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Friday, May 23, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 94

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Telecoms initiative may hurt Nigeria’s mobile money market Jonah Iboma

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igeria may lag behind other countries in Africa and the Middle East in the growth of mobile money due to the country’s existing regulation

that puts the service in the hands of banks rather than mobile network operators.

This is because the global trade body of mobile networks, GSM Association, has commenced

an initiative with nine international operators to develop an interoperable mobile money system whereby subscribers can send money across networks seamlessly.

The firms behind the

initiative are MTN Group, Etisalat Group, Bharti Airtel, Millicom, Ooredoo Group, Orange, STC Group, Vodafone Group and Zain Group.

Collectively, these operators account for 582 million

mobile connections across 48 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Currently, mobile money is a bank-led service in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia unlike what entails in other countries, where

Chibok: Police stop march on Aso Rock lDon’t blame govt, blame terrorists, says Jonathan lBoko Haram kills 29 in fresh attack on Borno Our Reporters

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fter over three weeks of protests on Abuja streets to demand the release of over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok, Borno State, demonstrators made an attempt yesterday to take the campaign

to the doorsteps of President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, the police stopped the march on Aso Rock, the seat of power and confined the protesters, led by a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, to the Federal Secretariat, where they were received by a delegation from the

Federal Government.

The protest for the rescue of the schoolgirls, who were kidnapped over a month ago, coincided with a nationwide protest by teachers, who shunned schools to draw attention to the toll the insurgency has taken on them.

According to the Ni-

geria Union of Teachers (NUT), about 171 teachers have been killed in Borno State by Boko Haram in the last few years.

The terrorist sect has also continued with its reign of terror in the state with the killing of 29 people in Chukungduoa, a border village in Gamboru Ngala Local

mobile network operators lead the service.

Nigeria runs the risk of missing out in the initiative, because of its extant regulation, as banks cannot be part of the agreeC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

Confab to sit weekends as FG extends duration by four weeks lRejects minority report on derivation principle Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

Government Area.

Chanting songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions ‘bring back our girls and alive now’, ‘we are Chibok women’ the protesters, under the aegis of ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ staged the peaceful protest walk, beginning C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

T

he Federal Government yesterday approved a four-week extension for the ongoing National Conference to enable it complete its assignment.

With the extension of the confab period, the government will spend additional N1,968,000,000 as allowances for the delegates.

This is besides the other expenses on the venues, conference secretariat and staff the government will incur with as a result of the extension.

Already, the Federal Government has expended almost N7billion on the conference.

Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, who announced this at the resumption of plenary yesterday, said with the approval, the conference would have to adjust its work plan to conform with the extension.

According to him, C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

Northern govs to FG: Don’t blame us for }4 terror LAGOS L-R: Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki; Information Minister, Labaran Maku; former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and others during the Bring Back Our Girls rally coordinated by the Ezekwesili in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: timothy ikuomenisan.

FG seeks repatriation of $500m Abacha loot from US

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Chibok: Police stop march on Aso Rock

from the Unity Fountain in Maitama to the Federal Secretariat complex where they were stopped by the police.

The group had an earlier written to the president that they would be coming to Aso Rock to deliver a letter of protest over the abduction and the inability of government to rescue the schoolgirls.

But the protesters were stopped at the Three Arms Zone by the police, led by an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), from proceeding to the Villa.

After some few minutes of waiting and singing solidarity songs, they were met by the president’s delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Other members of the delegation included ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed; Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of State for the FCT, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide and some presidential aides.

Addressing the crowd, Jonathan, in a speech read by Olajumoke, said: “Our security services are in the field confront-

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there do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists. “When a bomb blows up in Nigeria, we must all unite to fight the terrorists. This is the task of this generation. Our daughters must be freed to come home to their parents and loved ones so that they can return to school and continue their education.

“This is our fight. We must unite. The Federal government is united.”

Ezekwesili was however not satisfied with the representation of the president and the response and demanded another neutral meeting

with him to discuss the 10 requests of the group.

The 10 requests were contained in a letter submitted to the presidential delegation in which they accused the Federal Government of adopting a laid-back approach to the abduction from the onset.

The protesters also expressed disappointment over Jonathan’s inability to receive them.

Ezekwesili said the president’s speech and those he sent could not give adequate answers to the questions raised by the group.

According to her, she

is sad by the fact that the president did not show up.

She demanded another opportunity to meet with the president, saying: “This time, he should show up and address the issues the citizens have raised. And they want to have the discussion as early as possible.”

In the letter, the group said the president should establish the authenticity of the abduction, as well as why it took so long to act.

The letter also drew attention to the state of preparedness of the miliCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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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

L-R: President, South-East/South-South Professionals of Nigeria, Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo and Managing Director, UBA Capital, Mrs. Toyin Sani, at the on-going African Development Bank (AfDB) meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

Confab to sit weekends as FG extends duration by four weeks 32oC 24oC Mostly Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

ing the enemies. They need our support not attacks and discouragement, they are also losing their lives for us.

“When terrorists see Nigerians turn against each other, it gives them a great morale boost. We must not lose sight of the fact that the terrorists are the real enemies. We encourage civil society groups to use their influence to encourage Nigerians to supply useful info to security services using the emergency number, 112.

“When a bomb detonates in Baghdad, Kabul, Afghanistan, the people

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

though the conference leadership, at a meeting on Wednesday with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, asked for a six-week extension, government agreed to extend the conference by only four weeks.

He added that given the workload before the delegates, they might have to sit weekends to be able to deliver on their assignment.

With the four-week extension, the conference, which began sitting on March 17 and was to wind up on June 19, will now end its activities on July 17.

“We met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation yesterday (Wednesday) and he has approved four-week extension for us. We asked for six weeks, but government approved four weeks.

It therefore means we have to have additional sittings on Friday, Saturday and even probably on Sunday,” Kutigi said.

He urged delegates to make positive contributions to debates rather than raising unnecessary objec-

tions, points of order and observations on issues that end up dragging the conference backwards.

However, the proposal to conduct the sittings of the conference on weekends did not go down well with some delegates who said sittings must not hold anytime from Fridays.

Some delegates suggested that there would have been no need to have an extension if the conference had streamlined its work plan to be finish by the end of June.

There were also suggestions that the conference should start sitting each day by 9a.m. and end deliberations by 7p.m., while the lunch time should also be reduced from two hours to an hour in order to devote more time to the deliberations.

Following the new development, the conference has readjusted the time for the commencement of deliberations from 10a.m. to 9a.m., with effect from next Monday.

At plenary of the conference yesterday, the decision to subject the ratification of decisions to consensus was put to test as a member

of the Conference Committee on Devolution of Power, Ms Annkio Briggs, attempted to submit a minority report, especially on derivation principle.

Earlier, the committee Co-Chairman, Obong Victor Attah, had submitted its report in which it recommended the retention of the 13 per cent derivation principle for consideration.

But Briggs who disagreed with the recommendation on derivation principle, said since she did not endorse the recommendation to retain the 13 per cent derivation principle, she would like to submit a minority report in which she pushed for 50 per cent derivation principle.

But another delegate, Haliru Bello, drew the attention of the delegates to the conference rules of procedure banning any minority report.

According to him, the rule states that decisions could either be reached by consensus or where consensus failed, 70 per cent vote in favour of an item.

He said the conference should not accept any minority report in order not

to create room for delegates to flood the conference with minority reports.

Kutigi upheld Bello’s observation, adding: “Minority report is unknown to our rule.”

He ruled that Briggs minority report should be accepted but marked “rejected.”

Meanwhile, there was a security alert midway into the deliberations yesterday following a report that some personal aides and drivers to some delegates were holding meetings with the intention of disrupting the sitting of the conference.

The aides, New Telegraph learnt, were complaining of being denied allowances while attending the conference with their principals.

But Kutigi explained that from the outset, there was no provision made for paying stipends to personal aides and drivers.

He urged all delegates to prevail on their aides to desist from acts capable of disrupting the conference.

According to him, the conference may be forced to order the arrest of anyone who flouts the order by disrupting its activities.

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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FG seeks repatriation of $500m Abacha loot from US

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igerian has asked a Washington DC District Court for an order to make the United States to return $500 million that a former military Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, allegedly stole from the treasury.

The amount was recently frozen by the United States Department of Justice, which on March 6 announced the freezing of the assets of the late Abacha stashed in various accounts in the U.S. and around the world.

The loot was described as the “largest kleptocracy forfeiture action” in the de-

partment’s history in a civil forfeiture action brought before the DC District court.

A report yesterday by Premium Times, an online news portal, said the Federal Government, in the suit filed by its counsel, Godson Nnaka and Jude Ezeala, asked the court to “enter a decree ordering the forfeiture of the defendant’s (Abacha) property to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It also wants the court to “grant an order of forfeiture for liquidation of all forfeited/seized assets/defendant property and conversion of all proceeds to

liquid fluids denominated in the United States dollar.”

The Federal Government is also asking the court to “enter an order directing the immediate return and transfer of the defendant property, in liquidated proceeds denominated in United States currency bank to Nigeria less attorney fees, cost and expenses.”

Quoting the World Bank, the counsel argued that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s 170 million people are “extremely poor people.”

“For the most part of its history, Nigeria has been ruled by a string of brutal

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (right) and the U.S Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Penny Pritzker, during a meeting with the governor as part of the U.S Department of Commerce, West Africa Energy Business Development Mission to Ghana and Nigeria led by Pritzker in Lagos…yesterday

military dictators who oppressed the citizens, suppressed all forms of dissent or opposition and systematically institutionalised graft and corruption in the country.”

According to court documents, some of the money was stolen directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through a fraudulent security vote perpetrated through letter requests from the late Abacha’s National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gwarzo, with the help of the late dictator’s son, Mohammed Abacha, and his close associate, Atiku Bagudu.

ment with GSM Association.

As a result of the development, industry stakeholders are angling for an arrangement that will see mobile network operators take a more central position in the provision of mobile money service in the country.

President of Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said in the light of the current global development, the Federal Government would need to review the current model in favour of one that is led by telecommunication companies.

According to him, if banks do not give up their licences, they should collaborate with network operators in such a way that the telecommunication companies take the lead position.

According to him, telecommunication firms already have the agency net-

work necessary for mobile money service and it will make sense to make use of this network for the service.

Also, the fact that mobile money has recorded limited growth after almost four years since it was licensed in Nigeria has made stakeholders to canvass for a new approach that will make the telecommunication companies play a more central role in delivering the service.

Recent statistics show that there is only 19 per cent awareness about mobile money.

A bank executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said even though banks had the licences, they would prefer the telecommunication companies to drive the process in view of the recent development.

According to him, Nigerian banks are aware of the mobile money initiative, adding that awareness level about mobile money

is still low at just about 19 per cent.

“At best, banks can only collaborate as they are doing now,” he said.

Principal Partner, Mobile Money Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Okoegwale, said mobile money could have grown faster if the regulatory framework in Nigeria had been different.

According to him, the regulatory regime in Nigeria contradicted itself by empowering scheme provider partners to sign customers for mobile financial services.

This effectively means that a scheme provider’s partner can be a mobile network operator.

He explained that even if Nigeria wants to participate in the GSM Association initiative, the operators and not banks are the ones that have to sign the agreement, adding that this cannot be done for now since the mobile operators are not licensed to carry out the service.

Mobile money is widely

this fraudulent flipping of Nigerian debt, the Central Bank of Nigeria paid and was defrauded the following: (a) $141,253,333 paid or transferred to defendant property on or before April 15, 1997; (b) $141,253,333 paid or transferred to defendant property on or before April 22, 1997.

“From the foregoing, the conclusion is inescapable that Nigeria is the innocent owner of the funds laundered by defendant corporate entities and therefore entitled to the return of the funds and the interests generated there-from,” the counsel added.

United States Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker (left) and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, when Pritzker led a delegation of 20 American businesses to Nigeria in Lagos… yesterday.

Telecoms initiative may hurt Nigeria’s mobile money market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The late head of state was also accused of devising a dubious debt buy-back scam to fleece the country of more than $282 million, according to an affidavit filed by the Federal Government’s counsel.

“General Abacha in association with his son, Mohammed Abacha, Bagudu and others defrauded Nigeria of more than $282 million by causing the Government of Nigeria to repurchase Nigeria’s par debt from one of his companies for more than double what Nigeria would have paid to repurchase the debt in open market. In

seen as a quick and easy system of bringing billions of unbanked people into the formal financial system and GSM Association is pushing this so that more people can get into the formal banking system.

It said in a recent document that there were 2.5 billion ‘unbanked or unlettered’ people in developing countries who have to rely on cash or informal financial services, which are typically unsafe, inconvenient and expensive.

It noted that as over one billion of these people have access to mobile phones, this provides the basis for mobile money, whereby mobile technology is used to deliver convenient and affordable financial services to them.

Recent research conducted by McKensey and Company, revealed that 2.5 billion of the world’s adults don’t use formal banks or semiformal microfinance institutions to save or borrow money.

Chibok: Police stop march on Aso Rock CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tary to curtail the insurgency.

It also raised a poser on why Jonathan has not visited Chibok since the abduction considering that it is his responsibility to commiserate with the families and the Chibok community by visiting them.

It demanded to know the specific actions that have been taken since the president’s return from Paris that gives the confidence that Nigeria’s neighbours, especially Cameroun will cooperate.

The aborted march on Aso Rock came as teachers, in compliance with the NUT directive which had earlier declared yesterday a work-free day for them to join in the campaign for the release of the abducted schoolgirls trooped out and marched on the streets in various states across the country.

They seized the occasion to draw attention

to the plight of teachers under the insurgency, saying Boko Haram has killed about 171 of their colleagues.

They, therefore, called on the Federal Government and states to do more to protect them from harm.

In Oyo State, the teachers took the protest to the office of the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in Ibadan, demanding better protection of their members and pupils in primary and secondary schools.

The protest, according to the Secretary of the union, Waheed Olojede, was informed by the apprehension over the safety of the schoolchildren.

In Anambra State, the teachers also staged a protest in Awka to demand the release of the Chibok schoolgirls.

Over 200 teachers took part in the protest carrying placards that expressed anti-terror sentiments as they marched CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Friday, May 23, 2014

Northern govs to FG: Don’t blame us for terror lFG to settle medical bills of Jos blasts victims lCDS, ministers visit scenes, hospitals Dan Atori and Musa Pam

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he Northern States Governors’ Forum yesterday hit back at the Federal Government over allegation that governors from the region were not doing enough to fight terrorism.

The governors described the statement as “uncharitable and unfortunate.”

Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, described the statement credited to the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku on Wednesday as unfortunate.

The minister had on Wednesday accused the 19 northern governors of not

doing enough to contain insurgency in the region.

Aliyu, while reacting to the statement by Maku at the opening of a one-day meeting of federal and state government’s security administrators in Minna, said if the views expressed by the minister was the opinion of the Federal Government, “it is very uncharitable, it is more than unfortunate.”

According to Aliyu, “I was very sad when I read it in virtually all the papers where the Minister of Information was accusing us (northern governors) of not doing enough to fight insurgency in the region.

“If it is his views, then it is very unfortunate. If it

Chibok: Police stop march on Aso Rock CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

on the streets of Awka.

Addressing journalists at the Government House where they had gone to present their demand to Governor Willie Obiano, the state Chairman of NUT, Mr. Ifeanyi Ofodile, said Nigerians irrespective of their tribe and religion should close ranks and rise to the challenge of freeing the innocent girls held in Boko Haram captivity.

According to him, if the insurgents are allowed to succeed, they might have succeeded in taking the country back by 100 years, adding that “this country has no option than to fight the insurgents.”

NUT members in Ondo State also took part in the demonstration.

The protesting teachers, armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, appealed to government to demonstrate political will to fight the insurgency.

Leading hundreds of the union’s members to the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state Chairman of NUT, Mr. Ojo Fanimokun urged the Federal Government to demonstrate enough social responsibility and concern to guarantee security of lives and property.

Addressing the protesting teachers, Governor Olusegun Mimiko who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, mourned those who have lost their lives to the insurgency in recent times.

While condemning the abduction of the Chibok girls, Mimiko

said the country was experiencing trying times and that all the activities of Boko Haram would soon come to an end with prayers and support of all Nigerians.

Hundreds of teachers and pupils trooped out in Lagos for a march on the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to protest the abduction of the Chibok girls.

They called for the immediate rescue of the girls by the Federal Government.

The protesters were received by the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who admonished them to join hands with government by praying for the release of the abductees, saying the abduction of the girls is condemnable globally.

Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorists invaded Chukungduoa on Wednesday morning, killing 29 people and setting houses ablaze.

The attack according to a resident, Mallam Bakura Mustapha, occurred barely 10 days after the withdrawal of military troops from the village.

He said the gunmen who were heavily armed, stormed the village at about 11am and opened fire on the residents.

Another resident who sought not to be named, said in a telephone interview that many residents of the village also suffered gunshot wounds and were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Cameroun.

is the views of the Federal Government, that is very uncharitable. It is more than unfortunate and I think it is part of hypocrisy, because no governor as far as I know and as Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, no governor will be accused of not doing enough.

“I am not aware of any governor that has either been invited by the National Security Adviser or the Director of State Security Service (SSS) to be told what to do and he did not do it. I am not aware of that.

“We as northern governors set up a committee that went round all the states; we sent our report and recommendations to the Federal Government

and what did the Federal Government do? They set up another committee, which went round and plagiarised the report of the northern governors.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has pledged to bear the hospital bills of victims of Tuesday’s twin bomb explosions in Jos. Tuesday’s twin explosions at Terminus Market occurred within 14 minutes interval, killing more than 75 persons and injuring over 100 others.

A statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), signed by Mr. Sani Datti, Senior Information Officer, quoted its DirectorGeneral, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, as saying that emergency rescue

operations had also been concluded at the scene of the blasts.

The statement issued yesterday in Abuja said that NEMA had completed evacuation of people affected by the explosions.

Also, President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the killing of mostly women and children during the Jos blasts.

The president, who was represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiay Zainab Maina, decried the unfortunate incident.

The ministers visited the scenes of the bomb blasts and victims receiving treatment at the Pla-

teau Specialist Hospital, Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

Maina lamented that women and children were burnt beyond recognition as a result of the blasts.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday visited the scene of the twin bomb blasts and victims receiving treatments at JUTH. Speaking with journalists after inspecting the scenes, the CDS called for the enforcement of the law banning street trading as most of the casualties were street traders.

Badeh called for vigilance among Nigerians, noting that the fight against insurgency could not be won in one day.

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido (right), and the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at Dutse International Airport for an official engagement…yesterday

Alison-Madueke files fresh suit to stop Reps’ probe

lCommittee begins investigation June 19 Tunde Oyesina and Philip Nyam

M

inister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have launched a fresh legal bid to stop the House of Representatives from inquiring into the allegation that the minister spent N10billion of public funds to charter private jets for her trips.

Notwithstanding the pendency of a suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja challenging the House power to probe her over the allegation, the minister and the oil corporation yesterday filed another suit seeking to halt the legislative investigation.

The filing of the suit came barely a day after House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, ordered the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to resume the probe into the allegation, which was suspended in the wake of the confusion over the alleged stoppage of the probe by Justice A.R Mohammed.

However, the judge later clarified that he did not issue such an order.

Counsel to the minister and NNPC, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), explained yesterday that his clients were worried by the continuous invitations sent by various committees of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

He added that they were disturbed by the sheer avalanche of these invita-

tions, most, or almost all, of which have nothing to do with the way and manner in which the National Assembly or its committees, are to carry out their oversight functions.

“Greatly troubled and disturbed by the incessant invitations to them, which have virtually crippled the applicant’s business and left them with little or no time to carry out their constitutional and statutory functions, the applicants were compelled to approach the Federal High Court for interpretation of the constitutional provisions for oversight functions and seek redress,” Ozekhome stated.

In an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Dominic Ezerioha, the plaintiffs averred that the

main function for which the respondents are primarily set up is to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation or any part thereof with respect to matters in the exclusive legislative list.

Despite the minister’s suit, the investigation of Alison-Madueke is scheduled to commence on June 19 just as the House of Representatives has declared that it cannot be arm-twisted in the discharge of its responsibilities.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who disclosed this yesterday affirmed that the House leadership consulted widely before deciding to continue with the investigation.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

SEAWOLF OILFIELD SERVICES LIMITED (RC687914) (IN RECEIVERSHIP)

26, AGODOGBA AVENUE, PARK VIEW ESTATE, IKOYI, LAGOS.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER/MANAGER TAKE NOTICE that I, MR. MICHAEL IGBOKWE, SAN, FCIARB, have been appointed by ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION OF NIGERIA (“AMCON”) as the Receiver/ Manager of SEAWOLF OILFIELD SERVICES LIMITED (“Seawolf”) over inter alia its and its related companies’ assets, undertakings and goodwill charged, mortgaged or pledged as security for the eligible bank asset acquired by AMCON from First Bank of Nigeria Plc under the powers contained inter alia in Section 48 of AMCON Act, 2010, other laws for the time being in force and the deed of debenture dated 3/7/07 between First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Seawolf, registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja. The Deed of Appointment of the Receiver/Manager dated 10th December, 2013 was duly stamped by the Commissioner for Stamp Duties and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja.

DEBTORS AND CREDITORS All the debtors of Seawolf and its related companies are to pay their debts directly to the Receiver/ Manager whilst all the creditors are to send their proof of claims to the Receiver/Manager within 14{fourteen} days from the date of this publication.

BANKS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, COMPANIES AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES All deposits, cash and others Assets of Seawolf or its related companies currently held by Banks and other Financial Institutions should be held until the issuance of further instructions by the Receiver/Manager under the law and in accordance with the Orders of Court dated 7/1/14 in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/02/2014 pending in the Federal High Court, Lagos. All holders of such deposits should immediately contact the Receiver/Manager stating the balances and where secured facilities were granted, the type of security attached should be disclosed to the Receiver/Manager immediately.

Contracting parties of Seawolf and its related companies should be rest assured that Seawolf remains a going concern and that the Receiver/Manager intends to ensure its viability.

Dated this 22nd day of May, 2014.

Mr. M.I. Igbokwe, SAN, FCIArb, Mike Igbokwe (SAN) & Co, 61A Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

01-4620907; 01-4620917. info@mikeigbokwe.com

6

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Ekiti 2014

Jos bomb blast: Fayose leads protest off from Spotless Hotel, Onigari, GRA, saw the crowd of people wearing Ekiti PDP leaders black T-shirts with the march against inscription, 'Ekiti PDP sympathises with Jos renewed violence on bomb blast victims'. They the Plateau marched through Okesa down to Old Garage area of the town.

Adesina Wahab Addressing the people, Ado-Ekiti Fayose, who is the governorship candidate of the ormer Ekiti State Gov- PDP in the June 21 elecernor, Mr Ayo Fayose, tion, decried the spate of yesterday led leaders bloodletting in the country.

According to him, the and members of the Peoples Democratic Party killings and maiming (PDP) on a peaceful pro- across Nigeria was about test in Ado-Ekiti over the an individual, President bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau Goodluck Jonathan.

State that killed nearly 200 He advised those who people. might have any axe to The protest, which took grind with the President to

INSURGENCE

F

wait until next year when they could confront him on the political field.

"The reason for the protest is to identify with the victims of the Jos bomb blasts which for reasons within good conscience and love for your fellow human beings, we had to suspend our campaign for today and we chose to identify with them by this walk and to appeal to whatever they call themselves in the name of politics, they should stop shedding the blood of innocent Nigerians.

"It is not about our postponed rally because when you get to your office, either you want to be president or governor, you have to be

governor over a people and if you have allowed may be, because of political reasons, you have allowed these people to die for no just cause, the innocent souls being driven out of this world would be crying for justice.

"We identify with their families; we therefore suspend our campaigns because of them. We believe in this country and in the ability of the President to move this country forward.

"We identify with him.

We call on all those who are distracting the President and his team for political gains to desist from such because of these innocent people. They should remember that there is time for everything. There must

be a president at a given time; anybody who feels he has an axe to grind with Jonathan should wait for 2015. You can only take him out of office by vote, not by violence and until that time, we should give him the necessary support and encouragement for him to move this nation forward.

"We are saying unequivocally that the opposition should look for power in a decent manner and not through any ungodly manner.

"We will continue to pray for the families of the victims and try as many of them that we can reach through any measure and to continue to

tell them that we stand for justice, that we are standing against violence.

"The state of insecurity is not about leadership of the country. It is about individuals. It is an insecurity that is target against certain people in leadership, carrying out problems at certain people on the streets is ungodly and the president is doing his best because the president won't be everywhere at the same time. He is not God, he is doing his best. In my opinion, everybody should wait for his turn. The president will not stop the development of this country because you are bombing and killing yourselves," he said.

Oni's exit won't affect us – Ekiti PDP Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

he Ekiti State Chairman Tcratic of the Peoples DemoParty (PDP), Mr

L-R: Mr. Bisi Kolawole; Ekiti State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose; former chairman of the party, Chief Dipo Anisulowo; Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, and others during the procession...yesterday

Stop playing politics with lives, APC tells PDP Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Par ty (PDP) to stop playing politics with the lives of Nigerians.

The party lamented that it was wrong, irresponsible and uncharitable for the ruling party to seek to make political gains out of the worsening and deadly terror attacks in the country.

APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated these in a statement in Gusau, Zamfara State yesterday.

According to the party, Nigerians are too discerning to be hoodwinked by PDP's ceaseless finger-

pointing and name calling, as exhibited by the party's overly-exuberant and rarely-introspecting spokesman.

It said Nigerians, who watched the live telecast of the APC rally in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday saw how the party, left with no choice than to proceed with the rally in view of the suddenness of the Jos twin bombings and the fact that INEC cannot be prevailed upon to change the timetable of the Ekiti polls, made it as sombre as possible under the circumstances.

The party explained that despite the presence of musical groups and other performers, all musical breaks in the programme and all other scheduled performances were cut out, while the rally itself was drastically abridged.

Fayemi promises more infrastructure Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Eyesterday Dr. Kayode Fayemi, listed sus-

tained infrastructural development as one of the key priorities of his development agenda for second term in office if he wins. He also pledged to re-dedicate himself to the good and increased service delivery to the people of Ekiti State.

Fayemi gave the promise in Ado-Ekiti after being presented the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party's candidate in the June 21 governorship election.

He also highlighted the establishment of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) and the execution of the Digital Transformation Programme (DTP) as some of the initiatives to make more Ekiti youths employable and gainfully

employed.

These are in addition to the creation of the one-stop investment centre aimed at attracting investors to critical high yield investment sectors such as agriculture, tourism and mining.

Other strategic areas listed in his manifesto, officially made public included road and farmstead development, food security through commodity-based approach to agricultural development, establishment of a framework for fiscal sustainability, strengthening the institutional capacity of the state's civil service for improved service delivery, amongst others.

The unveiled manifesto for Fayemi's second term, which was tagged "Roadmap to Rapid Economic Growth and Development" otherwise known as the Ekiti Agenda, contains the policy thrusts of his administration from 2014 to 2018.

Makanjuola Ogundipe, has said the exit of former Governor Segun Oni from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have no effect on the fortunes of the PDP in the coming poll.

He also described the exit of Oni as good 'riddance to bad rubbish'.

Speaking in an interview in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he said from the outset, Oni never acted as a true PDP member.

"The exit of Oni is a welcome development. He never acted as a true PDP member for one day. He joined the PDP from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was given the ticket of the PDP despite coming a distant third in the primaries.

"When he was governor of the state, he nearly killed the PDP in Ekiti State. Instead of being grateful to the party that made him politically, he is repaying the party with evil.

"It is a pity that he could not read the game of politics well. He decided to join the people, who said he was never recognised as a governor. The people, who pulled down his portrait from the gallery of portraits of former governors of the state.

"Oni did not act as a political leader; a leader who leaves a party for another with nearly 99 per cent of his supporters not following him. When a leader is going and nobody is following, the person is no longer leading; he is merely taking a stroll," Ogundipe said.

On the chance of the PDP and its candidate, Ayo Fayose, in the June 21 poll, Ogundipe said it was bright.

LP, APC bicker over unclaimed voter cards Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

State chapter of ThashetheEkiti Labour Party (LP) accused the ruling

All Progressives Congress (APC) of buying up unclaimed voter cards preparatory to rigging the June 21 governorship election.

In a swift reaction, the Head of Media of Ekiti APC, Mr Segun Dipe, said the allegation showed the poor thinking ability of LP leaders.

The Head, Media and Publicity Secretary of LP, Mrs. Bolanle OlatundeBruce, had alleged that the plan for the electoral fraud was hatched in the house of a former senator in a town

in Ondo State.

The LP added that at the said meeting, some APC leaders met with Independent National Electoral Commission's officers in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti and induced them with money.

The LP added: "We wish to draw the attention of the INEC leadership in Abuja, the Ekiti State REC as well as well as the law enforcement agencies to yet another rigging plan by the APC - led sinking government of Dr Kayode Fayemi. These apostles of rig and roast are the pot calling the kettle back.

They are the perpetrators of evil who usually rush down to the press to cry foul where and when there is none."

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

NEITI to expose identities of oil block owners EXPOSURE

Nigerians will soon know the owners of oil blocks James Nwabueze Abuja

N

igerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is set to introduce a new process that will expose the identities of the owners of oil blocks across the country.

NEITI Chairman, Mr. Ledum Mitee, who made this disclosure at the capacity building workshop for civil society organisations in Abuja yesterday, said the new standard also require improved reliability of data transparency on the part of state-owned

companies and other government entities on revenue collected on behalf of the government.

“If you say XYZ Limited is this company and all that, sometimes its abstract does not convey the information you want to convey. So, the new process is going to ask us to report on the beneficial ownership, which means for the first time, engaging the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). So, you can say these are people behind these companies,” he said.

He explained that the new standard focus on expenditure on social services, public infrastructure and fuel subsidy payments.

Mitee added that the revised standard encourage contract transparency in companies and government.

On disclosure of oil block ownership, he said: “The revised NEITI standards require, for instance, disclosure of production figure, disclosure of ownership of the licence holders (disclosure of beneficiary ownership.)”

He said as ground breaking as the new standards undoubtedly are, it is refreshing to note that NEITI audit processes, by the enabling Act, already captures several aspects of the revised standards.

The chairman noted that among the aspect already reflected by NEITI, is the issue of disclosure of production figures, revenue allocations to states, local and other accounts are already being implemented in Nigeria under the enlarged mandate granted NEITI by its Act of 2007.

Mitee, however, disclosed that the aspects of the new standards that were not captured by the current NEITI processes would be incorporated in the 2012 audit reports now in progress.

Speaking, the NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, whom the Director of Civil Service Organisation, Mr. Peter Ogbobine represented, said that the Fiscal Allocation Disbursement audit covering the period 20072011 has been concluded and will soon be made public.

According to her, the procurement process for 2013 audit of the sector is in progress.

She reassured the stakeholders that NEITI will continue do its best to meet all the reporting deadlines set by the global EITI.

Grounded Warri refinery gets crude supply contracts Adeola Yusuf

S

eplat Petroleum yesterday said it has completed a 10km pipeline to state-owned NNPC-operated Warri refinery.

The 36-year-old Warri refinery got last minute respite against crude supply draught rocking the facility.

New Telegraph, which exclusively reported the fate, which befell the 125, 000 barrels per day installation, gathered that agreement has been secured for crude supply from Oil Mining Leases

(OMLs) 4, 38 and 41 to the refinery, which had earlier been grounded.

Seplat Petroleum, operators of the oil blocks, said it had completed a 10 km pipeline to stateowned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)-operated Warri refinery to which it would deliver its equity crude from the company’s onshore oil blocks.

Supply of crude feedstock to the 125,000 b/d Warri refinery, according to Seplat, would create an alternative route to export its crude after

it suffered forced shut-in, following the vandalism on the Shell-operated Trans-Forcados pipeline last March.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Austin Avuru, who disclosed this, maintained that this feat was a strategically important milestone for Seplat.

He said: “Completion of our pipeline to the Warri refinery and commencement of crude deliveries to Warri [refinery] was a strategically important milestone for Seplat.

Confusion over enlistment of 2014 budget of federal parastatals Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate was thrown into confusion yesterday over the enlistment of the 2014 budget proposals of 52 federal parastatals in the Order Paper by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

The drama ensued when the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi, read the motion on the 2014 budget proposal of the 52 agenCharles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

T

he Inde pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State yesterday said the registration and distribution of permanent voters’ cards will commence

cies for consideration on the floor of Senate.

However, most of the senators, who spoke on the motion, expressed surprise over the appearance of the proposal on the Order Paper as they observed that the agencies so enlisted had already appeared before the various standing committees of the Senate for the 2014 budget defence.

Some of the parastatals contained in the list are: the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and many others.

Introducing the motion on behalf of the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma- Egba, who was absent from the Chamber, Ningi said: “That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President, Commander-inChief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 2014 Budget proposal for the Federal Government Parastatals.”

INEC begins distribution of voters’ cards, registration in Ebonyi in July across the 13 local governments of the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Okey Ezeani, made this known

while interacting with the leadership and stakeholders of the various political parties held at the commission’s headquarters in Abakaliki.

“This pipeline provides an alternative export route for our liquids and will further reduce the reconciliation losses imposed on our exports via Forcados.”

7

Fashola harps on need to capture informal business sector Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday stressed the need to include the informal sector in the state’s economy, urging tradesmen and artisans to restrategise and step up their entrepreneurial activities so as to capture their contributions to the economy.

Fashola said artisans in the state could transit from the extralegal economy to formal economy, if they formalise and modernise their business models, saying the informal sector of the state's

economy is very large to accommodate them.

The governor spoke at De Blue Roof, LTV 8 Compound, Agidingbi, Ikeja while addressing tradesmen and artisans at the grand finale of the fifth Tradesmen and Artisans’ Week celebration.

Fashola, who emphasised the importance of the informal sector to the economic development of the state, urged the artisans and tradesmen, who are yet to be formally recognised by the state, to come forward and upgrade their businesses so that they can be captured in the state’s economic data.

Rivers PDP alleges plot to attack party secretariat Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

T

he Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, raised the alarm that it has uncovered a plan by a group of touts and agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to attack its state secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

But the APC debunked the allegation, saying it was not true, further describing it as baseless.

The PDP alleged that the touts and agents of the APC, which it claimed would be “acting on the orders of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, are expected to lead a protest march to the Aba Road secretariat of the party yesterday or any other day.”

UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2014 The Board of Directors of Nestlé Nigeria PLC hereby announces the following provisional and unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31 March 2014.

Revenue Gross Profit Result from Operating Activities Net Finance Cost Profit Before Income Tax Income Tax Expense Profit For the Period

Unaudited Jan-March, 2014 N'000

Unaudited Jan-March, 2013 N'000

33,425,485 14,864,161

30,696,326 13,236,427

7,726,856 (655,477) 7,071,379 (1,067,060) 6,004,319

7,518,663 3 (465,275) 140 7,053,388 0.3 (1,058,000) 0.9 5,995,388 0.1

% 9 12

COMMENTS Based on the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Nigeria, we have prepared the Company's Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2014 in compliance with the provisions of the IFRS, in particular, IAS 34. The detailed interim Financial Statements prepared in line with IAS 34 will be available on the Company's website, www.nestlecwa.com/en/investors/nigeria.

“We are pleased with the turnover development for the first quarter of 2014 despite the challenging business environment. The Profit development reflects our commitment to stronger Marketing and Distribution activities which build the basis for the future growth of the Business. The Directors are optimistic that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Company will record good level of performance in the subsequent quarters of the year.”

Dated this 28th day of April 2014

BODE AYEKU, ESQ.

22-24, Industrial Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos

New Telegraph

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Panic in Omu-Aran over false terrorists’ attack Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

here was panic yesterday in Omu-Aran, Ifelodun Local Government area of Kwara State as school teachers sought to implement the NUT directive to boycott classes.

Many of the teachers who got news of the directive late still made efforts to implement it, but in the process, some parents became panicky, thinking the decision to

close schools had to do with an impending attack

by Bokko Haram.

Information had filtered into the town following the sudden closure of schools, making some parents to begin running around to pick their wards.

One of such parents, Mrs. Afusat Ajiboye, said she was in her shop when information got to her that the schools have been asked to close due to an impending Boko Haram attack.

Aregbesola advocates pupils’ feeding nationwide sun State governor, the global trend of feedOterday Rauf Aregbesola, yes- ing pupils, saying the pro- Reps order suspension of said his joy will gramme was a near uni-

L-R: Group Managing Director, First Bank/Director, FBN Holding Plc; Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc; Mr. Bello Maccido and Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc, Oba Otudeko at the 2nd Annual General Meeting of FBN Holdings Plc in Lagos…yesterday.

know no bounds if the school feeding programme operative in his state, was adopted throughout the country.

He said the idea of feeding pupils once a day was an investment which will promote agriculture, a surest way for food security, among others.

That was even as Prof.

Don Bundy of the World Bank commended Aregbesola for moving with

versal programme with 317 million school children being fed worldwide.

Aregbesola, while speaking at a technical meeting on Osun Elementary School feeding and Health programme (O-MEALS) held at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, stated that a well fed and healthy child has the first requirement for life.

Niger’s Zakkat Endowment Board gulps N70m Dan Atori MINNA

he Niger State CommisTfairs sioner for Religious Afand Poverty Allevia-

tion, Alhaji Shehu Haruna, has said that the Niger State Zakkat and Endowment Board has collected over N70 million in cash and kind from Muslims in the state over the last 13 years.

He also disclos ed that the state government has approved the review of the frame work of the Zakkat collection committee.

Haruna, who made this known in Minna yesterday while addressing newsmen at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting explained that of the collection, N40.5 million was in cash while the balance came in form of goods and other materials.

The commissioner, who said Zakkat is one of the pillars of Islam, noted that over the same period, not less than 1, 784 people benefited from the cash and materials collected by the Zakkat board.

29 killed in Borno border village

Presidential scholarship scheme

Ahmed Miringa

Philip Nyam

unmen suspected to be GHaram members of the Boko terrorists in invad-

Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday ordered the suspension of the activities of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), alleging uneven allotment of spaces to beneficiaries.

Chairman of the House committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano), gave the di-

rective after the committee received a submission from the head of PRESSID, Prof. Julius Okojie, who submitted that the committee awards scholarship based on merit.

While ordering for a suspension of the programme, the House resolved that it would subject the members of the award selection board to scrutiny, to ascertain how they arrived at the decision they took. It will also check the criteria that was used in the selection.

PDP assures Adamawa defecting lawmakers of equal treatment Ibrahim Abdul Yola

A

damawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assured the three lawmakers who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the party of equal treatment, fairness along with the old members of the party.

The state Chairman of PDP, Chief Joel Madaki, who received the three legislators, who were conducted round the party secretariat by the leader of the House, Alhaji Ishaq Bala, said they were in the secretariat in solidarity with the party along with members of their constituency.

Maiduguri

ed Chukungduoa, a border village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State on Wednesday morning, killing 29 people and setting houses ablaze.

The attack according to a resident, Mallam Bakura Mustapha, occurred barely 10 days after the

withdrawal of military troops from the village.

He said, the gunmen in 15 Hilux vehicles and several motorcycles with AK47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices ( IEDs) and petrol bombs, stormed the village at about 11am on Wednesday and opened fire on residents killing 29 people, injuring several others, while almost all houses and shops in the village were razed.

Kaduna earmarks N5bn for water Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

aduna State governKbillion ment has budgeted N5 for the provision

and maintenance of facilities in order to provide portable water for the residents of the state.

Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. David Gurara, has said.

Gurara, who made this known yesterday during a

facility inspection visit to the ongoing water project at Birnin-Gwari, a town located at the western part of the state, reiterated the legislature’s commitment to provide quality water for the people.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr. Ado Dogo Audu, who expressed satisfaction about the project, said efforts are on to complete it within the stipulated time.

Group carpets Tinubu over Stop insulting Jonathan, PDP Taraba appoints nine perm secs comments on monarchs tells Kwankwaso Sabiu Mustapha The Chief Judge of Onyekachi Eze elected on the platform of socio-cultural organisa- day, described the statethe state, Mrs. Josphine the party. cting Governor of Tuktur, administered the Ation, the Yoruba Libera- ment as disrespective, to he Peoples Democratic At a press briefing by the AGarba Taraba State, Alhaji oath of allegiance to the tion Movement, yesterday the traditional rulers in TParty (PDP) yesterday National Secretary of the Umar, yesterday newly permanent secre- carpeted the leadership the land. advised Governor Rabiu party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, JALINGO

swore-in nine newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state.

The event which held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, was attended by some traditional rulers and top government functionaries in the state, as well as family members and well-wishers of the appointees.

ABUJA

taries.

In his speech, the state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, said the appointments of the nine new permanent secretaries was based on the need to fill existing vacancies at the top echelon of the state civil service, following the retirements of some senior officers from the state civil service.

of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, over his alleged outburst that only three traditional rulers in Yorubaland are qualified to occupy kingship stool in the land.

The group, which poised for war against Tinubu over the matter, at a protest held in Osogbo, Osun State capital yester-

Some of the traditional rulers visited by the group were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, Timi of Ede, Oba Tajudeen Laminisa and other prominent monarchs in the state.

Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, to refrain from pouring vituperations on President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it was uncouth of a person occupying the office of governor.

The party also said it was wrong for Kwankwaso, who twice became governor on the platform provided by the PDP, to be abusing both the party and governors

said even though Kwankwaso's attitude were fueled by the political frustration, such level of ‘bitterness’ should not be made manifest.

The ruling party accused Kwankwaso of transferring aggression unnecessarily on the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio and other southern governors.

Traditional worshipers pray for Chibok girls in Oyo Ebonyi APGA boss wants ex-LG chairmen, coordinators

SolaAdeyemo Ibadan

belief that prayer can Iofndothe all things, representatives Ifa worshipers across Ni-

geria yesterday converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, offering prayers for

the release of the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

The worshippers, mainly Yoruba, but who also had Igbo, Hausa, Edo leaders in their midst, prayed for a quick end to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents

and for the return of peace and stability to Nigeria.

They include Chief Yemi Elebuibon, Chief Udenta Chikeebere, Chief Ifayinka Odutolu, Chief Ifasayo Alabi and Osunkemi Bogunpe, among others.

Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he Chairman of the All Tliance Progressives Grand Al(APGA) in Ebonyi

State, Mr. Jerry Obasi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

sion (EFCC) to probe the financial records of the all the past chairmen and coordinators of local government areas of the state.

The APGA chieftain expressed dismay over the insensitivity of the leader-

ship of the state to checkmate corrupt practices within the local government administration, alleging that the situation was so because of the involvement of some government officials.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

9

Anambra to build Nsugbe airport Uwakwe Abugu Awka

T

he Anambra State Government says it has obtained a licence from the relevant authorities to build an

airport within NsugbeUmueri axis in Anambra East Local Government Council of the state.

Governor Willie Obiano, who announced the development on Wednesday night at his home

Ebonyi PDP stakeholders want lawmaker recalled Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

T

he Youths wing and Stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ohaozara East State Constituency of Ebonyi State have petitioned the state secretariat of the party demanding the immediate recall of the member in the State Assembly, Mrs Nnenna Nwane, for actions inimical to the interest of the party.

In the petition dated May 2, 2014 and made available to New Telegraph in Abakaliki, the groups alleged that since the lawmaker was elected into the House of Assembly under the platform of the PDP, she (Nnenna) has been work-

ing against the progress of the party.

The petition, jointly signed by Raymond Okoro, Emmanuel Okerekek and John Ogudu; Coordinator, Secretary and Treasurer respectively further said they were leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that PDP does not lose its massive appeal.

The petition read in part: “Since she was elected into the legislative House, all her staff and personal aids are people from her area alone. She has no constituency office and she is not accessible. She is ineffective and unproductive and has not sponsored any bill, motion or supported any in the Assembly proceedings.”

l Firm to refine Aviation Fuel

town, Aguleri, also told a delegation of the people of Orumba Local Council Area that a company was coming into the state to produce Aviation Fuel which is not yet produced anywhere in Nigeria.

However, Obiano expressed displeasure that the state was yet to get the certification of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in view of its new status as an oil-producing state even when it is certified that Orient Petroleum Company will be refining 55,000 barrels of oil daily.

The governor did not give details on when the

airport construction will commence but he told the delegation which was in Aguleri to protest alleged non-inclusion of one of their own in the governor’s cabinet, that his administration was concerned about hastening the development of the state.

New Telegraph gathered that the government may have struck a deal with TEXACO for the aviation fuel production.

The governor who blamed the National Assembly members from the state over the noncertificationdeclared: “Our House members

1.15

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Ghana in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

have not done well in this wise. They ought to push for us to become an oilproducing state. My administration is seeking urgently to get the NDDC certification.”.

Earlier, the Orumba South Council delegation led by Chairman of Orumba South Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Promise Eze, had told Obiano that they voted for him massively, yet nobody from the area got appointment in his 29-man cabinet, made up of 19 commissioners and 10 special advisers.

The monarch lamented that his people have suffered neglect and marginalization in appointments during previous

4m

The total number of internally displaced people in Colombia in 1997.

Source: Unhcr.org.uk

administrations and now, and urged the governor to redress the situation.

Chairman of Orumba South Local Government, John Onyeakpa, had presented a letter to Obiano, containing all their grievances.

Responding, the governor said though one of their own had not been appointed commissioner or special adviser, he appointed one of their sons, Mike Okonkwo, as Chairman of Anambra Development Authority (ADA), adding that the Okonkwo appointment with a tenure spanning eight years, was more important to him than a commissioner or special adviser.

$US2.87trn The nominal GDP of France (IMF) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Niger Delta youths fault call to dissolve NNDC board Charles Onyekwere

iger Delta youths have Nsolve described the call to disthe six-month-old

board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Chief Dan Abia as a ploy to distract the board from its numerous developmental plans for the region.

The group, under the aegis of Eye of Niger Delta

change of nameS

Michael - Asalu

I formerly known and addressed as Ajag Bonna Abimbola Helen Ola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Michael Asalu Abimbola Helene. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Mumbor

I formerly known and addressed as Ruby Ibanga-Okon now wish to be known and addressed as Ruby Mumbor.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Chinabu

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinelo Alochukwu Onuoha now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinelo Benita Chinabu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Adetola

Formerly Mrs. Sola Omolola Edunjobi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mojisola Omolola Adetola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

(END) said it is too early to discredit, or judge the newly inaugurated board.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the leader of the group, Tari Victor Ben, said he did not see anything that shows that the board would not perform when the man at the helm of affairs was the best performing Commissioner in Akwa Ibom.

L-R: Airport Manager Calabar, Muhammed Sani; Managing Director/CEO, Ibom Airport Development Company, Capt. Jari Williams; Special Assistant, Public Transportation, Cross River State Government, Barr. Edem Ekong; Chief Executive Officer, FCI International Ltd, Mr. Fortune Idu; Special Assistant, Public Affairs and Orientation, Cross River State Government, Edet Asim Roy and Special Assistant, International Cooperation, Cross River State Government, Ndoma-Egba, during the recently concluded Nigeria Aviation Conference and Award ceremony held at TINAPA, Cross River State.

Fulani attacks on Tiv farmers is disguised jihad, says cleric Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

T

he Senate of the Universal Reformed Christian Church popularly known as the NKST yesterday condemned attacks on Tiv farmers in Benue State by armed Fulani insurgents as the perpetration of jihad.

The body urged the Federal Government to approve the establishment of Benue State Relief Levy (BSRL) charged with the responsibility of collecting levies from people carrying out business activities in the state to help rehabilitate victims of the invasion.

President of NKST Synod worldwide, Rev. (Dr) Ayohol Ate, who spoke at a news briefing at the Mkar further described as barbaric and premeditated the use of chemical weapons by the

insurgents and urged the international community to intervene.

Ate condemned the attack on the residence of the Tiv monarch, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, the burning of the official car of the NKST President at Sai, and the attack on Governor Gabriel Suswam's convoy by Fulani terrorists while on an on-the-spot assessment on the attack in Daudu recently.They demanded the arrest of the soldiers that accompanied the governor to the area but abandoned him half-way before the attack.

The Christian body opposed the creation of grazing reserves in the Benue valley for cattle rearing, saying the forceful infiltration by the Fulani people and their cattle on Tiv land is a calculated attempt to enslave them in their land.

INEC begins issuance of PVCs today ELECTION

Dress rehearsal for the 2015 elections is underway in 10 states Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 10 states today.

The states are: Taraba and Gombe (North East); Zamfara and Kebbi (North West); Benue and Kogi (North Central); Abia and Enugu (South East); and Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa (South South).

The exercise, which will end on Sunday, will be followed by the conduct of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the 10 states from Wednesday, May 28 to Sunday, June 1, 2014.

INEC has adopted phased distribution of the PVCs and the conduct of CVR exercise to avoid hitches that might hamper the smooth conduct of the exercises.

But the sign of what the commission might experience during the exercise reared its head in Enugu State last week when INEC Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in the state, Lawrence Azubuike, said about 620 voter registers have been wiped off the commission's office in Enugu.

Among names missing from the register were prominent politicians and top government functionaries, including Governor Sullivan Chime; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Enugu State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vita Abba among others.

Of the 2940 polling booths in the state, 621were

said to have disappeared from INEC, which its Enugu state office claimed was caused by "machine and human error".

Worst hit, according to the commission, were Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti and Nkanu West Local Government Areas where voter register for 230, 190 persons and 148 polling booths were wiped off, both in hard and soft copies.

Other affected councils are: Aninri (2), Awgu (6), Enugu East (20), Enugu North (2), Enugu South (4), Ezeagu (2), Igboeze North (25), Igboeze South (4), Isi-Uzo (1), Oji River (5), Udenu (3), Uzo Uwani (4), while two polling booths were said to be missing in Governor Chime's home Udi LGA. The commission called on those who could not find their names on the addendum register to take advantage of the CVR exercise which will begin next Wednesday to re-register.

10 News PERFORMANCE Victor Lar calls for adequate finance to enable anti-graft do better Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

T

he Chairman, Senate Committee on Financial Crimes, Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Victor Lar, yesterday called for adequate funding and the restructuring of anticorruption agencies in Nigeria to ensure better performance.

Lar, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, said this in an interview

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Lar: EFCC, ICPC need more fund ... Senator calls for restructuring with newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

He said inadequate funding of the anti-corruption agencies was a mitigating factor in the fight against corruption, urging government to address it in order to win the anti-graft war.

“If the national budget is N4.6 trillion, for instance and you do not adequately fund the agency that is empowered to ensure that the money is not stolen, you are indirectly telling the thief to get away with the loot.

“The agencies need proper funding to hire good lawyers to pros-

ecute the corruption cases in the courts, fuel their vehicles and sundry financial commitments.

“In other climes adequate funding of antigraft agencies is given top priority and this explains why they are getting better results,’’

10.6m

he said.

Lar further observed that there was no central coordinating agency that would streamline the operations of the anti-corruption agencies, resulting in duplication of functions and distraction of personnel.

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Australia in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

He said that this necessitated a look in the direction of immediate agency restructuring for optimal results.

According to him; “A situation whereby one agency may have to send a file to a sister agency only succeeds in duplicating functions, delay-

$470

The average yearly income of each person in Sub-Sahara Africa in 2013.

Source: Worldbank.org

ing prosecution and distracting personnel.”

He also canvassed for the restructuring of the Nigerian judiciary such that some judges would be dedicated to handle corruption cases alone, so as to speedily dispense with myriad corruption cases.

2.56m

The total number of internet users of Dominican Republic in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Osun 2014: Akinbade accuses Aregbesola of insensitivity lVote wisely - Aregbesola’s aide Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

T

he gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Osun State, Engr Fatai Akinbade, has accused the Rauf Aregbesola administration of being insensitive to the plight of workers and retirees in the state.

Akinbade, in a statement by his Director Media, Mr Kayode Oladeji, lamented that Aregbesola only takes delight in putting the state and its people in the dungeon through the acquisition of questionable loans running into several billions of Naira That was even as the State Local Government Commissioner and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Moruf Alimi, called on the people of the state to allow the administration continue by casting their votes for Aregbesola.

The Commissioner,

who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, described Aregbesola’s achievements since he assumed duty as the governor of the state as classical and second to none.

According to him, "the three and half years achievements of Governor Aregbesola is so enormous that it has surpassed the almost eight years achievements of the immediate past administration".

"So far, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has tarred nearly all the state and Federal roads including tarring of about 10 kilometers of roads in each of the 31 local governments, building of over 40 millennium schools across the nooks and crannies of the State; recruitment of 40,000 OYES cadet and sending some of them to overseas countries like Germany and China to go and learn how to practice mechanized agriculture."

Delta governorship: 120 youth leaders back Obielum Dominic Adewole

Asaba

he ambition of Chief Tsucceed Godwill Obielum, to Delta State gov-

ernor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has received a boost as some youth leaders in the state yesterday endorsed him for the job.

Youth leaders in Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency said they were backing him for the governorship position of the state come 2015.

At least 120 youth leaders at an enlarged meeting at the Isumpe Hall, in Utagba-Ogbe, Ndokwa West Local Government area of the state, accepted him as

the most credible aspirant to succeed the governor.

Besides, the President and Secretary of Ndokwa National Youth Leaders’ Forum, Comrade Nzete Anslem and Comrade Nnamdi Ezechi, signed the endorsement communiqué. Others are Chukwuma Emmanuel, Uwabuofu Chika, Eghor Joseph.

“All aspirants for the governorship position in Delta State were carefully assessed and, in our well-considered view, Chief Godwill Obielum emerged as the most acceptable candidate for our brothers and sisters in all parts of Delta State and beyond,” the youth leaders said.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd); Chairman, South West, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade and Prof. Olusegun Hunponu-Wusu, during Atilade’s 70th birthday in Lagos

APC accuses PDP of scuttling Agoro condemns insurgency Temitope Ogunbanke tion that we are dealing development in Adamawa with a high calibre, well

orried by the spate of financed and better orIbrahim Abdul refusing to pay back about N5.2 billion the state gov- Wviolence in the coun- ganised terrorists group.

“A realism offering iternment spent in execut- try, especially the recent damawa State Chair- ing federal projects as well bomb blasts in Jos, for- self to us all as platform Asives man of the All Progres- as the over N1.5 billion mer Chairman and presi- for good reasoning will Congress (APC), it spent on the develop- dential candidate of the be found in the fact that Yola

Hon. Binta Masi Garba, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of scuttling developmental projects in the state, saying that Nigeria is sick under the PDP. The chairman made this accusation during a press briefing organised at the state secretariat of the party in Yola yesterday.

Garba said her party was appalled and disappointed by the claim of the state secretary of the PDP that his party has blocked the payment of Federal Government funds amounting to N2 billion for the execution of MDG projects in the state despite the fact that the Adamawa State government has made counterpart payment of N600 million.

She also accused the Federal Government of

ment of the Nigerian Law School, Yola.

“We are aware that a total of N5.2 billion used for some federal projects have been trapped in Abuja. These are the Yola-Numan Road, Jimeta township roads, Fufore road, two long-span bridges, Ahmadu Bello way, Mubi and many other projects that had promoted the progress and welfare of our people,” she said.

Garba expressed dismay that those behind the action without feeling the shame, usually come out beating their chests that they are behind the impoverishment of the people. She cautioned the people of the state to be wary of the antics of the PDP, which she said is “promoting poverty rather than prosperity.”

National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, yesterday condemned the attacks in different parts of the country.

He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to act fast in solving the security challenges facing the country. Agoro in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said the insurgency in the country means that Nigerians are now dealing with monsters, endemically corrupt Nigerian political leaders in particular.

The statement reads in part: “The May 1, deadly bomb blasts in Nyanya near Abuja which was followed in quick succession by that of Tuesday May 20, in Jos markets where over 118 human lives have now been wasted, is a clear indica-

the insurgents’ attacks are no longer localised to the North-East, but are now timed to be strategically spread to other areas less suspected.

“Incidentally these current attacks at Nyanya and Jos, were carried out at a time the attention of the world was on how to effect the release of the over 276 schoolgirls abducted on April 14, by Boko Haram insurgents in Chibok, Borno State.

Agoro stressed further that: “Without sounding alarmist, one doubts if at any time in the nearest future, the abducted girls could ever again be found together and in their numbers to be reunited with their families, this despite the good efforts and intentions of our friends from the West."

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

SCARCITY

Lagosians may go back to the days of lack following threat

by PTD Abdulwahab Isa

L

agos state and some parts of the South West may experience fuel scarcity from next week following a directive by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) to its members to go on strike to protest the killing of one of their members, Olalekan Lawal.

610,506

Tanker drivers plan strike over killing of member Lawal was allegedly killed last April in Lagos by men of Operation Messa. The union, in a press statement issued in Abuja and signed by the National Chairman, S.A. Oladiti, and the National Secretary, Sunday Ochibejivwe, said it had instructed its members from Lagos Zone to stop

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Honduras in 2012.

Source: Itu.com

loading products from Tuesday and Wednesday next week until constituted authority heeds its demand for compensation.

The union said its members continually suffer from the excesses of military men at check points which include, demanding free samples of products

$US88bn

The total expenditures of Western Pacific region on diabetes (20 – 79 years) in 2013.

Source: Idp.com

NEWS

11

April 25 2014, at Apapa, Lagos.

Operation Messa, as presently constituted, comprises military and Police officers, whom it said had in recent time, been extorting money from PTD members, ranging from N500 to N1, 000.

The refusal of late Lawal to part with the N1, 000 demanded by the security men led to his death.

The union is demanding N30 million as compensation to the family of the deceased and the prosecution of the alleged killer.

from tanker drivers ranging from 10 to 20 litres at various point.

Such excesses, the union said, could no longer be tolerated as large quantities of fuel were lost that way.

The union has also directed members nationwide to carry green leaves in a show of solidarity and protest of

the slain tanker driver with effect from yesterday.

In an earlier letter circulated to security agencies and other concerned authorities, the union condemned the brutal killing of its member by men of Operation Messa under the NNS Beecroft Naval Base command on

3.14m

Group tasks Jonathan on Ekiti ministerial slot

The total population of Madrid, Spain in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

A

socio-political group in Ekiti State, the E-Eleven, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain the delay in appointment of a minister from the state into the federal cabinet.

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by the chairman, Mr Femi Ajiniran, the group wondered why a replacement had not been appointed for former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd).

"Some few months ago, the minister representing Ekiti in the federal cabinet, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, resigned his appointment to contest the governorship of Ekiti State.

"We expect that almost immediately a minister resigns his/her appointment, a replacement would be named and processed through confirmation to guarantee no loss of representation. This is particularly so in a situation where adequate notice is given of the impending vacancy."

Delta communities urge action against oil theft Dominic Adewole ASABA

E Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Major-General Abubakar Gana (left), presenting a plaque to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, during a courtesy visit of staff and students of the College to the Governor in Benin City…yesterday.

Tinubu, Babalola, want Adeyemi College upgraded to varsity Babatope Okeowo Akure

P

rominent Nigerians and stakeholders in education yesterday asked the Federal Government to upgrade the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Ondo, to a degree-awarding institution.

Among them were the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN); the Chairman, Governing Council of Adeyemi College of Education, Ambassador Musa John Jen and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Speaking at the 50th anniversary and 33rd special convocation ceremony of the school, Babalola said the college having produced several graduates in the last 33 years should now be made a

University of Education.

According to him, the institution has the infrastructure and the manpower to make it a degree-awarding institution, saying there were institutions in the country that could not compare with the institution and still award degrees.

He commended the school management led by the provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, for the massive infrastructural development in the school and urged his successor to build on the foundation laid by the Provost.

Tinubu noted that the problem with education development in the country is that wrong people are put in the helm of affairs. He said a situation where a candidate who came third during an interview is made a Vice Chancellor or Provost of

an institution should not be tolerated.

According to her, the college deserved to be upgraded since all the necessary ingredients for conferment of university status were present in the college.

In his speech, Jen said what is important to the people of Ondo kingdom and the monarch was that the institution be upgraded to a full-fledged University of Education.

His words "This good wish is well-deserved and had been long overdue, considering the array of physical structures and human resources that abound in the College.

"I plead with the honourable minister to kindly use his good offices to facilitate the fulfilment of this dream. I can assure you sir, that the generations yet unborn will

never forget you if this is done during your tenure in office."

The Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the Director of Higher Education, Hajia Hindatu Abduallahi, said the ministry would look into the demand of upgrading of the college to university.

gbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) yesterday raised alarm over the activities of pipeline vandals and illegal oil bunkerers on the waterways.

The host community maintained that unless machinery was put in place to check their activities and the enabling law enforced, oil theft would continue.

Its chairman, Chief Michael Johnny, during a joint Town Hall meeting of the 17 communities, comprising the group at Benikrukru and Opuama com-

munities wondered why Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) deducts millions of naira from the royalty paid to the host community anytime the crime was committed.

He said, “The only way we can enjoy it is to protect our facilities against illegal bunkerers who specialise in vandalization of oil pipelines for their products. Bunkering activities are destroying us and the only way to come out of it is to put a stop to it and enjoy the MoU process. We have put in place strategies to get information about illegal oil bunkerers and we will apply the enabling law on any suspect after apprehension.”

CRAN faults demolition exercise in Delta Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he Citizens’ Rights Advocacy Network (CRAN), yesterday expressed anger over the ongoing demolition of structures in Delta State.

Its coordinator, Peter Igbru, described the action of men of the state’s Ministry of Environment as “cruel”.

He maintained that their action has since “plunged helpless, defenseless and impoverished Deltans into fur-

ther hardship.”

Igbru, in a signed statement in Asaba said there would not have been any cause for alarm if the demolition exercise were limited to structures that truly obstruct traffic, free flow of drainages and constitute environmental hazards.

He said: “The proliferation of the temporary structures in the streets is an inevitable characteristic of a very poor and slow- developing country like Nigeria

where people manage to eke out a living. Is it not sickening to see someone whose only means of livelihood is being destroyed not by natural disaster but by one who should be protecting and safeguarding it? Why plunge your own people into misery in the name of beautification?”

He wondered too why stalls built of bricks but standing very close to the road are spared while those built with planks at a safe distance are destroyed.

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

friday, may 23, 2014

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0802 393 8212

Thieves rape housewife to death, steal truck Johnson Fagbamila

S

uspected car thieves have gang raped a housewife to death at the Lucky Fibres area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The mother of two, identified as Yinka Joshua, whose age was put between 28 and 30, met her untimely death when the thieves invaded a block-making factory at Ehin Ile Village, Laketu Estate behind Lucky Fibres Company in Ikorodu, where she was staying with her husband in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The thieves were said to have come for a Diana truck that belonged to the factory.

The woman’s husband, Sunday Udoh, said he left home with the deceased on Tuesday morning en route Oshodi when she stopped at the Brain Smart Nursery and Primary School nearby where she worked as a cleaner.

The man said he went to his former place of work at the NITEL Staff School, Oshodi where he was working as a driver until recently, to collect his outstanding salary and did not return home until about

6am on Wednesday when he made the ugly discovery.

Shedding more light on the incident, a neighbour, Mrs Uche, said Udoh, popularly called Hypo and another man called Peace worked at the block industry and, at the end of the day, would deposit the key of the truck with her.

About 7pm on Tuesday, Peace left the key as usual. She said she was surprised, however, when she heard the sound of the truck being driven away about 1:30am on Wednesday.

Uche said when she got outside with her husband to investigate, they could only see the rear light of the truck afar and decided to leave the investigation till the morning.

She said she was surprised when Udoh came crying to her house that morning, complaining that his wife had been killed.

Speaking on his wife’s death, Udoh said he decided to go home that early so that his wife could take the money to school to offset their children’s school fees at Brain Smart.

He added that he was shocked when he saw the marks of disturbance in the compound and

opened the door to find the lifeless body of his wife, bruised and battered.

According to him, her trousers was halfway drawn with patch of blood in her mouth.

Uche said she was not aware that the woman slept at the site because she seldom did.

According to her, the deceased preferred staying with her mother-in-law at Bamgbelu village nearby, adding that her two children are staying with her mother elsewhere ever since the couple had accommodation problem

which drove them to the block making site.

A member of the Community Development Association in the area, Prince Awo, described the woman as very respectful.

According to him, the deceased could not even hurt a fly, adding that said she must have identified the thieves which made them to kill her.

The DPO in charge of Shagamu Road Police Division, Ikorodu, Mr O. Bernard, promised that the perpetrators would soon be brought to book.

South African p nine Nigerians f

T

he South African police said they had arrested nine Nigerians and a South African in Pretoria for cyber fraud.

Paul Ramaloko, the spokesman for the country’s police anti-corruption unit known as the Hawks, said the suspects would be extradited to the United States.

He said the police were working with their American counterparts to make more arrests.

According to him, 11 people were arrested in the United States and Canada as part of the same operation, which targeted fraud worth millions of dollars.

The arrests were made on May 20, according to report on Bloomberg Businessweek.

“The operation is still continuing through cooperation between ours and other law enforcement agencies in cybercrime. There is a campaign to track and arrest more from the syndicate,” Ramaloko said.

Merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information and then shipped through services owned by the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express Corp., United Parcel Service

Arsonists set IN Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye

Panic in Benin over rumoured Boko Haram attack Rumoured invasion The residents of Benin run helter-skelter after rumour of Boko Haram members spreads in the Edo State capital Cajetan Mmuta Benin

T

he was pandemonium in Benin, the Edo State capital yesterday as parents stormed primary and secondary schools to pick their children after rumour of terrorists’ presence spread in the city.

This came as fear gripped residents of Uwelu auto spare parts

lGunmen kills father of two market area following the killing of a 31-year-old man yesterday morning by suspected assassins.

On hearing the report of the presence of suspected Boko Haram members at Ikpoba Hill area in the ancient capital town, parents trooped to the schools within the Hausa quarters and Ogida area to pick their children.

However, investigation showed that some of the parents were not aware of the call by leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) that public schools would be closed yesterday because of teachers’ protest against the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State.

It was rumoured that Boko Haram members abducted and

killed five persons including two teachers and three female primary school pupils in one of the schools in the locality.

The rumour also caused pande-

Edo State Governor, Oshiomhole

monium among traders at the New Benin market, Oba market and other adjoining shops and outlets in the city.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Noble Uwoh, said it was a rumour.

Uwoh warned the residents against spreading false information that could threaten public peace and security.

He said: “Members of the public are also advised to inform the police and other security agencies of any suspicious movement or activities of persons within the state.”

Meanwhile, suspected assassins were said to have swooped on their victim, one Kingsley James, a father of two, in his apartment and shot him dead.

It was learnt that the gunmen broke two doors that led to James’ room.

James, a commercial motorcyclist, was said to have been dragged out of his bedroom by the assailants before he was shot.

Some of the residents of the area described the late James as a gentle man.

S

ome people yesterday set ablaze the office of the Independent Na tional Electoral Commis sion (INEC) in Bori, head quarters of Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The office is located about 50 kilometres eas of Port Harcourt.

At noon, smoke was still coming out of the rubbles as INEC officials who had reported to duty for the day, looked over whelmed and dejected.

Property worth mil lions of naira, includ ing about 35 generators over 100 laptops and sev eral electoral documents were lost to the fire, which residents alleged to have started about 1:45am.

An employee of INEC who pleaded anonymity said the office was no connected to public pow er supply and therefore

POLITICS

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Imo’s Charter of Equity and blackmail

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Friday, May 23, 2014

2015: 500 POLITICIANS TO WATCH

Ondo: Gladiators who will shape Sunshine State Lateef Ibrahim and Babatope Okeowo

O

ndo State is popularly known as ‘The Sunshine State’. It was created on February 3, 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was carved out in 1996.

In the state, the general elections would come up in February 2015 while the governorship election would hold in 2016. As a result of this development, many politicians are strategically positioning themselves for these elections.

During the 2015 general elections, members of the National and State Assemblies from the state will be elected and in the 2016 election, the successor to the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko will emerge.

All these, have no doubt, culminated in lots of political alignment and realignment.

Already, politicians from the three senatorial districts in the state – Ondo North, Ondo Central and Ondo South – are already positioning themselves for the governorship slot, while others are equally strategising to cash on the zoning arrangement in each of the districts.

In the 2016 governorship election, Ondo North Senatorial District, comprising Owo, Ose, Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South East and Akoko South-West local governments should ordinarily be favoured going by the zoning arrangement in the state since the beginning of this democratic dispensation. Between 1999 and 2003, Chief Adebayo Adefarati from the North zone, on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) was elected the governor. He was succeeded by Dr. Olusegun Agagu from Ondo South. Agagu was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The incumbent, Mimiko, is from Ondo Central. He was elected on the platform of Labour Party (LP).

The thinking, therefore, in some quarters is that the governorship slot should go back to the North since the two other zones have produced a governor in quick succession. This thinking has made more politicians from the Northern Senatorial District to show interest in the governorship position. But another school of thought sharply disagreed with this, pointing out that since all the three senatorial districts have produced a governor, any of the zones can now produce Mimiko’s successor. This development has made some politicians from Ondo North and Central particularly of Akure origin to be showing interest in the governorship position.

It must be noted that many of the politicians who are showing interest in the senatorial seats are planning to use it as a launch pad for the governorship slot which would come a year after. The thinking is that the senatorial seat would place them at advantage among their peers and that if they lose the governorship contest, they still have the Senate seat to fall back

on.

A l though over 20 political parties are registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only three are visibly on ground in the state.

They are the ruling Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Change (APC).

Others who have offices but are not visible in the political terrain include All P r o g r e s s ive s Grand Alliance (APGA) and Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).

Many of those interested in political positions are however showing interest under the

trio of LP, PDP and APC. With the governorship election taking place in 2016, there is now a delicate situation for Governor Mimiko and his party, LP in the 2015 elections. The governor is a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan.

While it is certain that the LP will not present a presidential candidate in 2015, how the development would

n o t a f fect the chances of the party in the February 14, 2015 presidential/ National Assembly elections is unclear.

The election will hold the same day and Mimiko’s LP will need to do extra work to convince the electorate on how to vote Jonathan’s PDP for the presidential poll while the LP’s candidates for the National Assembly seats same day.

The election of February 28 is strictly local; the House of Assembly poll. This may not pose a difficult situation for the party.

Olusegun Mimiko Since he came into political limelight some decades ago, he had held several political offices at the local, state and national levels. In 1992 when he was in his early 30s, Mimiko was appointed as Commissioner for Health in the Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua’s administration. He was, again, re-appointed to the position in 1999 by the late Adefarati. He was appointed as Secretary to the State government by Dr. Agagu from where he was appointed as Minister of Housing and Urban Development by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He left the position to contest the governorship seat on the platform of the LP. Against all odds, the medical doctor became the governor after a protracted legal battle in 2009. Ever since he became the governor, Mimiko popularly called Iroko by his admirers, had helped his LP to win all the by-elections and general elections held in the state.

The governor has also traversed the three political parties as he was, at different times, a member of AD, PDP and lately LP. He was also rumoured to be preparing to return to the PDP which he left to contest the governorship position.

Mimiko is serving a second term in office and since the constitution does not make room for a third term, he would be interested in who takes over from him.

Whether or not he would be able to succeed where his predecessors failed is a question for another time.

While there won’t be governorship election in the state in 2015, Mimiko will to a large extent determine the political direction of the state. As long as he remains in the LP, he will ensure that his party wins the legislative seats both at the state and national levels while supporting the re-election bid of President CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Mimiko, Oke, Agunloye, Agbi, Kuku, CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Goodluck Jonathan.

Olu Falae Chief Falae, a Yale University trained banker, served as the Minister of Finance in the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He later served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under the same regime. Falae was a prominent member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. In 1999, he emerged as the joint presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD). He, however, lost the election to former President Obasanjo of the PDP. He is currently the leader of the SouthWest delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. He is one of the delegates representing elder statesmen at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi-chaired National Conference.

By virtue of his influence in the state, he is one of the leaders who would influence decision in 2015. Although his party, SDMP, is not strong in the state, he still commands some followership in the state. his son, Deji, who would have played a more active role in the state’s politics in 2015 died in a plane crash last year.

Boluwaji Kunlere Senator Kunlere, a trained lawyer, currently represents Ondo South Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. A staunch member of the LP, Kunlere defeated the late former Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu of the PDP in the 2011 National Assembly election to the consternation of many political analysts and pundits. Before crossing over to the LP, Kunlere had held the position of the State Secretary of the PDP in the Agagu administration. He was a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly between 1992 and 1993. He was also, at a time, the Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Area in the state. During the first term in office of Mimiko, the Igbotakoborn senator was his (Mimiko’s) Special Adviser on Political Matters. He is a grassroots politician to the core. The senator commands a lot of followership in Ondo South Senatorial District in particular and the state in general. He will be seeking re-election to the Senate on February 14, 2015.

Omotayo Alasoadura Obviously one of the political heavyweights in Ondo State, Alasoadura was the Commissioner for Finance in the administration of Agagu. Before that appointment, he had served as board member of some federal parastatals.

An erstwhile chieftain of the PDP, he left the party for thte defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later transformed into All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to contest the governorship position. He however lost the ticket of the party to Barrister Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). He was later made the Director-General of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation. Since the party lost the election, little has been heard of the strong man of Iju politics. The politician is however said to still have his eyes on the governorship seat of the Sunshine State. he is one of the political actors the APC is banking on to make a strong showing in the 2015 polls in the state.

Olu Agbi A two-time Nigerian ambassador to

Mimiko

Falae

Kunlere

Alasoadura

Greece and Australia, Prof. Agbi was the Secretary to the old Ondo State government between 1992 and 1993 when Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua was the governor.

Agbi, alongside other PDP leaders formed the ‘PDP-Gbasibe’, a faction of the party that supported Mimiko’s second term ambition. He is known to have firm grip of the politics of Akureland and has followership across the state.

But another school of thought sharply disagreed with this, pointing out that since all the three senatorial districts have produced a governor, any of the zones can now produce Mimiko’s successor

The recent unification of his faction with the mainstream PDP has given the party an edge over other political parties in the state. He is a major stakeholder in the state PDP and will play a crucial role in the 2015 elections.

Olusola Oke Oke, a lawyer, was the candidate of the PDP in the last governorship election. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1992 and 93 and an erstwhile member of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

Oke, from the oil producing area of Ilaje Local Government, has since assumed the leadership of the PDP in Ondo South after the death of Agagu.

Before becoming the PDP governorship candidate in the last election in Ondo State, Oke had served as the National Legal Adviser of the PDP and was equally a member of the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference. Going by his performance in the 2012 governorship election, he is a major force in the PDP.

Ali Olanusi Alhaji Olanusi is the Deputy Governor of the State. He is serving his second term in office. He is known to be loyal to his boss, Governor Mimiko. Before moving to the Labour Party, he was the state chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) during the first term in office of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu. However, when he and other members of his group, including Dr. Mimiko, felt cheated and aggrieved in the PDP, they moved, en masse, to the LP and threw their support for Mimiko.

He began his working career in 1965 and after veering into politics, he became the chairman of Constituency 1, in Akoko South Local Government in 1978 under the platform of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Between 1988 and 1989, Olanusi became a member of the constituent Assembly, representing Akoko South Local Government (now Akoko South-West and Akoko SouthEast Local Government Areas). In 1992, he was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the then Social

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Alasoadura test might in Ondo

form. The case is still in court. Many of his supporters too were not very happy that he dumped the LP for the opposition ACN in the state. Although Boroffice’s next political ambition is yet unknown, speculations are rife that he may want to still try his hands on the governorship election of the state come 2016, when the incumbent governor would have served out his second term.

His controversial cross carpeting from the LP to ACN is however being seen as his political albatross in the Ondo North Senatorial District in particular and in the whole state generally.

He is poised for re-election in 2015. He is one of those who will galvanise support for the APC in the state in 2015.

Agbi

Boroffice

Democratic Party (SDP). He served as the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Commission and Councils.

In 2003, he became the Ondo State Chairman of the PDP and led the party to a resounding victory in a subsequent election.

Olanusi, who is the Asiwaju of Supare Kingdom, was at different times the Chairman of the Nigerian Shippers Council and Chairman of the Supare Development Association.

A successful businessman, a committed democrat and one of the few legends to nurture the nascent democratic processes in Nigeria, the Deputy Governor is an advocate of good governance.

As a man of the people, he is reputable for using his wealth of political experience, wisdom and charisma to mobilise support for the Labour Party.

He played a key role in the change of political ideology and history of Ondo State with a clear victory for the Labour Party in the 2007 governorship election.

Many people are however of the strong belief that the deputy governor no longer has much electoral value in

Abayomi Sheba Sheba, a journalist and lawyer, was elected into the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the PDP to represent Okitipupa/ Irele Federal Constituency. He distinguished himself not just as a member but he was appointed the Chairman, House Committee on Poverty Alleviation for the four years he was in the National Assembly.

He later served as a member of the Presidential National Core Team that drafted Nigeria’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). He was the Head, Ondo State Government Liaison Office, Abuja and later Senior Special Assistant to Governor Agagu between 2005 and 2009.

He is presently the Federal Commissioner Representing Ondo State in the Federal Character Commission, Abuja.

In 2015, he is likely to contest the senatorial seat of Ondo South.

Oke

Olanusi

his base due to the emergence of other younger, more influential and widely connected politicians in his Ondo North Senatorial base.

His political enemies would even go as far as asserting that the deputy governor may not be able to sponsor a candidate that could win a councillorship seat in his base as of now, not to talk of winning election into the House of Assembly or the National Assembly.

This, probably, may have accounted for the agitation, in certain quarters, that Mimiko should drop him (Olanusi) as his deputy during his re-election bid.

Events in the 2015 and 2016 elections in the Sunshine State would go a longer way in either confirming this belief or prove them wrong.

Ajayi Boroffice Professor Boroffice is the senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. Boroffice, who holds the traditional title of the Asiwaju of Akokoland, was founding Director General of National Space Research and Development Agency

(NASRDA) in 1999; the position he held for 10 years. Under his leadership, NASRDA launched 2 satellites; a low orbit earth observations microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) in 2003 and a communication satellite (NigcomSat-1) in 2007.

With the full support of Governor Mimiko, Boroffice faced little opposition in his bid to become the Labour Party candidate for the Ondo North Senatorial District in 2011.

Boroffice polled 84,290 votes to defeat the then incumbent Senator Bode Olajumoke of the PDP who scored 51,112 votes and Dr. Agunloye Olu of the ACN who garnered 36,601 votes.

By December 28, 2011, Boroffice officially decamped to the ACN so that he could pursue his ambition of becoming the next governor of Ondo State. However, he was unable to get the ticket as a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu emerged flag bearer of the ACN. His movement from Labour Party to the ACN was challenged in court by the LP, which is insisting that he should surrender the mandate he got on its plat-

Adetokunbo Kayode Former Minister of Defence; Labour and Productivity as well as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Kayode (SAN) is, surely, a force to reckon with in Ondo North Senatorial District.

Kayode was a PDP senatorial aspirant in 2007 before he lost the party’s ticket to Dr. Bode Olajumoke, who eventually won the election. A former Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kayode’s influence earned him support across party lines.

He was one of those who initiated the resolution of the PDP crisis in the state, the development that endeared him to the party leadership in the state. As a former minister, he is believed to be very close to President Goodluck Jonathan.

While some of his supporters are of the strong opinion that he should aspire for the Senate, others believe that the former Minister of Defence should wait till 2016 to contest the governorship of the state, when the slot would go to Ondo North.

Kingsley Kuku Presently, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government, Kuku is in firm control of Ese-odo politics. An activist, he was in the forefront of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and active participant in the Niger Delta struggle, the development that endeared him to the people of the region.

Kuku was elected as a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly in 2003 and has remained a strong pillar of the PDP since then. Although he has not declared interest in any political office ahead of the 2015 election, the thinking CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Kayode

Elegbeleye

Olajumoke

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Ibrahim

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is that he may likely contest for the Senate seat.

Ifedayo Abegunde A two-term member of the House of Representatives, Abegunde represents Akure South/North in the National Assembly. He was first elected in 2003 on the PDP platform. He later cross-carpeted to the LP, alongside others and contested in 2007 but lost. He however won the same seat in 2011. He has since defected from the LP to APC. He is presently the leader of APC in Akure kingdom. He is one of the strong hands in the Ondo State APC. He may face stiff opposition to his reelection in 2015.

Pius Osuyinkanmi Presently the Director-General of the Technical Aids Corps (TAC), Osunyinkanmi is from Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/ Okeigbo Local Government area of the state. An astute politician from Ondo South Senatorial District, he is one of the core followers of the state governor, Mimiko.

Before his appointment as DirectorGeneral of the TAC, Osunyikanmi had been Special Adviser to the President on International Relations, Commissioner for Education in Ondo State, Special Adviser to the Governor on Intergovernmental Affairs and Multilateral Relations and Special Assistant to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

A PhD holder in Political Science, Osunyikanmi controls the politics of his local government and federal constituency. He demonstrated this in the 2011 elections when his candidate won the Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo federal constituency election, while the votes from his constituency gave the election to the LP candidate in the senatorial election in 2011.

Isaacs Kekemeke A former Secretary to the Ondo State government in the Olusegun Agagu administration, Kekemeke is the Chairman of the APC in the state. At a very tender age in 1992, he was elected into the House of Assembly on the platform of National Republican Convention (NRC), when majority of the members of the Assembly were of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). After then, he had been Chairman, National Examination Council (NECO), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Works and later Secretary to the State Government. One of the founding fathers of PDP in the state, Kekemeke left the party for the rival APC. A politician from Ese-Odo Local Government, Kekemeke would have the likes of Kuku and Chief Bibopiri Ajube to contend with in his quest to be relevant in his local government. As the state chairman of the APC, the bulk stops on his table on the candidacy of his party for the 2015 elections.

Victor Olabimtan A former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olabimtan is a force to reckon with in the politics of Ondo North Senatorial District and the state.

A core party man, Olabimtan is currently a Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission. Available records show that he had defeated the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi in all elections ever held in Akoko South-West Local Government.

He was a PDP governorship aspirant in the 2012 election in the state before he was prevailed upon to step down for Oke. Despite that, he had remained loyal to the party. Whether or not he would show interest in the senatorial seat is still known, but the former Speaker is interested in the gubernatorial seat in 2016.

Gbenga Elegbeleye Elegbeleye is currently the DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission (NSC). Elegbeleye is one of the politicians eyeing the governorship ticket of the PDP in 2016. He was a former Chairman of Akoko North Local Government and former member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011. He lost in his bid to return to the National Assembly in 2011. it is not clear yet if he will take another shot at the legislative seat, but he is expected to pull support for the PDP in the 2015 elections.

Bode Olajumoke Dr. Olajumoke is a core grassroots politician. He was elected to the Senate in 2007 by the people of Ondo North Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP. He was the Chairman, Committee on Navy while in the Senate. He defeated the former Minister of Defence, Kayode during the party’s senatorial primaries then.

As at 1998/1999, Olajumoke, who hails from Imeri in Ose Local Government Area, was a top chieftain of the then All Progressives Party (APP). Despite the fact that Ondo State was being controlled by an Alliance for Democracy (AD) governor, he won his local government for the APP. He later joined the PDP, where he and others worked assiduously to ensure victory for the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Olusegun Agagu in the 2003 elections.

Before venturing into politics, Olajumoke had served in the federal civil service where he rose to the enviable position of the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence. His connection in the military, coupled with his training as a lawyer, placed him at a lot of advantage politically. Since leaving the Senate in 2011, Olajumoke has been a bit quiet politically. Observers are of the view that the former senator may likely join the fray for the governorship seat in the next political dispensation, when the governorship slot is expected to be zoned to Ondo North in 2016.

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Abegunde

Agunloye

Osuyinkanmi

Akinsuyi

Olabimtan

Omolafe

Olanusi set to prove mettle In 1999, Olajumoke was an aspirant for the nation’s presidency on the platform of the then APP. He is currently a chieftain and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP. Jimoh Ibrahim The Igbotako-born billionaire businessman, publisher and politician, no doubt, is one of the politicians to reckon with in the Sunshine State. Ibrahim, a lawyer, was the governorship candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) in the 2003 election. He came a distant third in that governorship election.

Ibrahim, the Chairman of Energy Group, a diversified conglomerate, is a stalwart of the ruling PDP and has supported the party in several ways since joining it. Shortly before the 2007 election, Ibrahim was reported to have bought 20 brand new Hilux buses for the party, with the 18 local government chapters of the party getting a bus each, while the state secretariat of the party in Akure got two. He is known to have heavily funded the party heavily in addition to providing it with other needed logistics. His closeness to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo was identified as one of the things that gave him an edge politically. He has practically relocated to Ondo State in pursuit of his governorship ambition in 2016. Hence, he is expected to provide huge financial support for the party ahead of 2015 elections.

Idowu Ogunmade Ogunmade, an engineer, came into political limelight in 1992/1993, when he emerged as Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly at a very tender age. He was elected on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) representing Irele State constituency. The way and manner he handled the business of the Assembly then, both at the plenary and committee levels, further endeared him to other members of the Assembly. A grassroots politician to the core, Ogunmade commands a lot of followership in his constituency as well as his senatorial district. He was among the members of the PDP who decamped to the LP along with Mimiko.

The former Majority Leader, who is popularly known as “The Leader” by his followers is the current Chairman of the Ondo State Assembly Service Commission, one of the statutory commissions in the state. His political influence along with others in his constituency ensured massive votes for Mimiko in his re-election bid in 2012.

He is among those that made Labour Party what it is in the state.

Olu Agunloye Dr. Agunloye, a former Corp-Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), and later Minister of State for Defence, is one of the very few politicians in Akokoland that commands a lot of followership and respect. Agunloye, who

was previously a chieftain of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), left the party before the last gubernatorial election in Ondo State when he felt dissatisfied and cheated with the way and manner he was schemed out of the party’s governorship primaries. He later pitched his tent with the LP along with his supporters. He worked tirelessly to ensure resounding victory for Governor Mimiko in the last election. He is believed to have his eyes on the Senate in 2015 and the governorship seat in 2016.

He will confront Borrofice for the senatorial seat.

Remi Okunrinboye An Accountant by training, Chief Okunrinboye was elected as a senator in 1992/1993 on the platform of the defunct SDP. He represented Ondo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly then.

After the dissolution of the various democratic institutions by the military regime of late General Sani Abacha in 1993, Okunrinboye and others returned to the political trenches. The political tutelage he received from the first civilian Governor of the state, late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, became very handy as he was named the National Secretary of the then National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a political pressure group that fought hard for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 election, widely acclaimed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

The Owo born politician is believed to be eyeing the governorship seat of

Ogunmade

the Sunshine State in 2016 and is said to have the blessing of his people for same.

Niran-Sule Akinsuyi Niran Sule is an investment solicitor and property Attorney, managing the portfolio of high profile individuals, organizations and corporate bodies in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, where his profile has also been listed in publications and bilateral agreements.

A versatile politician, his early venture into public life witnessed his election to Ondo State House of Assembly in 1992 during the Third Republic. Between 1999 and 2003, he was appointed as Special Adviser to Governor Adefarati. He later served as the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties between 2009 and 2012.

Niran Sule is a former Director of Prudent Bank Plc. and a founding director of Skye Bank Plc. A native of Owo in Ondo North Senatorial District, the politician is being rumoured to be interested in the governorship seat of the state in 2016.

Adedayo Omolafe A former Chairman of Akure Local government and stalwart of the PDP, Omolafe popularly known as ‘Expensive’ is a factor in Akure politics. A grassroots politician, he is loved by the people of the local government as he has impacted positively in their lives.

He is presently the coordinator of SURE-P in Ondo State, the position he has used to empower many people in the state. In 2011, he was the candidate of the PDP in Akure South/North federal constituency for the House of Representatives, but he lost to Abegunde of the LP who later defected to APC.

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Imo’s Charter of Equity and blackmail Elvis Agukwe, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, is the Chairman of Imo Stakeholders’ Forum. In this treatise, he discusses the Imo Charter of Equity and the blackmail against some stakeholders in the state

I

n logic, those who are bereft of thought processes, especially engaging in deductive reasoning often resort to what is commonly known in Latin as argumentum adhomenim i.e. attacking the man instead of addressing the issue.

Politicians who are desperate and want to swim against the tide often embrace this concept for the simple fact that they lack what it takes to convince people to flow with them. That precisely, is what obtains now in Imo State where otherwise respectable people have reached for the mud and brush tar for want of credible reasons why they should aspire to govern the state.

In the process, those who stand by the truth and want the right things to be done have become victims of vicious blackmail.

In the last one week, attempts have been made by agents of discord and destabilisation to rock the fragile peace in Imo State through sponsored media attacks on prominent Imo sons and daughters including the highest political office holder from the state, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Woman Leader, and former Transport and Aviation Minister, Dr. Kemafor Chikwe was also not left out in the most brutal assault on the illustrious citizens of the state. It was a pity that the sponsors of the hatchet job hid under the phantom name of Concerned Imo PDP youths to unleash the terror. But if the sponsors of the smear campaign lacked the courage to reveal their real identities, it only

goes to confirm the falsehood and distortions embedded in their infantile postulations.

Be that as it may, the Deputy Speaker and the PDP National Woman Leader are more than able to defend themselves against this baseless characterisation which exposes the hollowness of the purveyors of the satanic message.

For those of us in Imo Stakeholders Forum, this is another of those crosses we have to bear in our patriotic and determined efforts to ensure that equity, justice and fairness define the 21st century politics of Imo State. Indeed, it is nothing but a small price for us to pay to shield our people from political hawks who want to employ brute force to impose themselves as leaders of Imo State.

While Imo people are still reeling under the dictatorship of another “strong man” through the political accident of 2011, Imo Stakeholders Forum is resolute in its vow to avoid the repeat of that costly mistake. However, unlike the political desperados who want to tear Imo apart with their inordinate ambition, we believe in dialogue and peaceful resolution of all knotty political challenges confronting us. The political summit of 2013 was an ingenious concept by us to bring the stakeholders together to brainstorm on the acceptable way forward. It was unanimously agreed in a communique that Imo should return to the Charter of Equity which prescribes zoning among the three political zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri. It was further agreed that it was the turn of Owerri zone to produce the governor in 2015 since Orlu and Okigwe had taken their turns.

Contrary to the impression created by the phantom Concerned Imo PDP youths, the summit was not organised by the PDP. It was a bi-partisan summit funded by Imo people from various political divides. Ihedioha neither funded nor attended the summit. Serving Senators and House of Representatives members from the PDP, All Progressive grand Alliance (APGA) etc. were there.

Even the then Imo State Chairman of the PDP, Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), was there while Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu chaired the occasion. For the avoidance of doubt, those who made

financial contributions to the summit are well known as their names were published in newspapers and appreciated. Ihedioha was not one of them.

However, it is quite understandable why these power mongers are after me and Imo Stakeholders Forum.

Ever since our principled stand on this vexed issue became public knowledge, they realised to their chagrin that they have been trapped. One of them who had scheduled his public declaration for the governorship last Easter Holidays had to hurriedly shelve it for fear of its still birth. The other who is a veteran of governorship contest in Imo has tactically withdrawn because the Charter of Equity is an albatross, a political razor that will cut all their ambitions into pieces unless they retrace their steps. In other words, while they are calling us names and describing us as inconsequential rabble rousers, our clear cut message of urging them to respect the zoning principle in Imo State is spreading like wildfire.

But what actually baffles and rankles is the threat of violence by those “strong men” all in a bid to achieve their governorship ambition. The same people who pledged to President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP national leadership that they will rebuild Imo

We know those who will not be governor of Imo State no matter how hard they try. When we helped them to their present positions, we were not charlatans. Now that we have advised them not to further disrupt the political equilibrium in Imo State, we have suddenly become mortal enemies

PDP and re-capture power in 2015 are now busy destroying the foundation of the party. The same people who are yet to settle the bill incurred by them during the last unity rally attended by the President are wasting money procuring phantom groups to rubbish the pillars of Imo PDP. The same people who swore to unite the party are now vowing to destroy it unless power is handed over to them. Is it this not a case of the Frankenstein monster, destroying what it cannot create?

It is even good that they have now danced naked to the market place. Both the Presidency and the PDP national leadership should now take note of people they erroneously refer to as Imo leaders. The people of Imo themselves now know those who are hell-bent on destroying the state to satisfy their personal ambition. It is no longer difficult to unmark those who sold out in 2011 and handed over power to an enemy.

We thought that their returning to the PDP would have been a political plus.

But events of the recent past with this convoluted confrontational conspiracy suggest otherwise. Those who said they don’t believe in zoning curiously got three fake names and signatories from the three zones of Imo State to append to their inglorious tirade against real Imo leaders. That is hypocrisy and deceit.

Mercifully, we know those who will not be governor of Imo State no matter how hard they try. When we helped them to their present positions, we were not charlatans. Now that we have advised them not to further disrupt the political equilibrium in Imo State, we have suddenly become mortal enemies.

But history will surely vindicate us. In Anambra, a smooth transfer of power to the hitherto marginalised North had taken place. Incidentally, the then Governor Peter Obi defeated the so-called strong men of Anambra politics to achieve that feat. Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia are also on the same glorious lane.

Why should Imo which originated the concept derail because of the ambition of two “strong men”? So, instead of crucifying the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, these people should tell Imo people why their ambition is more important than the political stability of the state.

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

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

FRIday, MAY 23, 2014

Oputa, jurist of inestimable value

onorable Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, passed on at age 96, on May, 4, 2014. Widely respected by other judges and lawyers for his self-discipline, extra-ordinary work ethic, and the rigour of his judicial opinions, Justice Oputa was endearingly called the Socrates of the Supreme Court. The depth and dexterity of this judgements inspired former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Bello, to describe him as Cicero, the classical orator.

Justice Chukwudifu Oputa was revered by many as Nigeria’s Lord Denning for the philosophical depth of his decisions and erudition. In fact, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said the late Justice Oputa was known for his philosophical reasoning. “Oh my God! That was the Socrates of the Supreme Court!

He did not only understand the law as a justice of the Supreme Court, he applied the philosophy of law.

His reasons for his judgments were often illuminating. He made law look like mathematics. He was the original source of the expression that justice is a three-way traffic – justice to the accused, justice to the victim and justice to the public”.

Justice Oputa was born on 22nd September 1924 in Oguta, Imo State, hence the fond sobriquet,

“Oputa from Oguta”. His father was Chief Oputa Izukwu and his mother Madam Nwanetu Oputa.

He had his early education at Sacred Heart School, Oguta and Christ the King College, Onitsha.

The young Oputa went to Yaba Higher College, but due to the exigencies of the Second World War, was sent along with others to the famous Achimota College, Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast).

There he graduated B.Sc (Hon) Economics in 1945.

On his return to Nigeria, he took up a teaching appointment with Calabari National College. He later came to Lagos where he worked as an Assistant District Officer.

It was here that Oputa achieved a remarkable feat by studying at home for bachelor’s degree in history. He then proceeded to London where he got his LLB (HON) and was called to Bar at the Gray’s Inn, London.

Coming back to Nigeria, the then Barrister Oputa went into brilliant and successful private practice, handling such celebrated cases and special inquires as the Oguta Chieftaincy dispute 1958/ 59, the Amanyanabo Dispute 1956/ 60 and many more.

In 1966, Oputa was appointed Judge of the High Court of the then Eastern Nigeria and moved on to become the first Chief Judge of Imo State ten years later. In 1984,

the great elevation came – the exalted position of Honorable Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It did not take long before Oputa put his stamp on the Supreme Court as a man profoundly moved by classical literature, history, divinity and philosophy and whose judgments possessed the temerity that was in the preserve of genius. Oputa, who was aptly described as the Socrates of the Supreme Court, chaired the famous Oputa Panel set up by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 to look into human rights abuses in Nigeria during the tenure of the military.

This was one man who was clearly above board and beyond reproach in his public and private life. He was never associated with any form of scandal. He was very thorough and a dedicated professional to the core. His sublimity was the cynosure of all eyes, plus his humility, calmness and unassuming character. He comported himself with dignity and integrity. He rose to the pinnacle of his career through the dint of hard work and special grace of God. According to his son, Charles Oputa (popularly known as Charly Boy): “My father was a good and great man, though we did not start off well, because in the beginning, he always felt I was too rascally. I did not obey orders and I got tired of his rules, regulations and restric-

tions, so it was important that I go my own way. I thank God I did that, because at long last, for the past 25 years, I won the kind of respect I deserved from the man who thought that the direction I took was a wrong move. For the past 25 years, we bonded and I am proud to have had a father like him”.

The late Justice Oputa was a devoted Christian and played active role in the church. He was at a point honored in the Catholic Church with Knight Commander of St. Gregory the great. He was also Knight Commander of St. Sylvester Pope, and Knight of St. Mulumba. Justice Oputa published over 40 papers in lectures, conferences and seminars. Justice Oputa was a dedicated family man exemplarily devoted to his beautiful wife, Margaret and his lovely children.

Government should not only immortalize him and the legacies he left behind, but should also as a matter of course imbibe his moral values. Here is one case where honour to whom honour is due is irrefutable. Justice Oputa will be long remembered for his spirited legal activism and will serve as a splendid role model for present and future generations of Nigerian judges, especially at a time when the country’s judiciary is struggling with a credibility deficit.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South 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

Friday, May 23, 2014

OPINION

Navy: Zooming in on zapped Oyazimo

N

avy chief, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin strikes me as an outstanding officer and a gentleman. His height may not tell all the story about this Kogi man. I guess, he went through Naval Intelligence on his way to the top. And I will give him a task.

The Navy should be proud of their white. There is no reason to be in a deep blue funk. Indeed, there are so many sweet stories about them. When our country became independent in 1960, seaman, Salaudeen Adegboyega Akano was tasked with the duty of lowering the Union Jack, and foisting the Greenwhite-green. That was on October 1,1960. What a coincidence that the man who later governed Bendel State in acting capacity, and rose to the rank of Commodore, died on October 1, 2001.

And the first Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Edet Wey, was better known as a solid left back, both for Lagos Marine and the National Team. And it was from the Marine department that he was transferred to the Nigerian Naval Forces, as a senior engineer. In 1958, Wey was commissioned Lieutenant. One of the Pioneers of what is known today as the Nigeria Navy.

T he navy also won our first ever Olympic medal, a bronze in boxing, through Nojeem Maiyegun, at the Tokyo ‘64 Games.

The same force also holds the record of producing the country’s youngest governor, Alfred Papaprieye Diete-Spiff who at 25, became Military governor of Rivers state in 1967.

Military laws do not turn me on. They have their way of doing things. But I like the navy’s style of saluting their officers. They tend to touch their cap with the fingers. A navy

W

Commander is the equivalent of an army full colonel, but some aspects of his uniform paint him as a red neck. I think I know a little about the navy, i am not at sea.

But i want to take Admiral Jibrin back to April 24, 1970.And it happened by the sea, the Lagos Bar Beach. That was the day the first set of armed robbers faced firing squad. Babatunde Folorunsho, Joseph Ilobo and wait for it...William Alders Oyazimo, Sub Lt., of the navy.

Oyazimo and Ilobo had appeared before the Lagos state robbery and firearms tribunal, chaired by James Agboola Ojomo. The duo were accused of robbing One Alhaja Taibatu Opene of a loud speaker and record player valued at the equivalent of N320.

Oyazimo pleaded not guilty, just like Ilobo. Folorunsho was not bothered about the crime because he owned up and gave himself out as a jailbird. The trio were sentenced to death for robbing with violence.

D-Day. The young naval officer maintained he was being shot wrongly. “If you search your conscience, you will know that a naval officer of my status, will never go in the dead of the night to steal. I’ll die today, innocent of the crime for which i am condemned,” he told journalists.

Many went emotional when Oyazimo broke down before military chaplain, Col Pedro Martins. The Monsignor had asked him to pray for forgiveness. “Father, I am innocent. My blood will cleanse my family, and my children will prosper,” the condemned said amid sobs.

Ilobo sang the same tune. “Make una go call that Alhaja, make she come see we die”, he screamed shortly before the deed was done.

Oyazimo was one of the pioneers that started what we know today as the Nigeria navy in 1958.Oyazimo joined as a seaman alongside John Brambaefa, who today is addressed as Senator, and Duncan Abebele. Wey moved in as an officer.

Abebele, who fought in the Civil War as a gunner on then Captain Akin Aduwo’s warship that also had Lt. Suleiman Seidu, was away in India when his buddy was shot. And he may yet recover from the shock of that bloodletting.

“He[Oyazimo] did not rob anyone, he was accused of robbery by an Alhaja. His wife Esther was doing business with the Alhaja, and they went to Cotonou to buy goods. On the way back, the Customs seized their goods. So the Alhaja reported to the officer what happened, and pleaded with him to intervene.

The officer told the Alhaja to use her money to clear the goods, with a promise to refund her later when he had money.

After clearing the goods, the deal backfired and the Alhaja did not get back her money as promised, and later accusations came up from the Alhaja that the officer used a pistol on her”, Abebele told the Punch newspaper in 2010.

Well, Oyazimo could have gone wrong in one way or more, using his military background. But was he really a robber? Could he have said all those last words, even if he was guilty? I am pained and I still fell for those children who must be adults now.

It is better for one to lose a dad over coup plot allegations than to be called the child of an armed robber. Commander Tony Ogwiji’s children have nothing to be ashamed of simply because their father was killed in 1986 over a coup plot.

At the same time, such naval officers who passed through that dangerous part, like Cdr. L.M.O. Fabiyi, Lt. A. Olowookere [1995], Lt Cdr. N.N. Soetan [1997] and Lt Cdr. Yakubu Kudambo [2004], are alive and so free even if bruised psychologically.

My prayer is for the Navy to look into Oyazimo’s case and come out with a report. It might not be medicine after death.

It could be more than pain reliever. His children should at least feel proud to name their dad in a public gathering. He who feels it, knows it.

Chibok: Minors in the line of fire…

hen precious cargo falls into enemy hands, it’s time for utmost tact, not bluster. It’s time to replace aggression with strategic cajole . It’s time to soften up the loony, call him a dandy lady’s man so he can give way…

Those Chibok schoolgirls are precious cargo.

Not only precious but fragile in mind and physique: They are minors, they are female, they are kidnapped, they are captured, they are in the crudest of hands, in unfamiliar, hostile environment. In short, they are as vulnerable as vulnerable can be.

By refusing to negotiate with Boko Haram for those girls’ release, Nigeria has put those minors in the line of fire. And now that global fire may be turned on Boko Haram, it is double jeopardy for those girls.

When by omission or commission a monkey gains access into your china shop, you don’t go bananas. No. you go for bananas; lots of it. You feign generosity--- for strategic reasons. To lure the simian intruder off your prized possession. It’s not being soft or stupid, it’s being smart.

When a man spies a naughty, naughty mosquito on his “balls”, he’s got all the right in the world to slam the vermin. But he doesn’t, if he has any sense. Rather, he adopts an indirect attack to avoid “collateral damage” – he gently breezes the vermin off the “subject matter”, then as the mosquito takes flight, smacks it between his palms.

Lighthouse

YEMI OGUNSOLA

yemiogunsola@gmail.com - 08069074718 (sms only)

Viciously.

As sane parents of our precious daughters, the most important consideration now is the safety of those girls, not national pride or any such inanimate principles.

What does it profit our nation if in protecting our national pride we lose over 200 children?

We can’t afford to say “The Devil take the hindmost”; for the Devil may do just that!

Turning down the Boko Haram offer of an “exchange of prisoners” while preparing for all-out war is putting those girls’ lives on the line. With characters as psychologically unstable as Ibrahim Shekau and the horde he leads, every extra minute in their custody in fraught with danger.

Yes, I know the suspicions over the circumstances of the kidnap which suggest collaboration with some governments or government officials. It might even be a ploy to get some insurgents out of detention…

But even at that, those tormented parents and our prized daughters remain the victims of whatever infernal politics is at play.

They don’t deserve this protracted night-

mare, that lingers in their wakeful hours.

What really does Nigeria lose if it “loses” over 200 Boko Haram wretches --- and regains the custody of 200 precious girls?

Nothing.

What is the worth of one Boko Haram killer anyway? And with the global efforts to hunt insurgents to blazes, insurgents in Nigeria’s detention are undeservingly safer than those out there in the wild. Whether in detention or outside it, time is fast running out for all insurgents.

And those foreign sympathisers to whom we have been compelled to open our doors? I can’t recall any remarkable humanity associated with American soldiers. What do those soldiers care for a few hundred non-American lives? Their President may care, yes, but those boys, whose female counterparts torture Iraqi prisoners “for fun”; who hang pieces of human bones round their necks as ornaments?

Their primary and overriding aim and training is to stamp out Al Quaeda and allied irritants. To them, harm to our girls, may be mere “collateral damage”. Should that happen, God forbid, the guilty party will not be our foreign

helpers, but us --- Nigerians--- For failing to pull out those girls’ chestnuts out of the fire when it mattered most.

As things stand now, every shot fired at Boko Haram hideouts, is torture to the girls’ parents who know their daughters may be under global fire.

Need I spell it out here in so many words that those girl hostages are impediments to whatever fire those Boko Haram wretches deserve? And if it’s true that those girls are already distributed out, the insurgents are in the best position to get them together preparatory to negotiation---in their hope of securing the release of their own men.

Let’s negotiate our girls out of their grips, then...

But we must negotiate carefully. How many girls per one insurgent? Five to one?

Even if negotiation ends in one girl to one insurgent, our girls are worth the price.

Get the girls out. Shekau can’t be trusted to keep his own end of the bargain. We must be watchful. But who knows? He just may.

But even with all the uncertainties, the process of negotiation has many dividends. We get to know more about the enemy. I won’t specify. They already know a lot about us.

We need to know more about them.

Then, no tricks. If they keep their part of the bargain, we must keep ours. No Pranks. We must release the agreed number of detained insurgents.

Let’s up and negotiate…

ARTS FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

CULTURE

Tony Okuyeme

O

mo Uwaifo’s play, ‘One Kingdom, One Monarch’ was the focus of National Troupe of Nigeria’s 30th Play Reading Session held recently at the Cinema Hall II, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The essence of the reading session is to present a play before a gathering of critics, writers, among others and subject it to critical appraisal to help playwrights improve their scripts before it goes on stage.

Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Martins Adaji in his short address, expressed satisfaction with the choice of the play and the session, saying, “We are glad not just because of the playwright, but also that of the chairman Odia Ofeimun who despite his tight schedules is here with us.”

Preceding what turned out a robust discussion on One Kingdom, One Monarch was an excerpt performed by the students of the Creative Art Department of the University of Lagos and directed by Joshua Alabi. And setting the tone, and note for the discussion, renowned poet, art critic, Mr. Odia Ofeimun who was Chairman of the day, called for comments based on the short performance of excerpt from the play, before starting the reading. This was a deviation from the usual structure of the reading session; but what followed was an interactive session that spawned stimulating reactions from the audience made up of writers, critics, theatre practitioners, art aficionados, students, among others.

Ofeimun started with an introductory statement on the playwright.

Uwaifo, he said, “is an inspiration to many of us who write in the city; he has also put in a consistency that is admirable though he is an engineer that chose to be a writer, a playwright.

And he has put in consistency which we find admirable.”

Thereafter, he said that a play truly becomes one after it is staged. He therefore called on the audience to subject the play to serious critique. “Since we have seen it on stage from the excerpt, we must respond to it with the highest standard.”

As comments dueled on the choice of Alabi’s employment of agitprop in his interpretation of the play, with some commending him, while others expressed reservation, the discussion dovetailed into its essence as a traditional play rich in the traditional elements of Benin history and culture. .

While there seems to be various shades of opinion on various aspects of the play, one thing was evident in the comments; is that One Kingdom,

L-R: Adaji, Ofeimun and Uwaifo

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people." ― Mahatma Gandhi

TONY oKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

Uwaifo’s One Kingdom, One Monarch, in the eyes of critics

Actors performing excerpt from One Kingdom, One Monarch

One Monarch is a traditional play set in the rich cultural milieu of the Benin people. As Ofeimun noted, “Reading this play, I see a lot of cultural activism.”

Commenting on the play, the Deputy President, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Steve Ogundele who was one of the artistes that read the play, described ‘One Kingdom, One Monarch’ as a traditional play. According to him, the play in performance is likely to elicit the kind of emotion that Benin plays are usually known for. “I’m pleased to be part of this experience though I must say it’s difficult to read with interpretation because this is my first contact with the play. It will likely elicit the passion and emotion Bini stories are associated with. This is an effort that should be highly commended “

His position was echoed by other artistes such as the vice chairman of Lagos State chapter of NANTAP, William Ekpo, Muyiwa Odukale, Soibifaa Dokubo and Efe Orhorha who were the five persons the chairman called on stage to read excerpts from the play.

Adaji commended Alabi’s directorial approach and noted that the play highlights the importance of dialogue in resolving conflicts. He added that though One Kingdom One Monarch needs more work structurally. “It is a director’s play. In fact, it is a good play for it to have elicited this kind of dialogue.”

For Muyiwa Odukale, One Kingdom, One Monarch is nostalgic of Benin plays, but noted that elevated language which he believes, is key to such plays is missing. His words: Most Benin plays have elevated language. That is one thing that is missing. Elevated language is very key to Benin plays.

For the Director, Dance of National Troupe, Arnold Udoka, ‘One Kingdom, One Monarch’ is a well-made play but too verbose. “You can migrate it to other directorial styles but you need to stay faithful to the playwright’s work. I will just ask the playwright to revisit the wordiness so that the poetry

One Kingdom One Monarch needs more work structurally. It is a director’s play. In fact, it is a good play for it to have elicited this kind of dialogue

becomes tighter. It is wonderful historically but too verbose. Then you don’t have to change the format because of the budget; don’t cut corners. Look for budget and face its historicity. Give it the respect it deserves because it can compare with Shakespeare.”

Lawrence Amu, a friend of the playwright, called for adequate funding for productions. Shaibu Husseni noted that apart from the actors, the technical people that will produce the play will also need guidance from the playwright. He suggested that the playwright gives the manuscript to an editor to remove unnecessary scenes.

Responding, the playwright expressed delight at how the session went, adding that all the comments will be taken seriously, as writers need to subject their works to critics because they don’t know it all.

Set in 18th century Benin Kingdom, ‘One Kingdom, One Monarch’ tells the story of a traditional leader of his people, Agboghidi, whose stubborn son, Ogbe refused to heed appeals handed down to him by his father. Agboghdi is an Enogie - a traditional ruler. Before the boy, Ogbe, was born, the divinities and the deities had warned that he should not go far off into the forests for hunting, particularly, the forest of Igbaghon on the banks of the River.

But Ogbe, who is one not easily given to the counsel of elders, set out to the Igbaghon river all alone, for hunting without the consent of either his mother or father.

Uwaifo is also the author of ‘Fattening House’ which got honourable mention at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2004.

His collection of poems, ‘Litany’ was long listed for the same prize in 2009.

22 ART Tony Okuyeme

O

n May 29, 2008, a day Nigeria was celebrating yet another ‘Democracy Day’, renowned musicologist and broadcaster, Steve Rhodes.

Steven Bankole Omodele Rhodes, passed on to eternal Glory. He was 82.

It will be six years on May 29, 2014 that the ‘Elder ArtsMan’ and music Impresario – as his numerous associates and mentees revered him – transited to greater higher service, after a protracted illness.

To mark this anniversary, the Steve Rhodes Foundation (SRF) – which was founded in the aftermath of his passing – as well as the Steve Rhodes Memorial Anniversary Committee has decided to honour his memory with a photo exhibition with the theme: “Steve Rhodes: Six Years After – A Commemorative Exhibition”. The commemorative event is designed especially to celebrate his eminent contributions to the Nigerian (and African) music and artistic heritage with an exhibition of the rich and resourceful collection of photographic recordings of his over six decades of illustrious career.

According to a statement signed by the Executive Programme Director of the Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC, Jahman Anikulapo, the week-long exhibition on the life and times of the late musicologist and broadcaster, Steve Rhodes, will be formally opened by the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on May 29 at the Museum gallery of the Freedom Park, Old Colonial Prison, 1 Hospital Road (by Broad Street), Lagos. He said that the exhibition would be in honour of the entertainment icon who passed on May 29, 2008, at the age of 82.

According to the statement, Rhodes brought phenomenal changes in terms of content and packaging to the entertainment industry in Nigeria. “‘He is a great musicologist and the conscience of entertainment industry in his time, a disciplinarian and an artiste with passion for standards. He pioneered the emergence of highly educated personalities in the entertainment scene in Nigeria.

“The commemorative event is designed especially to celebrate his eminent contributions to the Nigerian and African music industry. It is an exhibition of the rich and resourceful collection of photographic recordings of his over six decades of illustrious career,” it said.

It noted that Rhodes was described as an encyclopaedia of the Nigerian music. “He would be remembered for his originality, consistency and tenacity in his chosen field, which won him recognition, laurels and accolades at home and abroad.”

It said that the Steve Rhodes Foundation (SRF), which was founded posthumously, and the Steve Rhodes Memorial Anniversary Committee decided to honour the late musician with the exhibition.

Steven Bankole Omodele Rhodes was many things rolled into one: a veteran broadcaster, musician and showbiz impresario who bestrode the arts community for over six decades, producing, managing, creating and advocating for the arts and culture.

Born on April 8, 1926 in Lagos, to Justice Bankole and Mrs. Mabel Jones de Rhodes, the young Steve attended at different times -- CMS Grammar School (Lagos) and Dennis Memorial School (Onitsha), for his secondary education.

After his secondary education, he spent 11 years in England and Germany to further his education. As a jazz musician in Germany, he played with some itinerant bands and followed them on concert tours of Switzerland, Italy and Germany.

While in England he met with fellow Nigerians and Africans with whom he shared the passion to return home to see how they could contribute their own quota to nation building in the post-independence era.

The death of his father (and the strong nostalgia for homecoming) forced his voyage back home and he joined the Federal Ministry of Information. He became the first Nigerian Controller of

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Six years after, commemorative exhibition for Steve Rhodes

Conducting the Steve Rhodes Orchestra RO during WS @ 70 SRO Eko Hotel

The commemorative event is designed especially to celebrate his eminent contributions to the Nigerian and African music industry. It is an exhibition of the rich and resourceful collection of photographic recordings of his over six decades of illustrious career Programmes of the Western Nigerian Television.

Trained as a musicologist in Germany, Rhodes also worked in the defunct Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which later metamorphosed into the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). He was instrumental to the setting up of the West African Dance Orchestra at the national radio station.

Alongside his civil service career, Rhodes founded the famous Steve Rhodes Voices (SRV), a group comprising young choristers, which won laurels in various music festivals at home and abroad, espe-

Steve Rhodes

cially in the 1970s. In its twenty years of existence, the SRV trained and mentored well over 250 young Nigerians even as it set up programme for already practicing musicians though which it helped to hone their skills in its academy-styled structure and operation. Among SRV’s memorable productions was Ijapa, which had a successful run at MUSON Centre, Glover me-

morial Hall among other venues.

The group later metamorphosed to the Steve Rhodes Orchestra, SRO, which has remained his long-lasting contributions to the Nigeria and Africa musical legacy, especially the orchestra tradition.

Among the group’s remarkable showpieces was Metamorphosis, acclaimed as one of the best productions to grace the Nigeria theatrical stage.

His other works include Ode to Freedom, produced in the heat of the struggle against the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Elder Rhodes, as close associates fondly called him, set the Anglican Communion service to Song, and directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the COJA Games in 2003, amongst such other landmark projects and national assignments.

Rhodes, while alive, was variously described as “an encyclopedia of Nigerian music’; ‘a great musicologist and the conscience of entertainment industry in his time’ ‘a disciplinarian and an artist with love for standard’.

He pioneered the emergence of highly educated personalities on the entertainment scene, thereby bringing phenomenal changes in terms of content and packaging of entertainment in Nigeria.

Elder Steve Rhodes would be remembered for his originality, consistency and tenacity in his chosen field, which won him recognition, laurels and accolades at home and abroad.

iREP monthly documentary film screening series holds tomorrow Tony Okuyeme

T

omorrow, the iREP Monthly Documentary Film Screening Series comes up at Freedom Park, Hospital Road, Broad Street, Lagos, starting by 7:00pm prompt. For screening this month, is Bob Lott’s African Genesis: Ghana Door of No Return.

African Genesis: Ghana Door of No Return is an epic story of the heroic sojourn of African American People to “The Door of No Return” along the Gold Coast in Ghana. The film captures the effect, the emotions, wonder and transformation it engenders by following two sets of siblings as they travel to Ghana.

It also focuses on several adults who accompany the children and integrates the life altering experiences of two Jewish women who took a separate journey to Ghana on their own. The series shows the experiences and reactions while they are in Africa providing a platform for all to articulate what they were thinking, feeling and going through and how these experiences impacted them.

The Conceptual framework of iREPRESENT Documentary Film Forum is Africa in Self-Conversation; and it is designed to promote awareness about the power of documentary format to serve as a means of deepening and sharing social and cultural education as well as

encouraging participatory democracy in our societies. iREP is conceptualized to create platform of awareness and expression for aspiring and practicing filmmakers who are creating socially relevant documentary films to positively impact our world.

“To fully engage an array of transcultural creativity, iREP will provide a forum for everyone’s ingenuity to be showcased without prejudice to style or subject. iREP celebrates the ever expanding world of documentary films by inviting talents from across the globe to share ideas on trends and technological advancements in the format.

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Agozino Agozino

L

ike most Osogbo artists among whom she is a towering female figure, Chief Mrs Monica Oyenike Okundaye’s entry into the world of Batik (textile) making was made so early in life that the degree of her achievement can hardly be said to have been recorded in just 63 years.

Today, the widely exhibited artist, singer and drummer turns 63 and the praises in her lips are that of gratitude to her maker. How else could she have lived a life which has made her a role model among the womenfolk? And what better profession could she have chosen than to become one of the top ten female artists in the world, according to a recent Smithsonian Institute‘s research in Washington DC, USA. Ordinarily, the widely travelled and successful art promoter should have had nothing to worry about. She regularly traverses the globe. Her art is in high demand while participating in resourceful international workshops yield encouraging returns in rave reviews for art in many newspapers.

But rather than bank on her notable achievements and focus solely on her studio work and business, Nike seems more undaunted and believes there are more things she can do in seeking empowerment for women particularly, through arts and creativity.

To mark the birthday friends and associates of the batik maker (adire) are putting together a celebration for her. Among the highpoint of the event is a cultural festival on green carpet.

The presentation holding at her Gallery in Lekki Lagos, on Friday May 30, will also feature art exhibition, special recognition award, cultural beauty pageant and music and dance. Already they have formed the Nike at 63 Project, to midwife the programmmes of the celebration. The organisers said that expected in attendance are artists, collectors, members of the diplomatic corps and art lovers including all those who had at one time or the other had interaction with Nike, and those whom she has mentored in the past three decades that she began his active career in the arts.

Members of the arts and culture community deems the celebration a worthy honour to a committed artist and remarkable art promoter whose activities in the promotion of African rich cultural heritage has infused new lease of life to the art sector.

But how does Mama Adire feel on attaining the age of 63? “I am very much happy. To be honest, I give glory to my creator because of his mercy over my life when most people have died at a younger age. A lot of bad things are happening in our country today that makes people prone to danger. That I am alive today is something I thank God for,’’ She said Okundaye is equally happy that Nigerian visual art is becoming more popular all over the world especially with new works by younger artist.

She said that with such development, there is no doubt that the sector will provide more jobs than other sector in the future. According to her, years of over dependence oil by the country as against developing non-oil sector like arts is what the government should encourage. “ I am very happy that our younger artist aretaking their destiny into their hands by producing works that are recognised all over the world and this is very good for the image of the country .’’

The widely travelled artist also says her guiding passion has always been the need for society to see that women are endowed with talents. Her word; “ I am always challenged by the notion of some people who think that women are the weaker sex who should be relegated to a second class. This is a negative thinking and I want to challenge womenfolk to rise and showcase their

Garlands for Mama Adire at 63

Okundaye

potential. The feeling that a woman must depend on the husband to be successful in life ne that should go out of the thinking of an average women.’’

Few years ago, what began as an ambitious project materialized when the globally renowned textile artist opened a new edifice for her art gallery and cultural foundation dubbed Nike Art and Culture Centre. The facility which, according to her, was inspired by her desire to leave an enduring legacy in form of artistic monument now stand in its imposing white splendor in Victoria Island Extension, Lekki in the outskirts of Lagos metropolis. Though Mrs. Okundaye has built art galleries and cultural centres in such places as Osogbo, Abuja, Ogidi in Kogi state among other places around the world where she has her own studios and display halls, the creamy-white ultra-modern three-floor building tickles her house like it is her first of such facilities.

Asked how she feels upon conquering the project that only looked like an ambitious venture just some years ago she replied with a visible sense of fulfillment, explaining that from the time she moved her personal studio from Ofatedo near Osogbo, Osun state to Lagos in the 1990s, one thing that pricked her mind was the thought of the best legacy to leave for her profession in the city. This gave birth to the idea of constructing the giagantic gallery about a decade ago. Her desire and prayer has ever since dwelt on how to get the means to finish it. Now that it has come to pass, there is a sense of fulfillment is her mien.

Explaining, Okundaye said: “The name is Nike Art Foundation. Although we have similar galleries in Osogbo, Ogidi-Ijumu, and in Abuja, what we have here (in Lagos) is, by far, bigger and more elaborate than the other ones. The reason for that is because we have a plan for what will be going on here when it is opened. And we hope equally that this place will provide a lot in terms of promoting arts in Lagos and other places. We equally believe that many will be making use of the facilities as time goes on.”

Born on May 23, 1951, Nike, as she is fondly called all over the world attended St. Michael’s Primary School,

Ogidi but her education terminated in Primary 6 because of lack of funds.

To many young girls in such circumstance, not being able to continue school would have most probably led to early marriage and an abridgement of destiny. But it was not so with Nike as she took up the challenge, determined to explore to the fullest the destiny that awaited her. She went ahead to teach herself English at home as a way of navigating the pathway of life without let or hindrance.

Principally educated in art by her great grandmother, the late Madam Ibikunle, with whom she lived after the death of her mother and grandmother.

Her great grandmother was a weaver and an Adire textile maker/dyer in her life time. Watching her great grandmother and helping her out in the art of adire processing, Nike walked up the line to become an expert in in the art as well as in, dyeing, weaving, painting and embroidery. Steadily building on what her great grandmother taught her, Nike went ahead to develop her own unique style and technique in textile design, and painting as well as how to effectively present them for exhibition.

From a modest beginning and without the benefit of any serious formal

It is also because I stayed focused to this goal and my love for the arts.

Things may not look good today, but they are challenges for us to learn from. Challenges are things that drive us to our ultimate destiny.

So I will say that till art transforms ordinary woman, children, I will keep working

education, Nike has been a source of hope to many who have no hope. As Chief Executive of Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Osogbo, she offers training free of charge to Nigerians in various forms of arts. She is also the Curator of the Nike Art Galleries in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo and Ogidi. In 1996, as a way of empowering her native Ogidi women in Kogi State, she established a textile (asooke) weaving centre in her home town. More than 200 women have so far benefitted from that initiative.

Nike is so proud of Ogidi that yearly, she brings important foreign dignitaries home to savour the beauty of the town. Among her lists of foreign dignitaries who have followed her home are ambassadors of major western countries like the United States of America, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland etc. Perhaps more than any Ogidi indigene, Nike has helped to adequately position her town in cyberspace. One only need to click his mouse on Ogidi or Nike on any internet search engine to see the large number of links that pop up, confirming how far she has gone in carving a niche for Ogidi. Nike holds the traditional titles of Yeye Oba of Ogidi, YeyeTayese of Osogbo and YeyeGbasaga of Ijumu. She is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Society of Nigerian Women Artists, Osun Support Groove etc. She has won awards from all over the world including one of the highest Italian national awards which she was given in appreciation of her efforts in using arts to address and solve the problems of Nigerian commercial sex workers in Italy.

On what life has taught her at 63, Nike said “Now at 63, I will tell you that life has taught me so many lessons. Whatever one finds in life is for a moment, no condition is permanent.

Therefore, one can work and change his condition. Our destiny is in our hands. This gives one a lot of strength to go on everyday despite challenges. I did not have much education, but with hard work, God has helped me. It is also because I stayed focused to this goal and my love for the arts. Things may not look good today, but they are challenges for us to learn from. Challenges are things that drive us to our ultimate destiny.”

24 TOURISM Andrew Iro Okungbowa

L

ast week, the Nigeria tourism industry witnessed a motion of sort with a workshop organised by International Style Weeks Limited in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. The two-day tourism workshop held at the InterContinental Hotel, Lagos, drew participants from across the public and private sectors of the economy, including some notable state tourism boards and ministries as well as operators and stakeholders in attendance.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke was in attendance alongside the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Nkechi Njeze and some directors of the ministry, while the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo also added colours and pep to the event with signature modeling - like outfit of a touch of the Nigeria national colours of white and green and delivery.

The two-day event which also saw exhibition of arts, crafts and tourism products on the sideline, focused on areas such as issues, challenges and opportunities for investment and development in the Nigeria tourism industry. It was a wide spectrum that was canvassed with issues related to skill acquisitions, basic knowledge and global trends.

It was an engaging occasion with the paper presenters taking to exhaustive discursive route as they attempted to dissect and do justice to the various topics handled by them while the audience as well enlivened the entire event with their stimulating questions and submissions.

The Chief Executive Officer of International Style Weeks Limited and Project Coordinator, Mr. Bassey Essien explained that part of the aim of the workshop is not only to draw attention to the tourism industry in terms of the issues facing it, but also to draw up some form of agenda that would form part of the deliberations and engagements with a number of investors at the forthcoming Presidential Summit on Tourism to be hosted by the Nigeria President sometime in July.

Besides, the formal ceremonies, entertainment and refreshment which added colours to the workshop, some of the presentation included that of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema on ‘listing your tourism business on the Nigerian Stock Exchange,’ in which the NSE boss exposed the audience to the fine details of the stock, the benefits as well as the issues that need to be understood, but more importantly on while investors in the tourism industry need to come to the floor of the NSE for business as it would greatly improve their access to fund and secure their businesses as well as earn the confidence of the industry and those who patronize their services.

To drive home the point, Onyema presented some hard facts on the performance of the tourism industry in Nigeria over a period of time. These include: *The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was N757.3bn (1.6% of total GDP) in 2013; *The total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was N1, 559.5bn (3.2% of GDP) in 2013; *Total jobs supported by the industry in 2013, was 2.8% of total employment (1,837,000 jobs); and *In 2013 Nigeria ranked 55 in direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP and 21 in direct contribution of travel and tourism to employment.

Some of the challenges encumbering the industry outlined and discussed by him also include: *Low level of demand mainly caused by poor perception of tourism in Nigeria; *Inadequate publicity and negative media reports; *Inadequate measures to attract private investors; *Poor infrastructure/lack of maintenance of tourism facilities;

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Searchlight on opportunities, challenges of Nigeria tourism

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Nkechi Njeze inspecting the art works on display during the tourism workshop

*Apathy of many Nigerians toward tourism; and *Security risk.

While on the opportunities presented by the industry in the next one decade, according to him, are Capital investment in the sector is expected to rise by 5.1% pa over the next 10 years, leisure travel spending is expected to grow by 5.7% pa over the next 10 years, the total employment supported by the industry is expected to rise by 3.6% pa over the next 10 years and visitor exports is expected to grow by 3.5% pa over the next 10 years.

Thereafter, Dr Osuji Otu, spoke on ‘Agro-tourism and food sufficiency in Nigeria,’ drawing attention to some of the issues and challenges in agro – tourism and the need for a conducive environment to drive it while the President of West African Development (WAD), Ms Vernice Guthrie, presented a paper on ‘Reviewing the legal and legislative framework for tourism in Nigeria,’ in which she examined the legal and legislative foundations for revamping tourism in Nigeria. The day’s final discourse was by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citi Lodge Hotels, Olufemi Talabi, ‘standardizing customer service delivery in the hospitality sector,’ with him giving the people the benefit of his hands – on experience on how best to attain global standard in service delivery.

Then on the second and final day of the workshop, Edem Duke took to the podium to speak on ‘measuring the impact of tourism on the Nigerian economy,’ as touched on government policies and expected reforms that would lead to harnessing the gains of tourism while Captain Aliyu Babangida, a tourism security expert looked at ‘reflections on peace, education and security’ focusing essentially on the elements that would

Part of the aim of the workshop is... also to draw up some form of agenda that would form part of the deliberations and engagements with a number of investors at the forthcoming Presidential Summit on Tourism to be hosted by the Nigerian President sometime in July

promote peaceful co-existence in order for tourism to thrive.

Others presenters include a fashion consultant from the United Kingdom, Ms Jennifer Williams Baffoe who spoke on ‘how designers can improve business development, source and work with manufacturers and the big stores of Europe and America,’ and Nollywood actress, producer and screen writer, Mrs Margie Ikem examined ‘creating a new frontier for the Nigerian movie industry.’

While the presentation of Jamaican – born US based tourism expert, Dr Julaine Rigg, on ‘increasing the national revenue Base through the tourism industry,’ drew applause as he outlined some of the key issues and challenges in this area.

In, all it was a robust and thought evoking as well as informative and educative with many of the people in attendance commending the organisers for what they described as a successful workshop.

A befitting end to the workshop was a private reception held at the Nu Grotto on Etim Inyang.

The sideline exhibition had on display fashion works by the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) with the visual art featuring great artists as Mr Kolade Oshinowo, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, Mr. Aderintoye Aladegbongbe and Mr. Dotun Alabi while it was curated by Mr. Michael Fashakin.

Duke: Public–private partnership is key to tourism development The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke fielded questions at the tourism workshop. Here is an excerpt: What role do public-private partnership plays in tourism development?

The role public-private partnership plays in tourism is that it is the best platform to unlock our potential in the tourism sector because tourism is powered more by the private sector. The role of government is to listen to the private sector to provide the enabling environment to guide with policies, provide incentives and to allow the flexibilities for the private sector to be able to operate. And it has helped to-

day for us to see some of the leaps and bounds by wish the creative economy has grown in Nigeria.

How would this impact on an average Nigerian?

The average Nigerian is an unbelievably creative mind. Nigerians are unbelievable in terms of the potential that is domicile within us. And when you think of the fact that almost 70 percent of our population is made of youths between 15 and 35, you will find out that each one of us is unbelievable.

All we need to do is to have the benefit to unlock these talents and potential and find a way of aggregating these into businesses in micro, small and medium enterprises platforms to develop ourselves and develop the country.

In what ways would destination branding help to grow Nigerian Image and the

economy?

It is very critical for every country to be identified with a certain kind of sentiments and values. That is why you find out that in some countries they position themselves as religious tourism destination. Others position themselves as eco-tourism destinations. Nigeria positions itself as a country of great cultural attributes. We are the cultural paradise of Africa. We are all of 37 countries put into one because of the diversity and the endowment of this country.

Therefore, each country must identify that unique element about it that makes its more competitive and a better sell than the next destination and invest in it. That is why you see that countries are using every opportunity to develop sentiments that are identical with their national offerings. And that is the hallmark of destination branding and management.

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

stories by sony neme

B

arely seven weeks to the 50 years on stage mega celebration of Chief Eddie Ugboma, OON, he is at daggers drawn with the Secretary to the federal government, SFG, Senator Pius Anyim Pius Anyim, and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku.

In an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, the Chairman Board of Trustees of Association of Movie Producers, AMP, and Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, DGN, was particularly bitter with both men for their roles on Oronsanya recommendation for the merger of Nigerian Film Corpration and Nigerian Film and Video Censorship Board into Nigeria Film Commission.

He also advised what he expect the agencies to concern themselves with issues such as the proliferation of Nigerian air waves with foreign films, and how it affects the growth of the local industry.

Excerpts…

There are three main issues involved here. First is the plan by the Secretary to the federal government, SFG, Senator Pius Anyim Pius Anyim, and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku to downgrade censorship board into a department in Information ministry. That will be the last nail on the coffin of Nollywood as that will mean film makers have to go to the 36 states to get their films censored.

This sad development is coming when Kano and Lagos States have just accepted to sign an MOU with NFVCB’s regional format. Going through 36 states at N25,000 each! Where will film makers get N5million just to censor a film? All over the world, censors board have just a single body. That is how it is in Britain, America, Ghana, Kenya and even in South Africa. Why will our own be different?

But the constitution allows each state to set up their censorship board?

Yes, but it doesn’t work that way. Their argument that we have different regions and different languages is not tenable, because we have different religions and languages all over the world. Yet they all have one censorship board. We copy from England, France and America, why should we allow people who are barely informed on censorship matters, to set up 36 censorship boards. If we don’t have a central board, every state will want their own, because for them it is a way of generating income for their respective states.

Another argument they are bandying is that they want to downsize the number of staff. But the question is, how can the federal government want to scrap a parastatal set up by an act of parliament without the National Assembly? This happened some years ago, when former minister of arts and culture, Chief Ogbuewu merged the National Troupe with National Theater. I led same protest that saw both entities retaining their independent status. .

We also intervened on his determination to sack the Director General of National Copyright commission, Adebambo . He remained adamant, which prompted the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, to remove the Copyright Commission from Ministry of Arts and Culture to that of Ministry of Justice. That is what is playing out now.

What was contained in the report that is different from what the federal government is tinkering with?

Chief Oransanya had in his report recommended that the federal government should merge NFVCB with Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, into a Nigerian Film Commission. That was part of the appeal from the last DG of NFC, Afolabi

Filmmakers dare FG on merger of NFC and NFVCB ...as Uduaghan plans multi-billion naira film village

Anyim Pius

Omotola

Ugboma

Adesanya, and we were encouraged to contribute as NTA, NBC and FRCN did when they brought in senior broadcasters to intervene on their behalf. Instead of that, the SGF and Minister of information set up a ministerial committee that recommends a downgrade of NVFCB, which will sign a death knell on what is left of Nollywood.

We are not going to fold our arms and watch them destroy what we have built without their input. Therefore, we have resolved to get the services of a SAN, and get a court injunction to stop them, should they go ahead with that downgrade plane.

We are still appealing to them not to bother themselves with the downgrade, because it is beyond saving money for the government. it is about saving the industry which has been contributing meaningfully to the national GDP. Once you temper with the censors board or

film corporation, it is going to affect the film maker.

Is it now they want to commercialise the film corporation? Who among those in the industry can afford to buy it, because they say they want to sell it to those in the industry. Who among us can afford it at about N40 billion. Nobody will buy it for one million naira because from when the laboratory was built they allowed it to rot away.

That is the laboratory I built for N35million and nobody was encouraged to use it. Now everybody has gone video as celluloid took a far back seat. It was saving $300million per year, only three films of mine, Ishola (I show pepper), and Brendan Shehu used the lab. That was how it remained wasted.

To avoid this ill wind, what is the way forward?

Our plea is that they should look for other mergers, or other ways of cut-

ting down on overhead, and leave Censors board alone. The board has quietly through its functions saved this country from so many moral, social and political crisis as they ensure that films with nation interests are graded and allowed on air.. when people do sensitive films, they watch them and quickly recommend aspects that must be cut out or get the entire film stopped.

Six years ago, the ministry of information, bought a film that is almost causing trouble now. It is titled Point of No return.

It is about the Biafra War. They got across to the owners and refunded him his investment on the film, and pleaded with him not to air it because of its sensitive nature. The young man agreed, after all what did he go into the film for, but to make money.

Same is with this Half of A Yellow Sun. there some sequences that the board C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 8

Michael Jackson’s Xscape at Billboard Music Awards, hits number one in over 50 countries

M

ichael Jackson performed his new hit Slave to the Rhythm off his posthumous album Xscape, which made number one in 50 countries on its debut last. It is surely good times for the family of late King of Pop, Michael Jackson in terms of relevance and monetary gain as his latest posthumous album.

In a show-stopping act produced by the Estate of Michael Jackson and broadcast on ABC, the late thriller was on stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to wild cheers and more than a few tears.

Source has it that the number started with a group of dancers dressed as storm troopers lining the stage, and their chests emblazoned with the initials M.J. Then the curtain parted to reveal a digitally resurrected version of Jackson sitting on leopard-print throne. Soon Jackson effigy was in the spotlight, his high voice bouncing off the walls and his feet glid-

ing across the stage as the crowd roared.

Dressed in red pants and a sparkly gold jacket sporting military epaulettes on the shoulders, Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50 from a drug overdose, appeared creepily real. As the audience watched, some people dabbed their eyes, perhaps wishing the image was real. At the end of the performance, the crowd gave Jackson a standing ovation.

The songs in the album include never heard before songs written and recorded by the King of Pop before he died ,though all the songs where given a contemporary reworking by Timbaland who looked like the right man for the job.

The first single from the album “Love Never Felt So Good” featuring Justin Timberlake debuted at the iHeart Radio Music Awards early this month. Other singers who are featured on the album includes Mary J Blige and the king of

Neo Soul himself D’angelo.

26 Entertainment

Jazz in the megacity

Tee Mac

R

esident and visitors to Lagos, Nigeria’s mega city, will on May 30 and 31 2014 witness the Inspiro Productions organised by Lagos International Jazz Festival.

The event holds at the Nation’s Cultural hotspot Freedom Park and this year’s edition is by invitation only.

This was contained in a statement by Inspiro CEO and festival director Ayoola Sadare.

He stated that the fiesta is their resolve to provide the city with jazzy relaxation.

According to Sadare, “We are still committed to positioning the event as Nigeria’s Premier Jazz Festival designed to offer visitors and residents in Lagos world class entertainment. The festival is also poised to become a major event on the Nigerian Tourism calendar and will attract jazz and contemporary music lovers to the country.

He further stated that, “Our long term goal is to establish Lagos as a Jazz Tourism destination alongside cities like Cape Town, Montreal, Montreux, New Orleans, London and To-

kyo among others which are significant on the global Jazz tourism calendar and have hundreds of thousands of people visit each year and experience the cities and enjoy good music.” For him, Lagos as a Megacity is poised to become a Jazz and music Mecca in the near future. As a result this year’s line-up has a few international acts with a significant number of authentic Jazz musicians such as Victor Masondo (SA), Beat Kaestli, Bright Gain, Tee Mac, Eko Brass Band, Fadabasi, Daniel Bankole, Dotun Bankole, Ara, Ruby and a host of others.

His words, “The Jazz Festival is not just another show but a tourism brand with the potential to boost the image of the country, and add to the GDP of the state and Nigeria as a whole when properly developed. We see it as our social responsibility project for our dear nation.”

“We chose to bring a few international musicians to Lagos not to the detriment of our home based musicians who put the Nigerian flavor into the

genre. This is what tourists want to see when they visit a destination city to attend festivals. It also is a good platform to spot future stars in an organic setting and have them interact with their international peers,” he opined.

Sadare hinted that, “Though being relaunched after a brief hiatus, Inspiro is leveraging on its pedigree as the producers in recent years of successful events such as Smooth 98.1FM’s luxury concerts, MUSON Jazz Festivals, Bayelsa International Jazz Festivals, NAIJAZZ festivals, The International Jazz Day celebration and Tale Of two African cities (Lagos-Jo’burg) project to mention a few. Our partnership with reputable organizations will also ensure the successful relaunch and sustainability of the event.”

The festival will also have the following adjunct value added events like Jazz & Music Workshops (music business management), Master Classes, Jazz Photography Exhibition.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Omawunmi, Okposo, Flavour with Glo for Nigeria A galaxy of stars gathered during the week in Lagos as Globacom, unveiled a unique motivational campaign and theme song to mobilise nationwide support for Nigeria's participation at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

The occasion which also saw the unveiling of a first-of-its-kind online reality show, hosted on Google+, was graced

by Nigeria’s musical stars including Flavour, M.I., Naeto C, Omawunmi, Waje and Nollywood star, Chioma Akpotha.

The musicians, all Glo Ambassadors, also performed in the campaign tagged Go Ahead Super Eagles. Also in attendance were Nigeria's football icons, just as the campaign combines a series of energetic television commercials featuring MI and Flavour.

The campaign, aimed at galvanising Nigerians to cheer the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles to victory at the World Cup, also features special songs for the Super Eagles including Power to Win, rendered by MI and Flavour; Remember Me by P-square and a medley of popular football songs by various Globacom ambassadors including Burna Boy, MI, Omawunmi, Waje, Sammy Okposo, Bez and Sani Denja.

Speaking at the event, M.I. said that he was proud to be associated with Globacom, adding that the newly unveiled materials would help spur Nigeria to unprecedented heights at the Mundial.

… Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Wyclef, others sing One Love, One Rhythm “We Are One (Ole Ola)” has been confirmed as the Official Song of the 2014 FIFA World Cup featuring Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian artist, Claudia Leitte. SONY Music Entertainment will be making the official 2014 FIFA World Cup album on June 12. The 17 updated track list spanning the world, the track listing represents artists from Brazil and all over the globe.

According to a release made available by Sony Music Entertainment, “The song will be performed by Pitbull, together with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte at the FIFA World Cup™ Opening Ceremony on June 12 at the Arena de Sao Paulo.”

It further stated that, “The official anthem of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, entitled “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find A Way),” featuring a global superstar line-up including music legend Carlos Santana,Wyclef, Avicii and Alexandre Pires, will be performed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony on July 13 at the legendary Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Chibok: 2Face, Sound Sultan, Squadee, Machel, others Break the Silence

I

n response to the global plea for the release of the abducted Chibok girls and the restoration of peace in Nigeria, galaxy of local and international stars under the umbrella of 2Face Idibia's Million Voices for Peace (MVP) project have recorded a song to articulate their call for peace and unity. They are to also raise funds to support the efforts of the Nigerian Red Cross.

MVP with a lineup of international artistes has 2Face Idibia, Precision Productions (Trinidad & Tobago), Samini (Ghana), K-Slim, PKD, Squadee, Galo, Machel (Ghana), Spyke, Sound Sultan, Essence, Righteousman, Jo El, Ferre Galo (DRC) and Machel Montano (Trinidad & Tobago) among others.

Idibia who spoke from France stated that: "The call for the safe return of the Chibok Girls and real work towards peace building must be sustained. This is just another step in the journey towards the promotion of peace and unity in our nation in particular and the world in

2Face

Sound Sultan

Machel

Galo

general."

The peace project is being coordinated by Efe Omorogbe of Now Muzik/Hypertek Digital/960 MG. He said this is coming at a very crucial time when the reality of the situation has hit everyone really hard.

His words, “This wonderful

group of patriots, supported by their brothers from the sub-continent and the Caribbean have done one better than tweet and shout. We believe the message will reach the people and that proceeds from sale will help the work of the Red Cross. We also intend to help mobilize volun-

teers to turn up and assist the Red Cross and NEMA in their humanitarian efforts.”

While sending his appreciation to the artistes for their contribution, Mr Omoregbe also acknowledged, “The invaluable support from Mamadie Kobele Keita, Winnie

Kigara, Kasey Phillips, Keke Ogungbe, Pamela Braid, Leslie Quaynor, Sola Animashaun, Emma Eboigbe, Justin Ukaegbu and the team at Now Muzik, Hypertek Digital/960 Music Group and the 2face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation.”

Friday, May 23, 2014

M

embers of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) on Tuesday poured encomium on its leadership for a job well done at their 4th Annual General Meeting. It was at Eko FM Multi-Purpose Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, they hinged their satisfaction and pleasure at the great achievements the society has recorded within four years of its existence.

In his address, COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji praised members for their unflinching support to the society and restated the resolve of the society’s leadership to revolutionize the music industry in Nigeria.

According to a statement mailed to New Telegraph by Mayree Uket, New Media, “The AGM with three broad tasks was a requirement of the law and an important event for members to be well informed of the current status of the society.

“The first part of the meeting is to receive and consider the audited financial statements of the society for the year ended December 31, 2013, the reports of the auditors thereon and that of the directors. The second is to elect or re-elect members of the Board in accordance with Articles 52, 53 & 54 of our Articles of Association. Thirdly is to pass on and to discuss important developments that have happened in our operating environment since our last AGM,” Chief Okoroji reportedly stated.

Okoroji further presented progress made since its last AGM on May, 2013. One of such is the over 100 reciprocal agreements the society entered into with other collecting societies around the word, as COSON did

COSON leadership commended at 4th anniversary AGM

Entertainment

Tony Okoroji at Lagos Stakeholders' Forum

not have even one of such two and half years ago..

Okoroji stated thus, “As you are well aware, as a result of our painstaking effort, COSON has since been admitted into the membership of CISAC. Last year, we announced the signing of a reciprocal representation agreement between COSON and PRS for Music of the United Kingdom. I am proud to an-

nounce today that due to our tireless work, COSON now has reciprocal agreements authorizing us to represent the music repertoire of about 100 collective management organizations in every continent in the world.

“This includes the entire US music repertoire and the music repertoire of such countries as South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Benin, Togo, France, Germany,

partner societies.”

The society’s Chairman further revealed of the listing of COSON members in the Interested Parties Information (IPI) system administered by the Geneva based organization, SUISA. In his words, “The IPI system can be likened to the Bible of the international copyright structure by which every important copyright owner in music is identified around the world. Once again, I am proud to announce that not less than 1500 COSON members have now been listed in the IPI system and the listing continues.”

He explained that the listing in the IPI database and the assignment of special international numbers to each of them has made the tracking of the use of these members’ works and the compensation for the use of works belonging to such members in any part of the world much easier.

On the challenges posed by the digital exploitation of music, Chief Okoroji assured members that COSON is taking a number of initiatives to ensure that reasonable revenue continues to accrue to investors in music in Nigeria.

In his response, the National President, Music Producers & Marketers Association of Nigeria (MUPMAN), Engr. Sharon Wilson, said, “I want to appreciate the COSON Board for the way they handled the crisis with the broadcast industry. I am pleased with every step the Board has taken so far especially the number of reciprocal agreements the society has entered into with other collecting societies around the world.

This is one of the best things to happen to the music industry in Nigeria..”

Tiwa Savage’s hubby celebrates 7-year old daughter

I’m single, not searching - Davido N

igerian American recording artist David Adedeji Adeleke, better known as Davido, has declared that he is not interested in any woman for now. He said he is focusing on music and will not want to mix his career with he bared his mind in a recent interview vwith the media, especially as the speculation was rife that his monster hit song Aye was being rumoured to be his gift to a heartthrob.

He pointedly said, “Right now, I am focusing on my music. I don't want to mix my career with women now. They are two different things that you must handle separately and carefully. I am single and I am not even searching. I don't know about dedicating the song to anybody because it was just a song.

Never said that nor implied that. What I am just saying is that I am concentrating on my music for now, but then I'm not ruling out women absolutely. I am just waiting for the right time when I will be able to create enough time for that special one. For now, I am dedicating all my time to music and I want to push it to a very meaningful level with the help of God and the support of my record label.”

About the girl in the video, he denied dating her. His words: “That girl is my friend. We were not supposed to use her in the video in the first place. What happened was that I wanted to feature the winner of the most beautiful girl beauty

Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Jamaica, Brazil, Finland, China, Australia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Cuba, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Spain, Argentina, etc., etc. In other words, COSON now represents practically the entire world music in Nigeria and by these agreements the music of COSON members is now administered across the world by our

27

S

Davido

pageant in Nigeria in the video, but her manager called few hours to production to say she would not be available for the shoot.” to buttress his point, he said, “The girl in that video is my friend. She is my make-up artist. I decided to use her because the beauty queen we were supposed to feature was not available. In her absence was the presence of my make up specialist and we tried her for the slot and she did very well in the video. I am neither dating her nor any other girl as I speak with you. Please, disregard any rumour linking me with any girl right now. If the girl in the video is my girl friend, I won't denounce her.”

pouse and Manager to Tiwa Savage, Tunji Balogun popularly known as TeeBillz, celebrated the birthday of his seven years old daughter recently.

Teebillz daughter, who is a biological product from his first marriage, had her birthday celebrated with some emotional words from her dad.

TeeBliz stated thus: “Happy Birthday…dearest…Seven years ago when I held you, I looked into your eyes and my life forever changed. I held you close and all I saw was me being reborn. The greatest feeling ever was what I felt looking into your eyes; I knew you are a treasure from above. Can't really describe the warm memories, the pride and gratitude that came upon me that day”.

Tunji further stated in a letter to his daughter on her birthday., “Kissing you for the first time, my heart got melt...I remember changing your diaper with joy, when you started crawling, your first set of teeth, the first time I saw you walking, it looked as if the nature was dancing. The First time you called me TJ my heart went gaga! It was a pleasure to see you in school uniform walking into your class. You were my comedian that kept me laughing with so much joy regardless of how bad business was at the time. You brought abundant blessings into my life. I love admiring you when you are sleeping.

“I was always saying my daughter is the cutest thing in the world, so beautiful. Your mum had to correct me that I couldn't use sexy for a baby… So I adapted Pretty. Now that my baby is growing and influences are strong, I hope you remember the right from the wrong.

Always say your prayers, my soul will always protect you from evil. Keep your manners, morals and sense of respect but must stand tall and proud, within you feel no fear, for all you dreams and goals sit before you very near, with God's love in your heart and the world by its tail, you will always be a winner.

“Listen and obey your Mum. I thank your soul to choose me as your Father. I promise I will help you reach your destination. I want you to know life is not fair and no one knows what or where life will take one tomorrow but I want you to know I and your mum love you unconditionally. I thank God for giving the best mother for you to us… Happy Birthday My BeBe, Have a Blessed Birthday!!!

Tiwa and Teebliz

28 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Friday, May 23, 2014

Nollywood & African Film Critics' Awards for September

T

Mercy Johnson

he fourth annual AfricanNAFCA also known as Nollywood & African Film Critics' Aw a r d s has been fixed for Se ptember 13 at the legendary Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills USA. The event also known as The African Oscarspromises to be aired worldwide, just as over 500 million viewers across the world are expected to read about the glitz and glamour of NAFC Awards night.

The African Oscars are awarded to recognize outstanding individuals whose professional careers have been marked by extraordinary personal and professional accomplishments. It is designed to globally promote African Cinema and culture. They are awards of merit and are considered the

first African film and honorary awards to be held in Hollywood.

The awards, first presented in 2011 at the RTP Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham North Carolina, are overseen by the Nollywood Film Critics USA. The NAFCA Special Honors were presented for the first time in 2011 to President Nelson Mandela. Recipients of this award in subsequent years include President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia, President Jonathan E. Goodluck and President Ellen J. Sirleaf in that order. Presentations of the African Oscars and The NAFCA Special Honors are made yearly during the second weekend in September. The African Oscars NAFCA is designed to globally promote African Cinema and culture.

According to organizers, “The prestigious African NAFCA are awards of merit and are considered the highest Diaspora award. The NAFCA Special Honors are awarded to recognize outstanding individuals whose professional careers have been marked by extraordinary personal and professional accomplishments. Winners are awarded the NAFCA Trophies, officially the Award of Merit that is much better known by its nickname NAFCA. The awards, first presented in 2011 at the RTP Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham North Carolina, are overseen by the Nollywood Film Critics USA.

GOtv official at Port Harcourt GOCustomers' Forum

GOtv second GOCustomers' Forum in Port Harcourt G Otv Nigeria recently hosted its Port Harcourt subscribers to their second GOCustomer forum in the state. the interactive session was held at the Bougainvillea Hotels on Saturday, May 10. The forum was organised to appreciate GOtv residents in Port Harcourt as well as give GOtv a platform to receive firsthand feedback on its services.

In her welcome address, Public Relations Manager, GOtv in Nigeria, Efe Obiomah, said the GOCustomer Forum is an exclusive event dedicated to interact with GOtv subscribers and deliberate on ways to serve you better.

According to her, “This is our second forum, and we intend to have more foraThe in other cities to hear the needs late Amaka Igwe of our subscribers. We thank you for your patronage and look forward to re-

ceiving your valuable feedback during today’s deliberations”.

The event had kicked-off with a presentation to update GOtv subscribers with new content offerings and self-service options. Thereafter, it dovetailed into a panel discussion on the digital migration by members of the GOtv team. The session was also used to inform subscribers about the enormous benefits of digital migration and how it will change broadcasting for the better in Nigeria.

GOtv further stressed that its subscribers will enjoy all the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches on SuperSport Select in great picture and sound quality.

The forum offered the GOtv subscribers the opportunity to ask questions with some on-the-spot query resolutions. Among the requests from the

subscribers was the extension of the GOtv service to more cities bordering Port Harcourt.

In his testimonial, a GOtv subscriber, Mr Kelechi Nnah said he loves GOtv for its affordability and very clear pictures. Another subscriber Mr Peter Aveyina said GOtv should be applauded for its uninterrupted transmission during rainfall.

A relatively new subscriber in Port Harcourt, Mr Harrison Oliseh who purchased his GOtv decoder in March 2014 described it as very easy to install.

He also commended GOtv for the children’s channels.

Joseph Simon a music lover said he was lured to GOtv because of the wide variety of music channels, citing MTV Base and Hip TV as his favourites. He also described the GOtenna (outdoor antenna) as very effective. In his words, “I did not have to raise my outdoor antenna very high to receive signals. I would recommend GOtv to my friends and as a matter of fact, I intend to buy GOtv for my father”.

Filmmakers dare FG CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

doesn’t want them released to the general public, because of the situation of the country today. If you downgrade that board into clerks of a department, will they have the power to play the role as they are doing today?

Is that not a reason for the states to own censors board and compliment NFVCB? That takes us to the second stanza of this discuss. That will be courting disaster because there are In Lagos alone, there are over 6,000 films in the market that are uncensored; and over 200,000 on air through a particular cable network. When the government allows thousands of films to flood the market how does the industry survive.

These foreigners come with far cheaper films because of their economy it is even cheaper for the television stations. We are talking about the damage that has affected the industry, they are coming in with more contents. From a very reliable source, there are plans to destroy Nollywood that is why they have come with all manner of films for their contents. As it now very few people are making films and nobody is buying money, while they are smiling to the banks. Because their government protects their interests at all times.

What is the implication of all these to our econmy?

If not for the ingenuity of the likes of Clarence Peters and a few others, majority of Nigerian musicians where making their musical videos in South Africa, thereby growing the economy. Because that is capital flight that their government has encouraged with needed infrastructures that makes it easier for industry stakeholders.

As the chairman of the board of trustees of both the producers and directors, which is the most technical part of the industry, I am on behalf of the stakeholders, saying it loud and clear, that: ‘Enough is enough’ all foreigners in movie business in Nigeria, must begin to invest in production here or stop importation of foreign films here. And the Nigerian films they show most times seven times a week, how much are they paying the artiste?

I saw late Justus Esiri playing a king in one movie yesterday, how much are they going to pay his widow as royalty. There is another one I watched before this interview with Clarion Chukwurah, Genevieve, Patience Ozorkwo and Franka Brown. Are they being paid, no!

It so painful, like the President noted recently, ‘That Nollywood is not in the budget, yet they contributed to the country’s GDP,’ In employment and investments.

Finally, with barely two months to your 50 years on stage, how are preparations?

Please kindly tell governors Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Emmanuel Uduaghan, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Lagos, Delta and Edo States respectively that, the Eddifosa Film Institute at Badagry, Lagos is ready. And another good news is that with the help of Delta Publishing, Uduaghan, is giving out a portion of land to Nigerian-American investors to build a film village in the oil-rich state.

As it is, Uduaghan is poised to move Nollywood to Delta State, and the Americans are waiting to move in to see for themselves the location that the governor has in mind. Like you know, a proper film village is overdue for this country. The film village they have in mind is one that will have cinemas, golf course, cinema and four-stage enhanced editing suites. That means four cast will be shooting in the village at same time without having to see each other.

Once you are there to shoot, you only come out with a complete work. With a production outfit in place, sales won’t pose any problem. That actually will make my 50 years of movie making celebration.

President Jonathan

Entertainment

Friday, May 23, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

T

MAY 23 – 29 HIGHLIGHTS

GOtv

This weekend we’re celebrating successful women in music.

We kick off the weekend with a Mixology – Girls on Top Special at 3:00pm on 16 May, featuring one of SA’s top House DJs. Saturday 17 May sees the premiere of MTV Essentials: Beyoncé vs Rihanna at 9:00am, as MTV Base puts the spotlight on the most influential women in music. We then take a trip down memory lane, counting down the favourite fans hits of Nicki Minaj at 4:00pm on Saturday 17 May. Closing off our day dedicated to the successful women in music, we have Iggy Azalea’s Hip Hop Hustle special at 9:00pm

une in to GOtv this week for an adventure-packed line-up of movies, reality shows, kiddies entertainment, best of local and international music plus documentaries for the whole family. Here is some of what you can look forward to this week: AFRICA MAGIC (Channel 1) • DADS CAN COOK Dads Can Cook is a Kenyan TV show that takes successful industry leaders out of their busy work lives and into the kitchen to cook their favourite recipes. On Tuesdays at 5pm • PREM The series brings forth the struggles young people from various racial and financial backgrounds go through in their day-to-day lives. The story begins at the point where the couples have to decide whether they will stay together or not.

Eddie consults his trusted friend, Kip for advice. He must choose between Leila and Angie, his childhood love. Leila is also split between two choices, to obey her family or follow her heart. On Thursdays at 19:00 CAT with repeats the following day at 13;00 CAT. M-Net MOVIES ZONE (Channel 2) - GOtv PLUS ONLY • BAD PARENTS A suburban mom signs her seven-year-old daughter up for club soccer. She soon finds herself becoming over-competitive and just as soccer obsessed as the parents around her. Saturday 24 May at 19:30 CAT. SONY ENTERTAINMENT (CHANNEL 20) – GOtv PLUS ONLY • GIRLFRIENDS (SEASON 1) This highly acclaimed and multi-awarded comedy series draws us into the lives, loves and losses of four women from very different walks of life, who navigate relationships, family, friends, careers and other universal issues with wit and insight. Strong performances and refreshing, authentic scripting make this series a rare comedy gem. Winner of several BET Comedy Awards and Image Awards, and nominated for a Primetime Emmy Awards.

Thursdays, 5:35pm.

DSTV

Tune in to Mr Young on Disney XD on DStv.

the event – from the fabulous to the forgettable. Tune in on Saturday 24 may at 8pm • GIULIANA AND BILL Tune in this month as one of America’s favourite celebrity couples, Giuliana and Bill Rancic, try to maintain their highprofile careers while keeping things simple at home as they adjust to life with a new baby.

This month, Giuliana takes time out of her busy schedule to plan a surprise party for Mama DePandi’s 70th birthday, while Bill tries to help manage Duke’s travel troubles. Later, the Rancics are excited to take their first family vacation with Duke, but soon discover that it promises to be a very different sort of trip. Watch it on Sundays at 7pm.

DISCOVERY WORLD (Channel 50) • THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS The series reveals the extraordinary behind-the-scenes history of the White House Chiefs of Staff. Called the world's second toughest job and also the world's worst - the White House Chiefs of Staff translate the Presidents' policies into reality - or disaster.

They are the inside eyewitnesses to history, and the confidants

with whom the President, and the First Lady, share their secrets. Spanning nine administrations, discover which White House Chief of Staff Dick Cheney blamed for bringing on his first heart attack. And why was Rahm Emanuel so apprehensive about taking the job?

Also, which 25-year-old Chief of Staff was put in charge of reviewing J. Edgar Hoover's infamous FBI files before forwarding them to the President?

In this four-part special, The President's Gatekeepers provides a look at the world of the closest confidant the President has. Tuesdays at 8pm.

• AFRICA DAY Join DStv’s Discovery World this May for a series of programmes celebrating all things Africa. Some of the highlights include, Long Way Down, where Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman journey to the tip of South Africa. The Sahara Challenge follows a team of adventurers attempting three world records, including crossing the Sahara Desert using wind power. Discovery Atlas will surprise viewers with an amazing look at Africa’s cultural diversity. And in Marley Africa Road Trip, follow the reggae legend’s

SONY MAX (Channel 21) BET (Channel 22) • The Wendy Williams Show.

New York DJ, syndicated radio host, TV personality and best-selling author Wendy Williams discusses celebrities’ gossip and news events. Catch her on weekdays @ 9pm on BET. • E! ENTERTAINMENT (Channel 25) FASHION POLICE: 2014 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS As the stars gather for the year’s Billboard Music Awards, sit back and discover who’s hot and who’s not this year! Featuring exclusive interviews, gossip and the latest scoop on the top looks from the red carpet, there’s no better place to get your fill of all things trendy and stylish. Join the hilariously opinionated Joan Rivers, Giuliana Rancic, George Kotsiopoulos and Kelly Osbourne as they review the fashion featured at

29

sons as they return to Africa 30 years after his landmark concert. From Sunday 25 May from 5::00am.

CHANNEL O (Channel 70) • VOLT Davido: He is the co-owner of HKN Music, a record label home to Sina Rambo, signing multiple endorsement deals with the biggest corporate companies and supporting it with some of Africa’s biggest hits and featuring songs with Africa’s biggest artists. A young entertainer and business man heading for greatness. Don't miss Volt “DAVIDO”. Premieres on 15 May 8:00pm.

• VIDEO WARS It's an all-out video war and the frontline heroes need your support! In each round, four videos at a time are trying to win the battle for TV domination and you need to decide which one sees action next! Send your tweets and comment while watching the Action to make and be the difference!!!INTR-ODUCING on Monday to Thursday at 6:00pm.

MTV BASE (Channel 72) - GOtv Plus ONLY • GIRLS ON TOP WEEKEND

Africa Day airs on Discovery World on Sunday 25 May from 06:00 CAT Join DStv’s Discovery World this May for a series of programmes celebrating all things Africa. Some of the highlights include, Long Way Down, where Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman journey to the tip of South Africa. The Sahara Challenge follows a team of adventurers attempting three world records, including crossing the Sahara Desert using wind power. Discovery Atlas will surprise viewers with an amazing look at Africa’s cultural diversity. And in Marley Africa Road Trip, follow the reggae legend’s sons as they return to Africa 30 years after his landmark concert.

Genocide Baby will be on BBC Lifestyle on 25 May at 20:00 CAT At 16, Roger Nsengiyumva has already made a name for himself as the star of the football movie Africa United. But there's something else about Roger; he was born in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and only survived thanks to the raw courage of his mother.

She spent 100 days hiding her newborn baby from the murderous gangs, and then bravely escaped to Britain after seeing her husband, Roger's father, shot dead. This is the story of Roger's return to his homeland to discover the harrowing truths of his family history and to find out whether he can share his mother's remarkable willingness to forgive those who destroyed both their lives.

MTV Base Africa Day - African music specials all day on Sunday 25 May Join DStv in celebrating our heritage being proudly African.

With themed music blocks from your favourite pan-African artists, MTV Base will play hits and keep view dancing all day long.

Fashion Icon Betsey Johnson Stops By Wendy Williams Show.

Mr. Young on Disney XD from Monday 26 May at 17:25 CAT Adam Young was a child prodigy who went to university at the age of nine. Now, at fourteen, he’s a college graduate working as a high school science teacher – and he's younger than some of his pupils! May sees more premiere episodes of Mr Young, featuring this supersmart but not always streetwise genius.

30 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Friday, May 23, 2014

Coming Soon to the cinemas Movie Schedule: Friday 23 May Thursday, May 29 Galleria, VI

Etim, Adjetey Anang, Ecow Smith-Asante • Genre Drama • Running Time 120mins The movie is centered on a suspicious affair which ruins an almost perfect marriage as husband and wife take a wild goose chase into the world of sex, lies and betrayal, risking everything in one of the craziest love triangles ever.

Mama Africa (Rating: PG)

Godzilla (Movie Of The Week) Rating: PG Viewing Time - Friday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Monday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 1:50PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Featured Actors Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Andy Serkis • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 203mins The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

The Legend of Hercules (Movie Of The Week) Rating: PG Viewing Time - Friday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Monday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 1:50PM, 6:30PM • Featured Actors Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 100mins The origin story of the the mythical Greek hero. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom.

Devil in the Detail (Movie Of The Week) Rating: PG Viewing Time - Friday 3:00PM, 7:00PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Monday 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Thursday Binta Goudiaby 3:00PM, 7:00PM • Featured Actors Nse Ikpe-

Viewing Time - Friday 4:55PM, 8:50PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Viewing Time - Monday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 4:55PM, 8:50PM • Featured Actors Zach Orji, Tonto Dikeh, Belinda Effah, JibolaDabo, Linus Nnochiri, Chigozie Atuanya, Frank Artus • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 105min Over 500 Children die of fake vaccine epidemic, the poor and needy locked up in a military detention camp without any hope of food or freedom, the rich and wealthy embezzling and celebrating until one man, Nathan steps into the picture giving up his life, family and freedom all in a bid to save his mother land.....Mama The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Rating :PG)

• Viewing Time - Monday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Featured Actors Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 142 mins Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.

The Frozen Ground (Rating: R) Viewing Time - Friday 7:00PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Monday 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 7:00PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 7:00PM • Featured Actors Nicolas Cage, Vanessa Hudgens, John Cusack, Dean Norris • Genre Drama • Running Time 105min An Alaska State Trooper partners with a young woman who escaped the clutches of serial killer Robert Hansen to bring the murderer to justice. Based on actual events.

The Other Woman (Rating:R) Viewing Time - Friday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Monday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 12:55PM, 4:55PM • Featured Actors Cameron Diaz, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Upton, Leslie Mann • Genre Comedy • Running Time 109min After realizing she is not her boyfriend's primary lover, a woman teams up with his wife and plots mutual revenge.

Non-Stop (Rating: PG)

Viewing Time - Friday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 12:30PM, 3:10PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM

Viewing Time - Friday 11:45AM, 9:05PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Viewing Time - Monday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 11:45AM, 9:05PM • Featured Actors Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 106min An air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account.

• Running Time 128min Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Rating: PG)

RIO 2 (Rated-G)

Viewing Time - Friday 11:00AM, 2:55PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Viewing Time - Monday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 11:00AM, 2:55PM • Featured Actors Rodrigo Santoro, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Jesse Eisenberg • Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 101 min It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they're hurtled Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon.

As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Rating:PG) Viewing Time - Friday 3:55PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 3:55PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 3:55PM • Viewing Time - Monday 3:55PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 3:55PM • Viewing Time Wednesday 3:55PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 3:55PM • Featured Actors Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Cobie Smulders • Genre Action/Adventure

• Viewing Time - Friday 1:05PM o Viewing Time - Saturday 1:05PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 1:05PM • Viewing Time - Monday 1:05PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 1:05PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 1:05PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 1:05PM • Featured Actors Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert.

• Genre Comedy • Running Time 92mins The Lego Movie (Rating: PG)

Viewing Time - Friday 11:10AM, o Viewing Time - Saturday 11:10AM, • Viewing Time - Sunday 11:10AM, • Viewing Time - Monday 11:10AM, • Viewing Time - Tuesday 11:10AM, • Viewing Time - Wednesday 11:10AM, • Viewing Time - Thursday 11:10AM, • Featured Actors Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Berry, Alison Brie • Genre Comedy • Running Time 100 min An ordinary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together.

BUSINESS FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Market operators jittery over SEC penalties Operators in the Nigerian Capital Market are jittery, following increased surveillance on the activities in the market by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Helios Towers seeks $500m for Airtel

Telecommunications infrastructure company, Helios Towers Africa, is seeking about $500 million loan to make a bid for the forthcoming auction of the tower infrastructure owned by Bharti Airtel across Africa.

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Global meat production, consumption rising Global meat production and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research by Worldwatch Institute’s Nourishing the Planet project for Vital Signs Online.

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Contributory pension records N40bn monthly income flow The Head, Research and Corporate Strategy Department, National Pension Commission, (PenCom), Dr Farouk Aminu, said on Monday that the Contributory Pension Scheme had maintained an average growth of 25 per cent per annum in the last eight years as well as recording a monthly income flow of about N40 billion.

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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

CRISIS Government needs to fulfill its share of bargain with the investors Adeola Yusuf

T

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

‘ABIA WILL REMAIN PACESETTER IN AGRIC’ }p-36

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Power: New investors lose N1b in six months

at the end of five years.”

West Power and Gas, it was also gathered, inherited 35 per cent ATC & C loss in Eko Disco and is expected to reduce it to 12.76 per cent, while Interstate Electric met a loss level of 35 per cent at Enugu disco and is expected to reduce it to 6.70 per

cent within the five-year period.

“Aura Energy that acquired Jos Disco will reduce the 40 per cent loss level to 18.09 per cent, while Sahelian will reduce the 40 per cent loss level of Kano disco to 13.02 per cent,” the data showed.

A source at the Nigerian Elec-

tricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) told New Telegraph that the investors have held several meetings with the commission where they requested for a major review of electricity tariff to save their businesses from

he new investors in power assets have lost over N1 billion in six months as sustainability of post-privatisation reality worsened, New Telegraph has learnt.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 An assessment of the six months business activities of the new owners who took over the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets on Friday, November 1, 2013, showed that there is a back pedaling of returns on investments (ROI) by the investors, which may dash the hope of short-term stability in power sector by Nigerians.

“The average technical, commercial and collection (ATC & C) losses by these businessmen have been remarkably higher than the original assumptions,” the source said. “The ATC & C losses have been found to be remarkably higher than the initial projections and the electricity tariffs are not being adjusted regularly to ensure that the new owners of the distribution companies meet their busi- L-R: Ogun State Director-General of Lands, Mr. Olawale Oshinowo; Regional Business Executive, South West 2, Sterling ness plans as submitted to the Bank Plc, Rasak Aboyeji, and Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, at the Investment Forun Bureau of Public Enterprises organised by Ogun State government.

(BPE),” the source stressed.

Figures obtained from the BPE by this newspaper showed that the ATC & C loss inherited

by Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited is expected to reduce the 35 per cent opening loss in Ibadan Disco to 12.71 per cent; while NEDC will reduce the 35 per cent loss in Ikeja disco to 9.99 ans that the insurance cover such details were not meant PROTECTION per cent level. for members of the Super Ea- for public consumption. He According to the source, gles bound for the competition said that the ultimate thing is Nigerian players to the “Four Power Consortium will has been fully taken care of. for the players to be insured.

World Cup in Brazil get reduce the 40 per cent openDisclosing this to New Tele“We have insurance cover ing loss level in Port Harcourt graph on Tuesday, the Secrefor our national team and full insurance cover in the disco to 14.90 per cent; while tary-General, NFF, Mr. Musa nobody will die there during event of adversity Integrated Energy will target Amedu, said although nobody the tournament. Nobody will 43.35 per cent loss reduction was praying for any form of get injured in Brazil. We have from Yola disco. Vigeo Holdings injury that would lead to per- insurance for all our national was deemed to have inherited manent disability or death, the players who are going for any Federation has, however, tied form of competition,” he said.

40 per cent in Benin Disco and Sunday Ojeme all the necessary ends as far as He also pointed out that is projected to reduce it to 12.19 arely one month into the insurance cover for the players NFF was up to any task as far per cent at the end of five years. opening match at the was concerned. as Brazil 2014 and any other “Kann Consortium that acFIFA World Cup comAmedu, who would neither tournament is concerned, quired Abuja Electricity Dispetition in Brazil, the disclose the amount involved adding that none of the playtribution Company met 35 per cent loss level and is expected to Nigerian Football Federation nor the insurance company CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 reduce the loss to 12.78 per cent (NFF) has reassured Nigeri- handling the assignment, said

Brazil 2014: Super Eagles insurance cover intact –NFF

B

ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

Rates Dashboard

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

INFLATION RATE April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8% Feburary 2014 ........................7.7%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at May 16)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N167.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N286 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N231 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.54bn as at 14/5/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at May 16)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N261.31 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N216.69 Source: CBN

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BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Market operators jittery over SEC penalties REGULATION SEC imposes more penalties to raise funds

Chris Ugwu

O

perators in the Nigerian Capital Market are jittery, following increased surveillance on the activities in the market by the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC).

The commission has raised the bar to strengthen its monitoring capacity in order to address issues arising from various market infractions.

SEC’s Director General, Ms Arunma Oteh, had said that the commission would do any-

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Co-operatives, Ogun State, Mrs. Yemi Olanrewaju; Area Sales Manager, Consolidated Breweries Plc, Mr. Ayoola Sodipo; and Commissioner, Ministry of Community Development and Co-operatives, Ogun State, Chief Samuel Duro Aiyedogbon, during the presentation of The Most Community Friendly Co-operative Organisation of the Year Award to Consolidated Breweries, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Helios Towers seeks $500m for Airtel towers sale Jonah Iboma

T

elecommunications infrastructure company, Helios Towers Africa, is seeking about $500 million loan to make a bid for the forthcoming auction of the tower infrastructure owned by Bharti Airtel across Africa.

The move by Helios follows plans by Bharti Airtel to sell its towers in several countries where it operates in order to raise over $2 billion for the Indian telecoms group.

According to report by Financial Times, the auction of telecoms towers will be the largest ever in the region and Helios wants to participate to get a foothold.

Providence Equity Partners, a US buyout group that specialises in telecoms and media investments, is in talks to be one of the investors participating in the fundraising, committing

several hundreds of millions of dollars. The report said that a deal could be signed in the next few weeks.

The planned sale has been broken up into several smaller transactions of about $500 million, which see competition from by Helios Towers Africa, and rivals IHS and Eaton Towers. America Tower, the US infrastructure group, is also expected to be interested in parts of the portfolio.

However, the towers in Nigeria are likely to attract most interest primarily due to the size of the market and the fact that there is still ample room for growth. The sale includes a number of African countries in which Bharti operates. Bharti acquired Zain’s operations in 15 African countries, including Kenya and Ghana, in 2010.

Ahead of the sale, the telecoms network groups has been raising capital, with IHS re-

cently raising additional funds from backers including Goldman Sachs.

Helios Towers Africa is already backed by funds managed

by George Soros, Madeleine Albright, Jacob Rothschild and Africa-focused buyout house, Helios Investment Partners.

The company, based in London, could also consider raising money through a public listing.

In addition to Bharti, telecoms executives also expect a sale this year of about 8,000 towers by MTN in Africa that could be valued at more than $1billion.

Etisalat, Bharti and MTN are among a number of operators looking at selling telecoms infrastructure in Africa, which is costly to run given the need to cover vast and sometimes thinly populated areas. Such remote towers need to be serviced regularly and use large quantities of diesel, which raises costs.

Power: New investors lose N1b in six months CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

collapse.

An investor who craved anonymity based on the sensitive nature of the issue, described as erroneous, the business plans submitted by the new investors that acquired the 11 distribution companies unbundled from the defunct PHCN based on certain set of assumptions.

He told this newspaper that one of the cardinal assumptions before the takeover was that the actual ATC & C losses at the takeover of the power assets were equal to the ones officially

announced by the BPE. He added that the assumption also had it that six months after the takeover, the ATC & C losses have been found to be remarkably higher than the initial projections, while there are no strong indications that electricity tariffs would be adjusted

by NERC to compensate for the revenue collection gap arising from the previous periods. “Discos are not able to meet the ATC & C loss reduction plans and actual losses are higher than expected. Therefore, they need to invest more to recover the losses. The discos also receive less

revenue due to higher losses; less electricity and non-adjusted tariffs,” he said.

The actual situation, according to him, is bigger than what can be handled within the limits of the official assumptions given during the privatisation exercise, noting that both the generation and distribution companies are facing deviations between their projected business plans.

He expressed pessimism over NERC’s regulatory solutions proposed so far for the situation, arguing that these are very far from solving the problems.

thing to compel operators in the market to obey the rules guiding it. This, according to her, informed the decision to tighten the noose on market infractions and other miscellaneous capital market crimes.

However, checks by New Telegraph showed that the stepping up of surveillance with stiffer penalties on quoted companies and stockbroking firms might not also be unconnected with paucity of funds due to zero allocation from the National Assembly.

The commission has been forced to rely exclusively on revenues from market operations to finance its activities following the refusal of the National Assembly to give it any allocation in the 2013 and 2014 budget unless the Director-General, Ms Oteh, was removed.

This lack of funding has caused the SEC to become more creative financially to raise revenue internally through daily statutory charges for purchase and sale of shares for which 0.3 per cent of consideration goes to SEC. A market operator told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the commission imposed all sorts of penalties to raise funds to keep the organisation going because it is cash-strapped.

“It is two years now since they are facing this zero allocation. Operators’ position is that they should close ranks with the National Assembly

and resolve this matter because what they are doing now is an ambush regulation,” he said.

He called for quick resolution of the impasse between the lawmaker and the Presidency in the interest of the capital market and the economy.

The Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) said that zeroallocation to the SEC in the 2014 budget could stall capital market development.

ASHON President, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, said that the commission might not carry out any capital-intensive project this year due to the zero allocation.

Madubuike said that all the capital market development initiatives aimed at restoring investor-confidence would be affected by lack of funds.

According to him, the capital market committee programmes aimed at taking the market to the next level have remained unrealised due to budget limitations.

He called for quick resolution of the lingering impasse in the interest of the market.

“The problem should be resolved by the executive as soon as possible to avoid taking the market back and front,” he said.

The ASHON boss, who said that he could not explain how the commission survived in 2013, added that zero budgetary allocation was a threat to capital market regulation.

Brazil 2014: Super Eagles insurance cover intact –NFF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

ers would die or get injured during the outing.

“When a team is going for a tournament for Nigeria, they are covered. I can’t reveal to you the name of the insurance company covering them. The cover applies to only those going for the competition. Anybody who has been dropped does not qualify for the cover.

I have told you all you need to know and nobody is going to die or get injured in Jesus name,” he added.

Our correspondent recalls that IGI had been a staunch supporter of the Super Eagles over the years by providing official insurance cover for team in any tournament.

During the 2010 World Cup outing in South Africa, IGI insured the Nigeria Football Supporters Club for N100 million to enable 200 supporters attend the competition.

Amedu said that the 200 supporters had been insured against permanent disability or death during the trip.

In a chat with this newspaper, a source at IGI, the underwriting firm, however, said in-

surance coverage for the Super Eagles to Brazil did not feature in the company’s budget this year.

Meanwhile, on the tournament generally, FIFA has agreed to extend its insurance for clubs in the event of an injury to a Brazil 2014 World Cup player if they are called up to train for squads before the deadline.

Originally, the scheme, called the FIFA Club Protection Programme, was expected to start on 26 May, but in recognition that some teams, such as the USA, have already started squad training, FIFA has agreed to cover any injured player before this date.

The insurance, paid annually by FIFA, is aimed to cover club salaries of players injured when with their national teams. The cover has a maximum annual payout of $9.7million per injured player and payouts depend on the size of individual contracts.

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, introduced the “total insurance coverage” in 2012 following complaints from Bayern Munich after the 2010 World Cup when Arjen Robben was injured for six months.

Agric

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

BUSINESS 33

Hard Facts

The smallholder farmer

Little or no commercial financing is available to those aspiring to build businesses that could enhance food production and enable farmers earn sustainable profit.

Stories by Siaka Momoh

T

he United Nations Human Poverty Index in 1999 scored Nigeria 41.6 per cent, effectively situating it among the 25 poorest nations in the world.

The bulk of the people trapped in the poverty web dwell in rural areas, which holds about 80 per cent of the nation’s population. Their primary occupation is agriculture. Nigeria earns over 80 per cent of her revenue from the petroleum industry, according to several reports, but the sector actually accounts for less than 14 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), whereas agriculture commands an impressive 41.8 per cent of GDP and generates two-thirds of employment nationwide.

World Economic Forum 2014 This year’s World Economic Forum held recently in Abuja paid good attention to the need to support agriculture. The theme of the forum was ‘Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs.’

Nigeria and other African countries on the last day of the three-day event received commitment from various foreign investors for fresh investments totalling about $68 billion (N11.22 trillion). Managing Director, WEF for Africa, Phillip Rosler, said during the closing plenary of the meeting that the investment commitment was secured in various sectors of the African economy. He said that the money would be invested in key sectors of the African economies, including education, health, infrastructure and agriculture.

Funding Nigeria’s smallholder farmers Dangote Group also promised to create 180,000 new jobs in Nigeria and support fight against malnutrition, poverty and agricultural losses with $50 million. Said president of the Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote: “We want to create 180,000 new jobs in Nigeria. This is the best recipe against terror.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development unveiled a major initiative to combat malnutrition in Africa at the WEF event. He said that the package “is drawing technical and financial support from global food and nutrition agencies, research institutions and donors which will see the injection of $50 million by Nigeria’s leading industrial and agricultural group, Dangote.”

Smallholder farmers Here then is the paradox: about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food requirement is produced by smallholder farmers who constitute the majority of the

nation’s poor. A myriad of factors are blamed for this ungainly condition, both natural and man-made. Key is lack of access to finance and the resultant inability to invest in basic farming inputs such as seedlings, fertilizers, implements and irrigation.

As a result, their yields have remained largely stagnant, leading to pervasive hunger and poverty.

Similarly, little or no commercial financing is available to those aspiring to build businesses that could enhance food production and enable farmers to earn sustainable profit.

The Central Bank of Nigeria It would be recalled that former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, speaking at the 4th African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association conference in Abuja on one occasion, put the state of the farming sector in perspective. His words: “Agriculture occupies a priority status in the national economy as the

sector serves as the key driver of growth, wealth creation and poverty reduction. It is the leading economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa as it contributes 20 to 30 per cent of its GDP. “However, the future of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is clouded in uncertainties that include increasing resource scarcity, heightened risks from climate change, higher energy prices, demand for bio-fuels and doubts about the speed of technical progress.

Continental level The situation is not different at the continental level. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated at the 16th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD-16) in 2008, that about 216 million people, translating to one out of every seven persons in Africa, are clasC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

Nigeria, Kenya to explore vast market opportunities in Africa

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he Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, and its Kenya counterpart are committed to exploring the vast market prospects in Africa to encourage trade and investment.

The two countries made the pledge during the visit of the CEO of Kenyan Export Promotion Council, Ruth Mwaniki, to the NEPC office in Abuja recently.

The NEPC Executive Director, Olusegun Awolowo, said countries in Africa have

not completely explored the prospects offered by the interAfrica-trade policy.

He said that the region could only achieve enviable economic development if the countries promote trade between them.

He urged Kenya and Nigeria to participate in exchange programmes that would boost business and economic development.

Said Awolowo: “The NEPC is principally established to offer help and assistance that

could boost enterprise. Both countries can therefore explore the available opportunities provided by the Inter-Africa-Trade policy. Kenya has comparative advantage in horticulture business just as Nigeria has in the film-making and oil exploration. We are also strong producers of cocoa, rubber, cassava, sesame seeds and endowed with so many natural resources yet to be explored. Therefore, the two countries could leverage on these opportunities to strengthen their economies.”

Wheat global price rose on speculation that a recent slide in prices will boost demand from importers and as growing areas in Russia face a heat wave in the next few days that may hurt yields. Temperatures are forecast to rise above 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in southeast Russia and Kazakhstan by the end of this week, data from World Ag Weather shows. Parts of the region received less than 20 percent of normal rainfall in the past three months.

Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator, Cocobod will this year go for about 1.8 billion dollars for its syndicated loan.

To produce a kilogramme of grainfed beef, it takes, on average, 10 kg of grain and 680 liters of water (only what the animal consumes).

In comparison, according to a study in California, 1 kg of tomatoes requires 190 liters of water, 1 kg of potatoes requires 198 liters of water, 1 kg of wheat requires 209 liters of water – but 1 kg of beef requires a whopping 43,500 liters of water (this takes into account the water needed to grow the feed along with the water needed to raise the animal).

Rice which uses more water than any other grain requires one tenth the water needed to produce meat.

In order to meet our demand for meat, millions of tons of grain are diverted to feed livestock. More than 1/3 of the world’s total grain harvest is fed to livestock.

Another requirement to raise livestock is land. An equivalent amount of land can feed six times more people eating a plant-based diet than people eating a meat-based diet.

A sixth year of global surplus may depress rubber prices through 2016 as maturing trees boost production and slowing growth reduces demand in China, the biggest consumer, according to an industry adviser.

Supply of rubber will outpace demand by 316,000 metric tons in 2016, compared with 483,000 tons in 2015, according to the Londonbased The Rubber Economist.

The First Quarter (Q1) results of the Petrol Price Monitoring Polls conducted by NOIPolls Limited revealed a significant 47-point increase in the proportion of Nigerians who bought petrol above the official pump price from January (31per cent) to March 2014 (78 per cent).

Data provided by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the period 1981 - 2010 shows structural rigidity to Nigeria’s external trade. In 1981, crude oil accounted for 96.89 per cent of the country's exports. All through the 30year period, there was no noticeable change in the trade pattern; oil export stood at between 95 per cent and 98 per cent of total export merchandise.

A 2004 data shows that roughly 60 per cent of non-oil exports from Nigeria consisted of cocoa and rubber - primary products as well.

In this period, the country’s very narrow export goods base invariably meant that Nige¬ria was trading with very few countries. Indeed, the United States received about 50 per cent of Nigeria's oil export. A handful of developing econo¬mies, mainly China and Bra¬zil also received Nigerian oil export. Nigeria's imports are mainly in finished products.

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BUSINESS | AGRIC

ENTERPRISE Raw material for the business available throughout the year.

Don Abraham

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ny food processing business, especially one that will export its finished products to earn foreign exchange, is the toast any day of any visionary investor. To underscore the full import of this statement, we will explore and develop here the potentials of one of such businesses as a viable investment window. In doing so, we will highlight the untapped, lucrative investment opportunity in locally establishing a factory to process and export the finished products of the seafood catches from our seashore made by trawlers as the raw material input. Nigeria is endowed with a very extensive coastline that is bristling with very many species of fish and other sea animals that can be processed and sold in the international market to earn foreign exchange.

Seafood market: There is a large export market yearning for headless/peeled and un-deveined/peeled and deveined pink/brown shrimps, frog legs and lobsters, among others, especially in Japan, Spain, Belgium and other European Union countries. Here, demand for these products by far outstrips supply.

Out of the 300 MT of raw materials that will be processed per annum, the net exportable shrimps meat will be 172 MT of HLB, 67 MT of PUD/ PD and 15 MT of non-exportworthy meat. The last one will be sold in the local market. The investor can also export frog legs and even chicken legs to earn foreign exchange. He can also process on contract basis for customers who bring in their raw materials for the purpose in order to generate further income for the venture.

C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 3 3

sified as undernourished. This is the condition of people whose dietary energy consumption is continuously below a minimum requirement for maintaining a healthy life and carrying out light physical activity.

Funding agric in Africa Juxtapose this situation with the billions of tax payers’ money allocated to agriculture every year and the fact that most Africans depend on agriculture for livelihood. Yet again you need to pause to ask just how much funding agriculture gets in Africa, whether it is from public allocations, Direct Foreign Investment (DFI), private investments or as assistance from multilateral organisations. The answer surprisingly is, too little. Nigeria’s, for instance, hovers around two per cent, a far cry from the MDG’s recommended 10 per cent.

Even though 75 per cent

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Processing seafood for export To export sea foods, and indeed any products profitably and successfully, one needs to have at his fingertips all it takes to get into export market trade, how to finance it from the various financial institutions, the necessary good quality measures needed, the names and addresses of honest, reliable and genuine buyers, dependable local sources of good quality products, how to source a confirmed order that is backed up with genuine payment, how to repatriate and use his export proceeds. Any serious and interested investor can pick up from this writer for the asking, a copy of “Understanding Export Trade and Finance.”

Raw and packaging materials: The major raw materials for the factory are pink/brown shrimps, fish fillets, lobsters, white shrimps, others could be added; there is no limiting the input to the ones I have listed here. Bleaching powder will also be used during processing.

They are all available in the country throughout the year and require relatively small working capital to process.

For packaging, master cartons, polythene paper, packing straps and clips will be needed for the duplex packets of the finished products that will be exported. For those that are not export-worthy, poly-bags will be used.

With adequate arrangement made with some trawling companies for steady supply, the raw materials will be available throughout the year. Going into trawling business is capitalintensive and will therefore be outside the scope of this business.

Equipment/accessories needed: Processing will be done manually in a standard processing hall. The following equipment and accessories will be needed. They are: (a) Arocessing tables, (b) About 40-50 MT capacity

Fish processing

cold room for freezing and storage (c) A 10-15 MT refrigerated/insulated motor vehicle, (d) Facilities to dispose of waste and waste water (e) A power station of adequate capacity (f) Weighing scales and trays, strapping machine(s) (g) Relevant office equipment, furniture and fittings.

Staff: The venture is primarily labour intensive and will employ a total of 45 staff.

This will cover all the relevant cadres of skilled and unskilled manpower to be made up of management and administrative, casual and permanent processing staff. All these are locally available and will not pose a problem to any interested investor.

Processing operations: Briefly, these start with the re-

ceipt of the purchased raw materials, sorting of these, washing, weighing, icing, grading, peeling/deveining, packing in trays, freezing, packing and strapping in master bags and storage awaiting export.

The factory will run for 25 days a month on a single shift of eight hours per day and produce a minimum of 25 MT per month of sea food using the catches from our seashore by trawlers as the major raw material input. This works out at 300 MT per annum. The finished products are going to be headless/peeled and undeveined/ peeled and deveined pink/ brown shrimps.

Viability: A detailed analysis of the project shows that it will generate 29.5 per cent return on sales and 202 per cent on total investment in the first year of commencing commer-

cial operation.

Conclusion: Seafood processing is a steady cash generator for the investor. Embarking on it will generate employment opportunities, technology acquisition, enhance the foreign exchange earning capacity of the raw materials by adding value to them before they are exported, salvage and convert to money much of the raw materials that will otherwise have resulted substantially in waste.

It has positive cash flow, good earnings potentials and is cash-based business. This project is therefore recommended to those who are interested in helping, for good profit, to alleviate the food crisis that is presently ravaging the world.

Don Abraham’s contact: Email: talk2dco@yahoo.com

Funding Nigeria’s smallholder farmers of Africa’s poor live in rural areas and are dependent on the agricultural sector, bilateral and multilateral aid to agriculture accounts for less than 4 per cent of total development assistance. This share declined from 5.2 per cent in 2000 to 3.4 per cent in 2006. The largest decrease has been in agricultural aid from bilateral donors, from 3.7 per cent of official development assistance (ODA) in 2000 to 2.5 per cent in 2006.

Local financing initiatives This situation has heightened the agitation for local financing initiatives. One local financing initiative likely to become a turning-point for the continent is the partnership between Africa’s biggest bank, Standard Bank Group and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a

dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. Standard Bank has teamed up with AGRA to create an innovative fund for Africa’s smallholder farmers.

AGRA and other partners AGRA and other partners are providing a guarantee fund, and in turn, Standard Bank made US$100 million available for lending over three years.

Chief Executive of the Standard Bank Group, Mr. Jacko Maree, stated that the large share of agriculture in Africa’s GDP suggests that strong growth in agriculture is necessary for overall economic growth. “There is a need and an opportunity for investment that will develop the middle

ground in Africa’s agriculture.

Africa has enormous natural potential and the continent has to unlock this potential in order to reap the benefits of its natural resources,” he stated.

As a leading emerging market’s bank, our goal is to perform a transformative role in the continent’s agricultural sector in partnership with other organisations. Transforming small scale farmers into medium-sized enterprises is essential to address food security and to stimulate economic growth,” Maree explained.

The initiative builds on Standard Bank’s funding models developed to finance smallscale farmers. These models also include risk mitigating tools such as price hedging instruments and crop insurance. The lack of usable collateral makes traditional lending products inappropriate.

Stanbic IBTC In Nigeria, a member of the Standard Bank Group, Stanbic IBTC, in acknowledging Nigeria’s huge agricultural resource base and the great potential it offers for growth of the economy, is increasingly priming itself to empower the Nigerian farmer.

Jacques Taylor, Head, Agriculture, Stanbic IBTC Bank, in an interview in Lagos, stated that this goal of empowering farmers would be achieved through bespoke schemes and initiatives currently being implemented by the institution.

The bank is also working with a number of government agencies and multilateral organisations to spearhead a true agricultural revolution in Nigeria, leveraging on the Standard Bank group experience and expertise in agricultural financing.

business | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

New analysis highlights importance of limiting industrial livestock production to improve personal and environmental health.

Siaka Momoh

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lobal meat production and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research by Worldwatch Institute’s Nourishing the Planet project for Vital Signs Online.

Worldwide meat production has tripled in the last four decades and increased 20 per cent in just the last 10 years. Meanwhile, industrial countries are consuming growing amounts of meat, nearly double the quantity than in developing countries.

“Much of the vigorous growth in meat production is due to the rise of industrial animal agriculture, or factory farming,” said Danielle Nierenberg, Worldwatch senior researcher and director of Nourishing the Planet. “Factory farms pollute the environment through the

Global meat production, consumption rising heavy use of inputs such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers for feed production.

Large-scale meat production also has serious implications for the world’s climate.

Animal waste releases methane and nitrous oxide, greenhouse gases which are 25 and 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, respectively. “The world’s supersised appetite for meat is among the biggest reasons greenhouse gas emissions are still growing rapidly,” said Worldwatch President, Robert Engelman. “Yet properly managed and scaled meat production, like the kind pursued by small-scale pastoralists on dry grasslands, could actually sequester carbon dioxide. It’s largely a matter of rethinking meat at both ends of the production-consumption trail.”

Dirty, crowded conditions on factory farms can propagate sickness and disease among the animals, including swine influenza (H1N1), avian influ-

enza (H5N1), foot-and-mouth disease, and mad-cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). These diseases not only translate into enormous economic losses each year (the United Kingdom alone spent 18 to 25 billion dollars in a threeyear period to combat foot-andmouth disease) but they also lead to human infections.

The bird flu outbreak hit the world as early as the first half of 2003, probably in China, according to health experts. The experts claim a combination of official cover-up and questionable farming practices allowed it to turn into the epidemic now under way.

Mass quantities of antibiotics are used on livestock to reduce the impact of disease, contributing to antibiotic resistance in animals and humans alike. Worldwide, 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in 2009 were used on livestock and poultry, compared to only 20 percent used for human illnesses. Anti-

Cattle

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cting General Manager, Montizen Limited, Silas Okuh, noted that soy and its derivatives deliver complete protein in one diet serving.

Okuh disclosed that: “A complete protein is one that contains significant amounts of all the essential amino acids that must be provided to the human body as if the body is unable to synthesise them.”

According to him, this is a major reason soy is regarded as good source of protein, amongst many others, for vegetarians and vegans or for people who want to reduce the amount of meat they eat.

“A serving of soy has the right intake of protein and other nutrients. The benefits are numerous, as anyone who eats more of the soy meal is likely to stay away from the hospital most of the time,”

35

biotics that are present in animal waste leach into the environment and contaminate water and food crops, posing a serious threat to public health.

The amount of meat in people’s diets has an impact on human health as well. Eaten in moderation, meat is a good source of protein and of important vitamins and nutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamins B3, B6, and B12. But a diet high in red and processed meats can lead to a host of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Eating organic, pastureraised livestock can alleviate chronic health problems and improve the environment.

Grass-fed beef contains less fat and more nutrients than its factory-farmed counterpart and reduces the risk of disease and exposure to toxic chemicals. Well-managed pasture systems can improve carbon sequestration, reducing the impact of livestock on the planet.

And the use of fewer energyintensive inputs conserves soil, reduces pollution and erosion, and preserves biodiversity.

“Pastoral farming systems, especially in developing countries, improve food security and sustain the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide,” said Nierenberg. “Eating less meat and supporting pastoralist communities at every level is essential to combat the destructive trend of factory farms.”

Pork is the most widely consumed meat in the world, followed by poultry, beef, and mutton. Poultry production is the fastest growing meat sector, increasing 4.7 per cent in 2010 to 98 million tons.

Worldwide, per capita meat consumption increased from 41.3 kilogrammes in 2009 to 41.9 kilogrammes in 2010.

People In the developing world

eat 32 kilogrammes of meat a year on average, compared to 80 kilogrammes per person in the industrial world. Of the 880 million rural poor people living on less than $1 per day, 70 percent are partially or completely dependent on livestock for their livelihoods and food security.

Demand for livestock products will nearly double in subSaharan Africa and South Asia, from 200 kilocalories per person per day in 2000 to some 400 kilocalories in 2050.

Raising livestock accounts for roughly 23 percent of all global water use in agriculture, equivalent to 1.15 liters of water per person per day. Livestock account for an estimated 18 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, producing 40 percent of the world’s methane and 65 percent of the world’s nitrous oxide.

Seventy-five percent of the antibiotics used on livestock are not absorbed by the animals and are excreted in waste, posing a serious risk to public health.

An estimated 11 percent of deaths in men and 16 per cent of deaths in women could be prevented if people decreased their red meat consumption to the level of the group that ate the least. Eating organic, pastureraised animals can be healthier and environmentally beneficial compared to industrial feedlot systems.

Worldwatch’s Nourishing the Planet project has traveled to 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, shining a spotlight on communities that serve as models for a more sustainable future. The project is unearthing innovations in agriculture that can help alleviate hunger and poverty while also protecting the environment. These innovations are elaborated in the recently released report State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet.

Soy, derivatives deliver complete protein Okuh said.

He said that soy contains other nutrients that act as support and balance needed for protein to be used properly.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, soy protein products can replace animal-based foods, which also have complete proteins but tend to contain more fat, especially saturated fat.

Business Development Manager, All Tech Nutrients Limited, Mr. Chimezie Obialor, also spoke in similar light about soy.

“Soy is one of food products that could be used to fight malnutrition in Nigeria. Although it delivers protein just like egg, it has added advantage as continuous consumption of eggs increases the cholesterol level

in humans,” Obialor said.

According to him, soy delivers up to 40 per cent of protein per meal as against 18-22 per cent from meats.

He further said that soy also has the advantage of being a good premix for corn flour, wheat flour for baking and other food sources as means of fortification with additional nutrients.

Meanwhile, All Tech, through a partnership with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), is embarking on a campaign for the consumption of soy products and their derivatives as a cheap and fast way of bridging the nutritional gap in the country.

Meanwhile, the experts have cautioned that before soy is consumed by humans,

it must be cooked with “wet” heat to destroy the trypsin, protein inhibitors (serine protease inhibitors). Raw soy-

Soy beans

beans, including the immature green form, are toxic to humans, swine, chickens, and all monogastric animals.

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

‘Abia will remain pace-setter in agric’ Chief Nwogwugwu Uzoma is the president of Abia State Farmers Cooperative union. In this interview with IKECHUkWU UCHEOMA, he speaks on the history of the union, benefits to farmers, the challenges and other issues.

Excerpts

vehicle to enable us travel the nooks and crannies of the state to visit our members and hold workshops for them.

Has the state government ever given your union any assistance?

Well, primarily we as farmers’ are private sector people, established to compliment the efforts of government of Abia State in agricultural activities and programmes. We act as the apex body for all the cooperative farmers’ societies as stipulated in the Nigerian Co-operative Societies Decree No 90 of 1993. We have not received any financial assistance from the state government. The aid we have gotten so far from this

When did your co-operative union come into being in Abia state?

The Abia State farmers’ cooperative union was established in 2012 by the Ministry of Rural Development, Co-operative and Poverty Reduction, Abia State, under the national cooperative union of Nigeria. It is an amalgamation of all the farmers’ cooperative societies in the state, all the primary societies registered with the ministry of cooperatives, both crops and non-crops farmers.

As the farming season peaks, what is your advice to farmers in Abia?

We encourage our members and non-members to work hard to ensure that there is food on the table of Abians and Nigerians. Our association is making frantic efforts to get relief materials from international donors to get agricultural inputs. So we are asking our members to work hard so that Abia State will continue to maintain the first position in the South-East in the agricultural sector and the third position in the whole federation. I therefore urge our farmers to continue to work hard so that we will continue to be ahead of the rest.

Uzoma

Agricultural Commodity Prices - Grains Commodity CBOT Corn CBOT Wheat CBOT Oats CBOT Rough Rice CBOT Soybeans CBOT Soybean Meal CBOT Soybean Oil ICE Canola

Softs

Commodity ICE Cocoa ICE Coffee “C” ICE Sugar #11 ICE Orange Juice Conc ICE Cotton #2 SFE Greasy Wool CME Lumber TOCOM Rubber CME Ethanol

Units USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USD/cwt USd/bu.

USD/st USd/lb.

CAD/mt

Price 474.25 673.00 336.00 15.22 1,475.00 489.50 40.04 488.10

Change +0.75 +2.50 +1.75 -0.08 +5.25 +2.80 -0.03 -1.30

% Change +0.16% +0.37% +0.52% -0.52% +0.36% +0.58% -0.07% -0.27%

Contract Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14

Units USD/mt USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb. cents/kg USD/tbf JPY/kg USD/gal.

Price 2,979.00 185.25 17.52 155.65 89.20 320.20 203.10 2.11

Change +11.00 -0.45 -0.06 -0.55 +0.20 -0.80 -0.30 -0.01

% Change +0.37% -0.24% -0.34% -0.35% +0.22% -% -0.25% -0.15% -0.66%

Contract Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jul 14 Jun 14 Jul 14 Oct 14 Jul 14

Time(ET) 05:57:55 05:59:27 01:38:02 05:52:35 06:00:42 06:00:42 06:00:41 05:47:02 Time(ET) 05:59:49 06:00:58 06:00:00 14:00:00 06:00:12 04:44:33 05:59:58 20:22:37

Livestock Commodity Units Price Change % Change Contract Time(ET) CME Live Cattle USd/lb.

140.13 +0.03 +0.02% Aug 14 05:26:08 CME Feeder Cattle USd/lb.

196.35 +0.43 +0.22% Aug 14 05:31:51 CME Lean Hogs USd/lb.

125.75 +0.58 +0.46% Jul 14 05:53:54 Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price.

Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

Cocobod to seek about $2 billion loan

overnor of the Bank of GWampah, Ghana (BoG), Dr Henry Kofi has said that the

country’s cocoa industry regulator, Cocobod, will this year go for about 1.8 billion dollars for its syndicated loan, according to Citifmonline.com.

Are fertilizers distributed free to your union?

We purchase fertilizers at subsidised rates. And even at that, the 200 bags sold to us are grossly inadequate compared to the large number of farmers in our union. We are currently in a dilemma on how to share it to our members because it is too small. We are calling on government to come to our aid because we always participate in all their activities.

Does your association have a relationship with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike?

Yes! Our agriculture adviser, Dr. Nwachukwu, is from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU). We are also making moves to see how the university can help us with the latest varieties of crops which our members need. We are also using Umudike as an affiliate body and Nwachukwu is helping us to secure a loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). We are also working with the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Global Efforts Markets Assets (GEMA) and several others.

What do members of the association stand to benefit?

There are lots of benefits, which a member will reap, but I will state just a few. For instance, we have a welfare scheme through which we help our members in distress. We also organise seminars and workshops, conferences and other agricultural programmes that will bring members to limelight and make food available in abundance and which also will encourage our members to float agric-related businesses. In all, we strive to ensure the general well-being of our members.

Is your organisation facing any challenge?

The major challenge we face in order to promote agriculture to the level we need in this state is funding.

Most of our farmers have been clamouring for financial assistance. We have been doing the best we can but the limited funds at our disposal are not in any way enough to assist us to meet our goals. Funding has been our major challenge since inception. We also do not have an official

state is from Her Excellency, the first lady, Mrs. Odochi Orji, who sometime ago distributed pro-vitamin A cassava stems to us. We are saying that even if we do not get money, let agricultural inputs be given to us so that we can upgrade our crops this farming season. I must also mention that we have been able to get government to approve about 200 bags of fertilizers for us.

This figure is higher than what the cocoa regulator went for last year. Last year Cocobod signed a $1.2 billion syndicated loan from international banks for the 2013/14 cocoa crop purchases as against $1.5 billion for 2012/13.

The credit facility between Co-

cobod and a consortium of international and local banks was led

by French lender Societe General. The Cocobod syndicated loan is used to purchase cocoa beans from farmers. Last year the offer for 1.2 billion dollars was oversubscribed by about 75 per cent.

African rock fig: Fruit with historical significance

W

orldwatch Institute, through its arm Nourishing the Planet has done extensive tour of Sub-Saharan Africa. Siaka Momoh had the priviledge of meeting with two of its researchers in Lagos at Lagos Sheraton. Bellow is one of the niche stories from its rich bank of agro-resource: Figs have been a food staple for centuries in the Middle East and Africa. For the ancient Egyptians, the fig was such an important food that as a defense, Egyptian armies would cut down the figs and vines of their enemies. Today, figs of the species Ficus carica are of global importance.

African Rock Fig branch, ripe with figs. (Photo Credit: Fig Web) Although never commercially cultivated, a less well-known wild fig, the African rock fig (Ficus glumosa) grows throughout much of tropical Africa where the fruit is consumed in rural areas. The African rock fig is a small tree, which can grow 5 to 10 meters tall in rocky or clay soil. If the tree’s roots reach fertile soil or a water source, its height can reach 24 meters.

The trees produce a fruit that is small, 10-14 mm in diameter, and often grow in pairs, clustered at the ends of branches among the leaves. Figs start off green and as they ripen turn to red, indicating that they are

ready to pick. Figs ripen during the months of January to June and are at their sweetest when ripe. In Senegal, the African rock fig is said to be the most flavorful of the wild figs.

Beyond its delicious, sweet fruit, the African rock fig provides a variety of other resources. The bark provides tannin for tanning hides and a red dye used for clothing. The bark also contains sticky white latex that has multiple uses— in Ghana it is used to trap crickets, in Uganda as chewing gum, and in the Republic of The Gambia, in West Africa, the Tenda people use the latex to affix arrowheads to shafts.

The wood can be used for firewood and charcoal. The young leaves of the fig tree are also edible and are often used as an ingredient for soups in Ghana.

Fig trees can provide a valuable wind break or natural fence because these trees can be grown on steep, rocky slopes with little water and in clay soils. As a natural fence, fig trees can not only provide shade and shelter, but they can also limit erosion and soil loss from strong winds.

The African rock fig’s medicinal value is widespread throughout Africa. The bark and fruit are used to treat sores, provide eye and dental care, and are even used in preparations to supposedly cure female sterility in Senegal.

Pension Why we took retirees’ workshop round the country –PenCom 37

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Some retirees in Lagos. Inset: Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu

SPREAD For the first time, most pensioners in the country had the opportunity to be part of a sensitisation workshop organised by the National Pension Commission Sunday Ojeme

A

bout two weeks after rounding off its sensitisation campaign across the country, the National Pension Commission has described the outcome as not only successful but one that has redefined potential retirees’ perception about the contributory pension scheme (CPS).

New Telegraph gathered from a source at the Commission that the workshop, which was brought to a close in Awka, Anambra State and Calabar, Cross River State, delivered on the purpose for which it was conceived by reaching out to a large number of retirees across the country.

According to the source, the Commission felt it would be too tasking for some of the retirees to make it to a single venue like Abuja or Lagos if the workshop had been conducted in one day.

It therefore chose to take the workshop to the six geo-political zones so as to reach as many retirees as possible.

The idea turned out a great success as the workshop provided another avenue for the director-general to inform the retirees why the CPS remains the best scheme for pensioners in the country.

The workshop, according to the Director-General, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo

Anohu-Amazu, was aimed at bridging the knowledge gap on retirement requirements among prospective retirees on preparations and documentation expected in line with the regulation on the administration of retirement and terminal benefits and guidelines on annuity.

It was to sensitise prospective retirees on the process and the benefits under the new pension scheme.

The director-general had promised that the workshop would be held in the six geo political zones of the country with the aim of repositioning the commission to serve retirees and potential retirees better.

She pointed out that the parley would enable the commission receive feedbacks on challenges currently facing beneficiaries of the scheme, adding that information gathered at the forum would help to guide the commission and would be used for future planning and operations.

For the period it lasted, the workshop train anchored first in Lagos, then Gombe, Kano, Awka and Calabar.

During the exercise which also served as a reminder to state governments that are yet to key into the programme to register their workers, the director-general recalled that one of the salient objectives of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004 was that every person who worked in either the public or private sector of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory received his retirement benefits as and when due, stressing that Section 15 of the PRA 2004 empowered the Commission to regulate, supervise and ensure effective administration of pension matters in Nigeria.

With the belief that there is a clear imperative for the Commission to facilitate adequate sensitisation and public

enlightenment in order to create awareness on retirees’ rights and privileges, the Commission had sought to establish uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits to retirees.

The interaction with retirees across the country served as a platform for the Commission to engage all existing retirees under the CPS in order to get feedback on their pension issues in retirement with a view to seeking ways of making life more comfortable for them within the ambit of the law.

Since its inception about nine years ago, the CPS has successfully restored confidence in the Nigerian workforce as far as the issue of retirement benefit is concerned.

The scheme, which began from the scratch following the failure of the noncontributory scheme that has seen retirees not being able to get their pensions while some die trying to be verified, now has over six million Nigerian workers registered under it just as the contributions have hit over four trillion naira as at the first quarter of 2014.

The success of the scheme is not only attracting more private sector opera-

The Commission felt it would be too tasking for some of the retirees to make it to a single venue like Abuja or Lagos if the workshop had been conducted in one day

tors to it, state governments have also realised that the best way to secure the future of their workers is by registering them under the scheme.

Among states that have so far register are Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Delta and Jigawa, among others.

According to the details, states in the South-West Zone have made reasonable progress in the implementation of the CPS. Lagos State is one of the pioneers in implementation of the CPS, having enacted its law in 2007. The state has fully implemented the CPS with a total of 45,730 employees registered and pension contributions remittance of N46.50 billion as at July, 2013.

It has also issued retirement benefit bonds of N18.9 billion to its retirees and these bonds have been fully redeemed and proceeds paid into the employees’ individual RSAs; while 2,242 employees from the state have retired under the scheme as at August, 2013.

Osun State adopted the CPS and enacted its law in 2009 with a significant progress made in its implementation.

Latest report on the scheme revealed that 45,106 employees have so far been registered with a remission of N4.15 billion as pension contributions, while the sum of N1.90 billion had been remitted into the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account.

In case of Ogun State, it enacted its law on CPS in 2007 and has so far registered 24,902 employees and remitted N10.90 billion as pension contributions, while three billion naira had been remitted into the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account.

Ekiti State enacted its law 2011 and CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38

BUSINESS |PENSION

Premium Pension pays N63.2bn to retirees

O

ne of the biggest Pension Fund Administrators in the country, Premium Pension Limited, has so far paid out close to N63 billion to retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Disclosing this during a workshop for retirees in the South-East, Managing Director of the PFA, Mr. Wilson Ideva, said the steady growth in the industry was manifesting positively at Premium Pension as the contributions under the company’s watch has risen to over N330 billion.

The retirees’ forum organised by the company was held in Owerri, Awka and Enugu.

He said: “We now have over N330 billion under our management. We have so far paid almost N63.2 billion as retirement benefits while 13,350 retirees receive pension every month.”

In a statement by the Head, Media/Communication, Mr. Paddy Ezeala, Ideva was quoted as saying that the interaction and collaboration between Premium Pension Limited and the retirees whose pension is managed by the company in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country, revealed pensioners who were looking very healthy, strong and employable.

He said: “The retirees we are seeing here in the SouthEast look strong and healthy and even employable. There is no better testimony to the success of the contributory pension scheme than the good looks and evident good life of the retirees under the scheme.”

He also disclosed that the return on investment by Premium Pension Limited has continued to be above 12 per cent, making it rise above inflation for the past three years.

“We salute the vision of those who set up the contributory pension scheme in Nigeria. This is one government policy that has been consolidated and begun to yield dividends within a short time.”

He pointed out that with the continued increase in the return on investments, retirees would have to benefit more in the near future.

In his comment, the Head of the South-East Zonal Office of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr. Eneh Michael Ejiofor, described the retirees’ forum as reflective of industry best practice and demonstrative of the high premium placed on retirees

by Premium Pension Limited and the contributory pension scheme.

Pencom to host World Pension Summit Segun Edwards

T

he National Pension Commission (PenCom), has disclosed that Nigeria will, in July, host the world at the first ever World Pension Summit focused on Africa.

Speaking on the summit which will be held in Abuja, the acting Director-General of the Commission, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu said: “We are delighted to bring the World Pension Summit to Africa.”

Anohu-Amazu said rising investment in natural resources and rich private consumption has bolstered economic growth across the continent.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

has 37,676 employees registered under the scheme.

Oyo State is yet to commence full implementation even though it enacted its law in January, 2010.

Ondo State has only drafted a Bill on the CPS, a copy of which had been reviewed by the Commission and comments duly forwarded to the state. The state’s move into the scheme was met with some resistance from the workers who complained that they did not trust the state government enough to transparently implement the programme in their favour.

Details from the North Central zone reveal that Niger State has fully complied with

The growth recorded, according to her, has put the pensions industry in a position to provide stable consumer savings vehicle for Africa’s growing middle class, hence the importance of investment capital from the pensions industry.

The World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ will also mark the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

PenCom was formed the same year as the regulator for pension matters and had since worked to improve the regulatory framework for Nigeria’s pension sector, armed with over $23 billion dollars of pension funds.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Contributory pension records N40bn monthly income flow CONTRIBUTIONS The new pension scheme has continued to grow steadily through prudent management Sunday Ojeme

T

he Head, Research and Corporate Strategy Department, National Pension Commission, (PenCom), Dr Farouk Aminu, said on Monday that the Contributory Pension Scheme had maintained an average growth of 25 per cent per

annum in the last eight years as well as recording a monthly income flow of about N40 billion.

Aminu, who disclosed this at the on-going 2014 Nigeria Pension and Sovereign Funds Forum in Lagos, also pointed out that the pension contributions stood at N4.3 trillion as at the end of April.

He noted that as at Thursday last week, there were about 6.07 million Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders registered in the industry and that about 63 per cent of the assets belonged to the private sector.

He said that although the public sector had more subscribers, the private sector

has more funds due to salary disparities.

According to him, the statistics available to the commission show that about 65 per cent of the registered RSAs are under 41 years, an indication that they will still be making contributions in the next 20 years.

Calling on more states and private sector operators to embrace the scheme, he noted that the industry had brought all Federal Government workers into the scheme, adding that only seven states were fully contributing as at present, while 22 others have passed their bills and one yet to do anything.

L-R: President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Alhaji Kabir Mohammed; Past President, Adedoyin Owolabi and Chairman, Joint Implementation Committee, Alhaji Isma’ila Zakari, during the launching of New Professional Examination Syllabus by the Institute in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Employees to get pension payment order after retirement

I

n order to check delay in disbursal of pension, the Centre has decided to give Pension Payment Order (PPO) to all central government employees at the time of retirement along with their other dues.

At present, the scheme for payment of pensions to central government civil pensioners through authorised banks, issued by the central pension accounting office provides for an undertaking to be submitted by the retiring government servant or pensioner to the pension disbursing bank

before commencement of pension.

"It has been found that the first payment of pension after retirement gets delayed mainly due to two reasons.

"One, the delay in receipt of intimation by the pensioner that pension papers have reached the bank and two, delay on part of the pensioner in approaching the bank for submission of undertaking," the Ministry of Personnel said.

The pensioner would no longer be required to visit the bank to activate the first pay-

ment of pension, it said in a recent order.

"Therefore, after ascertaining that the bank's copy has been dispatched by the central pension accounting office, the pensioner's copy of the Pension Payment Order (PPO) may be handed over to him at the time of retirement along with other retirement dues.

"This should be feasible in all cases where the government servant had submitted pension papers within the time-limits," the Personnel Ministry said.

under the Scheme but it is yet not commenced remittance of pension contributions. The same thing goes for Kano state where the government enacted the law in 2006.

Kastina state drafted a bill which has, however, not translated into law. The compliance status of the states in the North-West zone as indicated clearly shows the imperative for the states to expedite action on the full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

As for the states in the South East, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu are yet to enact their own laws

on the scheme.

Imo State enacted its law in 2008 and appointed PFAs to register its employees. The state government has, however, suspended the implementation without explanation.

Anambra State, it was learnt only recently enacted its law on the Scheme and is still expected to carry out the next necessary steps like setting up administration structure, appointment of PFAs, registration of employees by the PFAs, remittance of pension contributions and determination of accrued pension liabilities of workers among others.

Retirees’ workshop the scheme while Jigawa State in the Nortn West had long appointed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to manage the Pension Funds which have a total value of N16.49 billion as at September, 2013. Jigawa was the first out of the thirty-six states in the federation to enact its law.

Further breakdown shows that Kaduna State adopted the CPS and enacted its law in 2007 and has also made significant progress in its implementation with 143,722 employees registered and pension contributions of N9.46 billion made as at October, 2013. The state had conducted an actuarial valuation and

determined the accrued pension rights of its employees for their service prior to the CPS and established a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund which currently has a balance of N1.6 billion. While Zamfara State adopted the scheme in 2005 with 63,254 employees registered, and remitted N534.4 million as employee portion of the Pension Contributions as at November, 2013, Sokoto State enacted its law in 2007 and registered 46,808 employees with PFAs under the scheme.

Kebbi State enacted its law in 2009 and registered almost 38,000 employees with PFAs

CRIME

39

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

Coroner Law: ‘Some pathologists sign reports without even examining the bodies’

Juliana Francis

W

orried by the growing cases of uninvestigated extrajudicial killings in the country, especially of suspects in police custody, a nongovernmental organization, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation), has taken steps to ensure reduction and justice for victims of such killings.

To achieve this reduction and ensure inquest, NOPRIN reviews the Lagos State Coroner Law, 2007.

Indeed, in Nigeria, many cases of extrajudicial killings go uninvestigated and unpunished.

The families of the victims usually have no recourse to justice or redress. Many do not even get to find out what exactly happened to their loved ones. Coroner’s inquiries into these and other unnatural deaths are rarely carried out.

Recently, three magistrates, Mrs. Olumide-Fusika, of court 14, Igbosere, Mr. Komolafe Oyetade Alexander, senior magistrate (Coroner, Alimosho District) and Murziq Abodurin Etti, magistrate (Coroner Badagry District), lawyers, pathologists and other NGOs who had done coroner cases, met at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State to rub minds on how to begin to educate and enlighten Nigerians, especially Lagos residents on the importance of coroner law and its application.

The event, tagged: ‘Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Assessing the Effective Application of the Reformed Lagos State Coroner Law and Procedures,’ was organised by NOPRIN and supported by Justice for All (J4A).

The discussion kicked off after a welcome speech by Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, national coordinator, NOPRIN. Nwanguma said: “We have organised this FGD and are also doing case studies review to assess the understanding of the law among key stakeholders. We are in particular trying to assess the number of cases that have come before the coroner and how many victims have obtained justice through inquiries under the reformed Coroner law.”

Nwanguma said he was not happy that majority of cases of extrajudicial killings go uninvestigated and unpunished.

He noted: “Coroner’s inquiries into these and other unnatural deaths are rarely carried out. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Mr. Philip Alston, in his 2006 report of his mission to Nigeria:

Mohammed Abubakar, Police boss

‘Coroners are an endangered species and inquiries a rarity; it is commonplace for pathologists to sign reports without even examining the body..’ eight years after the review and application of the coroner law in Lagos State, there is the need to ascer-

tain how many cases in which inquests have been carried out and how far the outcomes have helped the cause of justice for the victims’ families.”

He said he believed that effective application of the coroner law was the real test

CRIME QUOTE “Boko Haram is its own terrorist group, and the United States has designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

In this day and age, there is probably no terror group that does not have some links somehow, even if tenuous, to some other organisation. But for the most part, we treat Boko Haram as its own terror organisation.”

– US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman.

of how much value the state places on the lives of its citizens and a test of its commitment to fulfill its obligations under domestic law and international human rights standards.

He added: “The systematic use of torture in criminal investigations and advocacy efforts by civil society groups resulted in the resuscitation of the moribund Lagos State Coroner Law and Procedures. This was to ensure that deaths in custody or suspicious circumstances are properly investigated.”

The effort to reform the Lagos State Coroner Law was initiated in 2006 by civil society led by Access to Justice with the support of the Lagos State government.

Since then, the coroner system has helped to expose the truth about some killings that involved police officers.

In fact, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has bypassed police investigations and relied on the verdict of coroners to bring murder charges against police officers.

“Whereas some successes have been reported there is a pervasive public perception of increasing incidents of unnatural death through avoidable road accidents, plane crashes and extrajudicial killings.

The state has also failed to ensure compensation and justice for victims,” said Nwanguma.

Many of the participants did not know who a coroner is. Etti tried to explain.

He said: “A coroner is somebody designated by the Chief Coroner to be a coroner.

You need to be a magistrate to function as a coroner.”

It was further gathered the state government takes up expenses for anyone demanding for an inquest into a death or killing.

Fusika chips in: “A coroner inquest also seeks to know if there’s an emerging trend on how and why people are dying or being killed.”

Alexander said: “It’s a fact finding exercise. Once we understand it, it will save a lot of lives. The coroner court is supposed to be quite distinct from the other courts. Lagos State government should take further step to build a structure for coroner inquest.”

Director of Programmes, Access to Justice, Leonard Dibia, spoke on ‘promoting awareness and effective application of the Lagos State coroners’ system law, 2007.’

He said: “Unlike before 2007, it is heartening to now observe that cases for coroner inquest now compete with regular cause lists in designated magistrate/coroner courts in Lagos State. With cases for inCONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

‘Many extra judicial killings go uninvestigated’ The 3rd Eye BBM pranksters: The security implication

CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 39

quest ranging from police killings to medical negligence and domestic violence. Unlike before, two incidences of air crashes have been put to the searchlight of coroner courts, even though they foundered against the forces of high powered conspiracies and what seemed like apparent lack of political will to drive them to logical conclusions.”

According to Dibia, factors militating against Coroner Law, among others, are low sense of public interest, indifference and fear of police reprisals.

Dibia said: “Our level of public spiritedness or public interest is very low and weak.

Relatives of persons who die in suspect circumstances would rather spend resources on a lavish funeral expenses than spending a little fraction of that money to pay for professional services like incisive autopsy and prosecution of inquests.

“Not more than 0.1% of our citizenry respond to their civic duties of reporting the presence of dead bodies on the streets to “appropriate authorities” as required by the Coroner Law. This condition is further exacerbated by the general impression and fear, not unfounded though, of being arrested by the police for undertaking the civic duties ascribed every Lagosian under the Coroner Systems’ Law.” He said there was also problem of low literacy levels and pervasive ignorance of the law.

He clarified: “The low literacy level and pervasive ignorance of the existence, importance and utility of the law by the intended “user community” or, if I may borrow the over-indulged CSO cliché “stakeholders,” accounts largely for the poor resort to the coroner inquest system. There is undoubtedly a yawning gap between the existence, purpose and benefits of the Coroner Law of Lagos State, 2007, on one hand, and public awareness and utilization of the law. There is no gainsaying the fact that public awareness and effective application are mutually reinforcing as one factor will naturally produce the other in a boosting cycle.”

Dibia also noted that religious prejudice hampers effective application of coroner law. He argued that it was common fact in Lagos that the coroner law from inception, met with very strident controversies by the Moslem community in the state.

The mandatory provisions of the law as it related to compulsory autopsy in cases deserving of inquest was strongly perceived as a direct violation of the Koranic regulations of instant interment within 24 hours of death.

Dibia opined that following this strident objections in 2008, it would not be farfetched to presume that many deaths, deserving of inquest were still concealed from the coroner’s attention.

“Keenly associated with this religious prejudice is the corollary impression that every death, whether resulting accidentally or by resulting from protracted ailment, was divinely ordered. It is unarguable that in any society where these prejudices and mindsets are allowed to hold sway, the inquest system will be poorly adhered and will be perceived with suspect and distant circumspection,” said Dibia.

T L- R: Mrs. Olumide Fusika A.M.; Mr. Frank Odita and CP Komolafe Alexander

Leonard Dibia Esq. Director of Programs Access to Justice

Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, National Coordinator, NOPRIN

He continued: “Just by way of comparative reference, we all recall the case involving the Princess Diana and her Moslem boyfriend Dodi Fayed in August, 1997. When the Princess Diana was killed in a car crash, the British government and society refused to accept as merely accidental the vehicular mishap in the French tunnel from which the princess and her boyfriend died.

“In fact, when the high powered investigative report was released by the British secret services spymaster, the report was yet subjected to a rigorous coroner inquest process with a view to unraveling the complicity, if any, of the spymaster and the Duke of Edinburg. At the inquest, Lord Justice Baker released a set of photographs by one Langevin which suggested that the accident was plotted. Issues necessitating inquest were neither left to conjecture, nor were taken as ‘acts of sovereign will of God.’ “In a related vein, when the pop star Michael Jackson died in the United States, initial autopsy report cleverly concealed the real cause of his death which was made to appear like a self-inflicted abuse of drugs. It took an incisive coroner inquest to unravel the real cause of his death which was certified to be a raw case of medical negligence, in respect of which the doctor concerned faced criminal charges.”

He added that in Nigeria, when the late Funsho Williams died in suspected circumstances in Lagos, the usual police investigations were conducted.

“A few innocent citizens were arrested, tortured and either released on bail upon payment of huge monetary considerations,

or placed on endless and perpetual remand custody at Kirikiri Medium Prisons. When the late Alfred Rewane was killed, every pedestrian that was unfortunate to enter the GRA precinct of his residence, including a “Suya” seller was arrested, detained and tortured. Of the eight persons initially arrested, only two, one Lucky Igbinovia and one other were eventually put to trial. The remaining six arrested persons died in police custody from torture. Within 24 hours of the killing of Chief Rewane, police radio signals from SARS reported that the killers had been apprehended and volunteered confessional evidence.

“But at trial, no police officer testifying for the prosecution admitted that he took the supposed confessional statements. It became obvious at trial that what was tendered as confessional statements were hand-written by the investigating police officers who cleverly forged the signatures of the accused persons unto the documents at gun points.”

The participants came up with recommendation for the state government at the end of the day. They agreed that there should be exclusive coroner courts to handle coroner inquest.

The court should be funded and supported with personnel.

It was also agreed that coroner witnesses should be remunerated. Coroners should also be trained in other professional lines aside from the law, in order to be able to handle situations that come with inquests. It was further agreed that coroner law should be included in school curriculums, witnesses should be given protection, and coroner awareness should be created in the state, amongst other suggestions.

he use of the Black Berry Messenger to cause panic in the country, especially Lagos State is becoming recurrent.

It’s quite sad really, that a sane person could sit somewhere and concoct devilish, imagined occurrences just to scare people witless. And it’s equally remarkable that once such messages are broadcast, another set of people begin to broadcast such news without first cross checking their facts.

We’re all accepting these BBM pranksters with indulgence and mild anger.

The danger in this stupid game is that when the ‘wolf’ finally surfaces and the pranksters begin their broadcast, nobody will believe.

Thus such unbelief may eventually lead to avoidable accidents and deaths. In a nutshell, we should not cry wolf, when there’s no wolf!

There had been several of such pranks that I had lost count.

There was a time the pranksters posted that there would be an acid rain. It was so widespread that some citizens became apprehensive and paranoid, fearful of even stepping out of their homes.

When it finally rained, I was caught in that downpour. I was at the Landipo area of Ikeja when it started pouring. Even commercial bike riders abandoned their motorbikes and took off. I saw people running like the hounds of hell were after them, just to avoid the rain touching them.

Since it was ‘supposedly acid rain, ‘they had conjured and imagined the harm such a rain could do to their skin. Utter rubbish of course! But the fact is that people swallowed it, hook, line and sinker.

The pranksters again came up the story that trucks loaded with Boko Haram members had invaded Lagos through the Lagos/ Ibadan expressway, forcing law enforcement agents to dash to the area. It was also a wolf call!

Perhaps the most ridiculous was the broadcast that four men in a black Jeep dropped a headless Lagos State University undergraduate’s corpse, along the long bridge of the Lagos/Ibadan route. People believed and even journalists were asked to investigate.

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FAMILY AFFAIRS Page 41, FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

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PRINCESS ODUNAYOMI OKE

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Female masturbation: A taboo?

The month of May is set aside in the United States, as the National Masturbation Month. But, against popular belief, it has been widely reported that virtually all women masturbate; either knowingly, or unknowingly.

ODUNAYOMI OKE and JECINTHIA BORKY-BAKRE write on why it rocks amongst women, even in matrimony SOLO PLAY This act of getting busy all alone is really trending among the womenfolk

I

n 1994, when the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school curricula that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign, with opponents asserting that she was promoting the teaching of how to masturbate. Many believe this was the result of her long history of promoting controversial viewpoints and not due solely to her public mention of masturbation.

Proving that these ancient stigmas against masturbation are still alive and felt by women and men, researchers in 1994 found that half of the adult women and men who masturbate feel guilty about it. Another study in 2000 found that adolescent young men are still frequently afraid to admit that they masturbate.

But it is no longer news that married women now discuss freely with friends and even spouses, what maximum satisfaction they derive from the act. It might have been labelled as a taboo in matrimony, but gone are those days; as some women I spoke with were of the opinion that what is good for the goose, is equally good for the ganders. Meaning, if it is not seen as a taboo for the men in marriage, why should a woman be stopped from engaging in it; that is, if it gives them a feeling of satisfaction.

In the UK in 2009, a leaflet was issued by the National Health Service in Sheffield carrying the slogan, "an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away". Hence, many women feel if they cannot achieve that from the art of marriage, they should at least, be able to work it out by self-stimulation. That is why some women indulge in the act right in the presence of their husbands, without being bashful about it.

What is female masturbation?

It is an act which involves the stroking or rubbing of a woman's vulva, especially her clitoris, with an index or middle fingers, or both. It is a practice women engaged in, sometimes by inserting one or more fingers into the vagina to stroke its frontal wall where the G-spot may be located. It has been argued that this form of self-stimulation is a common practice among single ladies, without steady partners, but this report have shown that even married women engage in it, without knowing what it is called.

In a bath or shower a woman may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva which gives a kind of relieving sensation, which is referred to as masturbation.

Lying face down one may use the hands, straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and "hump" the vulva and clitoris against it. While some masturbate only using pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing.

One of the women I spoke with on this,

scanvine.com

said though she engages in it, and derives some pleasure from it, her husband does not buy the idea. To him, it was like telling him he had not done well, and that the wife needed someone else to get her to the zenith. So she stopped doing it in her husband’s presence.

Another woman said; that is like indirect prostitution. But when she was further probed, it was discovered that she had engaged in it severally without admitting to herself that was it. She said she felt she was just getting busy doing nothing in particular at those times, and not that she was doing something as silly as masturbation. Well, in her own case, she felt masturbation was silly, and something to be ashamed of, so she could not directly admit to it.

A particular woman, who simply gave her name as Chi-chi said it is not a thing any woman should be talking about in public. But when she was told we were only trying to sample people’s opinion so as to help couples who were having issues in that area, she said ‘please don’t publish my name, but truth is when these men get to certain age, they cannot really give

Hence, many women feel if they cannot achieve that from the art of marriage, they should at least, be able to work it out by selfstimulation

us maximum pleasure again, so we sort ourselves out that way without hurting anyone.’ She also said, at times a man may not just be in the mood, while the woman may want a kind of relief.

A large percentage of the married men and women I had a chat with on the topic did not see any big deal in it. Some women admitted they do it, though not to their husband’s knowledge; while some plainly put it that for either of the couple to enjoy the art of marriage, there should be liberty to express oneself in any way desired; masturbation inclusive.

In all, majority of the women we chatted with, said they have no clue about what other women do in bed while masturbating, but they insisted they don’t self-penetrate with sex toys or their fingers while masturbating. Instead, they focus mainly on clitoral stimulation.

Though they did not say that should be your own style or limit, but it is good to know there should be a limit to how far a married woman can go with masturbation. So, as you go all out this month of May, to do what feels good to you in that area, remember God designed sex to be mutually enjoyed, and not to be a solo play! Do not downplay the role of your spouses.

But to my mind, every woman must try to be modest in all this. The use of sex toys in matrimony is an advanced stage of masturbation; hence, some men see it is as a slight on them if their wives indulge in that. Except In cases where the decision is mutual. A married woman should not be selfish in her quest for total satisfaction, and should never exchange the place of her husband, with the use of toys.

History of the Masturbation Taboo

A

lmost everyone masturbates, but all too few of us are willing to admit to enjoying this simple pleasure -- mostly because of the taboo against masturbation in our society, which has its roots in historical misconceptions that have survived to the present day.

Concerns about masturbation tend to fall into two general categories: that masturbation is dangerously wasteful or that it's immature.

The notion that masturbation is wasteful springs from the widespread misconception that men have a finite allotment of sperm and that every ejaculation depletes precious semen, resulting in exhaustion and weakness.

Although women don't produce semen, it was once believed that masturbation was similarly destructive and debilitating to them. The belief that masturbation is such a dangerous drain on energy that it can lead to enfeeblement, illness and ultimately insanity was so persistent in 18th, 19th and even 20th century Europe and America that treatments for preventing masturbation became something of an obsession.

CONTINUED on PAGE 43

History turbation

42 FamilY AFFAIRS | woman to woman

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

All these fuss over panties I

t was on a Saturday, and just as Mrs Marie Paul was set to step out of her compound for shopping, her phone rang. She picked the call without checking who was on the other end, but the first statement from the caller cut her short in her walk to her garage.

“Hello, good morning, am I speaking with Mrs Marie Paul?’’ ‘Speaking, and may I know who is calling?’ I am XY, the hall officer of Chic Hall; XYZ University. ‘Your daughter is here with us, and she has a message to pass across to you.’

When her daughter was put on the phone, she simply told her mom she had been placed on a week’s suspension; hence she must vacate the school premises within 24 hours. That really got the mother worried. ‘What happened, did you break any of the school’s law?’ ‘Mom, just come, i will explain to you when you get here.’

Well, the story had it that the 17 year old, 200 level undergraduate was suspended from school for perpetually constituting a nuisance to the other occupants of her room.

She was addicted to the habit of piling dirty panties, which let out offensive smell after some time, under her mattress. The Hall Officer’s attention was drawn to the issue, when her roommates could no longer bear with her.

In all, 22 used panties were found under her mattress, including those she had used for her menses. And, since she had been served warnings on same issue, on three different occasions; the next line of action, according to the hall of residence’s constitution, was suspension.

When questioned on the issue, the young girl said her roommates were just been fussy over nothing, that

h e r M o m would never wash her undies, and that of her dad, until they pile up to like 35 or 40 pieces. Well, since that was a direct carry over from home, the Parents (Mother in particular) might not really take the suspension as a big deal. But if they did, truth remains that children learn better by what they see, than by what they are told.

One problem with majority of us women; is that we fail to realize that our daughters tend to follow our footsteps in virtually everything we do. Hence, we should be careful to lead them by example. Never tell your daughter to wash her undies daily, when you soak

yours, and leave it smelly for in the bathroom days running.

Another important aspect is that every real woman should know it is unappealing to drop worn panties carelessly in the bathroom or in the wardrobe for that matter. Rather, endeavour to give it a first washing, before going to bed at night. By the time you have taken care of six or more from Sunday to Friday that way, you can now bring everything out on Friday night; soak them in warm disinfected water till following day, then wash properly. Note: this may not apply to women who wear panty liners all day long.

Maybe someone still feels ‘why all these fuss over undies?’

But truth is, such an important part of us should not be taken for granted; not even in matrimony, the love between spouses notwithstanding. For instance, I learnt a man once

told his wife if she must soak her undies for one week,

h e does not want his own to be left soaked and smelly for that long.

When she refused to take him serious on it, he started giving them to their housegirl to wash. I mean, how cool was that? Of course it was a big slap on the woman of the house.

Still, I heard another story of a woman who asked a colleague to pick something from her hand bag. As she was searching for it, a piece of clothing fell from the bag, and behold it was a lady’s pant. The other lady had to kick it under the desk, because she could not pick it up for a very obvious reason. My worry is, if she had at least given it a first wash; maybe that would have saved her a whole lot of worry.

Issue is, some women are in the habit of ‘going to sleep’ after marriage.

They dump dirty undies in the wardrobe, and say, ‘is it not the room I share with my husband?’ Some women even go to the absurd extent of soaking menstrual undies in their bathroom for days. I think this is being unfair to your spouses, and even if it looks as if they are not seeing or complaining about it, just know they are noting it.

Well, the story had it that the 17 year old, 200 level undergraduate was suspended from school for perpetually constituting a nuisance to the other occupants of her room

Another issue; is that of following trends without first putting into consideration the benefits, as against the cost.

T h e re was a time the clip-at-theends- undies was in vogue, and many people jumped at it. But the irony of it is that it brought untold embarrassment to majority.

A lady once shared with me how the clip at one end of her panties snapped off, and it almost fell off her body, save that she rushed into a shop close by. Assuming she wore it inside a jean or pant trouser, maybe the embarrassment would have been minimal.

Also, a colleague of mine shared with us how she went through hell one day she wore a G-string pant to work. She said she could not get to her office before she pulled up somewhere, and begged to be allowed to change her sanitary pad.

That was a lie of course, but it was reasonable enough,

as she quickly used the opportunity to do away with the disturbing piece.

You might want to ask if that was her first time of going in that, but I guess it was not. But she wore it inside a tight fitted office pant (trouser) and probably on a very sunny day.

HELPFUL TIPS l Make yourself neat, clean and attractive to your husband always. lAlways give your undies the first washing before retiring to bed every night. lDon’t soak undies used for menses, wash well first, even if you must soak. lThe use of panty liners is encouraged at least for the first few days after menses. lFor heavy flow, you could wear disposable pants inside, particularly if you have not separated a set of undies for menses. lIf you must wear panties with side clips, wear them only inside trousers and not when you wear a dress. lBuy your undies in sets of three, six, and twelve; so as to have enough at home per time. lGet a bucket with a cover set aside for washing of undies. lIt is good to use antiseptic liquid to wash or rinse your undies.

THINGS TO NOTE l If you must keep unwashed undies, tie them properly and keep away from clean clothes. lDon’t wear damp undies, it not only irritates the skin, but it is not advisable health wise. lDon’t wear your panties for fashion, but for comfort. lOnce a week luxury wash of your undies brings out the shine in them. lMen hate soaked undies, so don’t irritate them with it. lEmbrace daily ‘first-aid’ washing of your undies. lIf you must wear Gstring panties, let it go with an appropriate dressing.

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FamilY AFFAIRS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

43

Seven lies wives tell their husbands According to DeAnneLorraine, a Los Angeles-based dating coach; women weigh the pros and cons of honesty versus lying, in relationships, so they lie because they often find that white lies serve them more than truth l"This dress was on sale." It wasn't.

In your wife's mind, saving money ("It was half off !") negates spending it, and therefore reduces the odds that you'll blow up at her about blowing the budget. This is often taught by the mother: Always downplay, never reveal how much something really cost. We think a man will judge us for our spending habits, and that he will think we are silly or frivolous. We don't want him to think we are liabilities.

eggs are expiring soon. Even if your wife is only 25, she still has a timeline in mind, no matter how "go with the flow" she seems. l"I'm totally cool with your poker nights." Not always. Your guys' nights may give her permission to bingewatch Scandal, but she won't be so receptive if you hold one every weekend.

It is in a woman's biological nature to want a committed partner, and to want to be around him a lot." Problem is, women know men relish their freedom, and that commandeering every night of your week can push you away. No woman wants to seem needy. So she won't be totally honest about her feelings toward your commitments, or what she expects from you time-wise.

l"You have the biggest penis I've ever seen." You don't. This is what psychologists call an "altruistic lie", an untruthful compliment designed to shield you from embarrassment. Most women have one ex-boyfriend that was enormous. But among the rest, there were only miniscule differences. So why not tell this guy he's the biggest?

Read: Unless you're packing some serious sausage, you probably aren't top dog. But you're so similar to the others that she can convince herself you've got a quarter inch more to offer. It's not like it really matters to us, but it matters to men. So we'll stroke their egos.

l"I've only slept with two men."

More like four. Most women can spout off their past partners' names as quickly as you can your fantasy-league roster. So, no, a few guys from college don't just accidentally get lost in the shuffle. Women always minimize how many sexual partners they have had, mostly because they want to seem pristine. Women will say, 'That one didn't count,' because it only lasted a few minutes, they were really drunk, or never saw the guy again, even though it really

was sex. l "I don't want anything for our anniversary."

Yeah, and you don't really want to win the lottery. We're saying what we think our partner wants to hear. But then the resentment builds. Translation: Your wife may scoff at the idea of a gift, but still expects you to surprise her with a dozen roses and the purse she has been lusting after. We don't want to seem needy or demanding." It's silly, but we want our partner to read

romancemeetslife.com

our minds. We assume he's intuitive enough to know we do want a gift. l"I am in no hurry to have kids."

Guess again. Maybe she is not gunning to get pregnant as soon as possible, but somewhere in her brain, there's a clock counting down. Women know men don't like to be rushed, that if we try to push them, they're just going to be turned off. So we act like we're cool, like our biological clocks aren't ticking.

But, really, once we hit a certain age, we are freaking out inside, worrying our

Facts about female masturbation C O N T I N U E D f r o m Pa g e 4 1

en om te w l Al turba sly s ma nsciou o unc

lIt does not need to be a grand romantic event.

Many women reported that it was a no-frills, tension-busting part of their life. In fact, one woman compared her almost-daily masturbation to brushing her teeth while another woman said she likes to start her day by getting off in the shower. Hey, that's one way to start your morning with a smile. lMasturbation makes you happy.

Many of the women reported that solo sex was a way to get in tune with their bodies and show self-acceptance.

They also reported a ton of awesome benefits, like feeling joy and pleasure, having fun, relieving stress, and helping them experiment to find out what feels good. Plus, you know; orgasms.

Culled from, Women’s Health.

dammygist.com

l All women masturbate.

Quite a number of women agreed to masturbate at least once a while, while some said their own form of masturbation is simply clitoral stimulation.

They condemned the use of sex toy in marriage. lSometimes it can feel like work.

Even though the women were mostly positive about solo sex, they also noted a few frustrating aspects; like when they cannot have an orgasm or when they masturbate because they did not

finish with their partner. lSome women still think it is a 'man thing.’

A few of the women in the study said that men were more likely to masturbate, or at least more likely to do it on the regular. Some also noted that they masturbated more for their male partners (doing it in front of them or during sex) than for themselves. Call us crazy, but masturbation should not be something that only men get to experience.

Talk to us What are you worried about? Your Health, Career, Children, relationship with Spouse, Partner, or in-laws? Do you have a question you want to ask, but you are embarrassed about? Why must you remain worried, sad or depressed when you could talk to someone? Feel free to talk to the counsellor on this page. You will be glad you did!

NOTE:

We will not publish your name or contact, for any reason.

l"I wouldn't change anything about you."

She totally would. If your wife sounds like a Hallmark card, she probably is genuinely expressing her love, just with a little exaggeration. When it comes to the big picture, women will rarely rock the boat, especially in a committed relationship. But the fact is, she wishes you would lose 10 pounds, maybe 20, had a different job, or weren't so cheap. But according to her mental calculations, she has more to gain by keeping her mouth shut, and the relationship happy; than by complaining.

Conclusively, it could be said that a woman’s need to protect her image may overpower her desire for honesty.

Culled from Men’s Health, with additional report by the Woman Editor.

History of the Masturbation Taboo C O N T I N U E D f r o m Pa g e 4 1

Although most men and women today are aware that masturbation isn't a "degrading act," many are still constrained by the notion that it's a selfish, immature activity or a second-rate substitute for partner sex. We live in a society in which sexual expression has always been legislated and restricted and the pursuit of pure pleasure is frequently condemned as selfish and childish.

A lot of people who consider themselves free of sexual hang-ups have simply rewritten the equation "sex is only good if it involves procreation" to "sex is only good if it involves two loving people." The fact that masturbation is a pleasurable end in itself gets short shrift in mainstream sex manuals, which focus on masturbation as a useful tool in the building of a better sex life with one's partner.

While it's certainly true that masturbation provides valuable information about your own and your partners' sexual responses, masturbation is much more than a means to the exalted end of better partner sex. Masturbation is our first sexual activity, a natural source of pleasure that's available to us throughout our lives, and a unique form of creative self-expression.

Each time you masturbate, you're celebrating your sexuality and your innate capacity for pleasure, so give yourself a hand!

Source: Internet

E X H O RTATI O N

44

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“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other).” …(Qur’an 49:13).”

MAY 23, 2014

Hajj: Govt warns Nigerian pilgrims against abscondment in Saudi Arabia CONSEQUENCES NAHCON has warned pilgrims of consequences of over staying in the holy land.

Ummal-fadal Babagirei

T

he Federal Government has read riot act to intending pilgrims for the 2014 Hajj operations against abscondment in Saudi Arabia.

The government, which did this through its agency, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) also warned that any pilgrim who extends his or her stay as given in the visa will be sanctioned.

Any erring pilgrim will bring a lot of consequences not just on themselves, but on the company that processed the visa.

Speaking yesterday at the Hall 2014 first preparatory meeting with travel agencies, the NAHCON operations Commissioner, Barrister Abdullahi M Muhammad, said that any individual who fails to return before or on the expiration of their visa, will be inviting possible penalty upon themselves.

“Anyone who decided to stay extra days is doing that with a lot of consequences. First consequence is upon himself. The second penalty is on the company that organised the trip for him.

“The company might be shut down or refused further opportunity of processing visas for pilgrims and third is on

SOFASAL rallies Muslims for pre-Ramadan trade fair

S

ofasal-El-Asal Society Nigeria (Sofasal) has completed arrangement to hold a tenday (10) pre-Ramadan Trade Fair and Business Conference, to herald the 2014 Ramadan season in June.

The programme, the association said in a press statement, is designed as a platform for all Nigerians particularly the Muslims to source for items that are frequently in high demand during the Ramadan fasting period at affordable cost.

This becomes imperative to reduce the increased level of spending during Ramadan period as Muslims will always ensure that they have adequate stock of food for early morning and the evening meals as well as those they will share with friends, family and the needy.

A cross-section of students of Markaz Arabic & Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos, during their graduation ceremony in Lagos. PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

the corresponding company in Saudi that provided for, processed or approved the grant for the visa. That company will not be allowed to operate until they evacuate those that stayed beyond their visa expiration days” he said.

Muhammad also advised Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the country by being law abiding and respect the laws of the government of Saudi Arabia.

He called on respected agencies to sensitize the Muslim community not to necessarily wait until ramadan to perform the lesser Hajj (umrah).

“Umrah is all year round so the best thing is that people should use the opportunity and use other period of the year to go for umrah.

“Saudi began a policy of the global reduction which affected last year’s hajj. We were made to understand that the capacity of the mosque is 500,000 people which lead to the limitation of visa” he explained.

Also speaking at, the National President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agency (NANTA), who also spoke for the Association of Hajj and Umrah of Nigeria (AHOUN), Alhaji Aminu Agoha, while speaking to news men said as far as 2014 hajj is concern, they are fully ready.

“All we were waiting for was the list of seat allocation from NAHCON which was sent in yesterday, so there will be quite a number of out members in Saudi Arabia making arrange-

ments for accommodation and logistics.

“We assure our teaming customers that we are prepared for them this year and we shall work with laws of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria Insha Allah.

“A new development is that we are working with the Saudi Government on this new Etracking system that they have introduced. This will facilitate everything and make it easier” he said Also speaking to news men, the NAHCON Commissioner for Planning research, statistics information and library service, Dr. Saleh Okenwa said for the 2014 Hajj, they are doing all it takes to ensure a hitch free hajj.

Muslim professionals chide Boko Haram WOMAN DIGNITY AMP has said that Islam is the religion that came and restored women dignity.

Adeola Yusuf

A

ssociation of Muslim Professionals (AMP) has added its voice to the growing condemnation of Boko Haram insurgency.

The AMP, in a statement made available to New Telegraph maintained the sect does not represent Islam.

“Despite all their false claims, it’s clear, for those who wish to see, that the Boko Haram do not represent Islam because they are clearly acting against it!

“Do not denigrate the whole because a hole was poked by a tiny band of convoluted minds,

...Says sect does not represent Islam

warped nitwits, bigots & godless impostors. Indeed, Boko Haram is anti Islam.”

The statement added: “It is important to reiterate the fact that Islam does not encourage taking human lives unjustly.

All the wars fought by the Holy Prophet (SWS) were in self defence against non believers. In addition, Islam was the religion that came and restore women dignity. All the claims as being conversed by Boko Haram are highly anti-Islam.

“While one prays for the quick intervention of the Almighty God, to lead us into success over Boko Haram, we need to look at ourselves as a nation and work out plans to confront the different challenges facing us as a nation.”

The group, Boko Haram, AMP said, claim they are Muslims, but what they do is highly un-Islamic.

“Boko Haram kidnapped girls and forced them to change their religion. Islam says: ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion... (Qur’an 2:256).

“Boko Haram have forcefully married off girls. Islam says: ‘Do not inherit women against their will’(Qur’an 4:19).

“Boko Haram are aggressive towards those who do not follow their beliefs. Islam says: ‘IF IT HAD BEEN YOUR LORD’S WILL, all of the people on Earth would have believed [in one religion]..’(Quran 10:99).

“Boko Haram have murdered thousands of Muslims and Christians alike in cold blood. Islam says: ‘..if anyone slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.’(Quran 5:32).”

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH Welcome. Ramadan Welcome In few weeks time, Ramadan, the special fasting, which forms one of the five pillars of Islam will begin.

Below is the extract of some of the benefits of the sacred month from the glorious Qur’an and the Hadith of the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

Allah says in Qur’an 2:183 “O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.

“Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.” Qur’an 2:185 The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” (Imam Bukhari) ...

Narrated Abu Huraira(r.a): The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:”... whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Imam Bukhari).

The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, “Oh people!

A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night.

Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased.

Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah] Abu Said al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw), said: “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face.” This is related by “the group,” except for Imam Abu Dawud.

ay 23, 2014

police arrest for cyber fraud Inc. and DHL. Once the goods reached South Africa, they were sold over the Internet.

Victims were targeted in the US. The suspects appeared in Pretoria’s Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of fraud and theft, Ramaloko said. The matter was postponed to May 28.

The arrests were made during a joint operation between the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, South African Tactical Response Team and Department of Home affairs and Interpol, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, and Homeland Security Investigations.

The investigation was initiated by Homeland Security special agents in October 2011, after US law enforcement was contacted by a female victim in Mississippi, according to ICE. She received a package in the mail requesting her to reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria.

The US federal charges allege that a West African transnational organised crime syndicate was involved in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the Internet, according to a statement on the ICE website.

NEC office on fire

y f asdn

d st

s e s, y r-

lds, vs, h e

C, y, ot we,

the fire incident would not have been caused by power upsurge.

Unexploded locallymade mines were found around the premises, showing that the fire was caused by arsonists.

A witness told our correspondent that the police had invited all INEC workers in the office to write statements on the incident.

Speaking when he visited the scene of the fire disaster, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Chief Gregory Nwidam, urged the police and other security agencies to arrest perpetrators of the dastard act.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bori Police Division, Mr. Princewill Ijeoma, who was also at the scene of the incident, told journalists that investigation was on to get the arsonists.

METRO

45

21

Policeman shoots protesting OAU students Mojeed Alabi

F

our of the protesting students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife escaped death yesterday when they were hit by a policeman’s bullets.

A policeman in a convoy led by a Toyota bullet proof SUV with ‘Presidency’ inscription and registration number, FG902-B02, allegedly shot sporadically to force their way through a barricade mounted by the students on Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha Expressway.

The students were protesting the increase in their tuition fees.

The policeman, identified as Idris Ajisesin, with staff number AP448318, was said to have fired the shots to disperse the students.

Four of the students, including the immediate past Chair-

One of the injured students displaying his wounded arm

man of the dissolved Students’ Union Steering Committee, Ayo Shadrack, were hit by the policeman’s bullets.

The development, which fur-

LASTMA, commercial bus drivers clash Camillus Nnaji

T

here was confrontation between commercial bus drivers popularly referred to as Danfo and officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) at OJota on Ikorodu Road yesterday.

A witness told our correspondent that the clash was a renewal of a series of disagreements between the drivers and LASTMA officials.

He said that LASTMA officials monitoring the road were chasing about seven buses.

But, according to him, one of the buses ran into an electric poll.

Luckily though, no one was injured as the poll did not fall on the bus.

A cab driver, who gave his name as Emeka, said blamed the confrontation on the refusal of the drivers to pay the LASTMA officials the money they allegedly collect daily from them daily.

ther irked the students, was said to have emboldened them as they kept stoning the four SUVs in the convoy, which occupants included High Chief Don Okubo Robert,

‘Bad governance responsible for social vices’

with one another at all times.

The former president also said one of Non-Governmental Organisa- the core values of the group was to create tion, International Women an environment where young girls could According to him, the LASTSociety (IWS), has blamed bad learn moral and societal values.

MA officials decided to arrest the drivers over spurious traffic governance in the last 16 years for “Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the offences. terrorism and other vices ravaging Chibok school girls who were abducted by The confrontation degener- the country. the dreaded Boko haram, because we are The IWS President, Mrs Folasade mothers as well.” ated as the ubiquitous street urchins, popularly called area boys Oyeniyi, said this in Lagos at the took advantage of the disorder group’s meeting on “the way forand started fighting, stoning in- ward” for the country.

She said: “We hope that as the nocent commuters waiting for world is united with Nigeria, the buses.

Dominic Adewole When contacted, the LAST- abducted schoolgirls would be reAsaba MA Public Relations Officer, leased.”

Also, the group’s past president, olice yesterday said they had arrested Mrs Bola Ajao, said she was out Chiboy Chinonso, Nnenna Ekweala and of Lagos and could not comment Chief Funke Arthur-Worrey, said Nigerians should always embrace love.

Emeka Ogugua for allegedly stealing the on the issue.

She said: “With true love, we can injection distribution cables of the Benin successfully combat all the ills that Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). are presently confronting the counThe suspects were caught at Isheagwu try. town in Ndokwa West Local Government “Kidnapping, political killing, terArea of the state. rorism, armed robbery and all forms The cables, said the state Police Public of violence was as a result of lack Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, of love.” a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Arthur-Worrey noted that Nigeria were valued at N9,248,000. was passing through a difficult peAccording to her, a six-man gang inriod with insurgency threatening the vaded the company premises by scaling its fence, tied the five security guards on duty, unity of the country; therefore, Nisnatched their handsets before stealing the gerians must always remember who The fallen electrical pole armoured cables. they were and improve relationship The PPRO, who paraded the suspects at the “B” Division of the police command in Asaba, said they were arrested after a tip-off.

She said: “Detectives commenced investiment had repatriated 212 beggars suspected to be criminals, were and the destitute to their states of handed over to the appropriate gations by arresting the security guards for origin within the period. interrogation during which one of them, agency for prosecution, while 28 now among the suspects (Ogugua), who He added that about 458 persons children were referred to the Child was recently posted to the company from had been rehabilitated and handed Protection Unit for further invesAsaba Community Vigilante, opened up to over to their relatives during this tigation. period. the crime.

He said: “A total of 72 babies “His confession led to the arrest of the According to him, 1,412 of the (38 males and 34 females) were resother two suspects who have since confessed evacuated beggars were taken to cued during the period other reto the crime.” the rehabilitation and training view while two illegal orphanage Kalu listed the items recovered from the centres in Owutu, Ikorodu. homes, Stream Mercy and Love suspects to include the armoured cables, and The special adviser said that for Humanity Centre, Alagbado, a lorry with registration number ASB 562 XA out of the destitute and beggars Bethlehem Charity and Orphange evacuated, 78 able-bodied persons Centre, Abaranje Ikotun, were shut.” used in conveying the exhibits and N80,000.

Taiwo Jimoh

A

Lagos evacuates 2,217 beggars, others Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Government yesterday said it had evacuated 2,717 beggars, mentally-challenged persons and the destitute from the streets in the last one year.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Hon. Dolapo Badru, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of his agency in the last one year.

Badru also said that the govern-

allegedly a former Niger Delta militant.

Another occupant is High Chief Bipobiri Ajube, who was said to have identified himself as a Senior Special Assistant to one of the South-South governors.

According to one of the protesters, who preferred anonymity, the students had staged their protest on the major road, with some of them blocking the Akinlalu junction, where the incident occurred.

He said while the protesters insisted on holding the vehicles and their occupants hostage, the medical students in their midst, who had carried along first aid boxes, attended to the victims.

He added that Shadrack was hit in his arm, saying three other 100 level students were hit on the palm, shoulder and chest.

Three arrested for stealing N9.2m electricity cables

P

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

22-May-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 FGN Bonds Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

Description 9.20 29-JUN-2014 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

NA

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

29-Jun-07 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

9.20 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

45.00 100.00 535.00 470.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 110.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

29-Jun-14 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

0.10 0.35 0.92 2.24 2.93 3.18 3.28 4.02 5.10 5.42 7.69 9.81 14.52 15.00 15.50 16.17

10.53 10.41 11.10 11.52 11.59 11.57 11.59 11.72 11.98 11.95 12.38 12.41 12.78 12.82 12.87 12.98

9.13 9.97 10.49 11.44 11.53 11.45 11.47 11.62 11.90 11.87 12.33 12.36 12.74 12.78 12.81 12.93

99.82 99.56 93.93 102.90 108.50 95.49 94.01 96.80 115.00 80.63 119.45 109.95 114.49 97.81 70.97 80.00

99.97 99.71 94.43 103.05 108.65 95.79 94.31 97.10 115.30 80.93 119.75 110.25 114.79 98.11 71.27 80.30

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

11.81 13.79 13.54 13.47 14.73 12.56

95.06 87.45 105.10 97.10 90.45 93.11

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

Issuer

4,334.84

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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

0.44 1.01 1.49 2.55 2.91 3.12

#

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

#

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KWARA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014

05-Aug-09

14.00

17.00

05-Aug-14

0.21

1.56

12.22

100.26

A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.40

1.34

12.12

100.65

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.28

4.44

15.66

96.42

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

16.50

30-Sep-15

0.88

3.23

14.31

99.38

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

13.00

30-Jun-16

1.18

4.46

15.65

98.38

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

18.50

30-Jun-16

1.18

3.48

14.68

101.26

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.91

5.59

17.12

84.17

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

50.00

30-Jun-17

1.74

1.00

12.33

102.48

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.61

1.79

13.44

101.53

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

50.00

30-Sep-18

2.58

1.80

13.28

101.68

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.37

1.00

12.78

103.96

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

20.00

09-Dec-18

2.59

1.00

12.48

104.53

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

12.00

12-Dec-18

2.58

1.21

12.69

116.32

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

3.16

1.00

12.57

104.87

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

20.00

02-Oct-19

3.23

1.00

12.58

107.52

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.50

1.94

13.91

102.22

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

30.00

12-Dec-19

3.20

2.74

14.32

101.10

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.91

2.74

14.44

100.90

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.52

1.00

13.13

101.56

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.61

1.94

14.09

103.79

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

5.00

31-Dec-20

3.92

1.44

13.14

113.39

06-Jan-14

15.00

5.00

06-Jan-21

3.95

1.95

13.65

113.02

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.38

1.00

11.77

99.84

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.58

5.21

16.10

98.59

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.61

8.71

19.62

98.50

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

15.00

17-Aug-15

0.76

4.88

15.88

96.00

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

37.50

09-Dec-15

0.84

1.00

12.05

100.12

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

1.50

06-Jan-16

0.92

2.63

13.73

100.65

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.36

1.00

12.44

101.07 102.93

Nil

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.43

1.34

12.79

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.36

4.52

16.12

92.09

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.94

30-Nov-17

1.98

1.88

13.26

109.32

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

8.01

09-Apr-18

2.13

3.48

14.89

102.17

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.63

09-Sep-18

2.30

5.20

16.63

102.82

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

1.00

09-Sep-18

2.30

5.06

16.49

101.96

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.34

1.00

12.77

103.95

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.41

2.29

13.74

104.08

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.54

17-Feb-19

2.49

6.11

17.57

99.20

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.48

2.76

14.89

101.46

11-Feb-18

3.73

1.00

12.66

92.82

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

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

5.19

5.02

108.72

109.67

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.39

4.19

102.76

103.52

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.56

5.44

105.74

106.67

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

3.91

3.36

112.18

113.14

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.27

4.64

104.12

105.33

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.39

6.18

98.52

99.31

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.11

6.43

100.37

102.30

B/S&P; B/Fitch

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.51

8.08

94.61

96.00

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.51

8.08

94.61

96.00

B/Fitch

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

5.19

4.86

113.51

114.15

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.10

6.70

104.08

105.58

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.17

5.94

101.77

102.68

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14

Bid Discount (%) 9.40 9.80 10.30 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00

Offer Discount (%) 9.15 9.55 10.05 9.75 9.75 9.75 9.75

Bid Yield (%) 9.42 9.84 10.38 10.10 10.12 10.14 10.16

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.6917 12.1862 13.2671 14.4579

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.58

O/N Tenor Call

10.79

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.23 162.43 162.67 163.31 164.37

162.33 162.68 163.01 163.96 165.71

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Skye Bank shops for $200m Bids for Enterprise Bank FINANCE Skye Bank seeks capital to enhance operations.

Godson Ikoro and Chris Ugwu

S

kye Bank Nigeria PLC is shopping for the sum of $200million tier -2 capital – one third of which would be sourced before June this year and the balance by the end of the year, the lender’s Group Managing Director, Mr Timothy Oguntayo, has said.

The lender has also indicated interest in acquiring one of the bridged banks (Enterprise Bank Ltd).

Oguntayo made these known at the bank's pre-Annual General Meeting media briefing in Lagos yesterday.

He said that the bank had submitted a bid and scaled through various stages of due diligence.

"We are in the race for the acquisition of Enterprise Bank, we have scaled through the first hurdle stage and in the last due diligence stage," OguntayoIssuer said.

Rating/Agency He said Skye Bank would submit the final bid in the next FGN Eurobonds couple of weeks, explaining that BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P the acquisition process was onBB-/Fitch; FGN going BB-/S&P and if achieved, would add value to the bank.

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P Oguntayo said that the bank TOTAL OUTSTANDING was also sourcingVALUE for $200 million from development finance Corporate Eurobonds institutions in Europe to enB-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I hance operational activities.

GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; He B+/Fitch said that theGTBANK bankPLC presently had secured $150 million B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC dollars of the required sum and B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC added that the fund would be B/Fitch AFREN PLC B/Fitch ZENITH BANK PLC available for utilisation by the

second half of the year.

Oguntayo said that the bank was well positioned to ensure enhanced dividend to all stakeholders, adding that the lender was targeting a return on equity of 22 per cent by 2016.

He, however, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor designate, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to ensure economic stability.

He said that the economy in the past had witnessed a lot of policy somersaults that should be corrected to ensure stability and growth.

Also, Mr Bamidele Ogunnaike, the bank's Chief Finance Officer, said that the lender had deployed stringent control measures to reduce operational cost.

Ogunnaike said that the bank would balance deposit mix to ensure efficient service delivery and increment in deposit base.

Ogntayo said that the bank had deployed 8,114 point of sales terminals and 593 automated trading machines across the country with enhanced capacity.

He said that the Skye bank is very strong in the area of chanDescription nels, e-business and Internet banking over the years, adding that the interswitch has the sta6.75 JAN 28, 2021 tistics to back up this claim.

12, 2018 Speaking 5.13 onJUL the core competence of the bank, Oguntayo, 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 said that the bank is also strong in oil and gas business, stressing that operators in the upstream sector can attest to the banks 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 exploits.

7.50 MAY 19, 2016 Over the6.00years, he said NOV 08, 2018 Skye bank has partnered with 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 small and medium enterprises 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 (SMEs) from10.25 inception APR 08, 2019till they 6.25 APR 22, 2019 got listed on the Nigerian Stock

Shareholders approve FBNH N35bn dividend

S

hareholders of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings (FBNH) Plc yesterday at the bank’s 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) endorsed the company’s N35.895 billion dividend, amounting to N1.10 kobo per every 50 kobo share, for the 2013 financial year.

The President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarities Association, Mr. Timothy Adeshina, who commended the bank for the dividend pay-out, said the shareholders were appreciative of the efforts, which the staff and management put in place to drive the bank for increased returns on investment.

In the same vein, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, who also applauded the account performance of the bank, said the current leadership has proved that they are capable of driving the bank to great heights.

The dividend payout indicated an increase of 10 per cent above the N1.00 paid the previous year.

Onyema

47

The audited results of the group showed that the financial institution ended 2013 with gross earnings of N395.9 billion, up seven per cent from N370.2 billion posted in 2012.

Interest income rose by 10 per cent from N295.4 billion to N323.6 billion, while FBN Holdings tried to control operating expenses, which fell by four per cent from N193.5 billion to N185 billion.

High impairment charge of N20.3 billion however, affected the bottom-line. Consequently, FBN Holding recorded profit after tax of N70.6 billion compared with N76.8 billion in 2012.

Further analysis of the results indicated that the company witnessed an increase of 22 per cent in customers’ deposit, rising from N2.395 trillion to N2.929 trillion.

Loans to customers grew by 15 per cent from N1.541 trillion to N1.769 trillion, while total assets also rose by 20 per cent from N3.228 trillion to N3.871 trillion.

Exchange (NSE). He cited the example of Tantalizer, and Multiplex food and beverage companies that the bank has partnered till it got listed at the stock Exchange.

In addition to the foregoing, he said that the bank is also strong in the area of schools financing, adding that Skye bank has financed many private schools in the country more than any other financial institution.

NSE Revokes Ex-Lakesworth Investment licence On the cost of operation and forecast for the current finan- Chris Ugwu committee passed the resolucial year, Oguntayo said that tion that the registration of the Issue bank would strive to reduce he Nigerian Stock Exchange Awotile, as an authorised clerk Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price its cost – income ratio from 67 (NSE) yesterday announced be revoked in pursuant to Rules in 2013 to 60 per cent by end of it had revoked the registra- 45 Prices and &167 of the rules and Yields 2014.07-Oct-11 This would be6.75 achieved be- 500.00 tion of the former Managing regulations governing dealing 28-Jan-21 5.19 5.02 108.72 109.67 cause the bank has put in place Director of Lakesworth In- members for contravention of 18-Dec-09cost management 5.13 4.39 Lim4.19 rules in relation 102.76 103.52unstringent sys- 500.00 vestment12-Jul-18 & Securities the to the tems, he said, adding that Syke ited, Mr. Kayode Awotile as authorised transfers, sales of 01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.56 5.44 105.74 106.67 Bank would get major providers authorised dealing member shares and failure to carry out of services to do so at reduced1,500.00 on its bourse for engaging in the directives of the committee. prices. fraudulent practices.

“We hereby notify and adOther forecast showed that The NSE in a notice on its vise all dealing member113.14 firms 01-Feb-11 11.50 450.00 01-Feb-16 3.91 3.36 112.18 the 19-May-11 bank is aiming at reducwebsite issued by Olufemi and their employees to desist 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 5.27 4.64 104.12 105.33 ing 08-Nov-13 cost of fund at 6.00 4.5 per cent, 400.00 Shobanjo,08-Nov-18 head, broker6.39dealer from any dealings with Mr. 6.18 98.52 99.31 capital adequacy ratio at 20 per regulation, said based on the Kayode Awotile in all capi25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.11 6.43 100.37 102.30 cent, Non Performing Loans 300.00 meeting 02-May-18 of the disciplinary tal activities.

09-May-13 6.88 8.51 8.08 market related 94.61 96.00 (NPL) ratio of 5 per committee08-Apr-19 of its national Please be guided 08-Apr-12 10.25cent and 300.00 8.51coun8.08 94.61 accordingly,” 96.00 6.25 cent.

500.00 22-Apr-19 5.19 4.86 NSE said.

113.51 114.15 loan22-Apr-14 growth of 20 per cil held February 26, 2014, the the

T

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.10

6.70

104.08

105.58

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.17

5.94

101.77

102.68

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

22-May-14

The FMDQBills 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 **Treasury FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) FGN

7 14 Bonds28 35 42 Rating/Agency 49 56 63 70 77 84 91 98 105 112 NA 140 196 231 245 259 273 287 322 336 350

29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 Issuer 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 NA 9-Oct-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 TOTAL 7-May-15

9.40 9.80 10.30 10.00 10.00 Description 10.00 10.00 9.20 29-JUN-2014 10.10 9.25 28-SEP-2014 10.10 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.00 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.40 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.40 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.75 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.15 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.35 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.30 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.25 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.30 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.30 10.25 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.30 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.35 OUTSTANDING VALUE 10.30

*from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration #

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

9.15 9.55 10.05 9.75 9.75 Issue Date 9.75 9.75 29-Jun-07 9.85 28-Sep-07 9.85 23-Apr-10 9.75 16-Aug-13 9.75 27-Apr-12 9.50 27-Jul-07 10.15 31-Aug-07 10.15 30-May-08 10.50 29-Jun-12 9.90 23-Oct-09 10.10 27-Jan-12 10.05 14-Mar-14 10.00 28-Nov-08 10.05 22-May-09 10.05 10.00 20-Nov-09 10.05 23-Jul-10 10.10 10.05

Description

9.42 9.84 10.38 10.10 10.12 Coupon (%) 10.14 10.16 9.20 10.28 9.25 10.30 4.00 10.22 13.05 10.24 15.10 9.99 9.85 10.70 9.35 10.72 10.70 11.12 16.00 10.56 7.00 10.96 16.39 11.02 14.20 11.01 15.00 11.11 12.49 11.16 11.15 8.50 11.33 10.00 11.44 11.43

NIBOR

BondsTenor

Rate (%) 10.6917 12.1862 13.2671 Maturity Date 14.4579

O/N 1M Outstanding 3M Value 6M (N'bn)

45.00 100.00 NITTY 535.00 470.27 Tenor 452.80 1M 20.00 2M 100.00 3M 300.00 6M 351.30 9M 233.90 12M 600.00 110.00 75.00 NIFEX 150.00 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 BID($/N)591.57 OFFER ($/N)

4,334.84

29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 9.4500 27-Jul-17 9.4812 31-Aug-17 9.7091 30-May-18 10.7798 29-Jun-19 11.0505 23-Oct-19 11.4475 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 161.9500 23-Jul-30 162.0500

OBB

10.58

Tenor

Spot O/N 10.79 7D 14D REPO TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 1M Call 10.25 2M 0.10 10.53 9.13 1M 11.68 3M 0.35 10.41 9.97 3M 12.49 6M 0.92 11.10 10.49 6M 13.62 1Y 2.24 11.52 11.44 2.93 11.59 11.53 NOTE: 3.18 11.57 11.45 3.28 11.59 11.47 :Benchmarks 4.02 Bond 11.72 11.62 * :Amortising 5.10 Bond 11.98 11.90 µ :Convertible 11.87 AMCON: 5.42 Asset Management11.95 Corporation of Nigeria 7.69 12.38 12.33 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.81 Mortgage Bank 12.41 12.36 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 14.52 12.78 12.74 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.00Contractors Receivables 12.82 12.78 LCRM: Local Management NAHCO:15.50 Nigerian Aviation Handling 12.87 Company 12.81 O/N: Overnight 16.17 12.98 12.93 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

#

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12by Weighting

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 Weighting

by Mkt

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket Weighting

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 % 06-Jul-17 Exposure_

0.44 1.01 1.49 2.55 2.91 3.12 Implied Yield

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 Implied1.00 Portfolio

Risk Premium (%)

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

162.23 162.33 162.43 162.68 162.67 163.01 Bid Price Offer Price 163.31 163.96 164.37 165.71 99.82 99.97 164.47 167.46 99.56 99.71 169.43 172.95 93.93 94.43 176.98 183.62 102.90 103.05 108.50 108.65 95.49 95.79 94.31 NA :Not94.01 Applicable 96.80Rate Bond 97.10 # :Floating 115.00coupon bonds 115.30 ***: Deferred 80.63 80.93 119.45 †: Bond rating expired 119.75 109.95 110.25 114.49 114.79 97.81 98.11 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 70.97 71.27 UBA: United 80.00 Bank for Africa 80.30

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

11.81 13.79 13.54 13.47 14.73 12.56 INDEX

95.06 87.45 105.10 97.10 90.45 YTD93.11 Return

Agency Bonds

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 FMB II 03-APR-2017 FMDQ FGN BOND17.25 INDEX 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017Total Outstanding Modified Duration Buckets Porfolio Market Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) VALUE AMCON

NA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING

FMBN

Outstanding Vol

Value

1,304.32

Mod_Duration

Price

(%)

<3

975.20

923.07

37.43

37.96

0.37

19.78

11.56

115.0146

1,092.40

9.2405

3<5

1,120.70

951.30

38.58

43.62

0.39

39.41

12.26

128.7289

1,090.03

9.0027

>5

473.25

591.57

23.99

18.42

0.24

40.81

12.98

88.4180

1,070.37

7.0371

2,569.15

2,465.94

100.00

100.00

1.00

100.00

12.42

113.9249

1,081.00

8.0999

Market

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Monetary stability: Experts praise Alade  Analysts hail decision to retain MPR at 12%

COMPETENT Acting CBN governor has proven that she is more than capable of directing the affairs of the apex bank

He insisted that the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) left both its stance and rates un-changed, as widely anticipated and in line with the consensus opinion of 11 economists surveyed by Bloomberg; stressing that there was no surprises, as the MPC leave stance unchanged.

The experts lauded Alade for this position range from the politically expedient rationale of a caretaker governor in her last days to the fact that monetary stability had been rescued from a savage attack on the naira in March.

Although in the past month, the naira has appreciated across all market segments, FDC said the cost of protecting the naira from the negative impact of leakages was significant compared to Nigeria’s resources and external reserves The MPC cited many reasons for its decision to hold the MPR at 12 per cent per annum and the CRR deposits unchanged, including exchange rate stability and tamed inflation. It also cautioned that the underlying threats to monetary stability remain potent.

“In our view and in the circumstance, Sarah Alade, the acting Governor, has performed creditably by weathering the financial storm and turbulence of Q2 “the statement added.

MPR is the benchmark rate

Godson Ikoro

T

he Acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Mrs. Sarah Alade, has been lauded for performing creditably by weathering the financial storm and turbulence of the second quarter.

During this period, the naira lost 0.35 per cent at the parallel market, but gained 0.01 per cent and 0.89 percent at the official and interbank markets respectively as the external reserves hemorrhage slowed considerably.

The nation’s foreign reserves have slumped 15 per cent this year, adding to speculation that the midpoint of the currency peg may be lowered from N155 per dollar. Reserves, which currently stands at about $38 billion covers nine months of import requirements.

Experts at the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, (FDC) managed by frontline Economist, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, stated these in their Economic Report for May 2014, made available to the New Telegraph yesterday.

by which the CBN determines interest rate and it indirectly influences other interest rates in the economy.

CRR is a portion of banks’ deposits kept by banks with the CBN. She said the committee resolved to retain the fundamentals due to relative stability that had endured in the economy.

The report envisaged that the market will adopt the “wait and see” as the new CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele resumes on June 1.

In a related development, two economic analysts yesterday, hailed the continued retention of the MPR at 12 per cent, saying the measure had brought some stability to the economy.

The two spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Mr Eze Onyekpere, an Economic Analyst, said retaining the rate at 12 per cent over a long period had set a standard for the incoming CBN governor.

“Am saying that the retention of the 12 per cent for now is okay and it will be good for the incoming governor to study what is on ground and carry every member of the committee along too.

“What we see now is a level of stability in the system and that is very okay,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, a former Managing Director of the defunct Citizens Bank, said the decision of the

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

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)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

committee was the best option for the economy at present.

“This rate has been stable over time, lowering it is a waste but hiking it may destroy the economy more. So, instead of lowering, they decided to maintain it.

“But vis-à-vis the incoming governor, he is not going to change the thing overnight, he has to look at the environment and settle down to some of these issues,’’ he said He said the idea of devaluing the naira should not be considered at any point; as such a

move would be a disaster for the economy.

Unegbu said the focus must be on consolidating on the stability witnessed in system and maintain the existing rate.

He said the Nigerian economy had witnessed a lot of dislocations, such as insecurity, bad ratings at some points with some international rating agencies.

“All these compound and determine how the economy goes, so I think the rate at present is good and healthy for the economy now,’’ Unegbu said.

US investors sign $480m power deal with Nigerian firms Siaka Momoh

S

ome 25 US investors, led

by Ms. Penny Pritzker, the country’s commerce Secretary, are currently in Nigeria to do business with Nigerian firms and at the end of talks yesterday, over $480 million deal was signed with Nigerian companies.

The companies are Honeywell Group, Royal Power and Energy Limited and Benin Electrical Distribution Company.

Nigeria is currently a destination of choice for American investors, Ms. Penny Pritzker said in Lagos where the deals were sealed and signed.

She said during a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, that Nigeria currently had enormous investment opportunities, which American investors were willing to explore.

Pritzker, who led a delegation of about 25 US investors (mainly in the power sector) to Nigeria, said, “About 100 American businessmen indicated interest in coming with me on this delegation to Nigeria but we couldn’t accommo-

date all of them. We’re aware that there is an Industrial Revolution going on, which is a very good development. We would like to know more about it so we can be part of it.”

She commended President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the Nigeria Industrial Revolution (NIRP), noting that American companies would leverage on it to invest in Africa’s biggest economy.

In his remarks, Aganga said the growing interest of foreign investors in the Nigerian economy “is a testimony of the positive impact of Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda”.

Said he: “This is the first time the American Secretary of Commerce is visiting Nigeria in 22 years. Over the years, Nigeria has had a good economic relationship with the US, but today, it is more of how we can have a stronger, strategic and long lasting trade and investment partnership with the United States.

“During my meeting with the United States Secretary of Commerce, she said that they had more than 100 businessmen who wanted to come to Nigeria but they had to trim it down because they couldn’t accommodate all of them."

Demand for treasury bills surge, yields drop for Nigerian shortDealers, according to BloomDtionemand term debt surged at an auc- berg news, said demand for the on yesterday, driving yields debt notes was heavy due to a down 1.43 percentage points on average across maturities, as subscription rose more than four-fold the amount sold, but the central bank stuck to its initial offer.

The federal government received N520.7 billion ($3.2 billion) in subscriptions for treasury bills ranging from 3-month to one-year maturities.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had offered N121.32 billion worth of the debt notes, and strong demand from local pension fund and assets managers pushed down yields across the board.

large amount of liquidity in the banking system and offshore investors hunting for yields with the 1-year note receiving bulk of the subscription.

The bank sold N40.6 billion in the 91-day paper at 10 per cent returns, compared with 10.5 per cent at the last auction on May 7.

It sold N25 billion in the 182-day bills at 10.01 per cent against 11.24 per cent at the previous auction, while a total of N55.68 billion was sold in the one-year Treasury bill at the rate of 10.12 per cent compared with 12.7 per cent previously.

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Sanctity of Truth

Printed 22/05/2014 Friday, May16:19:13.013 23, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 22, 2014 Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 15 23 39

Current Price 0.50 34.00 35.10

Quantity Traded 8,819,183 40,660 288,405 9,148,248

Value Traded 4,409,591.50 1,331,798.40 10,149,075.98 15,890,465.88

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 36 36

Current Price 3.03

Quantity Traded 525,244 525,244

Value Traded 1,574,276.07 1,574,276.07

9,673,492

17,464,741.95

Quantity Traded 60,600 48,136,127 455,181 48,651,908

Value Traded 88,441.32 178,142,668.36 25,976,682.81 204,207,792.49

48,651,908

204,207,792.49

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary U Aas C of N 22/05/2014 PLC. Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 Diversified Industries Totals

75 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 5 185 50 240

CONGLOMERATES Totals

Current Price 1.52 3.73 57.00

240

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Page

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

1

of

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 IT Services Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Processing Systems Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

13

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 1.25

Quantity Traded 580,899 580,899

Value Traded 726,184.25 726,184.25

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 72.00

Quantity Traded 26,622 26,622

Value Traded 1,947,216.28 1,947,216.28

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 17.80

Quantity Traded 475,696 475,696

Value Traded 8,088,254.25 8,088,254.25

Symbol SKYESHELT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 95.00

Quantity Traded 4 4

Value Traded 361.00 361.00

1,083,221

10,762,015.78

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Printed CONSTRUCTION/REAL 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity Summary on Board EQTY

GUINNESS NIG PLC CONSUMER GOODS BREWERIES PLC. INTERNATIONAL Beverages--Brewers/Distillers JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Totals © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Activity on Board EQTY FoodSummary Products--Diversified Totals CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Personal/Household Products ©

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

65 Symbol DUNLOP Daily Summary

No. of Deals 2 (Equities) 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 150,000 150,000

Value Traded 75,000.00 75,000.00

No. of Deals 56 28 No. of Deals 7 232

Current Price 178.50 25.50 Current Price 3.08 173.50

Quantity Traded 421,855 238,476 Quantity358,096 Traded

Value Traded 75,330,754.96 6,059,744.86 Value Traded 1,143,793.28

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 85.80

Quantity Traded 5,465,993 5,465,993

Value Traded 507,802,765.96 507,802,765.96

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 49 62 51 45 1 55 1 4 268

Current Price 8.00 9.51 70.00 4.00 0.50 12.75 22.01 0.51

Quantity Traded 120,730 1,383,220 72,989 1,148,801 200 1,184,379 14,061 30,941 3,955,321

Value Traded 959,629.47 13,166,330.97 5,140,737.31 4,510,417.92 104.00 15,075,228.51 294,015.51 15,779.91 39,162,243.60

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 28 54 82

Current Price 73.84 1,080.00

Quantity Traded 179,915 80,915 260,830

Value Traded 12,906,780.14 86,784,273.73 99,691,053.87

Symbol Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals No. of Deals 95 95

Current Price Current Price 4.11

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 2,490,133 2,490,133

Value Traded Value Traded 10,005,987.10 10,005,987.10

No. of Deals 42 79 121

Current Price 34.83 49.53

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW Symbol JOSBREW

NB

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Banking Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 ACCESS BANK PLC.

323

924

3,436,680 Page 4,455,107

Page Quantity Traded 395,521 2,335,672 2,731,193

Packaging/Containers Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 AVON16:19:13.013 CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS Printed 22/05/2014 BETA GLASS CO PLC. W A GLASS IND. PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Value Traded 58,707,235.79 26,914,587.47 113,924,469.63 19,450,190.61 1,185,505,232.80 24,731,770.24 11,236,520.57 44,356,400.56 5,467,650.54 Value Traded 615,969.00 13,904,284.06 191,296,811.93

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Printed 22/05/2014 BECO16:19:13.013 PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC

CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

OILExploration AND GAS and Production Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Quantity Traded 6,499,952 4,211,495 7,392,037 9,486,286 43,024,466 7,512,809 4,925,161 6,180,316 538,079 Quantity Traded 1,231,938 14,855,089 8,298,992

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM Daily Summary as ofINSURANCE 22/05/2014 CO. PLC. NIGER NIGERINS Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013 OASIS INSURANCE PLC OASISINS PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNITYKAP Daily Summary UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC Insurance Carriers, BrokersEQTY and Services Totals Activity Summary on Board

No. of Deals 25 10 5 2 8 6 1 45 4 8 12 3 1 (Equities) 9 19 158

Current Price 0.83 1.02 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.41 0.50 0.80 0.50 0.51 0.57 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.81

Quantity Traded 1,431,421 Page 246,800 967,240 51,000 25,410 98,848 10,000 4,656,073 115,000 617,000 55,016 50,000 50,000 10,013,256 1,001,416 19,388,480

Value Traded 4 1,177,441.03 of 13 253,970.50 483,620.00 25,500.00 12,705.00 238,223.68 5,000.00 3,674,406.74 57,500.00 314,795.00 30,259.30 25,000.00 25,000.00 5,006,628.00 811,166.96 12,141,216.21

114,156,620

No. of Deals 36 No. of Deals

Current Price 1.03 Current Price

Quantity Traded 1,701,956 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 1,818,191.72 Value Traded

Published by The Nigerian StockBrokers Exchange © Services Mortgage Carriers, and

Symbol ASOSAVINGS RESORTSAL

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 800,000 10,000,000 10,800,000

5Value Traded of 13 400,000.00 5,000,000.00

No. of Deals 63 63 540 84 10 13 108 881

Current Price 3.25 2.67 13.65 3.81 0.55 22.41 2.42

ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2,435 Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

1,701,956

5,400,000.00

Value Traded 3,166,920.56 13,024,019.27 284,756,205.46 13,911,307.91 75,386.48 2,356,555.21 9,775,205.38 327,065,600.27

180,614,374

2,042,536,131.40

Quantity Traded 1,484,375 1,484,375

Value Traded 742,187.50 742,187.50

Page

6

of

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 5.48

Quantity Traded 2,210 2,210

Value Traded 11,514.10 11,514.10

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 35,000 35,000

Value Traded 17,500.00 17,500.00

217,870

142,829.90

Daily Summary (Equities) CHAMS Daily Summary (Equities)

12

Symbol AFRPAINTS ASHAKACEM Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER IPWA PAINTCOM WAPCO

No. of Deals 1 59 No. of Deals 23 30 38 60 1 1 1 40 254

Current Price 2.72 19.85 Current 10.00 Price 37.51 9.89 222.98 1.06 0.52 1.50 110.01

Quantity Traded 1,500 Page 5,698,747 Quantity207,835 Traded 238,492 411,233 481,697 30,000 4,000 100,000 184,270 7,357,774

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 8 1 9

Current Price 1.90 0.50

Quantity Traded 159,533 5,200 164,733

Value Traded 303,112.70 2,600.00 305,712.70

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS WAGLASS

No. of Deals 3 3 1 7

Current Price 1.61 17.07 0.63

Quantity Traded 377,939 90,000 5,356,800 5,824,739

Value Traded 607,661.87 1,536,700.00 3,374,784.00 5,519,145.87

13,347,246

259,920,514.48

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol BOCGAS Symbol

270

No. of Deals 3 No. of Deals 3

Current Price 6.47 Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 3,041 Quantity Traded 3,041

Page

3

3,041

Value Traded

3,885.00 7 of 13 112,107,903.12 Value Traded 2,067,673.69 8,706,514.48 4,060,470.46 106,700,458.99 31,800.00 2,000.00 150,000.00 20,264,950.17 254,095,655.91

8Value Traded of 13 18,702.15 Value Traded 18,702.15

9

of

18,702.15

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,534,940 1,534,940

Value Traded 767,470.00 767,470.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 129 129

Current Price 18.28

Quantity Traded 3,080,165 3,080,165

Value Traded 55,824,293.86 55,824,293.86

No. of Deals 3 28 1 94 (Equities) 23 11 14 174

Current Price 0.50 46.74 3.61 169.20 124.90 51.49 156.00

Quantity Traded 3,550,830 56,999 10,000 398,794 51,470 713 11,265 4,080,071

Value Traded 1,775,415.00 2,559,843.64 34,300.00 67,885,016.13 6,314,434.68 34,879.96 1,765,287.00 80,369,176.41

No. of Deals No. of Deals 13

Current Price Current636.00 Price

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 11,116

Value Traded Value Traded 7,012,770.00

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO Daily Summary MOBIL MRS TOTAL Symbol Symbol SEPLAT

13

11,116

10

of

8,706,292

143,973,710.27

Quantity Traded 129,702 129,702

Value Traded 134,416.04 134,416.04

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 4.50

Quantity Traded 76,000 76,000

Value Traded 348,850.00 348,850.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC.

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 52,000 52,000

Value Traded 26,000.00 26,000.00

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,500 6,500

Value Traded 3,250.00 3,250.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 61 61

Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded 5,539,225 5,539,225

Value Traded 4,675,226.17 4,675,226.17

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000

SERVICES Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

Value Traded 50,000.00 50,000.00

11

of

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 13 8 22

Current Price 1.71 1.73 4.16

Quantity Traded 350,000 21,900,261 74,700 22,324,961

Value Traded 598,500.00 39,808,089.99 325,280.00 40,731,869.99

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.83

Quantity Traded 1,814,460 1,814,460

Value Traded 1,503,556.70 1,503,556.70

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 30 34

Current Price 2.25 5.00

Quantity Traded 208,500 1,016,771 1,225,271

Value Traded 470,085.00 5,071,352.27 5,541,437.27

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 7.76

Quantity Traded 137,502 137,502

Value Traded 1,067,415.52 1,067,415.52

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014

Printed 22/05/2014 Support16:19:13.013 and Logistics

CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CAPOIL

183

31,405,621

54,082,021.69

4,608

316,064,937

4,209,856,821.81

No. of Deals 4 4

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 21,000 21,000

4

13

7,012,770.00

Page

330

Activity Summary EQTY Board Totalson Board ASeM

1,818,191.72

Quantity Traded 972,363 4,736,059 20,883,703 3,652,479 141,460 105,202 4,076,052 34,567,318

Value Traded 113,815.80 113,815.80

Current Price 1.04

SERVICES Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK Symbol

36

Quantity Traded 180,660 180,660

No. of Deals 5 5

Hotels/Lodging Activity Summary IKEJA HOTEL on PLCBoard EQTY Hotels/Lodging Totals

Micro-Finance Banks FINANCIAL SERVICES NPF MICROFINANCE Micro-Finance Banks BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

15,020,133.93

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Daily Summary as of 22/05/2014 Employment Solutions Totals Printed 22/05/2014 16:19:13.013

1,696,111,123.20

2,853,295 Current Price 0.63

OIL AND GAS Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Value Traded 95,462.60 1,224,939.56 11,954,512.00 694,826.16 191,398.11 116,808.00 14,277,946.43

No. of Deals 6 6

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 9.10 6.39 15.34 2.05 28.15 3.26 2.25 7.19 10.20 Current Price 0.50 0.94 23.25

1,358

Chemicals Totals

Quantity Traded 35,590 469,834 178,409 432,328 178,359 74,400 1,368,920

Symbol COURTVILLE

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

No. of Deals 165 58 99 77 (Equities) 283 120 46 150 58 No. of Deals 4 68 230

Banking Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals NATURAL RESOURCES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals

Current Price 2.70 2.60 67.00 1.60 1.07 1.57

71

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

3 of 13 Value Traded 13,785,663.34 115,641,765.60 129,427,428.94 1,461,728,227.77

ICT Totals

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

593,029,455.20 2 of 13 675,563,748.30

19,508,577

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Activity Summary on Board EQTY AFRICAN PAINTS Published by The Nigerian Stock (NIGERIA) Exchange ©PLC. INDUSTRIAL ASHAKAGOODS CEM PLC Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK Daily Summary GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. EQTY Activity Summary on Board UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC FINANCIAL UNIONSERVICES BANK NIG.PLC. Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

No. of Deals 7 15 14 22 7 5 70

HEALTHCARE Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

13

13

12 of 13 Value Traded 10,500.00

10,500.00

21,000

10,500.00

ASeM Board Totals

4

21,000

10,500.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,612

316,085,937

4,209,867,321.81

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 1 2

Current Price 2,032.00 18.16

Quantity Traded 8 50 58

Value Traded 16,256.00 908.00 17,164.00

ETF Board Totals

2

58

17,164.00

ETP Activity Totals

2

58

17,164.00

13 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

13

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13

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Coup in Thailand, military imposes curfew

T

hailand’s military seized power yesterday in a bloodless coup, dissolving the government, suspending the constitution and dispersing groups of protesters from both sides of the country’s political divide, who had gathered in Bangkok and raised fears of a violent showdown.

The powerful army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, an-

nounced the military takeover in a statement broadcast on national television. It was followed by additional announcements including a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and an order for top government officials including the ousted prime minister to report immediately to the country’s new governing military commission.

There was no immediate sign

of soldiers patrolling central Bangkok, but troops dispersed the two protest sites where competing groups were camped out, one backing the ousted government and one that had struggled for six months to unseat it.

There were no signs of resistance or reports of violence.

Long lines formed at the city’s elevated train and subway stations as panicked office work-

ers tried to rush home before the curfew.

Flanked by the heads of the armed forces, Prayuth said the coup was launched “to quickly bring the situation back to normal, to let the people have love and unity as in the past, and to reform the political and economic systems and to grant equality to every side.”

An army spokesman later an-

nounced that it had dissolved the caretaker government and suspended the constitution, but that the Senate would remain in place. The pivotal developments came after Prayuth had declared martial law on Tuesday in what he called a bid to resolve the crisis and a day later, summoned the country’s rival political leaders for face-to-face talks.

Somali extremist threatens US, Kenya with attacks

M

Anti-government protesters raise fists as they sing and listen to the national anthem during a gathering yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand.

PHOTO: AP/Sakchai Lalit

A

ssailants in two SUVs plowed through shoppers while setting off explosives on a busy street market in China’s volatile northwestern region of Xinjiang yesterday, local officials said, killing 31 people and injuring more than 90.

The attack in the city of Urumqi was the bloodiest in a series of violent incidents over recent months that Chinese authorities have blamed on radical separatists from the country’s Muslim Uighur minority. The Xinjiang regional government said in a statement that the early morning attack was “a serious violent terrorist incident of a particularly vile nature.”

The two vehicles crashed through barriers at 7:50 a.m. and drove right into the crowds while setting off explosives, the statement said. The SUVs then crashed head-on and one of them exploded, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. It quoted an eyewitness as saying there were up to a dozen blasts in all.

Hours afterward, armed paramilitary police and SWAT units patrolled streets surrounding the scene of the attack. News photographers and videogra-

Marketplace bombing kills 31 in western China phers were told not to take pictures and were forced to delete their images.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.

Recent violence has been blamed on extremists seeking to overthrow Chinese rule in the region, which is home to the native Turkic-speaking Uighurs (pronounced WEE’-gurs) but has seen large inflows from China’s ethnic Han majority in recent decades. The death toll was the

highest for violence in Xinjiang since days-long riots in Urumqi in 2009 between Uighurs and Hans left almost 200 people dead.

Thursday’s attack also was the bloodiest single act of violence in Xinjiang in recent history.

“I heard four or five explosions. I was very scared. I saw three or four people lying on the ground,” Fang Shaoying, the owner of a small supermarket near the scene of the attack, told The Associated Press by phone.

aking a rare threat against the United States, a senior member of Somalia’s Islamic insurgent group that has carried out terrorist attacks abroad said yesterday that holy war will come to America and that Islam’s flag will, one day, fly over Washington.

The al-Shabab fighter, who has a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head, said in a speech broadcast on the rebels’ radio station that al-Shabab fighters would carry out jihad, or holy war, in Kenya and Uganda “and afterward, with God’s will, to America.” America is waging a war in the Horn of Africa because they are responsive to the Quran verses saying that the Islamic flag will fly in every corner of the world,” Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, also known as Fuad Shongole, said, referring to Islam’s holy book.

U.S. officials have long feared that any of the several dozen Somali-Americans who have left the U.S. to join the extremist fighters could travel back to the United States to carry out terror attacks. Senior al-Shabab leaders have rarely, if ever, publicly threatened to carry out attacks in the U.S. The threat comes amid a heightening of security by the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Kenya.

The U.S. ambassador in

EU immigration to Britain rises as Cameron faces vote test

T

he number of EU citizens moving to Britain rose 27 percent in 2013, an awkward statistic for Prime Minister David Cameron on the day Britons voted in European elections that an anti-immigration party looks set to win.

Immigration has joined the economy at the top of voter concerns, fuelling the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which wants Britain

to leave the European Union.

It is expected to top the poll in Britain, ahead of the opposition Labour party and Cameron’s Conservatives, when results are announced on Sunday part of a marathon election taking place across the 28-nation EU. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said yesterday that the overall net inflow of long-term migrants to Britain rose to 212,000 last year from 177,000 in 2012.

More than half a million arrived to live in the UK, compared with 314,000 who left. Cameron wants to cut immigration, but cannot control numbers arriving from Europe because EU citizens have the right to live and work anywhere in the bloc a fact UKIP cites as a key argument for Britain to pull out.

Opposition parties latched on to the figures, with Labour saying the government’s immigration pledge was “in shreds”.

Nairobi, in a letter sent to embassy employees last week, said he has requested additional Kenyan and American security personnel and is reducing the size of the embassy staff because of an increase in terrorist threats in Kenya. The letter said additional police are already patrolling around the embassy and that more assets would arrive from Washington.

U.S. Ambassador, Robert Godec called the number of recent terror attacks, threats and warnings in Kenya “deeply concerning.” Al-Shabab carried out multiple suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda during the 2010 World Cup final, killing 70 people. Al-Shabab gunmen in September attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi, killing at least 67 people.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, which was relocated after al-Qaida’s 1998 bombing attack on both the facility and the embassy in Tanzania, killing 224 people in total, sits far off the road and is surrounded by thick walls.

Armed Marines have recently begun patrolling the grounds, wearing bullet-proof vests and helmets.

The U.S. Treasury Department in 2010 imposed sanctions on Shongole, which froze any assets he had in U.S. jurisdictions. Shongole sought asylum in Sweden in the 1990s and has Swedish citizenship. He returned to Somalia in the mid-2000s to fight with the Islamic Courts Union, a militant group that preceded al-Shabab. In his radio message, Shongole also threatened to launch more attacks in Kenya and Uganda. Both countries contribute troops to the African Union force waging war against al-Shabab inside Somalia.

“We swear by the almighty Allah that we’ll move the war into Kenya, so let’s see who suffers most,” said Shongole, who spoke before a noisy crowd of supporters. “If one Somali girl is killed by their soldiers in Somalia, we shall murder their girls at home.”

Suarez undergoes surgery ahead of World Cup

Sagna completes medical at Man City

}p-52

}p-52

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

Brazil: Adebayor backs Eagles, writes off Elephants

51

}p-54 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

FRIday, MAY 23, 2014

That Poland’s Ernst Wilimowski became the first player in World Cup history to score four goals in a single game when he netted four times against Brazil in a first-round match in 1938

Enyeama’s form big boost to Eagles Enyeama(left) and Ike Shorunmu

Enyeama

Glasgow: Golden powerlifter tasks FG over facilities Mercy Jacob

G

old medallist at the last Paralympics Powerlifting World Championship in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Ijeoma Iherobiem, has called on the Federal Government to upgrade the training

equipment used by the country’s powerlifters.

The equipment are at the gymnasium of the National Stadium, Lagos, and upgrading it urgently will enhance the country’s performance at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

“We need government’s in-

tervention in our training gym because most of the equipment there are obsolete. Some of them are not even up to standard. And it has made life difficult for us.

To make matters worse, some of our athletes don’t have standard wheelchairs for movement,” she said.

Iherobiem, who is still celebrating her gold medal from the World Championship, however made a clarion call to the National Sports Commission to hasten up and call the powerlifting team to camp for proper preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Games, stressing CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

SportL

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52

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

Anthony Ujah

Super Eagles and FC Cologne striker

Best food : Pou Best nded drin Yam a k : Malt nd Egusi Best colo soup ur : Blue Best city visite Best d: Hambu club su rg pporte Best car: d: Ch Infin elsea Best ity fx FC desig ner: Best L ouis perfume Vuitto Best : Dies n musi e l c: Hip Best H op musi cian: Best Tufac acto e Idibia r : Leon Best ardo actress Di Cap Best : Gen rio eviev comp e Nnaji etiti eratio ns Cup on ever atte nded : Fifa Conf ed-

Suarez undergoes surgery ahead of World Cup

U

ruguay striker Luis Suarez has undergone keyhole surgery on his knee and is expected to recover in time for the World Cup. The mother of the 27-year-old Liverpool striker says he had surgery Thursday to repair damage to his meniscus. Sandra Diaz tells The Associated Press that the surgery was successful and that he is expected to recover in 2-3 weeks.

Ronaldo, Bale will start - Anceolotti

C

Uruguay plays its first match at the World Cup against Costa Rica on June 14. The team will then face England on June 19 and Italy on June 24.

The Uruguayan football association has yet to release information on Suarez.

Suarez, who scored a league-leading 31 goals for Liverpool, was voted player of the year in England by the player’s association.

Suarez

arlo Ancelotti confirmed the On the question asked about news that both Cristiano Ron- both the players missing the trainaldo and Gareth Bale will start ing session with the team Ancelotti in the Champions league final. Both said ”Bale didn’t train because he Ronaldo and Bale have faced injury did specific work in the gym. We issues off late, which had only ex- preferred that he did that work in tended Real’s list of injured players the gym and he didn’t need to go out which also include Karim Benzema onto the field. and Pepe.

There was a sense of anxiousness among Real Madrid supporters whether two of their star performers will be fit for the Champions League final. But this news revealed by the Real Madrid coach must have given them a sign of relief.

Bale (left) and Ronaldo celebrating

Transfer Updates

Sagna completes medical at Man City

M

anuel Pellegrini has won his first battle over Louis van Gaal by capturing Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna.

The France full back has agreed a three-year deal at Manchester City worth - inclusive of add-ons and bonuses £150,000-per-week after choosing them ahead of neighbours United.

City’s move for the Frenchman was at such an advanced stage at the pointofUnited’sfirstcontactwiththeplayer’srepresentativesthatbarring a total collapse in talks, City were always in pole position to sign Sagna.

Mourinho targets unsettled Toure

Y

aya Toure’s mysterious ‘birthdaygate’ episode could be set a fresh twist as Jose Mourinho bids to bring the Manchester City midfielder to Chelsea.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Mourinho is keeping tabs on the situation and may attempt to deal a major blow to one of Chelsea’s title rivals by attempting to snatch their most pivotal player.

Man Utd end interest in Kroos

M

anchester United have ended their interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos after Louis van Gaal said he did not want the player at Old Trafford.

It was reported this morning that United had agreed a deal for Kroos, but that information was false.

The player had been pursued as a key summer signing by Van Gaal’s predecessor David Moyes, with the team considered weak in central midfield.

sport fanzone

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

53

Re -Keshi’s 30-man list

Nigerians react to coach Stephen Keshi’s provisional list for the forthcoming World Cup holding in Brazil

Young players should have replaced Yobo, Osaze

Happy Brown is out, Yobo in

I

Keshi

Martins, Taiwo should have been there

am glad Brown Ideye was not included because he disappointed me at the Confederations Cup. I expected more from him at the Confederations Cup but he failed me. I am happy Keshi deemed it fit to recall our captain, Joseph Yobo, but I don’t understand why he decided not to do the same to Kalu Uche, who is another very experienced player and was our best player at South Africa 2010.

I

expected players like Obafemi Martins and Taye Taiwo in the team as they have much more experience than so many of the young players that we have on that list. I am not saying the list is bad; it is a good list, but I am a bit disappointed they weren’t included.

-Osuolale Quadri, Newspapers vendor

Ik Uche deserves to be there

I

am not happy they didn’t call up Ikechukwu Uche despite all the goals he has been scoring this season. He is a very good player and I have so much love for him. He is a player who, on his day, can make something out of nothing. I am happy that Keshi has decided to call back Osaze Odemwingie who, like Ikechukwu Uche, can make something out of nothing. But I would have been happier if both players had been recalled.

-Iyke Ikechukwu, Businessman

Eagles are average players

F

or now, Nigeria cannot boast of world-class footballers like in the 1990s. What we have at the moment are average players that cannot be said to be neither here nor there.So, I think the players Keshi called up are the best Nigeria can boast of. What this means is that we must begin sincerely to raise players that can compete with their peers anywhere in the world immediately.

-Eka Ini- Estate consultant

I support Keshi 100 per cent

I

am in full support of what Keshi is doing with the national team. If he believes those players he invited will give him the necessary result in Brazil, let him go ahead. Nobody gave him any chance going to South Africa especially with the bulk of rookies he travelled with, but what happened? The team won the trophy, a feat the so called good players failed to achieve for 19 good years. It is better to travel with disciplined players that are ready to die for one another, than to bring together bunch of indiscipline talents.

-Adebowale Adetunji, Entertainer

W

Agbim is my fear

ith exception of one or two players on that list, we still have a reasonable squad. My worry is the goalkeeping department.

We have Vincent Enyeama as the first choice who is very good and reliable, Austin Ejide is as good as Enyeama but prone to injury.

God forbid, if something happens to both of them in Brazil, I can’t put my money on Agbim to be in goal, I will rather ask an outfield player to be in goal than to rely on Agbim.

- Onaopemipo Aluko, Printer

C

alling back Joseph Yobo is something everybody has been clamouring for, and we all know Osaze Odemwingie is one of the best strikers around but because of his outspoken nature a lot of people don’t like him. But regardless of the inclusion of these two players, I still feel more young players should have been included in that provisional list such as those boys that played at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup. How old was Pele when Brazil took him to the World Cup in 1958? He was only 17, so why not take one or more of these kids to Brazil 2014 so that they can gain some experience ahead of the 2018 World Cup instead of going with some players we know will only remain on the bench throughout the competition.

- Friday Onyekwere, Businessman

-Mayowa Kayode, Student

Uche is missing link

Happy for Osaze, Yobo

T

he list is okay except for the exclusion of Ike Uche. He has been one of the best players in Spain this season and cannot be compared to other strikers we have in the team such as Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa or even Emmanuel Emenike. Yes, he didn’t have a good tournament in South Africa, but he is still a more accomplished striker than all the other strikers in the team.

I

am happy with the general outlook of the list especially with the inclusion of Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo.

I am a huge fan of these two players, and if they both make the final team for the World Cup, I am confident we will do well in Brazil.

-Ernest Anozie, Trader

Martins deserves call-up

I

wish the Super Eagles all the best in Brazil but it will be more difficult for them without Obafemi Martins. I don’t know what he has done to the coach; maybe it is because he now plays in America, but he should have been given a chance.

IK Uche’s exclusion a minus

T

he exclusion of IK Uche is the only minus to the squad Keshi named for the World Cup. But I must say that Nigeria need to begin the search for quality players because this World Cup has exposed us as an average football nation.

-Dickson Oniga, Trader

Keshi took Uche issue too far

H

ow can Keshi give this kind of list and expect us to be happy? In fact I have lost hope of Nigeria going far at the World Cup. I did not expect Keshi to take his disagreement with IK Uche too far. Well, let us see the magic he will perform with these players.

-Ikechukwu Nwansugbe, Trader

Ameobi, Nwofor are surprise inclusions

T

he list is okay, it is a Nigerian thing where all ethnic groups. must be represented. Keshi’s list has represented that. For any coach to succeed in Nigeria he must ensure no group is left out. The surprise for me is the inclusion of Uche Nwofor and Shola Ameobi.

Ifeanyi Njoku, Trader

Mikel, Moses should be out

K

-Tajudeen Adewale, Student

-Best Adindu, Clergyman

Ruben, Agbim, Joel do not merit it

I

don’t know what some names are doing on that list. In-form players like Chinedu Obasi, IK Uche and Dele Aiyenugba were left out of the team while players like Ruben Gabriel, Joel Obi and Chigozie Agbim found their way into the list. I remembered Gabriel went to South Africa injured. Joel Obi has been injured for long too while Agbim shows he cannot be relied upon in big games. For me, Aiyenugba would have been a better option instead of Agbim. The CHAN competition really exposed the guy. All the same, I wish the team all the best.

-Bosun Olabelurin, Accountant

eshi is biased. Most players on the list are bench warmers at their various clubs while some players like Ik Uche who are doing well were dropped.

The way I see this team, the highest they can go is the second round. I don’t even know what Mikel and Moses are doing in that team when they are not playing regularly at their clubs.

-Adewole Saheed, Worker

The crew Chimaobi Uchendu Ifeanyi Ibeh Ajibade Olusesan Charles Ogundiya Mercy Jacob

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Brazil: Adebayor backs Eagles, writes off Elephants

Emmanuel Tobi

N

igerian born Togolese star, Emmanuel Adebayor, has expressed confidence in the abilities of the Super Eagles to give Africa good representation at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil while

writing off the Elephants of Ivory Coast.

Other African representatives are Algeria, Cameroun and Ghana. The Tottenham Hotspur of England striker while appraising the chances of the five representatives backed Nigeria to go farthest of all the teams.

Enyeama’s form big boost to Eagles -Shorunmu Ajibade Olusesan

S

uper Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has said that national team will benefit immensely from the current form of Vincent Enyeama at the World Cup after the goalie inspired his French side, Lille, to a Champions League ticket.

Enyeama had played down attention on World Cup, preferring to focus on helping his team claim Champions League spot. Lille beat Lorient 4-1 last weekend to pick the ticket.

And Shorunmu said he was happy that his first choice goalkeeper achieved his dream, saying that will serve as a big motivation for the former Maccabi Haifa goal tender at the Mundial.

According to him, Enyeama’s form is very critical to the team’s campaign in Brazil and gaining a strong psychological strength would spur the goalie into greater exploits at the global soccer showcase.

“I am very happy for Enyeama on the qualification of his team for the Champions League. I believe he deserves it

because he’s worked so hard to have a wonderful season in France. He keeps learning and always gives his best, you can remember that he broke record and winning the champion’s league ticket is a worthy reward for his efforts.

“The good thing about this is that, he can now concentrate on the World Cup with a strong mental state. We expect him to give his best in Brazil, he is one of the leaders in the team we expect him to carry others,” he said.

Nigeria will take on Scotland in an international friendly match on March 28th in London and Shorunmu says that the match is critical to the team’s build up.

“We are looking forward to a good match. Though it is a friendly match, it is very important for our preparation.

We are not under any pressure, not at all, you don’t really need to win this kind of match but to assess your team, your players, “he said.

The World Cup holds between June 12 and July 13 withh Nigeria competing for honours in Group F along with Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina.

“Out of these teams, it [my choice for which of the African teams will go) would be Nigeria because of their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi [the coach] - he knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria, ”he told the Daily Express “And they have Victor Moses, who is a great friend of mine, and I like the way he plays. Obi Mikel played a lot for Chelsea this year and showed how good he is.

Their goalkeeper is very good. Nigeria have all the ingredients to be good at the World Cup.” Adebayour however wrote off the Ivory Coast saying, “I never trust them.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Adebayor

They are the country that will always let you down. How come for the last four or five years have they not won the African Cup of Nations?

“There’s no togetherness. Everyone wants to be the hero. Everybody wants to be the one to finish on a high.”

NFF, Obuh disagree over unpaid salary figure Jude Opara

Abuja

W

ith barely three weeks to the kick-off of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation and former Coach of the National U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, John Obuh, may be heading for a collision course as both parties have sharp disagreement over the actual amount of money the NFF is due to pay to the former national team coach.

Authoritative sources at the secretariat of the NFF revealed to New Telegraph that both the football house and Obuh are claiming different figures as outstanding indebtedness for the over five years he served as national coach.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently approved some undisclosed amount for the

NFF through the National Sports Commission to help settle backlog of salaries owed the national football coaches. In fact it was that grant that helped the NFF to clear months of unpaid salaries owed the coaches, including Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, who was also paid advanced wages that covers first round of the World Cup in Brazil.

The NFF at the weekend claimed that it has settled all it owes Coach Obuh in the terms of outstanding salaries, bonuses and other allowances after it made a release of N7m. Obuh was said to have submitted a bill of about N25m.

It was further revealed that from the claims and counter claims, it looks like the NFF has no records of what it owes the coach and that the federation has also shown no interest in meeting with the former employee to reconcile the figure.

Glasgow: Golden powerlifter tasks FG over facilities CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

that further delay could affect results.

“NSC has been trying for us but we need them to do more,” said the powerlifter in an interview with New Telegraph. “With less than two months to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow we are not yet in camp.

“Early camping is very vital for athletes preparing for competition especially the special sports athletes who have problems with mobility. Training on my own is her-

culean because it takes me at least three hours to move from my base to the gym.

“I live in Ikorodu and usually leave home by 3am only to get to the National Stadium between 6am and 7am. But if we are in camp, I will concentrate and train more.

“I thought that by now we would have been in camp because it is not up to two months before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games,” stressed Iherobiem.

Flying Eagles: Success out as Tanzanians arrive Ifeanyi Ibeh

Basketball action between Customs and Union Bank during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Male Basketball League at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere.

Canada 2014: Dedevbo drops six players Mercy Jacob

F

alconets coach, Peter Dedevbo, has dropped six players as he prepares his team for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup slated for Canada later in the year.

The players who were showed the

exit door are: Sidi Ajibola (FCRobo Lagos), Lilian Tula (Taraba Queens), David Florence (Tewo Queens, Oyo), Uchegbo Chidinma (Yaba Queens, Lagos) and Ayomide Ojo, (Police Team, Lagos) while Fasilat Adeyemo was decamped for her failure to report three weeks after camp resumed.

G

ranada of Spain striker, Isaac Success, has been ruled out of Saturday’s African Youth Championship qualifier between Nigeria’s Flying Eagles and Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Stars in Kaduna.

Success was due to join the team on Tuesday but is yet to leave his base in Spain.

According to reports from the Flying Eagles’ camp, the striker, who is on loan at Granada from Italian Serie A side Udinese, will fly to Nigeria on Friday to commence his end of season break.

That however means he won’t be able

to join up with the rest of the Nigerian team in time for Saturday’s game, and Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has gone ahead to rule him out of the encounter taking place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

“I spoke to the player and after our discussion it was best he does not feature on Saturday for us,” Manu was quoted as saying by the team’s media officer, Samm Audu.

Saturday’s opponents, Tanzania, arrived Kaduna Thursday afternoon with a 24-man contingent made up of 18 players and six officials after stopping over in Lagos the previous day.

News 55

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, May 23, 2014

APC solution to Nigeria's problem – Tinubu Mohammed Munirat Nasir GUSAU

Lagos State GovFerormer ernor and National Leadof the All Progressives

Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday described the APC as the only remedy to salvage the country out of its present problems.

Tinubu made the assertion while speaking in Gusau, Zamfara State where he commissioned a 27.5 km township road constructed by the Gusau Local Government in collaboration with the state government.

He said the performance of the governors of APC-led states have clearly demonstrated that the party is genuinely concerned about providing good governance, which is the panacea for

bringing an end to the current spate of crises in the country.

“APC is the cure for non-performance; it is the cure against poverty; it is the cure to failures and is also the cure for political malaria and ineptness.

When you approach Zamfara, you will see a lot of development that is going on, you will see transformation being embarked upon by this administration, you will see evidence of concrete development and not excuses,” he said.

He said the problems bedevilling the country is caused by bad governance and to get out of the present predicament, the ruling PDP must be voted out in 2015, so as for the APC to provide qualitative leadership as demonstrated by governors of the APC-led states.

Works Minister: FG spent N1.5 trillion on roads in 2013 Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

of N1.5 trillion Aeralsum was spent by the FedGovernment on the

maintenance and construction of roads across the six geo-political zones of the country in 2013.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, who made the disclosure yesterday, equally said that as a result of problems of road abuse in the nation, his ministry was planning to establish Road Assets Management System in collaboration with the World Bank.

This, according to him, is in addition to designing Right-of-Way Management and Maintenance Template.

Onolememen, while speaking at a Leadership Forum in Abuja, explained that the road projects covered 6,497 ki-

lometers in all parts of the country.

While giving the breakdown of the various construction and maintenance, the minister explained that roads in the South-West zone gulped N367 billion; North-EastN319 billion; North-Central-N275.6 billion, while South-East zone followed with N243 billion; NorthWest, N157 billion and South-South zone taking up N107.5 billion.

The minister explained further that road projects in the North Central covered a total of 30 road projects spanning 1,255.1 km; North East , 27 road projects covering 1,248.7 km; South East, 45 road projects spanning 1,196.8 km; South West, 30 road projects covering 1,101.4 km; North West, 30 roads of 1,040.e km and SouthSouth with 32 road projects of 655 km.

Power sector: BPE boss allays fear of banks' collapse Abdulwahab Isa

Abuja

T

he Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has dismissed as unfounded fears that credit exposures to successor companies in power sector may lead to the collapse of banks.

His clarification is against the backdrop of insinuation that banks are poised to take over some of the successor companies due to non servicing of the loans.

Speaking at an all-parties meeting in Abuja at a presentation to the owners of the Power Hold-

ing Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Successor Companies (SCS) by the Africa Energy Team of the World Bank, Dikki noted that the fears by some of the eminent takeover of SCS, due to the purported non servicing of loans or about the prospect of stress to the banks due to their exposure to SCS, were misplaced as the Successor Companies did not borrow directly from the banks for their own books.

He explained that no assets of the SCS were pledged as collateral, adding that it was the acquiring companies or SPVs that borrowed based on their cash flows and accounts.

L-R: Former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Anambra State, Dr. Ngozi Okafor; Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, at the formal presentation of a book to mark the Igwe's 73rd birthday in Onitsha...on Wednesday

3.27m

65% The percentage of West Africans that live in rural areas in 2010.

Source: Worldbank.org

The total population of Pyongyang, North Korea in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

29.47m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Korea Republic in 2011..

Source: Itu.int

Confab recommends modernised cattle rearing Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he National Conference yesterday resolved that an integrated development and livelihood modernisation programme be designed and implemented to address the issue of settling nomadic herdsmen into settled communities.

That would also help to stem the tide of violent conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and sedentary farmers.

The proposed modern settlements would be based on established cattle ranches with fodder development technologies including abattoirs, processors and other businesses along the livestock value chain.

This integrated development and modernisation programme is to be funded by both the federal and state governments in

states where such settlements are allowed and established.

In addition, the conference resolved that this integrated development programme should be undertaken and wrapped up within a period of five to 10 years after which such settlements should have become self sustaining with full integration of the nomadic herdsmen community into modern Nigerian political economy.

These resolutions followed a motion sponsored

by Jaiye Gaskia, a delegate representing Civil Society and 13 others.

In the motion, Gaskia recalled that the issue of establishing grazing reserves and ranches for nomadic herdsmen became contentious on Wednesday during the consideration of the report on Citizenship and Immigration.

According to Gaskia,

the goal of the motion was to address the issue which was stepped down because of its contentious nature.

The conference was torn apart on Wednesday, following a proposal seeking to encourage state governments in the northern part of the country to set up ranches and grazing reserves for the use of the nomadic Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

Tempers rose amongst delegates as Dr Magdalyne Dura from Benue State proposed that there was need for the states of origin of these nomads to invest in the establishment of ranches and grazing lands in their states to pave the way for the herdsmen to rear their animals in these designated places and reduce their penchant to move from place to place in search of pastures.

The proposal was about

to be put to vote when Mallam Naseer Kura of the basic Rights Action, Kano raised a point of order against the proposal.

Even with these two conflicting positions, Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, moved to put the matter to vote but there were more protests from those sympathetic to the cause of the Fulani herdsmen.

The matter provoked more angry reactions as speaker after speaker spoke for and against the proposal.

Presiding officers of the conference were forced to adjourn further debates on the issue as the issue was fast degenerating into threats and name calling. Akinyemi said that the matter would have to be kept in abeyance to allow for more consultations before the conference could return to the issue.

Genocide allegation diversionary, says DHQ Emmanuel Onani

T

he Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has described as "diversionary" and "unfortunate", an allegation of genocide levelled against the military by a Kaduna based cleric.

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

Gumi had, a few days ago, posted pictures of alleged genocide, by troops in the frontline of the war on terror, in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

However, the DHQ, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, dissociated the military from any in-

volvement, whatsoever, in any form of extra-judicial killings.

The statement noted that the allegation was "the manifestation of yet another grand design to tarnish and denigrate the image of Nigerian Armed Forces."

It reads in full: "The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has found the latest allegation of genocide against the Nigerian military by a Kaduna-based cleric as not only diversionary but unfortunate.

The DHQ wishes to unequivocally dissociate the Nigerian military from any involvement in the al-

leged genocide as depicted in the graphic pictures which appeared in the front page of Blueprint newspapers of 22 May, 2014 edition entitled, “Alleged Killing field in Borno.”

"While the military will continue to respect freedom of expression of Nigerians, it will not submit to desperate blackmail and propaganda aimed at diverting attention and pitching public opinion against the armed forces.

"Although the real motive of the report and presentation with the apparent intention to impute military complicity in the event depicted in the pic-

tures is yet to unfold, the DHQ sees this allegation as the manifestation of yet another grand design to tarnish and denigrate the image of Nigerian Armed Forces.

"The Nigerian military remains a professional force whose operations is guided by high standard of professional ethics and will not be party to such dastardly act. At no time or event in the course of the counter-insurgency operation have the troops embarked on the extrajudicial killing of civilians as exhibited in the gory pictures."

World Record

On Marble

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

– Douglas Adams

Grumpy looking ocean creature, blobfish, has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the ugly Animal Preservation Society.

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha FRIday, MAY 23, 2014

N150

A Paris moment to ponder O Graffiti ld sayings, like former colonial masters, can show up at the most unexpected time and manner. “See Paris and die”, without a warning, resurfaced with a ghoulish stealthiness almost a week ago, as leaders of Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad, Niger, and Benin jetted into the French capital on May 17.They had been invited by the French President to an emergency meeting in the wake of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram.

The old saying was supposedly birthed in 1867 during a World Fair in Paris, as some kind of advertisement catchphrase.

“See Paris and die”, implied that the wonders on display were so spectacular that if one died viewing them, one would have no cause to regret. Thereafter it became a slogan for the city, given its architectural and fashion edge in Europe at the time, and indicating that it was a place -once seenthat would leave one to die without regret, since one would have seen the best sites available in the world.

The West African leaders were not there for sightseeing. The Summit was a reaction to a sudden pro-interventionist hysteria to save the abducted Chibok girls. President Hollande’s offer had come sharply on the steps of the British and American offers of assistance, as Nigeria literally yelled for help. Yet everything evokes something of the past, just like the slogan. The scramble for Africa had been conducted with such a similar urgency coated with the same tendency and undertones. It drastically altered the history and geography of the continent.

The Boko Haram menace which has been growing in severity within the last three years, took on a gruesome hue this year. Indeed on the eve of the centenary celebrations of Nigeria’s amalgamation, 40 school boys were slaughtered in their school premises at Buni Yadi. The next day, the centenary festivity kicked-off in Abuja with leaders of several countries in attendance. As they toasted and speechified, not even a minute of silence was observed in honour of the slain boys.

There had been previous abductions of schoolgirls, and the last known incident before Chibok was the case of 20 girls taken from another location, and their fate has remained unknown. This time, but for the Twitter outrage, it would have also been business as usual for the Nigerian leadership, leaders of the neighbouring countries, and the leaders of the countries now scrambling to offer all kinds of assistance.

There is a growing feeling that humanitarian gesture is an opportunistic façade to

EMMAN USMAN SHEHU prohabe@hotmail.com - 08051614969 (sms only)

exert new influence or protect existing influence on various turfs. Although not part of the initial scramble for Africa, the United States has aggressively sought to make up for lost ground. In whatever manner it has sought the creation of the highly controversial African Command(AFRICOM), which even the ailing President Yar’Adua decoded as a Trojan Horse and defiantly refused the gift, the fact is that it is hinged on an existing policy of exploiting the resources of the continent in general, and the West African region in particular.

Xavier Best contextualizes it accurately: “Shortly after the Second World war US policy makers decided that the African continent ‘was to be exploited for the reconstruction of Europe.’ In the following years the US contributed to this exploitation by supporting the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the apartheid government in South Africa and brutal dictators like Mobutu Sese Seko in Congo and Samuel Doe in Liberia. Nothing has fundamentally changed since this period. In fact, US involvement in Africa has grown since the creation of the US Africa Command also known as AFRICOM. Scholar Stephen Graham points out how AFRICOM has targeted Nigeria’s oil wealth. In his book, Cities Under Siege: The New Military Urbanism, he writes that AFRICOM ‘is being established with the explicit goal of dealing with oil disruption in Nigeria and West Africa.’”

France too has continued to exert unrelenting control over the economies of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, the Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo, through ensuring that most of them do not have enduring democratic structures. The spectre of dictatorship looms large over most of these former French colonies assisted by the former colonial master.

It is no secret that the instability in the Central African Republic has been fuelled by the unceasing intrusions of France at various times, including funding political crisis through French oil company ELF (now TotalElfFina). These and other in-

trigues have been brought to light by a recent documentary series, “The French Connection in Africa”.

China’s growing influence on the continent has added a worrisome dimension in the competition for the control of resources. Discerning observes also know that through surrogates like private contracting firms, and inept and corrupt indigenous leaders and administrations, these countries are fuelling the instability in various parts of the continent as part of the subtle turf wars, sometimes based on pre-determined plans of countries breaking-up, designed by specialist think-tanks like RAND. The intervention in Libya was based on two major positions developed by RAND. First, using the humanitarian ploy that Ghaddafi would slaughter the citizens opposed to him. Second was the need to show that the US strongly supported the so-called Arab Spring uprisings. Despite warnings by critics of the possibility of unintended consequences like instability in Libya, and the rest of the region through the uncontrolled flow of arms, the RAND recommendation was activated. France even brazenly defied international laws, to supply an array of arms to the opposition. Since the fall of Ghaddafi, the prediction of a Pandora’s Box being opened has been fulfilled. The proliferation of an assortment of weapons from Libya’s heavily –stocked armouries, as well as those supplied

by France, have been traced to the unrest in Mali, Algeria, Egypt, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Thus various jihadist groups in the region have also been strengthened. Apart from having training camps in Libya and environs, they now have access to sophisticated weaponry and these illicit arms, Chivvis and Andrew Liepman state, are “ fuelling exiting conflicts and enriching the arsenals of a range of non-State actors in the region and beyond.”

There is a strong impression that a lot of Ghaddafi’s fortune have been ware-housed in Paris by French and Israeli secret service, and are being used as a “slush-fund” to pay terrorists, assassins and the mainstream media. A recent CBS television interview with an alleged Boko Haram member neatly fits into this paradigm.

The Paris Summit is actually a missed opportunity for ECOWAS and AU. This intervention should have been wholly owned by then from the Buni Yadi incident. However, since our leaders have gone to Paris, they must not shy away from the huge responsibilities calling for their attention.

The Nigerian leadership must ensure that every foreign assistance is clearly stated within a short-tem duration strongly focused on rescuing the girls, and drastically decimating the operational capabilities of Boko Haram. Going forward, plans must be drawn to dispassionately address the factors, especially the economic deficits that created a fertile environment for the insurgency and its ideology to thrive.

ECOWAS and AU leaders should take the Paris Summit as a grave indictment. They should regain the initiative by being aggressively proactive in finding ways of assisting Nigeria to overcome the insurgency. It is also needful to seriously implement relevant plans to address all known spots of crisis on the continent, establish strong democratic institutions and innovative economic advancement, including saving the Lake Chad.

The Lake Chad dilemma, one of Africa’s largest bodies of fresh water which has shrunk by 90 percent in fifty years, poses a devastating threat to Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Libya, Central African Republic and Nigeria, and is a contributory factor to insecurity in the region. It would be tragic if African leaders allow a second version of the Berlin Conference or Paris Summit to manifest through their inability to understand the reality confronting them.

OmoBaba

FG ACCUSES NORTHERN GOVS OF LAXITY IN FIGHTING TERROR - News

...Kettle calling the pot black!

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