel good and I thank the governor for having the citizens in mind to become landlords” For Mr Mechele Olaremi, a banker, his story was not different from Mordi, stating that he got the inspiration to apply for the scheme through his friend that won a house in April edition of the draw.

Most the winners won housing units from Ilupeju, Igbogbo, Shogunro Estates.

Explaining how the new homeowners emerged, one of the officials of Lagos Mortgage Board, Mr Sagoe, said C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 5

of National Association of Building Artisans of Nigeria, MR. Jimi Osonubi, urged every practitioner in the sector to avail himself the opportunity of the fair, while tasking government on the need to control the influx of foreign artisans of neighbouring countries .

Uniform standards for mortgage financing C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

(PLIs). Details of the standards will be published on the NMRC website as well as forwarded to all stakeholders for their comments within two weeks.

PLIs are expected to commence the process of obtaining Servicer Ratings from accredited rating agencies, while stakeholders acknowledged the need for compliance with environmental and social risk management with reasonable compliance cost.

The statement read: “NMRC will begin to engage with stakeholders on the key components of the model mortgage law which is expected to eliminate the current bottlenecks/challenges in titling, land administration and mortgage registration and enforcement thereby improving standardisation.”

Of the 21 pilot states, four pilot states namely: Kogi, Abia, Enugu, and Akwa-Ibom states have expressed a firm interest in working with the NMRC towards developing a mortgage

law.

NMRC is a liquidity facility, not a loan. It provides liquidity for mortgage loan portfolios.

NMRC as a secondary mortgage refinancing institution will inject liquidity from the capital market to support mortgage loans accessed through respective financial institutions. These institutions include mortgage and commercial banks. NMRC does not provide mortgage loans directly to individuals. It refinances primary mortgage lenders.

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

MASTERPIECE The customised development promises at least, 10,000 square metres of premium office space Dayo Ayeyemi

L

agos is fast assuming the mega city status, no thanks to plethora of high-rise commercial buildings dotting its landscape lately. From The wings, waves and Civic Centre Tow-

Developer plans on Bloomsburry Waterfront Office development ers to mention but few, the latest now is the iconic office complex, known as Bloomsburry, according to 3invest Limited, a real estate online new portal, which will berth by the end of 2016.

Developed by Dreamspaces Development, the upscale office space is expected to not

Dubai plans ‘Mall of the World'

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ubai is already home to the tallest tower in the world, so it was just a matter of time until the glitzy emirate planned another record-breaking construction.

Its next project involves building the largest shopping mall on the planet, complete with climate-controlled streets, the world's largest indoor theme park and 100 hotels and apartments.

In fact, the ambitious emirate, according to the report from World Property Channel, has dubbed the project a "temperature-controlled pedestrian city."

Occupying 48 million square feet, the Mall of the World will also contain health resorts, theatres, a Celebration Steet modelled on the Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona and 'retail streets network' that will stretch over four-and-a-half miles.

The grand project is part of Dubai's bid to become a yearround tourism destination, despite soaring temperatures in summer that can reach nearly 50C. The new mall, which will be a city-within-a-city, will be the emirate's chance to attract visitors even in the height of the summer, by providing a completely climate-controlled experience.

The eight million square foot shopping centre will be housed under a dome, while the streets will also be covered so that tourists can shop without getting too hot in the relentless heat of the summer months.

The shopping mall itself will occupy eight million square feet, housed below a glass dome, with other attractions extending beyond the central shopping area.

In the cooler winter months, the dome will open, allowing

people to shop in the fresh air, closing as the summer heats up.

It is thought the huge construction will attract 180 million visitors a year and developers hope it will secure Dubai's futures as a tourism hub.

The emirate's ruler and vice president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: "This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision.

"The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible.

"We are confident of our economy’s strength, optimistic about our country’s future and we continue to broaden our vision, he said."

The supersized mall will be built near the existing Mall of the Emirates, already one of the largest shopping centres in the world, with its own indoor ski slope.

It will also be a short drive to the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, which stands at 2,717ft.

The idea is to create a cultural area, with theatres hosting shows at West End and Broadway levels, as well as a network of streets that will be entirely climate controlled.

Sheikh Mohammad stated: "Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism - tourism is key driver of our economy and we aim to make the UAE an attractive destination all-year long.

"This is why we will start working on providing pleasant temperature-controlled environments during the summer months."

only redefine the Victoria Island landscape but also berth a new dynamism in office space development with this ‘never- beforeseen’ structure.

Located within the waterfront axis on Walter Carrington Crescent in Victoria Island, Bloomsburry will be located opposite Protea Hotel and the Lagos Boat Club, offering its occupants a rare view of the Victoria Island shores from either of its views. The development will also be in close proximity with the American Embassy, Swedish Embassy and some multinationals.

Designed by NLÉ Works, the customised development promises at least 10,000 square metres of premium office space on its six floors that will maximise great views across the city’s waterfront and equally meet contemporary

environmental efficiency standards, incorporating renewable energy and sustainable building systems.

Disclosing to journalists the architectural formation of the complex, Founder, NLÉ Works, Mr Kunle Adeyemi, explained that for sustainability sake, the building’s form, orientation and structural facade would be designed for optimum solar shading, panoramic waterfront views, efficient office space and flexibility of tenancy with stateof-the- art access control and security systems.

Adeyemi also revealed that while the six floors would be suspended off the ground to minimise its footprint, making space for adequate parking and landscaping, adding that the edifice will also feature a lush sky garden with panoramic views over Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

The development, which will be a ‘Grade A’ commercial building, will also boast of a lobby space, surface parking for 150 cars and an open courtyard leading into the ground floor lobby designed in a bid to resonate the vision for a voluminous entrance space.

This approach, the promoters say, will also be applied to the parking area for cars to prevent a build-up of carbon monoxide, adding that the parking area will also feature handicap accessibility close to the building’s stairs and elevators. This preventive resolution is aimed at providing a safer working environment for employees.

Also built in accordance with necessary specifications to meet the demands of a green building, the use of a skylight is expected to assist the architects achieve its energy-efficiency target.

Model of the Bloombury office complex to be developed in Victoria Island, Lagos

Chinese firm to develop $7.8bn global hub in Africa hanghai Zendai Property chairman Dai Zhikang said at a to increase its global footprint.

Svelop Limited is planning to de- press conference.

The project could also serve as a global financial hub in The development has not a base for Chinese forms lookJohannesburg, which it is promoting as “the future capital of the whole of Africa.”

The Hong-Kong based property developer will invest 80 billion rand ($7.8 billion) over the next 15 years to develop the 1,600-hectare mix-use project in Modderfontein, Johannesburg.

“This will be at par with cities like New York in America or Hong Kong in the Far East,”

been named yet. It will include as many as 35,000 houses, an educational center and a sports stadium, Bloomberg reports.

The developer paid AECI Limited of South Africa HK$838.17 million ($108 million) for several parcels of land and buildings, the company announced.

Similar to other Chinese developers, the company is looking

‘Lagos HOMs is creating jobs’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

Proposed Dubai mega mall

35

233 applicants were prequalified, 43 disqualified due to documentation issue, while 131 persons emerged.

Governor Fashola pointed out that since the beginning of the scheme, the home quality being delivered has improved, promising that the Ministry of Housing will continue to carry out research on how to do it better and reduce cost.

Going forward, he said his

government is rolling out a policy to will afford people to access their home through Rent and Own programme.

He said: “Many artisans and traders do not have access to this scheme; for them, if they show us their transaction profile and have arrangement with bank where they can give standing order to pay us, they can benefit from the rent to own scheme.

They will pay rent for sometime to make up the mandatory down payment.

ing to establish a base in Africa.

“We have also been following the trend of channeling investments overseas as practiced by other Chinese enterprises, looking for property development projects of suitable scale that allow for international expansion,” Mr Dai Zhikang, said in the announcement.

The project's location, currently used for manufacturing, is about 15 kilometers east of Sandton, the city's main financial center, and the same distance from OR Tambo International Airport, Africa's largest airport, the company said.

Johannesburg already offers a hub for companies investing in Africa, but the city lacks space for the growing demand for ovffices and homes, Mr Dai said.

Shanghai Zendai will work with other developers while investing its own money in the project, according to Bloomberg.

The project is expected to provide 100,000 jobs and house approximately 100,000 people.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION This is to combat environmental degradation and pollution Dayo Ayeyemi

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embers of the United Nations Programme on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degredation (UN-REDD) Programme Policy Board have approved a roadmap to develop its 2016-2020 programme strategy by May 2015, which includes a strong participatory process.

The board is made up of representatives from partner countries, donors to the MultiPartner Trust Fund, civil society, indigenous peoples and the three

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

UN Board okays roadmap for four-year programme Participating UN Organisations (FAO, UNDP and UNEP).

The Policy Board’s role is to approve financial allocations and give strategic direction to ensure the overall success of the Programme.

At the Lima meeting that held 7-9 July 2014 according to EnvironNews report, the UN-REDD+ policy board also approved decisions that support the design of a 2016-2020 Programme strategy that will align with evolving partner country needs. The meeting was attended by more than 100 participants representing 25

countries, indigenous peoples and civil society organisations, and donor countries – and was marked by a collaborative, forward-looking atmosphere.

The approved REDD+ readiness funds included the allocation of funds for the National Programmes of Argentina, Cote d’Ivoire and Mongolia – respectively $3,842,370, $3,210,000 and $3,996,450. Participants highlighted the unique REDD+ learning opportunities of each National Programme. Argentina’s programme will address the large numbers of private

Environmental degradation in one of the African countries

Asian insurers to invest $75bn in global real estate

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he increasing liberalization of regulatory restrictions on Asian insurance funds could lead to an additional US$75 billion entering global real estate markets by 2018, with New York and London among the key targets. Global real estate consultant, CBRE, has stated.

Insurance companies in Asia, according to report from World Property Channel, are generally under-allocated to real estate because of stringent regulations, especially around overseas assets. Most of their overseas allocations are in liquid and transparent assets such as equities, cash, fixed income and government bonds. This situation is changing as several countries such as China, South Korea and Taiwan have started to allow overseas direct investments, higher allocation to real estate and a simplified approval process.

The asset size of the Asia insurance sector is also growing fast, having increased 13 per cent between 2008 and 2013.

CBRE predicts that the combined effect of an increase in Asian insurers’ asset sizes and increasing liberalisation will result in their investment assets

growing from $130 billion in 2013 to $205 billion in 2018. This would translate into additional inflows of about $75 billion into real estate - including direct and indirect real estate investment.

Compared to mature markets, there is a lack of investible assets in Asia. This, coupled with the recent rule relaxations, means more Asian insurers are investing in global markets. In 2013 alone, there were about $2.4 billion of direct commercial real estate purchases by Asian insurers outside Asia Pacific.

Typically, these insurers have a strong preference for trophy assets in gateway cities, particularly when they make their first overseas investments. The top cross-border destinations are London and New York, though it varies by country where their insurers are looking to invest.

Chinese and Taiwanese insurance companies are likely to be more active in overseas real estate markets given lack of opportunities and low yield levels for prime core assets in their domestic markets. Direct real estate investment will be their preferred channel given their preference for full ownership. Japanese insurance firms

are expected to stay in domestic markets as they have been hurt by overly aggressive overseas investments in the 1990s. South Korean insurance companies have invested overseas over the past years and they have accumulated experience in overseas real estate markets. CBRE expects that Korean insurers will use more indirect channels to expand their global portfolios.

Marc Giuffrida, Executive Director, CBRE Global Capital Markets tells World Property Channel, “Given the low yield levels and the shortage of investable stock, particularly stabilized income producing assets in domestic markets, Asian insurance companies will have to explore opportunities in overseas markets. The lack of overseas real estate investment experience and the need for regulatory approvals is likely to mean activity will be limited initially to larger insurance companies with strong financial capability securing assets in major global cities, however as experience is built up we expect the tier two players to emerge in crossborder acquisitions and explore indirect strategies.”

landowners in the agriculture sector and soy production as one of the main drivers of deforestation. Cote d’Ivoire’s innovation programme will take into account the competition for forest lands with the cocoa, timber and rubber industries. Mongolia represents the first boreal forest National Programme to be funded by the UN-REDD Programme Participants, including donors, cited the value of the UNREDD Programme in building the foundation of REDD+ readiness and the importance of continuing the Programme through 2020 with a strategy that is designed to meet the evolving needs of partner countries as they progress towards the results-based phase of REDD+.

Other highlights of the meeting included:Uganda’s overview of its REDD+ efforts contributing to its goal to achieve 24 per cent forest cover (from a current 15%) through reforestation, conservation and sustainable agroforestry; Ecuador’s presentation of a new ministerial level decree on free, prior and informed consent, and the lessons learned from the process; and a progress update on the REDD+ Academy, with the first regional sessions announced to take place in Indonesia, Nigeria and Argentina.

It also involves demonstration of a new tool for tracking progress of National Programmes – the REDD+ Radar – that can be used by country partners, donors and others.

There are also indications that Nigeria may host the next UN-REDD Policy Board meeting, which will be the 13th in

the series. The development is however not yet confirmed as the 20-member UN-REDD Programme Policy Board that met during the week in Lima, Peru are also considering Tanzania to organise the gathering.

A forester, Salisu Dahiru, who is of the Forestry Department in the Federal Ministry of Environment, heads Nigeria’s UN-REDD Programme, which a couple of years ago accessed about $4 million from the parent body to execute the country’s REDD Readiness Programme.

The Policy Board meeting was preceded by an Information Sharing Day on 7 July that was attended by H.E. Pak Heru Prasetyo, Head of the Indonesia National REDD+ Agency, and H. E. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal Peru Environment Minister, who both highlighted the importance of REDD+ to climate change mitigation and the importance of the support delivered through the UN-REDD Programme to advance national REDD+ efforts. The ministers also emphasized the role of forests at the upcoming climate summit and UNFCCC COP20 in Lima.

During the Information Sharing Day, countries shared experiences and progress on key areas of work. Panama shared its new land-use mapping technology and a documentary on developing its national forest inventory. Zambia, Sri Lanka and Peru shared experiences and perspectives on their National Strategies. An update was also shared on preparations for the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit to take place in September 2014.

LAWMA harps on cleanliness, endorses Ozzy Bosco agos Waste Management eventually help drive LAWMA’s Authority (LAWMA) has goal of zero tolerance for waste Lofficially endorsed Ozioma- in the metropolis. chukwu Favour Mojekwu (Ozzy Bosco) as youth ambassador of the authority.

The event, which took place at LAWMA’s headquarters, Iddo Ijora, last week, had in attendance some big wigs in the country’s entertainment industry such as Ngozi Nwosu (Peace in the TV series ‘Fuji House of Commotion’), Dr. Tee Mac, and Kofi the comedian, who anchored the event; school pupils from various parts of the state were also well represented at the event.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya expressed his delight at the prospect of effecting change on the mindset of the people, especially through music and the endorsement of one of the fast rising kid entertainers in Africa.

Oresanya said what informed the authority’s decision to bring in the wonderkid into its sanitation campaign was to build a foundation for the younger generation, who would

“Ozzy Bosco is a child that is leaning towards music, and we are using his music as an instrument to establish a new order; we want to change the habits of our people for good on matters of waste management. Waste management is a way of life, it’s not just a project, it’s a programme that touches life and we believe we need to have a new social order; we need to redefine our social values and we can do this by planting these new ideas into children,” he added.

The managing director of LAWMA further pleaded with residents of the state to observe effective sanitation so as to keep sicknesses and other unpleasant consequences of filthiness at bay.

Exuding joy at the unveiling of Ozzy Bosco as LAWMA’s brand ambassador, the mother, Mrs. Nonye MojekwuChukwujama, appreciated the authority for the laudable gesture and overall interest in the welfare of children in the state.

Will NCAA Pass FAA’s Audit?

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

BUSINESS 37 p–38

Curbing aviation security threat Despite heightened security measures, airliners remain an attractive target for terrorists. In order to counter the persistent and ever-changing terrorism strategies, experts say officials need to do more to ensure the safety of air travel, writes WOLE SHADARE

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errorism, which was not a serious phenomenon in Africa in 1998 has now become one of the criminal tendencies that threaten national and international security in the continent.

The August 1998 bombings of the United States embassies in Dar es Salam (Tanzania) and Nairobi (Kenya), in which over 16 Americans and 200 Africans were killed, once again registered in the psyche of humanity with vibrations of the devastating capacity of terrorism.

Also, the September 11, 2001 crashing of two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York readily comes to mind.

A third plane was crashed into the Pentagon, leading to the death or disappearance of over 6000 persons. That singular act jolted and mobilised most of the world against terrorism and exposed the phenomenon as a new kind of warfare. The London bombing of July 7, 2005, confirms this new thinking.

The United States warning that terrorists were devising new means of causing havoc further heightened fears about their sophistication in carrying out mass murder through aviation.

The announcement that travellers to the US should keep their laptops and mobile phones powered on arrival in the US is one of the security measures being taken against the act.

Heightened fear There is also a heightened concern that terrorists are developing more sophisticated bombs designed to avoid airport screening.

The effort does not involve changes to what travellers can take aboard flights, but passengers may see additional inspections of shoes and electronics, additional use of scanners designed to detect or trace explosives, and another stage of screening at boarding gates, in some cases, the official said.

During this busy holiday

Travellers' uncergoing airport screening

season, much is being said by pundits and policymakers about the vulnerability of today’s global aviation system. While no specific threats have been reported, there is a widespread fear based upon an extensive history of attacks, ranging from hijackings and in-flight bombings to surfaceto-air missile.

The renewed threat to global security through explosives has necessitated the need for aviation authorities to reinforce security measures around the Nigerian airports.

Nigerian government has reportedly spent several millions of naira to protect the nation’s airport. This includes physical barriers, guards, closed-circuit TV, explosives detection, body scanners, security software and other technology and services intended to keep the airports safe from terrorists and other non-military adversaries.

How do we measure results?

At a glance, those seem to be easy questions. The country has invested heavily in security and could be said to be safer now. There has not been any serious threat to aviation in Nigeria but the threats we are having now are real.

The Boko Haram insurgents’ threat is real and this has heightened vigilance at the airports particularly those in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano.

People tend not to recall that during the 1970s, the United States experienced an average of 50-60 terrorist bombings a year. In the 13 years since the September 11 attacks, terrorists inspired by al Qaeda’s ideology - the ones we worry

Too much dependence on checkpoint screening allowed the 9/11 in the US to happen, ditto for the passenger rage on the Arik flight from Maiduguri to Abuja last year most about - have been able to pull off just four attacks in the United States, two by lone gunmen, a failed bombing in New York’s Times Square, and the 2013 bombing in Boston. In all, 18 people were killed.

Security measure If, however, we ask whether the visible security measures that have become so prevalent in the landscape prevented more terrorist attacks, what security measures are most effective against terrorists, or whether the difference can be measured in substantially reduced risk, then hard proof is much harder to come by.

The field of medicine is evidence-based practice grounded in empirical evidence obtained from sound, scientific research and analysis. Can we apply same approach to security?

In the broadest sense, we know that security works.

Criminals exploit the absence of security. Increasing security drives them away. Rising bank robberies in certain ar-

eas prompt increased security measures, such as anti-jump barriers that prevent robbers from jumping over the counter, resulting in a decline in robbery attempts where these are in place. This is proof that security works.

Terrorists can avoid security by attacking soft targets such as public places that are difficult to protect. That terrorists have moved towards softer targets can be interpreted as an indirect indicator that security works.

However, it also may reflect the terrorists’ growing determination to kill in quantity, which can be done most easily in crowded public places.

Not all terrorist perpetrators worry about being caught in the act, or even about escaping. Even the terrorists’ operational failures cause fear, which is the objective of terrorism.

Expert's perspective The CEO of Centurion Securities and former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd.), disclosed to New Telegraph in an interview recently that over the years, government has failed to build perimeter fencing at the airports and also failed to train adequate number of aviation security officials to man the terminals.

Ojikutu said that it was due to luck rather than organised security programme that have protected the airports from high security infractions that could endanger the lives of passengers and other users of the airports.

He said: “The case of stow-

away didn’t just start now. We had it in the 90s. I saw it live myself on two occasions at that Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

There is a man at that airport today who is a tout. He was the first stowaway at that MMIA. He was then aged 14 or 15.

His mother was a destitute that was taking him round that airport. He was the first stowaway I saw. He entered the wheel of KLM flight and ended up in Amsterdam.

“As at today, and I say with authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is deficient with about 1,400 security staff and new terminals are being opened at the airports. FAAN should not even coordinate the security at the airports, so what is happening now is abnormal to the national security programme. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) does not approve that the body, which is in charge of revenue collection like FAAN should also be in charge of security.”

Insider threat Fear of insider threat and terror attacks are now redefining the security situation at Nigeria’s airports. Security experts aver their anxieties over possible loopholes, but concerned authorities seem to be rising to the occasion.

These negative security reports heighten fears that the airports may be unsafe as well. But since terror attacks started in Nigeria, the airports have been insulated because of the action taken by the Federal Government to fortify the airports with security operaC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 8

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

AIR RAGE

WITH

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Wole Shadare

Will NCAA pass FAA’s audit?

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Newly inaugurated elevator by Bicourtney Aviation Services Limited at MM2, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Etihad strengthens revenue with soaring passenger cargo

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tihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has reported double-digit growth in passenger and cargo volumes during the first half of 2014, marking its strongest ever performance for the sixmonth period, with total revenues increasing to $3.2 billion.

A total of 6.7 million passengers travelled with the airline between January and June this year, almost 22 per cent higher than the 5.5 million passengers in the same period last year.

Etihad Cargo also outperformed the global market, carrying 268,713 tonnes of freight and mail during the first half of 2014, up 25 per cent yearon-year, and contributing significantly to the airline’s total revenue. It remains on track to become a billion dollar business in 2014.

The impressive performance was supported by Etihad Airways’ continued growth in the second quarter of 2014, with 3.5 million passengers and 140,892 tonnes of freight and mail carried over the three-month period, both up 25 per cent on the same period last year.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “At a time when the global airline industry has struggled with high fuel prices, intense competition and a slowdown in the cargo market, Etihad Airways has achieved record success, carrying more passengers and cargo to more destinations around the world, with our biggest fleet to date.

“We have ambitious plans to build on this momentum in the second half of 2014, with five more destinations being introduced into our global network, and our ground-breaking Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 also

entering service, which will reinforce our status as a global market leader.”

Passenger and cargo volumes were boosted by the fastpaced growth of Etihad Airways’ global route network, with 98destinations operational by the end of H1 2014, compared to 92 in the same period last year. Following the launch of Medina flights in the first quarter of 2014, the second quarter included the start of new services to Jaipur, Zurich and Los Angeles, while frequencies increased on five existing routes, including Moscow and Cochin.

The airline’s network will increase to 103 destinations by the end of the year, with Yerevan flights launched this month and Rome, Perth, Phuket and Dallas to follow over the remainder of 2014.

Organic growth was supported by codeshare and equity alliance partnerships in the first half of 2014, delivering an estimated 1.4 million passengers onto Etihad Airways flights (+28 per cent year-on-year) and contributing revenue of $471million, which represented 23 per cent of the airline’s passenger revenue.

In the second quarter alone, a

new codeshare agreement was signed with GOL and existing codeshares were expanded with partners such as Jet Airways, airberlin, Air Serbia, Air France and South African Airways, while 754,050 passengers were delivered onto Etihad Airways flights (+32 per cent year-on-year), contributing revenue of $247 million.

Etihad Airways’ passenger carrying capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), was 39.4 billion by the end of H1 2014, an increase of 19 per cent year-on-year. The airline’s fleet also expanded to 102 aircraft, with seven aircraft delivered in the second quarter alone.

An additional six aircraft will be received in the second half of 2014, including Etihad Airways’ first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, which commence operations in December and will feature brand new first, business and economy class products. The A380 will also include The Residence by Etihad, the world’s first threeroom private cabin, boasting a living room, separate double bedroom and ensuite shower, together with a personal butler service.

Curbing aviation threat C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

tives from different agencies and to introduce CCTV and other security equipment at most of the airports.

Former Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, alleged that despite the incessant acts of violence from Nigerian home grown terrorists, government security agencies at the airports, including that of the FAAN and the Nigeria Civil Aviation

Authority (NCAA) have “not developed known lists to put those who could be threats to civil aviation on watch list or no fly list.

“Modern airport security is based on profiling of passengers and staff, not necessarily on access control or checkpoint screening. Too much dependence on checkpoint screening allowed the 9/11 in the US to happen, ditto for the passenger rage on the Arik flight from Maiduguri to Abuja last year,” he noted.

ill Nigeria pass the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acid test? That is a multi-billion dollar question. While some are sceptical about the nation’s success to scale the Category One Aviation audit, others are very upbeat about scaling the hurdles.

Their optimism, like in a football match where Nigerians always believe they can beat any team even before a football match is played, is about the only thing that has made them to believe that the country will pass.

Nigeria would, in September, know its fate concerning the success or otherwise of the audit conducted on the country’s aviation industry by the United States highest aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 31, this year.

It is the view of many in the aviation sector that Nigeria got the United States’ Category 1 Safety Status on a promissory note because the team that audited Nigeria saw the passion and the intent the country had then. Today, there are differing views about whether Nigeria has kept to the standard that gave it the rating or whether it had retrograded.

Nigeria attained Category 1 status in 2009 through the dedicated effort of a team led by Dr Harold Demuren, the former director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). It is clear today that sustaining the status is as difficult as achieving it was. The reason for this scepticism is nothing short of the diminished role, responsibility and purview of the NCAA. Not a few believed that the NCAA’s regulatory oversight is being fragmented, diluted and constantly disrupted.

This negative interference will surely tell on how the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) agency will score the NCAA in the current audit The International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme involves assessing whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers that operate or seek to operate into the United States, complies with minimum international standards for aviation safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making changes as it commences a new phase of the IASA programme, following the completion of initial determinations on the safety oversight exercised by virtually all countries whose air carriers operate, or have applied to operate to the United States. This notice modifies the IASA policies previously announced by the FAA. FAA Category 1 elevated the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations and granted the country the reputation of nation that is serious with air transport.

Since the passing of ICAO audit and the rating of the country as Category 1 status nation, the

number of foreign airlines that come into the country has doubled. And after so many years, American airlines started operation into Nigeria, giving Nigerian travellers direct flight to destinations in the United States.

The audit of NCAA, which is Nigeria’s regulatory body for air transport by FAA, will be predicated on eight critical elements which include primary aviation legislation, which is the Civil Aviation Act; specific operating regulation; civil aviation system and setting oversight function, and technical personnel function and training.

Others are technical guidance material, tools and provision of sensitive critical information; licencing, certification, authorisation and approval obligation; surveillance obligation which is monitoring compliance and resolution of safety concerns.

If FAA withdraws Nigeria’s Category 1 Safety Status, aviation in the country would go down 10 years behind because it will give rise to moral downcast.

The apprehension stems from the fact that the United States Department of FAA, had on January 31, 2014 announced that India had been assigned a Category Two rating under its International Aviation Safety Assessment, IASA, programme, based on a recent reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority.

The downgrading of the India’s civil aviation safety oversight regime means that the country does not currently comply with the international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO. But, FAA said that it would continue to work with India’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation, DGCA, to identify the remaining steps necessary to regain Category One status for India.

With a Category two rating, India’s carriers can continue existing service to the United States, but will not be allowed to establish new service to the United States. India achieved a Category One rating, signifying compliance with ICAO standards, in August 1997.

The attainment of the category one status made Nigeria the sixth African nation to do so after Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa. But, the recent downgrading of India aviation industry

by FAA is giving some aviation players in the country a call for concern as they fear that Nigeria may be the next country to be hit with the FAA’s sledge hammer as a result of several safety lapses in the system and interference in the running of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, by the ministry of aviation.

Although, the navigational aids in the Nigerian airspace has improved over the years, but not yet perfect as some users of the facilities still complain of some loopholes in the system.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

GROWTH Emirates is certain that hoteliers and operators will welcome this initiative

E

mirates has confirmed it will serve Mauritius with a double daily A380 service from December 1 this year.

This second A380, which will operate as flight EK 703/704, replaces the existing Boeing 777 operation and increases Emirates’ capacity on the route by 19 per cent, further meeting the demand on the route and demonstrating the growth of Mauritius as a global destination.

It allows an additional 165 passengers each day to travel to this beautiful island set

39

Emirates launches double daily A380 service to Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

“Our daily A380 service into Mauritius has enjoyed exceptional popularity since its launch on December 16th 2013, with more than 150,000 passengers having flown our flagship aircraft to the paradise island during this time,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates senior vice president, commercial operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa.

“The launch of a double daily A380 service to Mauritius will further strengthen our support for the country’s

tourism industry and we are certain that hoteliers and operators will welcome this initiative,” he added.

Services between Dubai and Mauritius and vice versa is operated in codeshare with Emirates’ long-time partner Air Mauritius.

“Since September 2002, Air Mauritius has been placing their marketing codes on all Emirates services operated between Dubai and Mauritius and will continue to do so with the commencement of the second A380 operation.

“In December 2013 the code-

share partnership was expanded to include several points beyond Dubai, and over the last few months the two airlines have been in discussions to enhance the relationship and increase the number of destinations covered by the codeshare agreement,” said Abbas.

The addition of this second iconic aircraft on the route opens up further opportunities for travellers to connect seamlessly on an Emirates A380 between Mauritius and a range of global destinations on Emirates’ growing network that now serves 143 gateways

in 81 countries.

The upgraded A380 service leaves Dubai as EK703 at 10:00, arriving at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport at 16:45.

It returns as EK704 leaving Mauritius at 23:00, landing at Dubai International Airport at 05:40 the following day.

Emirates is the first airline in the world to operate an A380 service to a destination in the Indian Ocean.

The airline currently has 49 A380s serving 26 destinations around the world, more than any other airline globally.

Ethiopian receives 8th Boeing 787 Dreamliner thiopian Airlines, the larg- biggest windows in the sky, Enounced est airline in Africa, has an- higher humidity and unique that it took delivery lighting.

Emirates' A380 aircraft

SAHCOL decries high customs tariff Wole Shadare

S

kyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), has decried high tariffs on imported ground handling equipment used for airlines within the airport, saying it was taking a toll on their business.

Managing Director of the company, Oluropo Owolabi, who said this in Lagos, noted that if government could extend the zero-tariff regime being enjoyed by airlines to the ground handlers in the sector, their operational cost would be less.

“One of the things that have been affecting us so far is the issue of tariff on our equipment that we bring into the country. These are equipment that are worth millions and are always stationed on the tarmac and why people run away from ground handling business is because of the heavy money involved in the business.

“One of our equipment that carries containers and loads for aircraft cost almost $950,000 and on each aircraft, you need about two of such equipment. And when you are handling about three to four aircraft, you know the number

of equipment you will require.

“If the airlines could be given zero tariff on their equipment and aircraft, such should be extended to the ground handlers, which I have always been emphasising that after the airport, it is the airlines and then the ground handlers who will welcome them and assist them to make their stay easy and complimentary easy, ensure that the passengers are comfortable in the country,” he said.

Owolabi, however, assured that the on-going construction of a state-of-the-art warehouse for the ground handling company at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, will be ready for use in two months’ time.

He disclosed that the ongoing construction of the warehouse had reached 85 per

We want to have a warehouse that will be the cynosure of all eyes for the next 25 years

cent completion stage, adding that the scarcity of building materials in recent weeks and some other factors contributed to the delay in completing the project as scheduled.

He noted that on completion, it would be one of the biggest in Africa.

“I am happy that you are here and it is easy for you to determine the present stage of completion. The project was delayed because of funds; we take loans from bank to do this. We are stretched to make the best. We want to have a warehouse that will be the cynosure of all eyes for the next 25 years. We don’t want to rebuild after some few years.

“We are building it from the scratch and we want to make it a state-of-the-art for all. Having four cold rooms is a big thing for the industry. We are almost in 85 per cent completion. The commissioning will be determined by factors in the system. About three weeks ago, there was no cement in the country and this affected the pace of work here and the rain too is a contributory factor, but despite this, I want to say that within the next two months we should be able to round off.”

of its 8th Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 26.

Ethiopian was the first in the world outside Japan to receive the Boeing 787 in August 2012. The airline will take delivery of further two Boeing 787s this year. Currently, Ethiopian is the largest operator of the Boeing 787 in Africa, serving routes to Africa, Brazil, Europe, the US, Canada and China.

The Boeing 787 offers passengers unparalleled onboard comfort with greatly reduced noise, higher ceilings,

The aircraft also enables the airline to fulfil its green corporate social responsibility with greatly reduced carbon footprint.

“The 787 is truly without peers in its category both in passenger comfort and operational excellence. As technology leaders in the continent, we will continue to introduce the latest technology aircraft with the aim of meeting the high expectations of our valued customers,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

Vivienne Westwood designs new uniform for Virgin Atlantic ritish designer Vivi- addition of bags for ground Blaunched enne Westwood officially staff has also been introduced her much-antici- by the Ethical Fashion Initiapated red hot uniform collection for Virgin Atlantic. The launch took place on July 1.

Following the announcement of the partnership last year, Sir Richard Branson, Dame Vivienne Westwood, and Blondie joined many famous faces at a major red carpet event to see the grand unveiling.

Original design and sustainability are top of the priority list for Vivienne and Virgin in this long term partnership: upheld through intelligent cuts; beautiful tailoring; as well as polyester yarn made from recycled plastic bottles and a nano finish to extend the garments life and retain colour.

Vivienne Westwood has redesigned the iconic cabin crew look with an elegant, and feminine red jacket inspired by the “Bettina” jacket designed in the early 90’s with a matching red pencil skirt with a cheeky dart to the rear. The hand drawn wing designs are a recurring theme across all members of the team while a new

tive in Nairobi in collaboration with the International Trade Centre, United Nations.

Vivienne Westwood’s design references her enduring interest in 40s French couture cutting, with a double breasted ‘drape coat’ for women, and updating the classic red shoe with Westwood’s iconic hourglass heel. Male crew will be provided with a sharp Saville Row inspired three piece suit with a contemporary twist in a deep burgundy Oxford weave wool.

Over 7,500 staff including cabin crew, pilots, Clubhouse staff and Virgin Holidays employees will receive the new uniform consisting of 22 pieces in total which has been trialled across airports and on board over the past year.

Blondie and Goldie entertained guests at the Village Underground in Shoreditch before passengers will be able to see the uniform onboard Virgin Atlantic flights and airports from 1st September later this year.

40

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Nahco aviance, Customs partner on 24-hour service Wole Shadare he Nigerian Aviation HanTance) dling Company Plc (nahco avihas begun 24-hour cargo

operations. This is as a sequel to the agreement reached between the organisation and the Nigerian Customs Service to extend its hours of operation at the Cargo Airport Complex.

With the commencement of the 24-hour cargo operations by nahco aviance, there would be prompt facilitation of cargoes. This would reduce the stockpiling of cargo at the tarmac and bulk breaking areas due to enhanced operational capacity.

It will also lead to maximization of cargo potentials, thus expediting on timely delivery to customers, smoother flow of operations and enhancing daytime capability.

In essence, this is geared toward the overall growth and development of air cargo industry in the country.

At the presentation of furnished portakabin and other items that will facilitate the scheme, the Customs Area Comptroller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Mr Tajudeen Olanrewaju, praised NAHCO for raising the bar in cargo service delivery in the country.

Olanrewaju who was accompanied by top officers of the body at the airport showered encomiums on the company for the donations while advising his men to put the facilities to optimum use.

Managing Director of nahco aviance, Mr Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo, who led other management staff of the company to the formal handing-over of the facilities, thanked the Service for the excellent relationship that has existed between the two organisations over the years.

He praised the Customs authorities for giving approval to NAHCO to start the new 24-hour service, another pioneering effort by the company.

Nahco aviance is the first company to be ISAGO certified in West Africa, the first to have modern warehouse with many facilities in sub-Sahara Africa, the first handling company to have an IATA Certified Learning and Development Centre in Nigeria, among others.

Meanwhile, the authorities of nahco aviance have stated that it has not stopped the clearing of goods in its warehouse.

The company said that the clarification became necessary due to insinuations that it had stopped clearance of goods in its warehouse as a result of a disagreement between major airlines and customs licenced clearing agents.

While urging a speedy resolution of the issues between the parties, nahco aviance declared that it remains open for business in both its export and import warehouses.

In 2012, the company commissioned a new warehouse with modern facilities such as cold room, freezer, strong room,

vault and dangerous goods area.

The commissioning of the warehouse further increased its interior space capacity by about 21,000 square metres and increased the processing capacity to 230,000 and 60,000 tonnes of import and export cargo respectively per annual.

With this development, the company now operates 24 hours in all its areas of operations as other areas such as ramp and passenger services as well as maintenance department operate 24 hours.

Meanwhile, as the crisis between the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), and the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives of Nigeria (AFARN) over additional charges on imported cargoes enters the seventh day, stakeholders in the cargo business are beginning to count their losses.

Investigation by New Telegraph shows that ANCLA might have lost over N160m to the crisis so far, just as the management of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company, NAHCo, Plc stated that it has not stopped the clearing of goods in its warehouse nationwide.

A source close to the customs clearing agents confided in our correspondent yesterday that the agents earns about N22m daily from all the international airports in the country with the bulk of the amount of money coming from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

All the five international airports in the country are affected by the down tool. The airports are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and lately Enugu.

Fifty per cent 50 of cargo volumes entering the country are from the Lagos Airport while Kano remains the second busiest airports in the country in terms of cargo.

Statistics released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, earlier in the year indicated that cargo movements in kilogrammes at the Lagos airport alone in the first quarter stood at 40,607,016.03; Abuja, 1,030,009.66; Port Harcourt, 322,973 and Kano had 677,539.60kg in the same period.

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, and NAHCo remained opened for business activities, but clearing agents deserted the complex.

However, our correspondent gathered that efforts are being made by stakeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry to resolve the crisis between the two parties before it degenerated further.

There were indications that discussions continue yesterday at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, as the industry regulator had waged in to arrest the situation.

NAHCo has stated that its warehouse remains up while clearing of goods has not stopped.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Travellers to Dubai get UAE visa services in Lagos

E

mirates, a global connector of people and places, and its commercial partner, Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC), have launched Dubai Visa Application Services in Lagos on May 26.

The introduction of this facility is aimed at providing high quality services to applicants from Nigeria for their UAE visa application process when travelling to Dubai. The new Dubai Visa Application Centre (DVAC) will offer greater comfort, convenience and reach to enhance the visa application experience of applicants and travel agents from the country.

The DVAC in Lagos is now operational for accepting visa applications and delivery of UAE visas for travel to Dubai.

This launch marks the expansion of DVPC’s operation in

the African region. Now the company through its 6 DVACs operate in 4 African countries including Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

The DVPC operated DVAC was inaugurated by Mr Manoj Nair, Regional Manager West Africa for Emirates Airline on July 1. Dubai-bound passengers on Emirates and passengers travelling onwards on Emirates, wishing to stop in Dubai for a few days can now apply for their UAE visas at the new DVAC. Nair, from Emirates said: “Dubai has so much to offer both the business and leisure traveller with its world class facilities and array of attractions. Visiting and experiencing Dubai has now been made even easier with the opening of the DVPC, and coupled with the

award winning service from Emirates on the ground and in the air; it further enhances the traveller’s experience.”

Mr VinayMalhotra, COO - DVPC and Special Projects, VFS Global, stated: “DVPC is honoured to be associated with Emirates in facilitating UAE visa application process for Dubai bound travellers in Lagos, Nigeria. Through this new dedicated facility launched in Lagos, we aim to extend a service that is professional, accessible and convenient for direct applicants and travel agents.

DVPC is privileged to be associated with Emirates since 2002, and is their trusted partner and now has 32 Dubai Visa Application Centres in 14 countries in addition to providing online services in over 180 countries worldwide.”

Virgin Atlantic's Business class cabin

Free Wi-Fi now available at SA airports

A

irports Company South Africa (ACSA) has confirmed that travellers can now access 30 minutes or 50MB of free Wi-Fi via AlwaysOn hotspots at the country’s airports.

ACSA said that users can access the free service by connecting to the AlwaysOn network and selecting “Complimentary access” from the web sign-up page.

Once the free allowance has

run out, travellers can continue to use Wi-Fi on a pay-as-yougo basis.

ACSA launched a mobile application last month, giving passengers access to resources, making navigation of the country’s airports easier and the ability to make travel arrangements from within the platform.

The app allows passengers to find shops and restaurants, airline, travel and traffic infor-

mation, weather reports and customer care details.

“The development of the Airports App is informed by research findings that 39 per cent of Airports Company South Africa’s customers are between the age of 16 and 35, tech-savvy and have the information at their fingertips.

This generation requires information 24/7 and the app is suited to cater for their needs,” ACSA said.

Air France inaugurates first Boeing 777 equipped with new cabins of Europe’s mega carri- ers were able to enjoy the Air France’s long-haul fleet; Air France, on June 24, new economy cabin, offer- close to 10,000 economy seats, O2014,neers,inaugurated its first Boe- ing optimum travel comfort, over 1,100 premium economy ing 777 equipped with its new cabins. Flight AF008 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 19:10 for New York.

The A330 and A380 are the next stages of Air FranceKLM’s move upmarket.

For the first time, custom-

and premium economy, with 40 per cent additional space.

They also discovered the new business class, a real cocoon in the sky.

These cabins are being progressively installed on 44 Boeing 777, the heart of

seats, 2,102 new business class seats.

The new cabins will be available by the end of 2014 to Singapore, Jakarta, TokyoHaneda, Houston and Shanghai. Douala, Dubai and Sao Paulo will follow in early 2015.

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 41

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Boko Haram liable for Nigeria’s negative rating, says S&P See more rankings for Nigerian, Kenyan firms

INSECURITY Standards & Poors officials are watching security issues in both Nigeria and Kenya

put Nigeria on negative outlook," said Bhatia.

"It's gotten slightly worse, it's a concern - it's not at this point destabilising the Nigerian state."

He said its officials were watching security issues in both Nigeria and Kenya.

S&P rates Kenya, where gunmen have killed about 100 people since mid-June in coastal raids, at B+ with stable outlook.

The agency however, said the killings were not having a more widespread impact on the Kenyan economy so far.

Borrowers across the continent, according to Reuters, are looking to tap international capital markets following successful bond sales by African countries.

A long-awaited rating for Tanzania is not likely to be assigned any time soon, however, S&P's Konrad Reuss said.

"More Nigerian bank ratings will be coming out later this year ... we are working on a number of corporates in the region," Reuss said.

Ayodele Aminu

with agency reports

N

igeria's BB- rating was changed to negative last March partly because of the Boko Haram insurgency, Ravi Bhatia, director in sovereign ratings at Standards & Poors (S&P), said yesterday in London.

The agency, which disclosed this at a news briefing, also said it expects to rate a number of Nigerian banks this year and is talking to some Kenyan banks and companies about future credit ratings.

More than 200 schoolgirls were snatched in their school last April Chibok, Bornu state, by militant group Boko Haram. "(Boko Haram) was part of what we considered when we

Borrowers in frontier markets such as Africa have turned to capital markets as aid funding dries up and monetary easing across the western world keeps interest rates low.

A flood of new issues from sub-Saharan Africa in the past couple of years includes a recent debut dollar bond from Nigerian bank Diamond Bank.

First Bank of Nigeria is holding a bond roadshow this week; according to Thomson Reuters service IFR. These bonds follow Nigeria's sale of sovereign dollar debt, which analysts say helped to familiarise investors with the West African economy.

Kenya issued a well-received $2 billion dollar bond last month, its first in international markets.

"We are reaching out to Kenya," Reuss said, referring to plans to discuss ratings with local banks and corporates in the East African country. "On the back of a very successful sovereign bond, a benchmark

Naira firms marginally on Total, Addax dollar sales

T

he naira firmed marginally on the interbank market on yesterday after oil companies sold dollars to buy the local currency and dollar demand from importers slowed, traders said.

The naira according to Re-

uters closed at N162.28 to the dollar, slightly firmer than last Friday's close of N162.38.

A unit of France's Total sold $42 million and China's Addax sold $8 million, boosting dollar liquidity and support for the local currency.

"The naira should be range bound this week ... don't see it depreciating to N163 anytime soon, probably N162.70 to the dollar," one dealer said.

The naira has traded around 162-162.50 in the last week.

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

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

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

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

government has made announcements, time and time again those plans were delayed," Reuss said, adding that any ratings timescale was difficult to predict "because of the many delays that we have seen so far".

Emerging central banks rebuild hard currency reserves

H

ard currency reserves across emerging markets excluding China have surged by around $100 billion from levels at the end of 2013 as central banks exploit this year's buoyant investment inflows to refill their depleted coffers.

With an eye on the day when US interest rates eventually start to rise, policymakers in emerging economies according to Reuters are actively buying dollars. They see them as a bulwark against the kind of selloff that ravaged their markets last year due to signs that the US bond-buying programme could soon be wound down.

They have been helped by renewed interest from investors who have pumped more than $150 billion this year into emerging stocks and bonds, data from the Institute of International Finance shows.

As a result, reserves in India, Indonesia and Mexico have risen by about 8 per cent this year, leading gains in big emerging economies.

"We are seeing rebuilding of emerging market reserves thanks to the strong inflow and that's allowing them to recover after the losses of last year," said David Hauner, head of Emerging EMEA fixed income and economics at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Indian reserves for instance are at $315 billion, over $40 billion above a trough hit last year as the Reserve Bank of India has intervened to rebuild buf-

fers and also stem gains in the rupee's exchange rate.

South Korean authorities also have intervened to dampen the won, which is near six-year highs "As much as central banks didn't like currency depreciation, they don't like much appreciation either," Hauner added.

India was one of the "Fragile Five" countries that suffered huge selloffs last year because of their reliance on external capital and a perception that their hard currency reserves were inadequate.

One RBI official said the bank had "learned its lesson".

"In the current situation where there are so many uncertainties like elections, global spillover, Fed fund rate hike, no amount of reserves is high," he said.

Overall reserves in emerging economies, not taking into account China, rose $100 billion in the January-July period to $4.08 trillion. Chinese reserves alone are near the $4 trillion mark.

Not everyone is building reserves. Russia's stash dwindled 6.6 per cent from the end of 2013 to $475.8 billion while another Fragile Five state, South Africa, posted a 9.5 per cent fall. Nigerian and Ukrainian reserves are down 13-14 per cent.

Rising reserves are helping to allay fears of balance of payments crises in emerging markets though there are some exceptions, according to the following graphic, based on data from BofA/ML.

UBA floats salary advance card for workers

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Treasury Bills

has been set."

Tanzania, which has also said it plans to launch a debut Eurobond, has not yet gained a rating.

"Time and time again, the

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

U

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc said it has launched a payment card (U-Advance Card) that allows workers who operate a salary account with the bank to get a credit advance ahead of payday.

In a statement, it said the U-Advance Card is an internationally accepted card payment solution designed to address the salary account holders’ need for easy and quick access to extra funds during their monthly salary cycles, in form of a revolving, secured credit facility.

UBA Plc’s Divisional Head, e-Banking, Dr Adeyinka Adedeji, said the U-Advance product will complement UBA’s existing suite of retail credit products in the form of a Naira based, short term, secured financing targeted at salary account holders. Besides, he said it will provide frictionless access to much needed credit with the cardholder’s monthly salary as security.

Though available only to

salary account holders with UBA Plc, non-UBA customers, according to the statement, can pre-qualify by opening a salary account with UBA. The lender said the product is ideal for staff of reputable organisations, affluent and high networth individuals (HNIs) who receive regular monthly salary, advising individuals wishing to obtain the U-Advance credit card to approach the nearest UBA business office for details on eligibility and how to apply.

Accepted locally and internationally, U-advance cardholders can make cash withdrawals at over 1.9 million Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) worldwide and Point of Sales (POS) or web purchases at more than 30 million retail outlets around the world, the statement added.

For safety, the U-advance card comes with the EMV certified chip & PIN technology plus the 3D secure feature for enhanced protection during web transactions.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

14-Jul-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

NA

NA

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

0.21 0.78 2.09 2.79 3.04 3.13 3.88 4.96 5.28 7.54 9.67 14.38 14.86 15.35 16.03

11.02 10.76 11.38 11.39 11.34 11.34 11.38 11.50 11.48 11.97 12.19 12.18 12.18 12.19 12.24

10.29 10.04 11.30 11.33 11.22 11.22 11.28 11.42 11.40 11.91 12.14 12.14 12.14 12.13 12.19

99.58 95.08 103.00 108.60 96.25 94.84 97.89 116.65 82.59 121.55 111.20 118.88 102.04 74.64 84.40

99.73 95.58 103.15 108.75 96.55 95.14 98.19 116.95 82.89 121.85 111.50 119.18 102.34 74.94 84.70

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,375.01 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

#

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

0.30 0.86 1.47 2.41 2.77 2.98

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.86 13.34 13.20 13.28 12.32 12.34

96.61 89.47 105.30 99.34 97.82 95.34

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

0.06 0.25 1.13 0.73 1.25 1.26 2.77 1.81 3.47 2.44 4.23 2.64 2.64 3.02 3.09 5.36 3.15 3.77 6.37 6.47 3.95 3.98

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

12.38 14.14 15.17 14.01 15.26 14.28 16.91 12.13 13.15 13.09 12.40 12.30 16.08 12.34 12.34 12.50 14.09 12.37 12.69 13.65 12.82 13.33

100.05 99.85 97.28 99.87 98.74 101.49 85.18 102.60 102.29 102.07 105.10 104.85 95.90 105.23 108.01 107.60 101.65 106.81 103.42 105.67 104.91 104.83

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

0.23 0.43 0.47 0.61 0.92 1.00 2.21 2.28 3.21 2.03 1.99 2.15 2.15 4.19 2.26 2.34 3.47 6.34

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

11.85 16.09 19.59 15.72 11.68 13.28 12.27 12.61 12.35 13.13 14.72 16.46 16.32 12.74 13.56 17.39 13.52 14.44

99.84 98.90 98.85 96.29 100.60 100.75 101.34 103.11 101.64 109.44 102.50 103.06 101.91 103.93 104.45 99.46 106.68 103.22

11-Feb-18

3.58

1.00

12.37

93.87

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

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.84

4.67

110.62

111.61

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.07

3.87

103.83

104.61

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.23

5.10

108.15

109.10

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

3.87

3.03

111.29

112.64

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.98

4.23

104.36

105.72

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.08

5.84

99.69

100.60

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.63

8.22

94.39

95.67

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

4.92

4.16

113.41

114.80

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.60

5.22

103.96

105.45

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 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59

FIXINGS Maturity 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.15 10.50 10.20 10.50 10.45 10.40 10.25 10.70

Offer Discount (%) 9.90 10.25 9.95 10.25 10.20 10.15 10.00 10.45

Bid Yield (%) 10.18 10.55 10.27 10.59 10.56 10.54 10.40 10.89

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.8658 12.3672 13.2830 14.3016

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.67

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.88

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

162.20 162.50 162.76 163.35 164.54 165.79

162.30 162.76 163.10 164.01 165.74 167.42

O/N Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.42 12.66

15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

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

15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

BRAWNY

Market closes northwards KWARA NIGER as bargain hunters take KADUNA *EBONYI position *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Market (NSE) yesterday opened the week on a positive curve as the stock market regained confidence and returned to green territory following appreciable demand by investors.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

T

12.14 12.14 12.13 12.19

118.88 102.04 74.64 84.40

119.18 102.34 74.94 84.70

#

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

0.30 0.86 1.47 2.41 2.77 2.98

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.86 13.34 13.20 13.28 12.32 12.34

96.61 89.47 105.30 99.34 97.82 95.34

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

0.06 0.25 1.13 0.73 1.25 1.26 2.77 1.81 3.47 2.44 4.23 2.64 2.64 3.02 3.09 5.36 3.15 3.77 6.37 6.47 3.95 3.98

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

12.38 14.14 15.17 14.01 15.26 14.28 16.91 12.13 13.15 13.09 12.40 12.30 16.08 12.34 12.34 12.50 14.09 12.37 12.69 13.65 12.82 13.33

100.05 99.85 97.28 99.87 98.74 101.49 85.18 102.60 102.29 102.07 105.10 104.85 95.90 105.23 108.01 107.60 101.65 106.81 103.42 105.67 104.91 104.83

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

Stock market opens on positive path 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

The twin market performance measures, the NSE ASI and market capitalisation, firmed up by 0.22 per cent as bargain hunters began to take investment position following the bearish run witnessed last week.

The market had last week closed on the downward trend as market speculators took advantage of two-week gains to take profits.

At the close of trading, 27 stocks recorded price appreciation, while 29 others con-

NSE re-launches website 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

12.18 12.18 12.19 12.24

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

14.38 14.86 15.35 16.03

4,375.01 Issuer

Sanctity of Truth

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

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday re-launched its website in order to incorporate a more intuitive navigation.

The new site also introduced several features along with sections that will provide access to information on the various products and instruments that are listed and traded on the regulated market.

Commenting onVALUE the website, TOTAL OUTSTANDING Chief Executive Officer of the Supranational Bond Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, AAA/S&P IFC said: “The upgrade of the NSE’s TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE website fits well with our desire to become the leading platform Rating/Agency Issuer to access capital in Africa.

“Nigeria is the largest econFGN Eurobonds omy in Africa and our goal is BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P to leverage digital technology FGN toBB-/Fitch; provide capital market inforBB-/S&P mation BB-/Fitch; to existing and potential BB-/S&P investors”.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE He said the new site gives visitors a clearer view of The Corporate Eurobonds Exchange’s activities and allows B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I transparent access to a wide vaGTBANK PLC I B+/S&P;of B+/Fitch riety information and data GTBANK PLC from any device with a funcB+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC tional browser said Onyema.

B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC Mr. Clifford Akpolo, B/Fitch AFRENDigital PLC

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

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

Oscar Onyema

Description

Marketing Manager of the NSE, 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 speaking on the upgrade of the 5.13asides JUL 12, 2018 website, said the new modern look, the site also has 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 a dynamic search functionality that provides rich information for investors, issuers and dealing member11.50 firms.

FEB 01, 2016 Akpolo noted that the web7.50 MAY 19, 2016 site also works as a channel for 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 interaction between investors 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 and the global capital 6.88 MAY 09, 2018market at large.

10.25 APR 08, 2019

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

stituted the losers’ table.

The twin market indicators, the All-Share Index rose by 97.78 basis points or 0.022 per cent, from 42,832.82 last Friday to close at 42,930.60, while the market capitalisation appreciated by N32 billion or 0.022 per cent, from N14.143 trillion to N14.175 trillion.

Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that Ashaka Cement Plc topped the day’s gainers table with N1.62 to close at N34.17, while GTB Plc followed with N1.03 to close at N31.00 per

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

share.

On the flip side, Seven- Up led the losers with a drop of N2.50 to close at N100.03 while Seplat shed N2.00 to close at N700.00.

On the activity chart, the Banking sub-sector dominated in volume terms with 175.2 million shares worth N1.3 billion in 1,688 deals. The sub sector was enhanced by the activities

in the shares of Unity Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc. Other financial services sector boosted by the activities on the shares of FBNH Plc followed with 170.8 million units, worth N2.6 billion in 733 deals.

In all, investors exchanged a total of 468.5 million shares, worth N6.2 billion in 5,502 deals.

Shoprite’s reports 10.5% turnover growth

A

frica’s biggest food retailer,

572.90Shoprite, yesterday said the

group’s turnover for the 12 07-Oct-14 months to June had surged0.23 10.5 18-Dec-14 billion 0.43 per cent to R102.2 ($9.5 31-Dec-14 0.47 billion).

17-Aug-15 0.61 However, 09-Dec-15 the continued 0.92 pressure on consumers’ disposable 06-Jan-16 1.00 29-Sep-16 in the slow2.21 income reflected 25-Oct-16 down in sales in its South 2.28 Afri30-Sep-17 can supermarket division,3.21 the 30-Nov-17 2.03 largest division in the group, 09-Apr-18 1.99 which grew09-Sep-18 sales by only 2.158.7 09-Sep-18 2.15 per cent.

22-Sep-18 4.19suThe turnover of the 169 18-Oct-18 2.26 permarkets 17-Feb-19 the group operates 2.34 outside the borders of South Af01-Apr-19 3.47 rica, rose 26.814-Nov-20 per cent compared 6.34 to the 2013 reporting period.

180.17 “Taken at constant currencies these operations grew by 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.58 16.2 per cent,” CEO Whitey 12.00 Basson said when the company released a trading update yesIssue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) terday.

“The furniture division grew He07-Oct-11 said that the new website 500.00 turnover by28-Jan-21 12.2 per cent even 6.75 4.84 has many advantages and added though the highly competitive 18-Dec-09 5.13 the pre500.00 12-Jul-18 values, compared with market conditions remained 4.07 vious website - including dy- unchanged,” Basson said.

01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.23 namic charts, access to market Earlier this year, Shoprite data reports on daily/weekly 1,500.00 said that 13 shops will start optransactions, periodical statisti- erating in Sub-Saharan Africa cal data and an effortless speedy 450.00 (outside South Africa) by the 01-Feb-11 11.50 01-Feb-16 3.87 web browser, which contains a 500.00 end of the 19-May-16 current financial 19-May-11 7.50 4.98 year. full content search engine that 400.00 08-Nov-13 6.00 08-Nov-18 6.08 will enable investors to view 350.00This will 25-Jul-17 increase the num25-Jul-12 7.25 7.03 listed09-May-13 companies information ber of stores in Africa but out6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.63 for selected side South Africa 08-Apr-12 periods. 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 to 163 shops, 4.92 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

it said. In the past financial year Shoprite opened 10 new supermarkets outside South Africa.

1.00 99.84 Shoprite’s 11.85 non South African 5.21 16.09 stores continued their 98.90 robust 8.71 98.85 growth in the19.59 six months to De4.88 15.72 96.29 cember through 1.00 11.68the 15 countries 100.60 where accord2.63 it has operations, 13.28 100.75 12.27 101.34 ing1.00 to Shoprite.

1.34 103.11 obAccording12.61 to reports 1.00 12.35 101.64 tained from Ventures Africa, in 1.88 13.13 109.44 the3.48 six months ended December 14.72 102.50 2013, said African sales 5.20Shoprite16.46 103.06 5.06 16.32 Africa101.91 outside of South surged 1.35 12.74 103.93and 28,1 per cent in rand terms 2.29 13.56 104.45 “14,9% in constant currencies.”

6.11 17.39 99.46 Whitey Basson, the CEO 2.16 13.52 106.68 of 2.76 Shoprite, 14.44 said this 103.22 growth was boosted by the weak rand against the US dollar than did paper money of some African 1.00 12.37 93.87 states in which Shoprite has operations.

But Shoprite posted an overOffer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price all 8 per cent surge in headline earnings share in the period Prices &aYields under review, described as the 4.67 110.62 111.61 lowest interim profit increase in eight 3.87 years. 103.83 104.61 The blame for this poor per108.15 5.10 109.10 formance during the period has been lay squarely on the door of major job losses, high consumers’ indebtedness and high petrol 3.03 111.29 112.64 prices in South Africa.

4.23 104.36 105.72 Basson admitted in Johan5.84 99.69 100.60 nesburg that this particular 6.41 100.59 102.30 interim period had been a very 8.22 94.39 95.67 tough 4.16 one. 113.41 114.80

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.60

5.22

103.96

105.45

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

14-Jul-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (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 Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) to the FMDQ of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

DTM OTC PLC TermsMaturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%)

**Treasury Bills

10 24-Jul-14 10.15 17 31-Jul-14 10.50 24 7-Aug-14 10.20 FGN Bonds 31 14-Aug-14 10.50 38 21-Aug-14 10.45 45 28-Aug-14 10.40 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 52 4-Sep-14 10.25 59 11-Sep-14 10.70 9.25 28-SEP-2014 66 18-Sep-14 10.65 4.00 23-APR-2015 73 25-Sep-14 10.60 13.05 16-AUG-2016 80 2-Oct-14 10.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 87 9-Oct-14 10.35 9.85 27-JUL-2017 94 16-Oct-14 10.65 101 23-Oct-14 10.55 9.35 31-AUG-2017 108 30-Oct-14 10.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 115 6-Nov-14 10.65 NA NA 16.00 29-JUN-2019 122 13-Nov-14 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 129 20-Nov-14 10.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 143 4-Dec-14 10.50 14.20 14-MAR-2024 178 8-Jan-15 10.35 192 22-Jan-15 10.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 206 5-Feb-15 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 220 19-Feb-15 10.40 8.50 20-NOV-2029 234 5-Mar-15 10.40 10.00 23-JUL-2030 269 9-Apr-15 9.80 283 10.05 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 23-Apr-15 297 7-May-15 9.85 *from the Amortising # bonds, the average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Description Rating/Agency Issuer **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 A/Agusto; A-/GCR

<3

3<5 >5 KWARA Market NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO

9.90 10.25 9.95 10.25 10.20 10.15 Issue Date 10.00 10.45 28-Sep-07 10.40 23-Apr-10 10.35 16-Aug-13 10.40 27-Apr-12 10.10 27-Jul-07 10.40 10.30 31-Aug-07 10.45 30-May-08 10.40 29-Jun-12 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.35 27-Jan-12 10.25 14-Mar-14 10.10 10.15 28-Nov-08 10.15 22-May-09 10.15 20-Nov-09 10.15 23-Jul-10 9.55 9.80 9.60

1,139.09 682.95 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 2,829.06 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

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding Value 6M

(N'bn)

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 Weighting 20-Apr-12by Outstanding 06-Jul-12 Vol

Rate (%) 10.8658 12.3672 13.2830 14.3016 Maturity Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 NITTY 23-Apr-15 535.00 500.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.4691 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.8916 3M 10.8955 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 10.9067 300.00 30-May-18 9M 11.0150 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 11.0524 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 165.17 NIFEX 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N) 162.2150 200.00 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 162.3150 591.57 23-Jul-30

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 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Volume(Bn) 1,007.02

10.18 10.55 10.27 10.59 10.56 10.54(%) Coupon 10.40 10.89 9.25 10.86 4.00 10.83 13.05 10.90 15.10 10.61 9.85 10.95 10.87 9.35 11.05 10.70 11.02 16.00 11.20 7.00 11.01 16.39 10.95 14.20 10.90 11.00 15.00 11.05 12.49 11.10 8.50 11.14 10.00 10.56 10.90 10.71

OBB

10.67

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

O/N

10.88

Spot 7D 14D Offer1M Yield (%) 2M 3M 10.29 6M 10.04 1Y

162.20 162.50 162.76 163.35 Bid Price 164.54 165.79 99.58 169.44 95.08 177.23

REPO Tenor (%)(%) TTM (Yrs) BidRate Yield Call

10.42

1M 12.66 0.21 11.02 3M 13.31 0.78 10.76 6M 13.89 2.09 11.38 11.30 2.79 11.39 11.33 NOTE: 3.04 11.34 11.22 :Benchmarks 3.13 11.34 11.22 * :Amortising Bond 3.88 11.38 11.28 µ :Convertible Bond 4.96 11.50 11.42 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 5.28 Government of 11.48 11.40 FGN: Federal Nigeria 7.54 Mortgage Bank 11.97 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 11.91 9.67 12.19 12.14 IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Management 14.38 Contractors Receivables 12.18 12.14 NAHCO:14.86 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 12.18 12.14 O/N: Overnight 15.35 12.19 12.13 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 16.03 12.24 12.19 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.30 162.76 163.10 164.01 Offer Price 165.74 167.42 99.73 173.04 95.58 184.22

103.00 103.15 108.60 108.75 96.25 96.55 NA :Not Applicable 94.84 95.14 # :Floating Rate Bond 97.89 98.19 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 116.65 116.95 82.59 82.89 †: Bond rating expired 121.55 121.85 111.20 111.50 118.88 119.18 NGC:102.04 Nigeria-German 102.34 Company UBA: United Bank for Africa 74.64 74.94 84.40 84.70

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

0.00

978.35

17.25 0.00/16.00 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value 0.00/16.50

6.00 112.22 Bucket116.70 Weighting 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 % 20-Apr-17 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17

0.30 0.86 1.47 2.41 2.77Yield Implied 2.98

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio 1.00Price

11.86 13.34 13.20 13.28 12.32 INDEX 12.34

96.61 89.47 105.30 99.34 YTD97.82 Return (%) 95.34

0.00 BOND INDEX 24.56 FMDQ FGN

953.07

35.81

35.60

951.30 756.74 2,661.11

35.75 28.44 05-Aug-09 100.00 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

40.26 24.14 14.00 100.00 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

1,304.32

0.36

17.67

11.39

117.1694

1,112.87

11.2870

0.36 0.28 17.00 1.00 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

36.37 45.96 05-Aug-14 100.00 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

11.82 12.23 0.06 11.93 0.25 1.13 0.73 1.25 1.26 2.77 1.81 3.47 2.44 4.23 2.64 2.64 3.02

133.1021 99.0456 1.56 117.7112 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

1,127.06 1,155.45 12.38 1,118.13 14.14 15.17 14.01 15.26 14.28 16.91 12.13 13.15 13.09 12.40 12.30 16.08 12.34

12.7058 15.5447 100.05 11.8131 99.85 97.28 99.87 98.74 101.49 85.18 102.60 102.29 102.07 105.10 104.85 95.90 105.23

Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014

Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036

44 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 14, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 40 6 46

Current Price 33.00 38.06

Quantity Traded 550,503 72,000 622,503

Value Traded 18,102,141.04 2,691,870.00 20,794,011.04

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 3.03

Quantity Traded 561,042 561,042

Value Traded 1,710,977.52 1,710,977.52

1,183,545

22,504,988.56

Quantity Traded 13,444 4,586 1,250 33,123,791 335,405 33,478,476

Value Traded 19,123.40 17,243.36 5,837.50 191,351,433.30 20,522,953.84 211,916,591.40

33,478,476

211,916,591.40

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 CHELLARAMS PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

64 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 6 2 1 418 51 (Equities) 478

CONGLOMERATES Activity Summary onTotals Board EQTY

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.39 3.95 4.91 5.78 61.10

478

Page Quantity Traded 134,612 134,612

1 of 14 Value Traded 176,341.72 176,341.72

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.31

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 78 78

Current Price 66.01

Quantity Traded 2,374,448 2,374,448

Value Traded 153,447,721.94 153,447,721.94

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 17.44

Quantity Traded 277,257 277,257

Value Traded 4,834,969.10 4,834,969.10

2,786,317

158,459,032.76

Current Price 0.71 199.50 29.50 174.60

Quantity Traded 2,000 372,777 12,625 1,091,655 1,479,057

Value Traded 1,480.00 74,313,704.57 363,992.05 190,509,791.53 265,188,968.15

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 27,823 27,823

Value Traded 2,839,423.72 2,839,423.72

Value Traded 2 of 14 3,060,141.56 18,727,553.02 27,999,500.39 10,827,603.93 1,040.00 5,436,615.40 19,700.00 125.00 66,072,279.30

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 GUINNESS NIG PLC Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036BREWERIES PLC. INTERNATIONAL NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Food Products Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals

110 Symbol GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

7UP

27 27

100.03

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MANDRID NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 54 71 48 55 1 34 1 1 265

Current Price 8.20 9.35 76.70 4.40 5.35 11.40 19.75 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 374,575 2,052,002 369,557 2,532,685 200 486,978 1,000 250 5,817,247

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 45 63 108

Current Price 74.25 1,110.00

Quantity Traded 373,856 198,947 572,803

Value Traded 27,331,692.60 220,822,177.85 248,153,870.45

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 10 3 13

Current Price 4.38 1.44

Quantity Traded 147,960 1,988 149,948

Value Traded 634,874.58 2,723.56 637,598.14

Symbol

No. of Deals 41 72 113

Current Price 36.00 50.24

Quantity Traded 389,878 15,960,164 16,350,042

Value Traded 13,946,829.43 801,839,002.54 815,785,831.97

Daily Summary (Equities) PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS GOODS PublishedCONSUMER

by The Nigerian StockTotals Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNITY BANK PLC

No. of Deals 1 80 18 146 245

771

1,398,677,971.73 3 of 14

Current Price 9.76 6.27 17.50 1.96 31.00 3.21 2.32 7.85 9.51 0.50

Quantity Traded 13,951,922 3,018,075 1,223,081 4,688,390 23,783,451 5,362,561 4,259,727 10,580,114 1,240,635 61,099,800

Value Traded 136,397,128.00 18,835,877.88 21,300,982.71 9,265,113.17 715,697,865.24 17,390,460.02 9,832,444.42 84,122,096.19 11,854,417.19 30,549,900.00

No. of Deals 79 262 1,688

Current Price 1.02 25.15

Quantity Traded 37,591,441 8,434,126 175,233,323

Value Traded 36,561,740.25 210,975,546.63 1,302,783,571.70

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE 2 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 31 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 17 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 1 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR 2 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE GNI 1 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS 2 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 15 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 19 Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC LINKASSURE 2 Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 16 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 9 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 33 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 7 Daily Summary (Equities) PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 7 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS 1 Activity Summary on Board EQTY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE STACO 8

Current Price 0.50 0.80 1.14 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.62 0.56 0.82 0.52 0.54 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,250 4,824,483 345,000 60,000 110,000 Page 50

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 148 DIAMONDBNK 72 ETI 87 FIDELITYBK 80 GUARANTY 382 SKYEBANK 138 STERLNBANK 135 Daily Summary (Equities) UBA 200 UBN 68 UNITYBNK 37

24,396,920 Page

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

2,000 50 1,903,229 18,000 2,024,467 500 730,025 428,426 6,015,397 338,000 345,028 350 2,400

Value Traded 625.00 3,878,042.05 402,120.00 30,000.00 55,000.00 4 of25.00 14 1,000.00 25.00 953,514.50 9,000.00 1,013,863.50 250.00 1,898,461.50 227,340.52 4,886,697.81 176,160.00 185,245.12 175.00 1,200.00

Symbol WAPIC

No. of Deals 67 242

Current Price 0.91

Page Quantity Traded 10,711,877 27,860,532

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.97

Quantity Traded 185,005 185,005

Value Traded 177,613.38 177,613.38

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol INFINITY UNHOMES

No. of Deals 7 2 9

Current Price 1.68 0.50

Quantity Traded 138,000 25,050 163,050

Value Traded 227,315.00 12,525.00 239,840.00

No. of Deals 55 28 1 446 94 5 29 75 Daily Summary (Equities) 733

Current Price 3.36 3.70 0.91 16.29 4.15 0.54 27.50 2.24

Quantity Traded 902,261 2,362,703 10,000 157,972,383 4,947,859 475,219 906,597 3,260,110 170,837,132

Value Traded 3,024,412.90 8,721,999.45 8,700.00 2,559,125,604.32 20,273,779.05 256,618.76 24,679,222.83 7,179,009.98 2,623,269,347.29

374,279,042

3,949,660,812.61

Carriers, Brokers and Published byInsurance The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Services WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 FBN HOLDINGS PLC Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals EQTY Activity Summary on Board HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC.

2,680

5 Value of Traded14 9,471,695.24 23,190,440.24

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.91

Quantity Traded Page 10,000 10,000

6Value Traded of 14 18,200.00 18,200.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

No. of Deals 10 14 12 12 13 2

Current Price 2.30 3.00 69.00 1.77 1.22 7.36

Quantity Traded 260,303 249,000 53,072 32,928 339,063 1,772

Value Traded 598,865.26 744,939.00 3,488,353.67 55,918.32 416,186.53 11,853.80

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Symbol PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 2 65

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 Telecommunications Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 Services Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF PLC Daily Summary as ofNIGERIA 14/07/2014 Packaging/Containers Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 Totals

949,138

5,338,866.58

No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 5.00 15.20

Quantity Traded 200 30,030 30,230

Value Traded 980.00 470,161.84 471,141.84

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 40,000 40,000

Value Traded 20,000.00 20,000.00

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,025,000

Value Traded 2,512,500.00

3

5,025,000

2,512,500.00

10

5,095,230

3,003,641.84

Quantity Traded 761,130 62,416

Value Traded 25,531,544.76 542,764.37

Page Quantity Traded 38,294 213,467 56,938 207,932 221,300 161,960 1,723,437

8 of 14 Value Traded 1,503,903.67 2,460,423.93 13,709,105.22 262,848.38 1,099,739.60 18,389,375.12 63,499,705.05

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ASHAKACEM BERGER

112 9

34.17 9.00

Symbol CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 13 30 29 6 17 53 269

Current Price 39.00 11.40 241.00 1.26 4.92 113.00

Symbol AUSTINLAZ CUTIX

No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 2.00 1.80

Quantity Traded 1,000 87,333 88,333

Value Traded 1,900.00 159,509.43 161,409.43

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 1 5 1 7

Current Price 1.69 16.30 12.08

Quantity Traded 70,812 76,457 100 147,369

Value Traded 119,672.28 1,303,467.16 1,208.00 1,424,347.44

1,959,139

65,085,461.92

Quantity Traded 1,699 1,699

Value Traded 12,521.63 12,521.63

282

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ALUMACO

1 1

NATURAL RESOURCES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Value Traded 4,550.00 5,320,666.58

Symbol CWG NCR

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals on Board EQTY Activity Summary

Quantity Traded 3,000 939,138

67

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC Activity Summary on Board BERGER PAINTS PLC EQTY

Current Price 1.50

7.75

Page 1,699

1

9

of 14 12,521.63

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 86 86

Current Price 0.59

Quantity Traded 9,700,711 9,700,711

Value Traded 5,682,106.54 5,682,106.54

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 495 495

Current Price 27.97

Quantity Traded 6,501,104 6,501,104

Value Traded 181,767,808.75 181,767,808.75

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 36 28 118 4 18 21 226

Current Price 0.50 65.60 4.25 235.00 135.00 62.43 171.05

Quantity Traded 250 117,598 1,033,172 401,064 11,157 19,901 16,801 1,599,943

Value Traded 125.00 7,538,742.33 4,394,314.78 94,072,818.37 1,505,682.11 1,180,569.96 2,894,623.80 111,586,876.35

Exploration and Production Symbol No. of Deals SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Daily SEPLAT 32 Summary (Equities) Exploration and Production Totals 32

Current Price 700.00

Quantity Traded 108,910 108,910

Value Traded 74,483,181.29 74,483,181.29

17,910,668

373,519,972.93

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary asOIL of 14/07/2014 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Activity on Board EQTY OIL ANDSummary GAS Totals SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Apparel Retailers

839 Symbol LENNARDS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.15

Page Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.14

Quantity Traded 44,589 44,589

Value Traded 48,860.40 48,860.40

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 19 3 22

Current Price 4.85 1.97

Quantity Traded 223,025 15,430 238,455

Value Traded 1,074,721.65 29,323.10 1,104,044.75

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 729,500 729,500

Value Traded 364,750.00 364,750.00

Hospitality

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 0.74

Quantity Traded 1,377,476 1,377,476

Value Traded 1,024,957.48 1,024,957.48

Symbol ACADEMY

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 1.71

Quantity Traded 11,500

Value Traded 18,796.36

Symbol No. of Deals LEARNAFRCA 24 STUDPRESS 1 Daily Summary (Equities) UPL 25 53

Current Price 1.65 2.40 4.40

Page Quantity Traded 1,226,387 1,000 333,510 1,572,397

LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Apparel Retailers Totals

TANTALIZERS PLC Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 Hospitality Totals Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing

Activity Summary on Board ACADEMY PRESS PLC. EQTY

Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 SERVICES Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY Road Transportation

Daily Summary (Equities)

10 of 14 Value Traded 3,000.00 3,000.00

11 of 14 Value Traded 1,950,291.46 2,280.00 1,446,789.16 3,418,156.98

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded 1,722,775 1,722,775

Value Traded 1,497,907.75 1,497,907.75

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 6 33 39

Current Price 2.23 4.97

Quantity Traded 116,900 272,365 389,265

Value Traded 262,337.00 1,350,482.00 1,612,819.00

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 6.79

Quantity Traded 441,395 441,395

Value Traded 2,987,742.05 2,987,742.05

199

6,516,952

12,062,288.41

5,501

468,557,126

6,200,242,150.37

SERVICES Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary as of 14/07/2014 Printed 14/07/2014 15:43:36.036

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS

Published by The Products Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food MCNICHOLS PLC

FoodSummary Products Totals Activity on Board ASeM

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals MCNICHOLS

CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

1 1

Current Price 1.34

Page Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

12 of 14 Value Traded 2,800.00 2,800.00

1

2,000 Page

ASeM Board Totals

1

2,000

2,800.00

Equity Activity Totals

5,502

468,559,126

6,200,244,950.37

13

2,800.00 of 14

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 2,069.00 19.55

Quantity Traded 8 11,500 11,508

Value Traded 16,552.00 224,206.00 240,758.00

ETF Board Totals

6

11,508

240,758.00

ETP Activity Totals

6

11,508

240,758.00

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

14

of

14

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014

45

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

Fading hopes for Chibok girls T he period preceding the abduction of over 250 schoolgirls at Chibok, a rural community, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, had been characterised by pockets of attacks from Boko Haram on public places, schools and military formations.

The orgy of violence later shifted and became fiercer in the North-East.

In all of those attacks, thousands of lives were sent to their early graves while valuables were massively destroyed.

From when it started to the first quarter of 2014, Nigeria and Nigerians, it seemed, had been condemned to live with the ravaging Boko Haram heinous acts.

But the abduction of over 250 schoolgirls at Chibok altered the notion of Nigeria’s loneliness in the wilderness of sociopolitical carnage.

It attracted unprecedented outcry and condemnation from across the globe. These were happening when Nigeria, apparently, was had no solution to what has been termed a national tragedy.

The impact of that outcry stimulated international interest and subsequent intention to embark on rescue effort.

When finally the international community agreed to embark on the rescue mission, spearheaded by the United States, to get back the abductees from Boko Haram’s enclave, the applause that greeted that decision was natural and understandable: as there had been a display of cluelessness by the Nigerian Government and the military on how to handle the abduction and the necessary rescue.

Initial rescue effort As the international troops on rescue mission were being dispatched, great hope removed the pervading grief covering the country. So, maximum cooperation between the Nigerian military and the assisting international troops was expected, to attain the strategic synergy needed to make the rescue effort a successful operation in the shortest possible time. But three months after, the stalemate that dogs the rescue expedition is all the more confounding.

Despite assurances from the Federal Government and the military as well as involvement of international community, abducted schoolgirls remain in captivity three months after they were kidnapped, writes ELIJAH SAMUEL

The abducted girls

The attackers are in a part of Borno State described as Sambisa Forest and we are working with the experts that will use remote sensor to see that wherever they are, we will see them One significant effect of the subsisting Chibok saga is that it has thrown up a lot of issues and exposed the country’s illusory sense of achievement in many ways.

At a time, when it was obvious that the anticipated early release of the abductees was no longer feasible, there was a hail of criticisms on the perceived tardiness and ineptitude that beclouded the rescue process. Of note is the outrage on the inability of Nigeria’s satellites to track terrorists.

In an effort to assuage the critics, the Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Prof. Seidu O. Mohammed, said that Nigeria Sat.2 and Sat X were not designed for reconnaissance or spying.

He said: “The resolving power is too weak. ‘Resolving power’ refers to the capacity of the

imaging devices onboard the spacecraft to distinguish one object or surface feature from another.”

In a related development, the NASRDA Media Director, Felix Ale, corroborated Mohammed.

“Our satellites do not have video capabilities but have repeated imaging coverage of four days. These are apparent limitations of Remote Sensing satellites in monitoring migrant militants and terrorists,” he said.

Also, during his address to the participants at the World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) which held in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan had expressed hope for the early release of the abductees, and as well re-enacted the NASRDA’s helplessness in the rescue effort, and by extension Nigeria’s need to close up her deficiency in technological advancement.

“The attackers are in a part of Borno State described as Sambisa Forest and we are working with the experts that will use remote sensor to see that wherever they are, we will see them,” the President said.

Consequent upon these, it is apparent that Nigeria’s hope of ever finding and securing freedom for the girls

depends to a large extent on how successful the technological expertise of the visiting international troops will be deployed.

In the midst of the seeming lull that embroiled the rescue process, several groups in the country and overseas had variously organised #Bring-Back-Our-Girls protests which had been staged in virtually all available space and time within and outside the country.

Although many had only embarked on such protests simply to be part of the bandwagon, nonetheless, the common crux of these civil protests was to stimulate concerted efforts towards the eventual freedom of the Chibok abductees.

Information hoax The pervading disappointment which the subsisting rescue stalemate has engendered is, no doubt, discomfiting. It is even made more despondent by the information hoax which characterises the whole rescue process.

The claims and counterclaims on knowledge of whereabouts of the Chibok girls have added more confusion to the abduction drama.

Expectedly, clamour for openness, information access and C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 6

46 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

90 days after: Confusion, cluelessness dog rescue efforts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

updates have relentlessly been on the rise.

Dr. David Aworawo, a lecturer and socio-political analyst, bemoaned the disappointment of effective information dissemination in the rescue project.

He said: “It is disappointing that after this long time, there is no concrete information regarding exactly where the girls are, when they might be out, whether there is progress or no progress at all.

“There was a time when the Minister of Defence made a statement that they know where they are, that they are just being careful so that the girls will not be brought to harm.

“The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, also at a time spoke to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), saying that they know where they are, and that they will pass relevant information to the relevant authority. To my mind that information is also fallacious.

“Those are the disappointing dimensions of the whole exercise: when people in the authority can come up to make comments that are obviously fallacious. If it is true that they know where they are and that they are only being cautious so as not to put them to harm, by now we would have got an update on that.

“Those kinds of comment should be advocated against.”

Present stalemate in perspective In the course of securing the release of the Chibok abductees, President Jonathan had made a vow ‘not to sleep’ until the girls are released.

“As a father and the President of this country, I feel pained and I don’t sleep with two eyes closed. And I will not sleep with two eyes closed until these girls are brought safely back to their parents,” he vowed.

To show his seriousness, the President announced $10 million to complement international community rescue bid.

So far, nothing seems to have been achieved. This is unsettling as no iota of information that could have offered succour to the agitated minds longing for the safe return of the abductees. The development has even cast a blanket of doubt on the veracity of the abduction claim.

Aworawo bemoaned the

Jonathan

Shettima

Onailo

Aworawo

peculiar difficulty which has stalled efforts in the rescue bid.

To him, the non-forthcoming of updates has further compounded the complexity of the abduction saga and the rescue bid.

He said: “There is no clarity of information about the abduction thing. Once in a while we heard a few of the girls escaped and that is where the information ends. If indeed a few of the girls escaped, where did they escape from?

“It is a little difficult to make any definitive comments because there are lot more things that we do not know about this kidnapping thing. What one can only say on a general note is that there is a need not to give up; they should not allow time to wear off the enthusiasm to continue the search.

“The fact that we have so many foreign agencies who are also involved in the search process, and yet nothing has come to light, is a further implication of the complexity of the situation. We should just hope that in not too distant future, there will be some headway.”

The identifiable inhibitive factors According to Aworawo, the Chibok kidnap is a complex phenomenon.

He said: “It is difficult to blame anybody. Do we blame the

government? Do we also blame the Americans and the British who have been around and not been able to find anything? If the government has failed, have those ones not also failed? That tells about the complexity of the kidnap issue: they have been doing surveillance, combing the forest but have found nothing.”

What is at stake Undoubtedly, the air of uneasiness which has pervaded Nigeria’s landscape and beyond, since Chibok’s school abduction broke out, has put so many things at stake: peace and joy of deprived families, the abductees’ lives, Nigeria’s integrity, and Nigerians’ collective social security.

The fact of the psychological trauma, which the families that are affected had been subjected, cannot be overemphasised.

This is typified by the reported death of about seven of the parents of the abductees last week.

Apparently, the parents had died from the shock and the despair which the disappearance of their daughters had unleashed.

The girls, surely, are at greater risk. There have been distasteful tales which had further raised concern over the abductees’ wellbeing.

According to unsubstantiated

Zanna

reports, hunger, sexual assault, illnesses and deaths are rife in the camps where the girls are kept.

Senator Khalifa Ahmed Zanna, who represents Borno Central Senatorial District, recently disclosed that people watched on video how the girls were being sexually assaulted.

He said: “It is very disturbing that they are just raping the girls on camera and even showing them on video, releasing it to the public.”

From reports of Boko Haram’s incessant attacks on villages on Borno fringes, villagers were dispossessed of livestock, foodstuff and money.

It is a revelation that all may not be well with Boko Haram and by implication their ‘hostages’.

“The terrorist sect is now going from one village to another, taking the little the villagers have from them at gunpoint. As a result, most villages in Borno State are now deserted as villagers have moved to cities or fled to neighbouring countries.

“I don’t know what they are going to do if food is not available. Are they going to sacrifice to give it to the girls?”

Zanna added.

What way forward However, despite the stalemate and the uneasiness which have characterised the Chibok saga, Aworawo advised that “at a time like this, the government should not give up and allow what is happening in the meantime to wear off its commitment and determination to get to the root of the abduction.

“This is a national calamity, so there should be commitment and oneness of purpose against common enemy so that these girls may be found. We have to be patient and methodical.

Those are the things we should be doing at this time in order to move forward.”

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, July 14, 2014

Jonathan's kinsman, others jostle for VC of Bayelsa university tussle

Something is going on wrong supporters of two prominent Ijaw sons Chris Ejim Yenagoa

T

here is increasing pressure on the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson over the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor the state-owned Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island in the Ammassoma community of Southern Ijaw Area.

The Niger Delta University, which has been under the management of an Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Humphrey

Igoni, has witnessed the declaration of intent by three frontline candidates for the position of substantive Vice Chancellor.

New Telegraph gathered that majority of the Staff of the state owned University and adjunct co-professors are favourably disposed to the appointment of Ogoni for the position of the Vice Chancellor, describing him as a patriotic staff, competent, humble and selfless servant in the University system.

Others in the race for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University include Prof. Ebiamadon Brisibe, who hails from Delta State and a maternal relative of the Governor of Bayelsa State.

Also in the race is Prof.

Sickoki from the University host community

of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and one time governorship aspirant in the state.

Two other candidates of Professorial status, are ruled out Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Technology, Professor Stephen Odiowei was disqualified from the race on age grounds. Professor Palmer Jonny was disqualified on grounds raging from status and he is from Nembe Local Government Area of the State.

New Telegraph gathered at the weekend that the lobby for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University has taken a new dimension with politicians divided along ethnic and loyalty lines between President Goodluck Jonathan and

the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.

A check showed that the rising support for the Acting Vice Chancellor has already labelled him Jonathan's choice. But others close to the governor claimed that the appointment of a Vice Chancellor comes from the state governor and not the President.

A source in the Dickson’s cabinet, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that “wisdom supersedes power, no sensible politician will directly or indirectly ask his father for his downfall because of a little position to others, the end justifies its means."

New Telegraph gathered yesterday that some politicians of Southern Ijaw extraction have started mounting pressure on

the governor to dump the Acting Vice Chancellor over his minority status of Ogbia extraction. Professor Humphrey Igoni is from the same area with President Goodluck Jonathan.

While none of the close cabinet members of Dickson’s administration could confirm his choice for Vice Chancellor, some argued that the governor cannot make the mistake of giving the position to an indigene of Delta State. “What is wrong with Bayelsans to even allow a candidate from Delta State again to come for the Vice Chancellor’s interview knowing well that the former Vice Chancellor that acted for two (2) years and later confirmed by the government of the day also came from Delta Stat," they echoed.

Abia APC denies factions Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Abia State ChairTsives man of the All ProgresCongress (APC),

Mr. Fabian Okonkwo, a lawyer, has denied the existence of factions in the party, saying APC is one united happy family.

Okonkwo said that since after the congress held at the War Museum, Umuahia, the party has remained one, adding that in any election, there must be winners and losers, but that in the case of the party in the state, people did not show any interest in picking nomination forms for the congress.

He noted that only few people who were interested in becoming party officials bought the forms and stood for the election.

“Therefore, Abia APC does not have any aggrieved party members after the congress; you can only be aggrieved when one stands for election”, he said, adding, “There is no faction in Abia APC, we are members of one united party with aim and determination of taking over the government of the state after the elections in 2015 and there is no going back on that”.

He disclosed that the party under his leadership has set up a reconciliation committee headed

by Pedro Madukwe to make room for all those who are aggrieved in one way or the other to air their minds.

L-R: Sokoto State Head of Service, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi; former Head of Service, Abdullahi Wali and Governor Aliyu Wamakko, during a one week induction course for civil servants in Sokoto …yesterday

Uduaghan wants journalists to maintain integrity Joe Obende Warri

G

overnor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State waded into a brewing crisis in the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists with an admonition to journalists not to rubbish their noble professional body, the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

The crisis, which had been brewing over alleged misappropriation of the union's funds

by its leadership at the state level, came to a head during the governor's interactive session with journalists, when members of the Asaba Correspondents' Chapel chose to remain on their feet in protest.

When the governor sought to know the cause of the protest, he was told and to which he said "I know, I have been told."

He appealed for peace and admonished journalists not to rubbish "the

noble union".

"Please do not rubbish the NUJ. The NUJ is a powerful union and I will want to leave it united.

"What you call your cloth is what people will call it. If you call your cloth Abananya, people will join you and call it Abananya. Your union is much too noble to be rubbished".

When the state council's Chairman of the NUJ, Mr. Norbert Chiazor, was called upon to give the vote of thanks at

the end of the session, he was booed by members of the Asaba Chapel.

The governor politely rejected a present which Chiazor had not even explained where it was coming from and simply said "we will take care of that later".

Some chapels in the state, New Telegraph gathered, have commenced the collation of signatures to pass a "vote of no confidence" on the leadership of the union in the state.

NEWS 47

Lanlehin donates buses to AP Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

HE Senator repreTSenatorial senting Oyo South District,

Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, has for mally validated his defection to the Accord Party from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on which platform he got elected in 2011. He donated two brand new buses to Accord Party in Oyo on Sunday.

He made the presentation at the Bodija, Ibadan residence of the Accord leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, where he said that the vehicles were expected to boost party activities, especially as elections approach.

According to a statement by the media assistant to Senator Ladoja, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, the former APC Senator was said to have claimed the gesture was part of his contributions to the party's growth.

Lanlehin appealed to all members to rise to the occasion of further stabilizing the party to ensure that it emerges victorious in the 2015 election, stressing that the party enjoys the good will of people of the state.

In his remark, the Accord leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, appreciated Lanlehin for the donation, while he enjoined other party members not to shirk in their responsibility to the party, as according to him, "Accord belongs to all".

Ladoja emphasised that "Accord belongs to all of us. We should all contribute our quota to its growth. I urge you not to shirk in your responsibility to the party".

Present at the presentation ceremony were the state Chairman, Bashiru Lawal National Secretary of the party, Nure Adisa; Chief Bisi Ilaka, Prince Adeoye, Bayo lawal, Hamid Gbadamosi, Bimbo Adepoju, Yinka Adeniyi, Dele Adigun, Dr. Nureni Adeniran among others.

Redeemer’s VC wants better research funding for varsities Biodun Oyeleye, Ilorin he Vice-Chancellor of TProfessor Redeemer's University, Debo Adeyewa

has called on the Federal Government to enhance the funding of postgraduate training and research

in Nigerian universities.

Adeyewa, who made the call in a keynote address he delivered at the 4th General Assembly and National Conference of the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA), hosted by the University of Ilo-

rin, also urged the government to implement and sustain the provision of scholarships, bursaries and loans to ensure that all Nigerians that seek education at the tertiary level are not denied access.

The university boss, whose paper centered on the Conference theme, “Harnessing the Potential of Young Scientists and Diaspora-Home Network for Sustainable National Development”, identified limited access

to libraries, laboratories, IT facilities, funds, research grants and lack of political will on the part of the government as the major reasons for which research fails to translate to development in Nigeria.

Osun 2014

48 NEWS

APC accuses INEC of denying members’ permanent voters’ cards ALLEGATION Ruling party takes INEC to task, cry blue murder Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise its members in Osun State ahead of the August 9 governorship election.

The party said the commission was attempting to deny its members of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) as a result of which they would be disenfranchised, since only those who possess the PVCs would be allowed to vote.

APC in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said INEC has resorted to asking those who daily throng its offices in Osun, which party they belong to, and that almost all those who

have identified themselves as APC members have been told that their PVCs are not ready.

“This is nothing but systematic rigging from source,” it said, wondering why INEC, which is expected to be a neutral umpire, will resort to actions that portray it as partisan and bereft of credibility.

It wondered whether this is the reason why INEC had to push its REC in the state aside to pave way for a malleable REC, who will do the bidding of the PDP. The party challenged

the INEC leadership to wade into the delay in the distribution of PVCs, since it is possible that this planned disenfranchisement of APC members may be the handwork of some compromised INEC officials.

It said if INEC cannot ensure that all prospective voters will get their PVCs before the August 9 election, the electoral commission should do the needful by allowing all those who can present their temporary voters’ cards to exercise their franchise on election day.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

INEC capable of conducting credible polls, says Akinwusi s the August 9 goverAnearer, norship election draws the candidate of

the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi, yesterday expressed confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair poll.

Akinwusi, who stated this during the visit of Concerned Osogbo Indigenes and NonIndigenes Group (COING) to his campaign office in Osogbo, however, called on co-contestants in the election to desist from violence.

He expressed concern over alleged plan of the incumbent governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to use members of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme

(OYES) to cause mayhem during the election.

“I detest violence and that is why I go about my campaigns with no thugs or armed men. If I truly want to be leaders of my people, why will I move around to harass them with thugs?

“There must be a departure from what we have before. We want to create a sane society, where development will be our focus. We want to plan for our people and create an enabling environment for economy to grow,” he said.

He urged security agencies to ensure that there is a repeat of what they did in Ekiti State in Osun by providing adequate security for voters during the polls.

Political office holders relocate to base Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

any political office M holders in the cabinet of Osun State governor,

Some of the mini-buses distributed to members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Cooperative Transporters of Nigeria, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun State…yesterday. Insert: L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Alagbada

Osun PDP expels six members

O

sun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expelled six members for alleged anti-party activities.

The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Bola Ajao, gave the names of those expelled as the Deputy Chairman of the party, Bashiru Salam, former Secretary, Mr. Yinka Adeojo, current Secretary, Raphel Towobola, Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, Alhaji Rasaq Oyetunji and Rasaq Oyelami.

The s t at e m e n t explained that “the affected party chieftains were expelled over alleged anti-party activities and that the decision to expel them was taken at a State Working Committee meeting.”

It added that the motion to expel the leaders was moved by the youth leader, Mr. Benson Adegbola; and was seconded by the Treasurer, Mr. Adesoye

Oyetunde.

“The Women Leader, Mrs. Mary Anjorin, also moved a motion that board offices occupied by the expelled members should be given to faithful members and this was seconded by Mr. Kola Adewusi.

In his reaction to the expulsion, Secretary of the party, Mr. Raphel Towobola, said the purported expulsion was a grand design by the Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, to take over his office.

He said all those allegedly expelled along with him have written to the party of their intension to dump the party for another.

He, however, insisted that he remained the secretary and bonafide member of the party.

Also Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, in his reaction said; “I was expelled because of my loyalty to Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s camp.”

Labour Party assures workers of goodies Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

O

sun State Labour Party (LP) candidate in the August 9 election, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has pledged that workers in the state would be adequately taken care of if he was elected the governor.

Akinbade, in a statement by his Director of Publicity, Mr. Kayode Oladeji in Osogbo, said he would work towards their improvement and see that their living standard is improved.

He also promised to review upward, their minimum wage across the board.

“My government under the Labour Party would ensure that workers are adequately taken care of by ensuring improvement in their living standard.

“By the special grace of God, under the Labour Party government, we

shall ensure that the welfare of workers receive due and prompt attention.

Their present minimum wage shall be reviewed upward across the board.

“My government would be workers friendly on all fronts by giving them a sense of belonging in the running of the state as stakeholders.

“I will also create an enabling environment for optimal productivity; and issues concerning contributory pension scheme would jointly be handled by government and labour for amicable resolution.

“The civil service would be allowed to perform its statutory responsibilities as against the present system whereby jobs of career civil servants are contracted out to consultants which constitute a drain in the purse of the state.”

Rauf Aregbesola, including chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have relocated from their various offices to their political bases for rigorous campaign for the re-election of the governor come August 9.

The footmen, who could hardly be seen in their offices, have now gone to their different political constituencies, local governments and wards to influence their bosses’ political victory.

One of the political lieutenants of Governor Aregbesola, who preferred anonymity, told New Telegraph that they are now using one to two days in the offices for official

assignments while the remaining days are used for political assignments.

The source, which further revealed that their assignments are now being carried out in all the nooks and crannies of the state, said the APC administration had told them that they must win their various constituencies in the election.

Healsosaidthattheyhave commenced mobilisation and enlightenment programmes for the party’s followers so as to know how to go about their electoral process during the election.

Investigation conducted

by New Telegraph in the Governor’s Office, state ministries, government parastatals and House of Assembly revealed that fewer political office holders could be seen at their duty posts as many are busy on the field.

Candidates turn to God bout four weeks to Agovernorship the conduct of the election

in Osun State, candidates from different political parties in Osun have started consulting religious leaders for spiritual assistance ahead of the election.

New Te l e g ra p h investigation revealed that the governorship candidates are now seeking help to ensure their emergence as the governor in the election.

Informed sources said many pastors, imams and traditional religious worshipers had been contacted for spiritual assistance by the governorship candidates to be able to realise their ambition.

Pastors were said to have been contacted

for fasting and prayer, imams for supplication while the traditional religious leaders have been saddled with the job of appeasing to their deities on the same mission. Some religious leaders were said to have received heavy gratifications while items for sacrifices had been taken care of by the politicians.

A l r e a d y, some pastors were also said to have stationed themselves in different prayer centres across the state to seek God’s face for their candidates.

Also, the Muslim community had been penetrated by the politicians through the Sheiks of the different Islamic sects, who have commenced prayer for the candidates.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

NO WAY Former Ogun governor does not want to return to his former party, despite pressure

No going back to PDP, says Daniel

meeting in Ayetoro, Yewa North local government area of the state, where he vowed that his party would do anything to stop Governor Ibikunle AmoKunle Olayeni sun's second term bid.

Abeokuta The Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele ormer Governor of Fayose, had last week Ogun State, Otunba hinted at the possibility Gbenga Daniel, has of the PDP and LP workruled out the possi- ing together to oust the bility of returning to the All Progressives Congress Peoples Democratic Party (APC)-led government in (PDP) ahead of the 2015 the state in 2015. general elections.

Fayose added that he Daniel spoke on Sunday had met with Daniel to at the Labour Party (LP) woo the ex-governor back

F

You are election foot soldiers, Orji tells deputy chairmen Igbeaku Orji

UMUAHIA

G

overnor Theodore Orji of Abia State has charged the 17 deputy transition committee chairmen for the state to ensure that the party does not suffer any encumbrance in the 2015 election in any part of the state.

Orji gave the charge yesterday at the swearing - in ceremony of the deputy transition chairmen in Umuahia, saying that as grassroots politicians, they were the foot soldiers of the party.

The Governor said, “Remember we are going into election; you are in the grass roots, you are foot soldiers.

“I don’t expect that we will have encumbrance in any local government during the election. After all, the government we are running is winner takes all.”

The swearing-in ceremony is coming two weeks after the inauguration of the transition committee chairmen.

He advised them to

avoid friction with the chairmen, so that there will be peace at the local governments. The Governor also charged them to ensure that government policies are followed to successful execution.

The Governor said that the chairmen should assign a schedule for the deputy chairmen to make them busy or in the absence of any they should be given the revenue drive of the local government. He emphasized that revenue drive should be intensified in the local governments to generate enough revenue to complement the monthly allocation for their projects.

Orji reminded them that they were in the same party with the chairmen and subordinate to the chairmen. “Don’t oppose, don’t criticize, don’t photocopy papers for petition.”

He further noted that they should not do anything that would tarnish the image of the government, saying that as a responsible government no one would regret their loyalty to his administration.

to the PDP towards making the party formidable.

But addressing thousands of LP faithful in Ayetoro, Daniel dismissed speculations that he was returning to the PDP with his loyalists.

According to him, he remained a bonafide and genuine member of Labour Party.

"Let me correct this insinuation and speculation that I am in PDP. No, I am not in PDP. I am a member of Labour Party. I was a member of

$22.8bn

yesterday's Peoples Democratic Party, but now I am in Labour Party, and Labour Party is the way forward," Daniel said.

The former governor, however, pointed out that his party would welcome the PDP if the latter was interested in such discussions.

Meanwhile, the state LP chairman, Comrade Niyi Osoba, has said his party had given Daniel "express mandate" to discuss with other political parties towards unseating the incumbent ad-

60%

Musa Pam

Ahmed Miringa

ember representing M Langtang North and south constituency in

the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar has expressed worries over yesterday attacks on her constituency where over 10 people lost their lives.

New Telegraph gathered that the people of Pilgani village in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State last night were attacked by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herds men. They attacked and killed about 10 persons.

Lar, while speaking with Journalists yesterday in Jos expressed regrets that the attack has shaken the foundation of

15.3%

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ibrahim Dasuki; Principal, Army Day Junior Secondary School, Sobi, Hajia Rabiat Abdul; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, during the governor’s visit to school…yesterday

10 killed in Plateau attack peace being enjoyed by the people of the locality The Lawmaker couldn't state the exact number of deaths or casualties, saying she is still gathering information on the actual fact on what happened and also the number of deaths.

She described the Zama Dede community as peace loving and hard working farmers that the two local governments depend on due to the larger crops they produced, wondering why some people would be so cruel in taken lives of innocent citizens, particularly at the time the Federal Government through the national conference is trying to find a lasting solution to farmers, herdsmen clashes in the country.

and was elevated to an election winning machinery. The Party won all elections in 2003 and 2007 until the intra-party crisis of 2009 which consequently weakened the election winning machinery. The rest, as they say, is now history.

"It is also a matter of fact that nearly 90 percent of the current PDP and the current Labour Party machinery were part and parcel of that formidable structure; the common denominator being OGD."

The total revenue realized from arms sales The percentage of infant deaths worldwide The percentage of households with internet of General Dynamics, US in 2008. associated with indoor air pollution and other access at home in Arab States in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com environmental factors in 2000.

Source: Itu.int Source: Unesco.org

Sheriff arrives Maiduguri, perfects defection

Jos

ministration in the state.

Osoba said this in a statement issued in Abeokuta against the backdrop of the comments by Fayose asking both the Labour Party and PDP to work together in 2015.

The LP chairman recalled the contributions of Daniel towards building the PDP in the state.

He said, "It is on record that the PDP carried out aggressive grassroots campaign in all the 236 wards in Ogun state in 2002/3

MAIDUGURI

housands of Peoples T(PDP) Democratic Party members have

received Former Governor Ali Modu Sherriff, who visited the state in preparation to defecting to the PDP. Sheriff, who landed at 1:35pm aboard a private jet numbered 5NBH at the Maiduguri Inter national Airport was received by hundreds of APC and PDP supporters.

He said he was in Maiduguri to meet and consult with his people in preparatory to his defection to the PDP. Sherif f said he would decamp to the PDP to salvage his

people from what he described as APC family government in Borno State.

According to him, he entrusted the people of the state to Governor Shettima, adding that Shettima was not carrying people along, but is running a government of his family and friends only.

When asked why he was leaving the party he built, Sheriff said he was the one who brought Shettima into politics as his commissioner and handed him to the people of Borno State as a trust but he betrayed the trust and that he is back to rescue the people of the state by bringing somebody who will work for the people.

LG workers give Fayemi strike notice Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

government workLtheocal ers in Ekiti State under aegis of the Nigeria

Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) yesterday gave Governor Kayode Fayose a 21-day ultimatum to meet certain demands or risk industrial action.

The issues have to do with welfare packages and conditions of service.

At a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, NULGE State President, Comrade Bunmi Ajimoko, who lamented that the government had looked away from the peace stance of the union, said the workers' grouses included non-payment of the minimum wage arrears despite deduction of N400 million from the

councils to service e-payment.

Others, the NULGE boss said, included partial implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS)/Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) thus placing council health workers below their counterparts at the state level; and subjecting workers to untold hardship through undue delay of council staff deductions.

Ajimoko said the government should, within the period, address the "usurpation of the councils in the area of running grants and functions of the Ministry of Local Government, which is at variance with the operations of past administrations."

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Church of England votes in favor of women bishops

T

he Church of England voted yesterday to allow women to enter its top ranks as bishops after years of bitter debates which at times threatened the stature of the state church in British society.

The church’s national assembly, known as the General Synod, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the historic measure, reaching the required

two-thirds majority in each of its three different houses.

In total, 351 members of the three houses approved of the move, which had the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Prime Minister David Cameron. Only 72 voted against and 10 abstained.

Speaking before the vote in York in northern England, Bishop of Gloucester Michael Perham said “the ministry of

women priests is a vital, deeply valued and transformative part of the life of the Church of England and for our mission in the nation.” He said the whole church had been disabled by the arguments over the issue.

The vote comes two years after similar legislation narrowly failed to reach the two-thirds majority, despite the approval from bishops and clergy. After that vote failed, the church worked

to build trust with its lay members, and make the legislation more acceptable to opponents while keeping the principal of allowing women bishops.

The General Synod ruled in 1975 there was no fundamental objection to women becoming priests, but it took nearly two decades for the first women to be ordained. Things are likely to move faster for aspiring female bishops. Archbishop

Welby told the BBC he expects the first woman bishop in the Church of England by next year.

The Church of England is part of the global Anglican Communion with its 44 selfgoverning churches in more than 160 countries. The Episcopal Church in the Unites States was the first member to have a woman bishop and is now led by a woman.

Gaza: All war, no truce

P

Archbishop of Canterbury,Justin welby,second right and unidentified members of the clergy at the University of York in England.

Libya’s neighbours urge dialogue to end turmoil

L

ibya’s neighbours called yesterday for dialogue in the North African nation, which has been wracked by violence since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi that has intensified since a controversial June election.

The six governments agreed to set up twin commissions to broker talks and attempt to prevent any spillover of the unrest from the key oil producer, which remains awash with weapons from the NATObacked uprising against the longtime dictator. Delegates from Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia urged “all parties ... in Libya to resolve their differences through dialogue,” at meeting in the Tunisian town of Hammamet. They set up two commissions, the first of which will be chaired by Algeria and will be tasked with “examining the military and security issues, including border surveillance.”

The other, which Egypt will be in charge of, is tasked with “contacting the political class and members of civil society in Libya” to facilitate

the launching of a national dialogue.

The two commissions are to report back to the Tunisian foreign minister in the last week of July, who will then present them to his counterparts at the next meeting of Libya’s neighbours.

Eastern Libya, particularly its main city Benghazi and the hill town of Derna, have become strongholds of jihadist groups, made notorious by a 2012 attack on the US consulate that killed the ambassador and three other Americans.

In a stark indication of the worsening violence in Libya, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz, who had been due to join the talks, was unable to get to Tunisia after heavy fighting between rival militias forced the closure of Tripoli airport.

Libya’s ambassador in Tunis took his place.

At least six people were killed in heavy exchanges of fire at Tripoli airport on Sunday, a health ministry official said. “Libya is now practically cut off from the outside world,” an airport official said, adding that a three-day suspension of all flights could be extended.

On July 6, Libya’s electoral commission scrapped the results from 24 polling stations in the June 25 election to replace the controversial first postKadhafi parliament which was dominated by Islamists and accused of hogging power. The fraud allegations have been accompanied by mounting violence between Islamist militias and their rivals.

alestinian militants resumed rocket attacks on Tel Aviv yesterday after a 24-hour lull in strikes on the Israeli commercial capital, and Israel kept up its air and naval bombardments of the Gaza Strip despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire.

The military said it had shot down a drone from Gaza, the first reported deployment of an unmanned aircraft by Palestinian militants whose rocket attacks have been regularly intercepted.

The use of a drone would mark a step up in the sophistication of the Palestinian arsenal, although it was not immediately clear whether it was armed.

Around half a dozen Israelis have been wounded since the start of the week-old offensive, which Gaza health officials say has killed 169 Palestinians, most of them civilians. With international calls mounting for a ceasefire, Egyptian media said U.S. Secretary John Kerry was due in Cairo, Tuesday for talks on the Gaza situation. There was no immediate U.S. confirmation of the report.

The worst flare-up of IsraeliPalestinian violence for almost two years was sparked by the murder of three Israeli teenag-

ers and revenge killing of a Palestinian youth. Israel has arrested three people, two of them minors, over the Palestinian’s murder and officials said yesterday they had confessed to burning him alive. The European Union said it was in touch with “all parties in the region” to press for an immediate halt to the hostilities, a day after Kerry offered to help secure a Gaza truce.

Egypt and Qatar are seen as potential mediators but peace efforts were complicated by Hamas’s rejection of a mere “calm for calm” in which both sides hold their fire in favour of wider conditions including prisoner release and an end to Israel’s Gaza blockade.

The Israeli army said its aircraft and naval gunboats attacked dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and that Palestinian militants fired more than 20 rockets into Israel, slightly wounding a boy in the town of Ashdod, where a home was damaged. Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people in Gaza were wounded.

But Israel did not carry out a threat to step up attacks against rocket-launching sites it said were hidden among civilian homes in the town of Beit Lahuiya after urging residents there to leave.

South African anti-apartheid author, Nobel winner Gordimer dies at 90

S

outh African Nobel Prizewinning author Nadine Gordimer, an unwavering moralist who became one of the most powerful voices against the injustice of apartheid, has died at the age of 90, her family said on yesterday.

Gordimer, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, died at her Johannesburg home on Sunday evening in the presence of her children, Hugo and Oriane, a statement from the family said.

“She cared most deeply about South Africa, its culture, its people and its ongo-

ing struggle to realize its new democracy.”

Regarded by many as South Africa’s leading writer, Gordimer published novels and short stories steeped in the drama of human life and emotion of a society warped by decades of white-minority rule.

Many of her stories dealt with the themes of love, hate and friendship under the pressures of the racially segregated system that ended in 1994, when Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

A member of Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC),

which was banned under apartheid, Gordimer used her pen to battle against the inequality of white rule for decades, earning her the enmity of sections of the establishment. Some of her novels, such as “A World of Strangers” and “Burger’s Daughter”, were banned by the apartheid authorities.

But Gordimer, a petite figure with a crystal-clear gaze, did not restrict her writing to a damning indictment of apartheid. She cut through the web of human hypocrisy and deceit wherever she found it.

Suspension: CAF replaces Linus Mba as Match Commissioner Charles Ogundiya

T

Linus Mba

he suspension placed on Nigeria football by world football gover ning body, FIFA, claimed its first of ficial casualty in Mr Linus Mba on Monday.

Mba, who is the referees advisor and consultant to

the Nigeria Football Federation on refereeing,was removed as the Match Commissioner for the Sierra Leone and Seychelles African Cup of Nations qualifier scheduled for July 19, in Freetown.

On Monday, the retired FIFA-badged referee and

SPORT

former member of the CAF Referees Committee, got a letter from CAF regretting his replacement.

The letter signed by Amr Fahmy, Manager, Nations Cup read in part: “I regret to infor m you that due to the suspension of the Nigeria FA, we have to temporarily suspend all appoint-

51

ments for any officials/ referees from Nigeria, so we were left without any choice but to replace you for the above mentioned match.”

Fahmy however, regretted that an experienced official like Mba would have to suf fer for something he knew nothing about.

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

TUESday, July 15, 2014

NFF Ban: FIFA extends deadline till July 17

lAs Jos Court meets today

L

ittle reprieve came the way of the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday, with world soccer ruling body FIFA extending the deadline of the suspension placed on Nigeria to July 17 from the initial July 15 date.

The extension was granted due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

FIFA extended the window so that there will be enough time to withdraw the court case that was instituted by Mrs Ruth Baribote, owner of Nembe FC, and also reinstate the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation board. Failure to do this will lead to an outright ban

from the game.

The suspension, according to FIFA, will be lifted as soon as the court action is withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF General Assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without government’s interference.

FIFA’s Emergency Committee suspended the Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect on account of government’s alleged interference last week.

Meanwhile, the Jos High Court which suspended the NFF on Monday postponed hearing on the case filed by

Mrs Baribote to Tuesday as the case is expected to be officially withdrawn and the Aminu Maigari-led executive committee reinstated to oversee Nigeria football again.

The case could not be heard last Friday, July 11 as scheduled even with 32 FA chairmen in attendance at the Plateau state high court. The reason for that is the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria which paralysed activities in the sector.

Reports suggest that Mrs Baribote has however, attached conditions to her decision to withdraw the case from court which include the lifting of the 15

years suspension imposed on her husband, Victor Rumson Baribote and his reinstatement as second vice chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation and chairman of the NPFL. These issues are expected to be carefully assessed by the Aminu Maigari led NFF executive committee when the board converge for an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The anticipated favourable decision of the court when made public, will be communicated to FIFA by the secretariat of the NFF and the suspension lifted in good time before the new date of July 17 deadline issued by FIFA.

52

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP

Golden Ball not important – Messi

A

rgentina star Lionel Messi said winning the Golden Ball meant nothing after his side’s loss in the FIFA World Cup final.

Messi was surprisingly awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the tournament after scoring four goals, none of which came in the knockout stages. But the Barcelona forward said that meant nothing after his team’s devastating loss.

“This was a chance to give the fans some joy after all the

Messi with Goden Ball

sadness,” Messi said. “Golden Ball is not important. All I wanted was to lift the cup.”

Messi lamented his team’s wastefulness after Alejandro Sabella’s men missed several chances.

“We had our chances but we could not score. In games like these that is not acceptable,” Messi told reporters.

“We played a good game against a very good team. We deserved more, but we could not take the cup back home.”

‘Messi undeserving of Golden Ball – Maradona’ Klose undecided

A

rgentina icon, Diego Maradona, feels Lionel Messi did not deserve to win the Golden Ball following his performances at the World Cup. The Barcelona star beat players like Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and James Rodriguez to the prestigious individual award after scoring four goals in seven performances at this summer’s tournament and guiding his team to the final, yet Maradona feels the 27-year-old only won it

for commercial reasons.

“Messi? I would give him heaven if possible,” Maradona said during his show on Telesur. “But it’s not right when someone wins something that he shouldn’t have won just because of some marketing plan.”

Former England international Stan Collymore and Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton have also criticised FIFA’s ‘disgraceful’ and ‘shocking’ decision to name Messi as the World

Cup’s best player.

“His performance was poor (against Germany),” said Collymore.

“We’ve seen him three or four times now in the flesh and he’s been poor in all of them, bar several trademark runs which I think masks a lot.

“It’s an absolute disgrace giving him the Golden Ball. You look at players like Rodriguez, even players like Chile’s Alexis Sanchez and Manuel Neuer [who deserve it more].”

Match winner Gotze in dreamland

M

ario Gotze has admitted that he was not sure how to react after netting the winning goal in Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina.

The attacking midfielder came off the bench to secure Germany’s fourth title with seven minutes of extra time remaining, and he admited that it was a special feeling to earn the ultimate reward for their work in Brazil.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, I don’t know how

to describe it,” Gotze told reporters. “I just took the shot and didn’t know what was happening. For us, the dream has become reality.

“I’m very proud of the team and extremely happy about everything that has happened here in Brazil. Every player in our team deserves praise and we’re very proud to have won this trophy.”

Gotze was labelled a “miracle boy” by Joachim Low after the final whistle. Gotze

ew Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, has told his players that they must follow the example of the Netherlands if they are to be successful in the Premier League next season.

“I hope my new group in Manchester will be just like this one,” he told ESPN. “We set an objective and we

believed in that objective. We wanted first place. And really we were very, very close to doing that - only penalties stopped us.

“Not to be able to achieve that objective was so disappointing, but we won third place, we got a medal which is fantastic. And we scored 15 goals in seven matches, so

M

iroslav Klose said he will decide on whether he continues his international career within the week, after Germany won the FIFA World Cup. Klose broke the record for World Cup goals - 16 - during the tournament, and the 36-year-old Lazio forward said he will reveal whether Germany’s fourth World Cup victory will mark his final international.

“It is outstanding. This crowns everything. We were second once, third twice - it is world class, I still cannot comprehend it,” Klose said, as reported by DFB.de.

“The team performance was important, we wanted to stay calm also because we knew that we had the better quality. I do not know yet if I go on for the national team. I’ll have a couple of nights to sleep on it and then make the right decision.”

Compiled by Adekunle Salami Encounter with a missionary ALagos-basedCatholicChurchPriest,MarcelOffor,wasposted toBrazilthreeyearsagoonamission.Hewassohappytomeetsome ofusheretocovertheWorldCup.Hisregretwasthathewasmeeting ussolateatatimewewerealreadycountingdownin hourstoleave Brazil. Offor was so unhappy with Nigerian leaders. He noted that theexposureofNigerianleaderstoforeigncountrieshasnotshown in the way they run the country at various levels. He spoke about the basic facilities in Brazil and his experience so far after just three years in the South American country.“Brazil is a very big country.So much power is given to the authorities at state level to put things right. Even when there is riot in a state, the state government takes charge without a word from the centre. The roads are very good.

Transportationisfinewithmetro,thebusesandalsothetaxis.There is free medical care for all especially the children.

Electricity, key to all major businesses, is constant. You only see generators at the hospitals. They will announce for one week if there will be interruption for just sixty seconds, but so far since I got here, there has been none. When I look at these things, I wonder what manner of leaders we have in Nigeria. When I complete my mission I will be back home but I weep each time I think about how the government has denied Nigerians basic amenities,” he said.

Roving Prof to extend stay IwroteabouttherovingProfessoraboutaweekago.HeisaNigerianherefortheWorldCupbut,hasfoundsolaceinotherattractions in the ‘Sambaland.’ The man, a Nigerian University lecturer, moved out of the hotel and now stays with a Brazilian female friend here.

He planned to stay 10 days, but the Prof has stayed over four weeks here with no plan for return. He is really enjoying the company of his ‘hostess’ and now has extended his stay. He told me that would be back about two weeks after the World Cup. The Prof did not watch a match live here and we really have to continue praying for him to return to his family.

So much love Toward the end of the World Cup, Brazilians were wearing long facesasvisitorsdepartedthecountryinnumbers.Manyhavemade good friends in the past six weeks and have gotten used to one another. They show so much love and emotion at various places as visitors shop in major parts of the country. Some of those traders give out gift items to people that patronise them,hugging and kissing them goodbye. In my Hotel in Santana, almost all the workers wanted to take photographs with me and other colleagues from Nigeria.A day to the final match,some of the attendants shed tears aswemadelastminuteplanstoleaveBrazil.Ihaveneverseenemotional people like the Brazilians. Wow! We feel so loved.

Rio too small for final It was a big deal for visitors getting accommodation for the final match between Argentina and Germany decided at the Maracana StadiuminRioonSunday.Rioisatouristattractionmainlybecause of the Copa Cobana Beach. It was so agonising getting a place all throughSaturday.TheArgentinesinvadedthecityinlargenumbers and some people who are mere tourists, were also in town. Unlike Sao Paulo, where there are options for visitors for accommodation, theoptionsarelimitedinRio.About48hourstothefinal,therewere no accommodation at affordable hotels except the high brow ones that are about 500 dollars and above. Some visitors resorted to passing the night in strange places like train and bus stations just to watch the final.

‘Maus’ to say ‘chau’ When I started this samba notes as part of the World Cup coverage, I started with ‘Bem Vindo’ and ‘Obrigado’. It means welcome and thank you. It has been over 35 days after that and in looking back,ithasbeen‘maus’(tough)butIthankGod.Thelogisticsofthis competitionhasbeenheavyonvisitorsbecauseBrazilisbigandyou have to travel long distances to see games. Truth is people at home would have enjoyed the World Cup more than me because I was on duty and did not see as many games I would have loved to see.

For example, I was at the Super Eagles training in Campinas when Holland were whipping Spain 5-1. That was not a match one would have loved to miss, but in line of duty, it happens. Of all the I experiences‘bonsmementos’(nicetime)heresoit’s‘maus’(tough)tosay ‘chau’(goodbye)topeoplehereinBrazilandalsotodearreaderswho have been enjoying this column. ‘Obrigado’!

Brazil fire Scolari

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Van Gaal wants United to follow Dutch example

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on international future

Samba notes from Brazil

we can look back on a successful tournament and I’m just so proud of my players and my staff.

“Now the first thing we have to do at United is the same, to start singing from the same hymn sheet. Then we’ll see if we do that then all’s well that ends well.”

United finished seventh

razil manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has reportedly been sacked following the nation’s failed World Cup campaign on home soil.

The 65-year-old refused to answer questions about his future following Saturday’s third-place playoff defeat to the Netherlands.

The 3-0 loss came a matter of days after Brazil were stunned 7-1 by eventual World Cup winners Ger many in the semi-finals.

According to re por ts in the South American country, Brazil’s football federation CBF has decided against renewing Scolari’s contract following the end of the World Cup Sunday night.

Scolari, who had a spell coach-

ing Chelsea in 2008, took charge of Brazil for the second time in his career back in 2012.

Scolari

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Nigerian wrestlers land in Bucharest S

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Babatunde to join Osaze at Stoke City

Emmanuel Tobi

Charles Ogundiya

I

n continuation of their preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in two weeks’ time, Nigerian wrestler have landed in Bucharest, Romania, where they will perfect their strategy ahead of the games.

The contingents consisting of 11 wrestlers, six officials led by secretary of the federation, Segun Oguntade, departed Nigeria on Sunday and will be joined later by three wrestlers and one official.

According to the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Fed-

eration, Daniel Igali, the confidence is very high in the team.

“The team is in high spirit, rearing to go and make the country proud. We have been in Abuja for a while and going to Romania will expose the wretlers to better facilities.

“The target is to sur pass the achievement of 13 medals won at the last games in New Delhi,India, and we are very much on course.

The team is expected to arrive Glasgow on the 21st of July for the event which holds from July 23 to August 3.

Boltic

Sally Pearson has hurdles to overcome

O

lympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson assuaged some of the fears that she may toil to defend her Commonwealth title later this month, with third place at the Diamond League at Hampden, but the Australian senses she is still short of her imperious best.

It has been a year of challenges

for the 27-year-old, whose troublesome hamstrings have been a factor in a series of uncharacteristic defeats on the European circuit.

“I’ve not raced a lot and before then (Commonwealth Games) I need to get as many races and as much training in as I possibly can,” she said. There’s one in Swit-

zerland next week, then it’s back to training in Tonbridge.

“The Commonwealths will be tough. The Games are very important. It’s vital for me to show the people back home in Australia watching on TV just how important the Games are for our sport and how great our sport is.”

uper Eagles midfielder, Michel Babatunde’s superlative exploits at the World Cup has attracted the attention of English side, Stoke City, which also feature Osaze Odemwingie.

Babatunde, aged 21, came to the limelight in Brazil with impressive showings against Bosnia and Argentina.

The winger, who has been playing his club football in Ukraine since 2011, missed out on the knock-out stages after suffering a wrist injury.

He is currently on the books of Volyn Lutsk, but

has been strongly linked with a move to one of Europe’s big leagues over the course of the summer.

Sunderland are said to have shown an interest while two clubs in Turkey are also claimed to have the youngster on their radar.

Now the Potters too, still in the market for a wide man, have emerged as potential suitors.

Mikel should not be crucified-Akpoborie

F

ormer Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has leaped to the defence of John Obi Mikel following the midfielder’s less than inspiring performances at the 2014 World Cup. The Chelsea man, along with many of his compatriots, has had to endure plenty of flak from their home nation after the Super Eagles were dumped out of the Brazil showpiece after going down to France in the last 16.

Akpoborie, though, feels criticism directed at Mikel is unjust, and believes the uncertainty surrounding his Chelsea future played a big role in

his lacklustre displays in South America.

Akpoborie, who represented Nigeria from 1995 to 2001, said: “I think his (Mikel’s) lack of regular playing time for Chelsea last season may have contributed to his poor displays at the World Cup. “He’s still one of our best players, but the inconsistency in his playing time at club level may have contributed a lot to this.”

He continued: “I also think his future at Chelsea may be a contributing factor. Of course, he’s got a running contract, but the truth is he doesn’t seem to be sure if he’s staying or not, so that can really unsettle a player.”

Falconets’ rival, Mexico name World Cup squad MoyosoreMakinde Sally Pearson (right) in a meet recently

Rod Stewart to perform at Opening Ceremony S

Stewart

inging legend Rod Stewart is set to perform at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony as organisers reveal more star-studded names that have been added to the line-up for the event in Celtic Park.

Stewart was born in London but has close ties to Scotland through his Scottish father and is a regular at Celtic Park to watch his beloved Glasgow Celtic Football Club.

The 69-year-old Grammy and Brit Award winner has been

inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on two occasions - as a solo artist and as a member of the band the Faces.

Other Scottish acts confirmed to appear at the Opening Ceremony are Classical Brit Award winner and violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti, Glasgow singer/songwriter Amy MacDonald and Julie Fowlis, who found global recognition through the songs she performed in the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning film Brave.

N

igeria’s group opponents Mexico have named their provisional 24 players for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The CONCACAF team drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Korea and England, has begun feverish preparations for the tournament.

Mexico qualified for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada by finishing as runner-up to the United States at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship earlier this year.

Coach Christopher Cuellar’s squad includes goalkeeper Cecilia Santia-

go, who played three games with the full national team at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and made eight total appearances at the 2010 and 2012 editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Also earning inclusion is 19-year-old forward Tanya Samarzich. The University of Southern California standout scored six goals to share the Golden Boot award with the USA’s McKenzie Meehan at the CONCACAF U-20 competition.

The training camp which got underway on July 10th will climax on August 1st, at the Mexican Football Federation’s High Performance Centre before the team jets out to Canada.

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Transfer Updates

54 SPORT Eagles’ transfer Update Aminu says Turkish club blocking transfer

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igeria U20 star Umar Aminu has told AfricanFootball.com he has yet to move to newly promoted Turkish Super League side Balikesirspor as they are yet to meet the player’s valuation by his club Samsunspor.

It was reported that the former Wikki Tourists star has joined Balikesirspor, but Aminu told AfricanFootball.com that nothing has been agreed yet.

“There is a bid right now from the said team and others, but Samsunspor are asking for €1 million Euros which no team has been able to match. So, I am yet to move from Samsunspor,” Aminu maintained.

Shehu close to Sporting Lisbon

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Cabella completes transfer to Newcastle

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ewcastle United have made their fourth signing of this summer’s transfer window with the capture of attacking midfielder Remy Cabella.

The 24-year-old has signed a six-year contract after completing his move from Ligue 1 side Montpellier for an undisclosed fee.

“It is great to finally be a Newcastle player,” Cabella said. “This is a move that I really wanted to make, as I have heard nothing but good things about Newcastle United from everyone I spoke to.

Besiktas deny Ba deal

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ortuguese Giant Sporting Lisbon will reportedly make one final push for Kano Pillars and CHAN Eagles midfielder Shehu Abdullahi.

Sl10 gathered from media sources in Portugal that the team will try to seal the deal for the 20 years old this week or abandon the transfer completely as they approach the final lap of their preseason training.

Shehu Abdullahi reportedly agreed a deal to join Al Orubah in Saudi Arabia before pulling out of the deal and is presently rumoured to be on his way to Al Qadsia SC of Kuwait.

However Sporting Lisbon are not giving up on the chase of the Ex Nigeria youth International and talks with his agent, Ken Van Deyck is expected to reach conclusion this week, as the club prepares to sanction the sale of William Carvalho who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.

No Sogndal contract for Idowu, Alfa

understands that Nigeria youth internationAals llnigeriasoccer.com Akinjide Idowu and Abdullahi Alfa

trained with Norwegian Premier League side, Sogndal throughout last week, but it is unlikely they would be offered contracts after conclusion of tests.

Norwegian teams must pay foreigners a stipulated minimum wage, thus, it is very difficult for clubs to sign a player from the third world except he is identified as a special talent.

Both Idowu and Alfa represented Nigeria at the Fifa Under 17 World Championship held in United Arab Emirates towards the end of last year.

Idowu trained with an unnamed club in Sweden in January, but was not offered a deal when the trial came to an end.

esiktas have denied they have B put deals in place to sign Chelpair Demba Ba and Marko Marin.

s e a Reports emerged that the Turkish club is ready to take the unwanted duo on season-long loan deals.

Ba is expected to leave Stamford Bridge after the capture of Diego Costa and Marin has been deemed surplus to requirements after starting just five Chelsea games in two years.

F

eyenoord have announced the signing of Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz on a one-year-deal. the 32-year-old was a free agent after leaving Danish club Brondby, and on Monday signed a deal with Feyenoord for one year, but there is an option to extend for another season.

Boulahrouz, who can play centrally or at right back, started his career with RKC Waalwijk before moving to Germany with Hamburg. After a successful time with Hamburg moves to Chelsea, Stuttgart, and Sporting Lisbon followed before signing for Brondby in 2013.

Aurier edge closer to PSG move

oulouse’s Ivoirian full-back Serge T Aurier is edging closer to a move to French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

According to L’Equipe, the two clubs have reached an agreement including the permanent transfer of on-loan Clément Chantôme to the South-Western outfit.

The 26-year-old midfielder will add to a 9-million euro fee in exchange for Aurier’s move to the capital city.

On the other hand, PSG’s hopes to sign Argentine winger Angel Di Maria seem to have suffered a blow as the 26-year-old from Real Madrid has allegedly voiced his preference for the English Premier League, with Manchester United the most credible destination.

Kayseri Erciyesspor sign Aston Villa defender

K

ayseri Erciyesspor have completed the loan signing of Aston Villa defender Yacouba Sylla.

The 23-year-old defender has joined t h e Kayseri based club on a one year loan deal.

Erciyesspor released a statement on their official website confirming the transfer: “We have signed Yacouba Sylla on a one year loan deal from Aston Villa.”

Sylla, who joined Villa from Clermont Foot in January 2013, has expressed his desire to leave due to the lack of first-team opportunities.

ayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos, B linked to Manchester United and Chelsea, has confirmed he will move to Real Madrid

f o l - lowing his World Cup win with Germany.

The 24-year-old World Cup-winner revealed he will move directly to the Spanish capital following his triumph with the German national team at the Maracana on Sunday night.

“It is no secret that the Premier League is a possibility for me, but no one has come to any agreement with me and it will stay like this until the summer and, some time, a decision will be made.

Sunderland boss eager to seal Alonso deal

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underland will look to bring a resolution to their lengthy pursuit of formerloaneeMarcosAlonsothisweek.

TheBlackCatshavebeenintalkswithItalian outfit Fiorentina throughout the summer over signing the defender.

Reports over the weekend – which have not been confirmedbyeitherSunderlandorFiorentina–suggestedthat theWearsidershadmadeaformalbidforAlonso,whohas been training at the Viola’s pre-season camp in northern Italy for the past week.

Michu inches closer to Napoli

wansea City star Michu is poised S to complete his move to Napoli, according to reports in Italy.

Several media outlets on the continent say an announcement on the initial season-long loan deal could come in the next 24 hours.

Reports suggested how the Italian giants wanted to take the Liberty star on loan, but the Swans were keen for a permanent deal.

It now seems likely an initial loan deal will be agreed with a view to a permanent switch for around £8m.

Blues insist on Varane

Feyenoord sign Khalid Boulahrouz

are reportedly ready to make Cdridhelsea a ‘sensational’ move for Real Macentre-back Raphael Varane ac-

cording to the Daily Star.

The French international impressed during the World Cup finals, starting all five of Les Bleus matches, and this has apparently led to Jose Mourinho looking to bring in the 21 year old.

Is was Mourinho who brought in the tall defender from Lens to the Bernabeu in 2011 and he showed great faith in Varane during his time in charge of the Spanish giants whilst Carlo Ancelotti has seemed less keen on offering the starlet regular action.

Newcastle set to complete Janmaat contract

ewcastle are on the verge of agreeing a N deal to sign Holland international Daryl Janmaat.

T h e Magpies are set to lose France right-back Mathieu Debuchy to Arsenal and Alan Pardew has acted quickly to line up a deal for Janmaat, who has previously been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham.

Sources in Holland now suggest it is only a matter of time before the Feyenoord full-back becomes a Newcastle player, with the North East club set to pay a fee of around £5m.

Davilla’s Spain move stalled

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Cavani wants Chelsea, Man Utd move

Toni Kroos talks up Real Madrid move

Di Maris snubs PSG for Premier League switch

anchester United have been boosted in their pursuit of Angel Di Maria after he reportedly snubbed Paris St Germain.

Spanish daily as claims PSG were rebuffed when they enquired about Di Maria at the weekend.

Apparently, the word back from the Argentinian World Cup winger was that he would prefer a move to the Premier League.

However, this still leaves an obstacle for United to overcome because Di Maria is said to want Champions League football next season.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

ordoba’s move to re-sign Chelsea midfielder Ulises Davilla on loan has stalled, according to the player’s agent.

Mexican Davilla joined Chelsea from Guadalajara in 2011 but has failed to make a single appearance for the Blues. He has spent the past three seasons on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, Sabadell and Cordoba respectively.

He had his most successful stint away from Stamford Bridge last term, scoring seven league goals, including the goal against Las Palmas last month that secured their promotion to La Liga.

helsea and Manchester United have C been put on alert by Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguay international has told his

agent to sort out a move to the Premier League, the Express reports.

Despite joining Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, Cavani wants to leave the Parc des Princes.

He has often played out of position on the right due to the presence of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

That has led the 27-year-old to become frustrated as he has been unable to show his goalscoring abilities like he did for Napoli.

Cuenca: Depor move an easy decision

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saac Cuenca says the decision to join Deportivo La Coruna from Barcelona was an easy one to make.

The 23-year-old made the switch to the newly promoted La Liga side after being released by the Camp Nou outfit last week, having been limited to just five appearances over the past two seasons - all on loan at Ajax.

And, following an injury-plagued spell with the Catalan giants, Cuenca welcomed the chance to get some first-team action under his belt.

Inter close to Medel deal

Milan are closing in on the IGarynter signing of Chile international Medel, according to Talk-

sport.

The 26 year old made thirty-four Premier League appearances for Cardiff City last season having signed from Sevilla twelve months ago but was unable to help steer them to safety.

The South Wales side is now set to complete a deal with the Serie A giants, with Medel having already given the green light to an offer of a five-year contract worth around £1.75m a season.

Maicon hopes for Roma contract

razil defender Maicon is ready to B commit his future to Roma.

The 32-year-old is under contract with

the Italian giants until June 2015, but is hopeful to sign a new deal soon.

Maicon moved to Roma last summer from Manchester City and scored two goals in 28 league appearances to help the Giallorossi finish runners-up in Serie A in the 2013-14 campaign.

“We are on the right path and we saw it last season,” Maicon said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “I certainly do not want to leave Roma.

Ferdinand close to Rangers move

eports claim that Rio Ferdinand is close R to agreeing a deal to join Queens Park Rangers and could sign as early as Tuesday.

The 35-year-old has now left Manchester United after 12 years at Old Trafford and had been linked to a number of clubs after expressing a desire to extend his playing career.

Rangers were quick to show their hand, with boss Harry Redknapp looking to bolster his ranks for the challenge of keeping the west London club in the Premier League.

Ferdinand has been beset by injury problems in recent years and is unlikely to play a full season for the Hoops, but his experience at the back could be crucial to their chances of survival.

Aspas agrees terms with Sevilla

nsettled Liverpool star Iago Aspas u has reportedly agreed personal terms to join Sevilla this summer, but

the clubs are still to reach an agreement.

Even though the 26-year-old scored 12 league goals in La Liga the season before he moved to Anfield he has struggled to replicate his form at Anfield – with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge the first choice attacking pair.

And after Liverpool recently secured the services of Rickie Lambert, Estadio Deportivo reports Aspas is likely to return to La Liga as he has already agreed personal terms to join Sevilla - even accepting a reduction to his £1.2m salary.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

South Africa out to ‘steal’ Falconets’ slot

Ifean Ibeh

S

outh Africa have made a bid to replace Nigeria at the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled to hold from August 5 to 24 in Canada.

This followed FIFA’s recent suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation from all football-related activities.

A South African delegation led by Danny Jordaan, the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), recently paid a visit to

FIFA who disclosed, thereafter, that the South Africans informed them of their team’s readiness to take the place of Nigeria’s Falconets if the ban placed on Nigeria remains in place by the time the U-20 World Cup gets underway in August.

Nigeria was suspended over an alleged interference by government in the running of football in the country.

According to FIFA, Nigeria violated Article 13 of its statute mandating member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence of third parties.

“The most immediate effect is that Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup unless the suspension is lifted by July 15,” read a statement on the FIFA website on July 9, the day Nigeria’s suspension was announced.

The deadline has however, been moved to July 17, and sources in the NFF informed New Telegraph of their optimism that the country’s team will feature at the U-20 World Cup. The optimism is based on the chances that the suit filed at a Jos high Court will be struck off before July 17.

Federation Cup: Enyimba stake trophy against Nembe CharlesOgundiya

T

he Federation Cup resumes on Thursday when defending champions, Enyimba of Aba, take on Nembe FC of Bayelsa, as they continue their push to retain the title they won last year against Warri Wolves in Lagos. The match takesplaceinsideAkureTownship stadium.

Enyimba stopped Niger Tornadoesintheroundof 32,overcoming theiropponent6-5onpenaltiesafter regulation time ended 1-1 to prog-

ress to the round of 16 Nembe won 4-2 also on penalties against Ibom Youth.

In another tie involving Premier League teams, Two former champions, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri and Dolphins FC of PortHarcourtwilllockhornsatthe Lafia Township Stadium Crown of Ogbomosho will have their hand full against Nasarawa Unitedof LafiainsidetheEnyimba International Stadium, Aba while SharksFCof PortHarcourtandDynamite of Benin City will do battle

at the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium in Ado-Ekiti.

Giwawillhopetocontinuetheir giantkillingstreakinIlorinwithanother tough battle against Bendel Insurance, as Lobi Stars of Makurdi take on Plateau United of Jos at the Minna Township Stadium.

Other matches are Bayelsa United against Gateway FC of Abeokuta at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, with Prime FC of Osogbo alsoupagainstFirstBankof Lagos at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Omeruo (left)

QPR join race for Omeruo Ajibade Olusesan

FIFA Ban: Zimbabwe fans urge Govt to emulate Nigeria N Z imbabweans say government must take a cue from Nigeria and dissolve the ZIFA board amid outrage over the football association’s president Cuthbert Dube’s trip to Brazil to watch the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the national game is bleeding.

Dube has come under criticism after leading four othertop football dignitaries to

watch the final of the World Cup despite the fact that lowly Taifa Stars of Tanzania booted Zimbabwe out of the preliminary stages of qualification for the 2018 World Cup. National Soccer Supporters Association chief, Paddington Japajapa, Sunday led the clamour of disapproval and said drastic measures against the Zifa board similar to what happened

in Nigeria should be taken.

“We are here to condemn in the strongest terms the association’s president who decided to go and enjoy the life in Brazil while our football is suffering,” he said. “Dube was supposed to have been ashamed of himself, especially with all those stories coming out about the scandals at the Premier Service Medical Aid Society.”

Blatter ‘surprised’ by Messi award F

Messi

IFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted his surprise at seeing Lionel Messi collect the World Cup Golden Ball.

The Argentina attacker was crowned player of the tournament after his side lost the final 1-0 to Germany in extra time, but many fans and pundits have questioned that decision.

After popping up with a string of crucial goals during the group stage, Messi was below par throughout the knockout fixtures.

And Blatter conceded he was among those who were somewhat taken aback by the selection of Messi for the prize.

When asked for his take on the decision at a post-World Cup media conference, Blatter asked: “Shall I

be diplomatic or shall I tell you the truth?

“Listen, I was myself a little bit surprised when I saw Messi coming up for best player of the tournament.”

ewly promoted English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers have joined the list of suitors for Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo.

The Nigerian defender has attracted interest from a number of clubs in England, including Hull City. Middlesborugh, where he spent last season on loan, have also expressed their willingness to give him another loan stint in the Championship.

However, it is unclear whether Chelsea will allow the youngster to go on loan after a stellar showing at the World Cup. Omeruo recently signed a new three-year deal with Chelsea and Coach Jose Mourinho has not hidden his desire to give the former Standard Liege

player a test in his first team.

But this has not stopped several other clubs from expressing interest in having the player on loan for the third straight season.

“QPR want to have Omeruo on loan for the new season even though Chelsea have made it clear they will give the player a chance to fight for a place in the first team after what he showed in Brazil,” a top source said.

“The player is back in Nigeria on holidays now, but he is expected back in London

by July 28 in time for him to rejoin Chelsea for preseason.

“Chelsea are bulled to train in Papendal, Holland, for pre-season and it is only after this that a clearer picture will emerge concerning his immediate future.”

Cross River to start sports excellence centres Charles Ogundiya

A

lready a leading state in sports development, Cross River state government continued its drive by signing a Memorandum of Understanding through the Ministry of youths and sports development, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, with three mission

schools to start sports excellence centres in the State.

Speaking about this development, the commissioner for youth and sports development in the state, Patrick Ugbe, said the school programme which was expected to start in September will further boost the State Comprehensive Sports Development programme.

Mr. Ugbe said arrangements to prepare the schools to receive the Multi-million naira worth of sports equipment already imported was nearing completion.

He said, qualifying examination had been administered on young sports boys and girls for placement in the three centres, where they can pursue their education and sports development.

World Record

On Marble

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

Sanctity of Truth

– George Eliot

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 TUESday, JULY 15, 2014

Most bridesmaids at a wedding: A total of 95 bridesmaids attended the wedding of businesswoman Keyoon Chokelamlert and Kriangkrai Kittithanesuan at a hotel in Bangkok.

N150

Swazi-Nigeria partnership: Two nations, one mission

“N

igeria teeters near consistently at the vanguard of dynamic change”. This has been, as of late, the perception of the jewel of the ECOWAS by those in the international sphere.

The weather vane of Nigeria’s geopolitical climate is often purported to spin at break-neck speeds, were one to believe the brain-trusts of the sometimes introverted ‘Beltway’ bubble of Washington D.C. or indeed those accredited voices in New York, London, Paris, Brussels, Johannesburg, Accra and within the international community.

Whether the ‘forecast’ calls for sunny skies, following the rebasing of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) to thusly steward the economies of budding Africa, or torrential thunderstorms from purported bureaucratic corruption, lingering regional fragmentation and the threat of Boko Haram’s forays in to the Central Belt, there is rarely middleground in the analysis of the nation’s trajectory towards greater relevancy on the world stage.

Ahead of the unprecedented U.S.Africa Summit however, to take place here in Washington D.C. in the weeks to come, perspective is warranted regarding Nigeria’s strides towards greater openness abroad while it continues to develop rather autonomously.

Importantly and clearly (yet startling to some), Nigeria is not alone in this endeavor intercontinentally.

Western bodies can and should view striking similarities between African nations that are often wrongfully pigeonholed under themes of ‘potential’ or ‘pariah’ and perhaps learn there is more than meets the eye in lasting reformation missions undertaken by emerging market nations to bring about true global competition.

A true indicator of such tangible change can be seen in a nation’s steps en route to greater accountability. I thought it interesting to therefore showcase the efforts put forward in Nigeria’s Transformative Agenda, coupled with that of Swaziland and it’s Programme of Action.

While Nigerian leadership has been greatly outspoken regarding it’s dynamic drive to open coffers to independent inquiry while concurrently seeking to liberalize it’s markets, ultimately to offer progress through private-sector profit, one must also appreciate the efforts of (somewhat

World View SAM AMSTERDAM

ECOWAS Secretariat

nation.

His Majesty the King has taken a pragmatic yet deeply rooted stance on maintaining heritage and conversely, building lasting international partnerships with benefits exclusive to no single party, public or private. Stances such as these are not without their ramifications however, a reminder that the pathway to prosperity is not without it’s share of speed-bumps.

And while the offerings of both Nigeria and Swaziland have yet to be fully explained to the international community, it is valid to suggest that both nations host certain limitations, which could warrant investigation and sometimes scrutiny.

However, I put to you, the reader, that we must draw synergy from these accountable mission statements; both the Transfor mative Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Nigeria, one which seemingly bears fruit on a regular basis despite unquestionably arduous challenges, and the Programme of Action of His Majesty the King, an agenda that seeks to develop from within, while partnering abroad in only a mutually-beneficial manner.

Should Washington not see the opportunities ahead of, during or following the U.S-Africa Summit and derive renewed conclusions on areas of cooperation while curbing the spread of misinformation on agendas such as these, they themselves may lose such valued integration prospects to rival superpowers in the long term.

OmoBaba

JONATHAN LAMENTS HIGH RATE OF SCHOOL DROPOUT -News Jonathan

Swazi King Mswati III

quieter) Swaziland; namely, the work of His Majesty, King Mswati III and Prime Minister Dlamini.

Swaziland seeks to harmoniously yet dedicatedly pivot from dependency on the Southern African Customs Union (S.A.C.U.) towards true autonomous growth, in order to flourish in sectors which have long been undervalued in-country.

port-driven industry, is rare a find regarding monarchical mission statements.

However, recent actions from abroad to withdraw the nation’s U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligibility will cost jobs and hinder the potential of a Swaziland perhaps inspired by the economic success story of Nigeria and seeking to replicate.

For instance, it is presumed that the Swazi garment industry will contract from the loss of AGOA admissibility, which alone could cost up to 20,000 jobs at the least, according to official statements from within the

A familiar scenario, to be sure.

The nation’s widely-available Programme of Action, which discloses (as examples) efforts to buttress agribusiness as usual in Swaziland, encourage tourism and fortify ex-

– Who’s fault, Govt or poor parents?

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