Monday, march 30, 2015 binder1

A media partner of Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Monday, March 30, 2015

Vol. 2 No. 404

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Presidential poll results

suspense 48 hours after presidential election, Nigerians and the world await announcement of the winner with bated breath l PDP, APC trade accusations over results lEU urges political leaders to emulate voters' patience, dedication lBuhari calls for vigilance lAkpabio wins senatorial seat, Dankigari loses in Kebbi lPDP steals Kalu's victory in Abia North lAPC protests election in Rivers lINEC declares results today lElection results from states Jonathan

Buhari

2

News

MONday, March 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC protests in Rivers over presidential election Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

P

rotesters yesterday marched on Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to show their disapproval to the conduct of the presidential election in the state.

The protesters were led by the All Progressives Congress ( APC) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe. They were accompa-

nied by Peterside's running mate, Hon. Asita O. Asita, some federal and state lawmakers, as well as commissioners.

The crowd, chanting “we no go gree ooh, we o gree” as they embarked on their protest, called for the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan.

They vowed that APC would not accept the result of the elections because it was allegedly rigged to favour President Goodluck Jonathan of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They demanded a re-run of the election in the state, citing intimidations, irregularities, just as they alleged that APC members were prevented from casting their votes, while key party members were arrested and others hunted for arrest.

They accused PDP supporters of being behind killings of its campaigners, and denounced the vote there as "a sham and a charade".

Presidential Results (LGAs) ekiti STATE LGAs

Ado-Ekiti Efon Ekiti South-West Ekiti-West Emure Gbonyin Ido-Osi Ikere-Ekiti Ikole Ilejemeje Irepodun/Ifelodun Ise-Orun Moba Oye Ekiti East Ijero

OSUN STATE APC

PDP

14, 414 3, 103 7,195 8, 001 5, 353 6, 334 7, 433 7,990 10,026 3,000 7,970 5,675 7,492 8, 574 8,274 9,498

25, 411 5, 699 10;220 10, 003 6, 822 8,792 12, 479 14,091 13, 306 3,799 11, 395 9,158 8, 687 11, 262 11,922 13,420

APC

PDP

23,000 31,000 34,000 28,755 24,542 32,662 38,085

4,999 8,840 3,047 8,159 2,921 4,819 1,888

kano STATE LGAs

Kibiya Gabasawa Albasu Bagawai Kunchi Tsanyawa Gaya

OgUN STATE LGAs

Odogbolu Ijebu North East Remo North Ewekoro Abeokuta North Obafemi-Owode Sagamu Ijebu-Ode Odeda Imeko-Afon Ogun Waterside Ado-Odo/Ota Abeokuta South Ijebu East LGA Egbado South Ijebu North Ifo LGA Egbado North Ikenne Ipokia

APC

PDP

11,623 7,638 6,164 9,626 21,213 15,207 15,761 14,043 11,102 7,657 7,076 37,381 35,878 9,109 14,169 14,410 27,353 16,459 8,443 17,974

11,405 6,163 9,278 3,227 5,772 5,786 17,263 8,962 4,456 12,153 8,063 15,252 10,062 10,045 10,491 20,500 8,645 13,408 11,503 15,546

ONDO STATE LGAs

Ifedore Akoko Northwest Ose Ondo West Akure North Owo Akoko South-east Idanre

APC

PDP

14,459 17,997 11,300 18,923 13,092 27, 290 7,245 12, 654

8,031 12,048 13,446 20,243 7,817 13,757 6,769 12,290

LGAs

Boluwaduro Ifelodun Ila Boripe Ife North Ife South Ife East Olorunda Atakumosa West Atakumosa East Orolu Isokan Ifedayo Egbedore Ayedade Ola-oluwa Odo-otin Ilesa West Irepodun Ayedire Obokun Ilesha East Oriade Ife Central Iwo Osogbo Ede South Ede North Irewole Ejigbo

APC

PDP

5,288 17,040 11,576 12,152 8,369 9,793 12,513 23,342 6,639 8,668 8,466 10,187 3,824 9,577 13,560 8,125 13,351 11,714 12,485 8,280 10,506 13,229 12,724 13,326 21,361 35,348 12,068 16,014 16,775 17,303

4,413 9,847 7,647 7,457 7,921 9,283 15,532 7,958 4,734 5,418 6,360 6,974 3,786 6,507 9,466 5,910 10,230 5,145 7,750 6,323 9,325 5,740 10,490 18072 11,593 11,567 6,899 9,628 7,566 10,388

APC

PDP

OYO STATE LGAs

Oyo West

16,431

5,381

Atisbo

9,090

6,392

Saki West

7,208

5,368

Iwajowa

8,715

7,389

Ona Ara

12,291

7,175

Ibarapa East

10,482

7,009

Atiba

16,755

6,443

Ido

17,235

6,538

Oluyole

19,642

6,956

Kajola

14,538

11,045

Afijio

8,001

5,738

Oorelope

9,425

5,384

10,380

4,979

7,257

7,605

Iseyin

24,075

10,569

Oyo East

17,105

6, 326

Oriire

10,161

13,238

Saki West

25,965

7,008

Irepo Itesiwaju

Hundreds of protesters chanted "APC" outside INEC office in Port Harcourt.

"There was no election in Rivers," APC polling agent Achinike WilliamWobodo told Reuters, calling for a fresh ballot.

Despite the heavy presence of security operatives, who refused to allow Peterside and others access to the INEC headquarters, the governorship candidate insisted on entering to register their grievances.

The protesters stayed for more than 30 minutes at the gate, with some of them sitting as more security operatives arrived.

Abe, who spoke to journalists, alleged that he was manhandled in his Bera hometown in Gokana Local Government Area during the election and was disenfranchised.

He accused the police of working for the PDP to persecute APC members.

But the state chapter of PDP dismissed the APC's allegations, saying the election was credible.

The state’s party chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, said in a statement that there was nothing wrong with the election that should warrant APC’s

call for its cancellation.

He described the APC as behaving like “bad losers,” and dismissed the allegations that PDP members adopted violence during the elections.

"Rivers State is a traditional PDP state and even if the elections are conducted a million times, the PDP will win here.

Was the APC expecting Rivers people to vote for another presidential candidate other than President Goodluck Jonathan?

That must be a wishful thinking," Obuah said.

Irrespective of PDP's dismissal of the APC's allegations, a team of foreign election observers condemned the presidential election in Rivers State, questioning the election’s validity due to lapses in some of the places they visited.

Speaking on behalf of the observers, Jennifer Lynne, the executive director of The Contact Project, said there were some obstructions in the delivery of electoral materials, as well as violence and intimidation during the elections.

She urged the candidates to enforce the peace accord, stressing that things went on smoothly

generally, because the use of biometric capture machine by INEC was a formidable step for the votes of Nigerians to count.

She said: “As many have reported, we would confirm the difficulties of availability and security of result sheets. Ranging from distribution to collection, many stations were compromised due to the handling of these materials.

“In addition, as widely reported, we observed severe challenges due to the dysfunctional card readers, causing lengthy delays, voter denial, and reporting irregularities.

Further concerns include the tampering of electoral materials, question of security concerns, and reports of misconduct by election officials and candidates.”

She said the voting was marred in some councils in Rivers State, including Omuma, Tai, Ahoada East, Ogu/Bolo, Bonny and Khana.

According to her, the observers will make a full report on the state’s election to INEC, “as a part of a larger observation feedback provided by various organisations in Nigeria.”

NEW TELEGRAPH MONday, March 30, 2015

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4

Travel Advisory

MONday, March 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

5

NEW TELEGRAPH MONday, March 30, 2015

PDP faults results posted on social media Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the results of the presidential and National Assembly results posted on social media and said they were being planted by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to instigate violence when the main results are announced by the electoral umpire.

The party, however, claimed that reports from its polling agents across the country revealed that

PDP is winning in 23 states with 64 per cent of the votes cast to APC's 14 states and 36 per cent.

Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, at a press conference yesterday, accused APC of using two media houses and social media to misinform Nigerians of the outcome of the elections even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not announced the results of the elections.

Fani-Kayode said: "Two opposition media houses and their associates in the

social media went as far as to shamelessly claim that President Goodluck Jonathan lost in my polling unit and in my ward in Ile-Ife, when in actual fact the president not only won in my polling booth and ward but he also won in virtually every other ward in the four local government areas of Ile Ife in Osun state where I come from."

He further denied that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Senator David Mark and other PDP leaders lost their polling units and wards to APC.

Lamido, speaker, senators lose wards in Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman DUTSE

G

over nor Sule Lamido led the pack of prominent politicians that lost their respective wards in the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Jigawa State.

Speaker, Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Adamu Sarawa, Senators Abdulmumini Zareko and Danladi sankara lost their elections.

Lamido, who is the North-West Coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Cam-

paign Organisation, could not deliver his polling unit for his party.

At Lamido’s Zai polling unit in Cheko ward in Bamaina, President Jonathan polled 36 votes whereas the All progressives congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhmmadu Buhari, polled over 1,000 votes.

Result from Galamawa polling unit of Dutse metropolitan indicated that Buhari defeated Jonathan with 1,750 votes against seven votes of the president’s.

In the senatorial contest, the results so far shown that the opposi-

tion APC have won all the three seats.

For example, Hon. Sabo Nakudu of the APC polled 3,976 votes against Senator Zareko of the PDP who scored 2,265 votes at Cheko ward of Governor Lamido.

Nakudu defected from the PDP to APC. Other PDP serving senators that lost their seats to APC were Senator Danladi Sankara, who lost to Abdullahi Ojo of the APC for the Jigawa North-West Senatorial District.

Speaker Sarawa also lost to Hon. Ubale Shitu of the APC.

PDP clears Senate, Rep seats in Ekiti Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the three senatorial seats in Ekiti State as well as six House of Representatives seats declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The development meant that those currently occupying the positions on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not returning to the National Assembly.

Former Deputy Governor to Governor Ayo Fayose, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, polled a total of 62,344 votes to defeat the incumbent, Senator Tony Adeniyi of the APC who polled 37,932 votes.

Also in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Mrs

Fatimat Raji-Rasaki of the PDP polled 54,459 votes to defeat Mr. Gbenga Olofin of the APC, who scored 41, 607.

In Ekiti North Senatorial District, Hon. Duro Faseyi, a former member of the House of Representatives scored 50, 023 to defeat, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi of the APC who polled 35,376 votes.

In the House of Representatives election, Mr. Ayotunde Oladimeji of the PDP polled 35,494 to defeat former Commissioner for Environment under Kayode Fayemiled government and APC candidate, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, who scored 17,768 in Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

In Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Mr. Kehinde Agboola of the PDP scored 24, 129 to defeat a serving member of

the House of Representatives and APC candidate, Hon. Bimbo Daramola of the APC who polled 17,768.

Others include: IdoOsi/Moba/Ilejemeje, Chief Thaddeus Aina of the PDP, 23, 585; Hon. Robinson Ajiboye of the APC, 15, 834. In Ijero/ Ekiti West/Efon Federal Constituency, Olumide Oni of the PDD polled 27,658 votes to defeat Oyetunde Ojo of the APC, 20, 083.

Also in Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East Federal Constituency, Akin Awodumila of the PDP polled 25,648 votes to defeat Hon. Bamidele Faparusi of the APC who polled 17,473 votes.

In Ekiti South-West/ Ikere/ Ise-Orun Federal Constituency, Segun Adekola of the PDP polled 33,288 votes to defeat Dr. Ife Arowosoge of the APC who polled 19,432 votes.

6

MONday, March 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Finally, US halts oil imports from Nigeria

Adeola Yusuf

T

he United States, hitherto Nigeria's largest crude oil importer, has finally stopped the importation of Nigerian light sweet crude.

The volume of Nigeria's crude exports to US refineries had earlier witnessed drastic reduction and "on-and-off supplies" in the last one year as explorations of shale oil in the US yield more fruits.

But the Federal Government officially confirmed at the weekend that Washington has stopped buying oil from Nigeria.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), operator of government's stake in oil business, described this crisis, which also affects other African exporters of sweet crude, as a major "market disruption."

Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dahwa, confirmed the market disruption, saying that his corporation is already planning to realign crude lifting contracts with contractors to cushion the effect of the crude imports halts.

The US hitherto imported over one million barrels of crude daily

from Nigeria in the last 24 months.

The realignment of crude lifting contracts is, according to Dahwa, a new strategy to capture markets for Nigeria’s crude oil.

This, he said in a speech obtained from the NNPC's website, would include direct sales to refineries and longer term crude sales contracts beyond the current one year.

“Exports of Nigerian light sweet crude to the US and indeed all African

light sweet crude to the US have now ceased. This market disruption has led to diversion of Nigerian and other African producers’ crude to Europe and Asia.

“A strategic repositioning of the destination of Nigeria’s crude trade requires more than a change of destination, but must include direct sales of crude to refineries in new markets and longer term crude sale contracts beyond the current one year term,” he stated.

According to him, other oil producers with similar challenges have initiated and engaged these strategies to capture more markets for their crude oil.

Dawha added that Nigeria’s crude oil, with its competitive advantage in most of such destination markets, would have to move in as well.

“This is the market capture strategy that gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have long adopted and this includes ownership of

refineries in destination countries to ensure access to these markets.

“Lately, Angola has adopted this strategy with long-term crude contracts to Indonesia and India.

Nigerian crude is known to have competitive advantage in many of these destination markets,” he said.

Usually, traders lift crude oil according to the terms of contractual agreements applicable to all traders, among others on Free on Board (FOB)

basis and proceeds paid directly into designated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) crude oil sales accounts.

These lifters/traders are engaged on annual term contract basis.

Other strategies to be adopted by the NNPC to survive the disruptions, according to Dahwa, include upstream cost optimization to ensure lower production cost per barrel and prioritization of major projects in view of the low oil and gas prices.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31o C 28oC Cloudy

ABUJA

21oC

12oC

Rain Storms

PORT HARCOURT

24oC

19oC

Storms

KANO

39oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

36o C 24oC Thunder Storms

IBADAN

21oC

12oC

Rain Showers

CALABAR

29oC

24oC

Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 24oC Partially Cloudy

33o C 24oC Thunder Storms

L-R: Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu; Amosun's wife, Olufunso and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, at Tinubu's 63rd birthday celebration in Lagos...yesterday.

PDP, APC trade accusations over results Temitope Ogunbanke and Onyekachi Eze

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday engaged in recriminations over results of Saturday's presidential and National Assembly elections.

The two parties, however, cautioned against the announcement of fake results in order not to endanger the peace of the country.

The two parties, in separate statements against the backdrop of election results being posted on the social media, said Nigerians would rise up to defend their votes.

APC, in a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said nobody should attempt to tamper with the results of presidential and National Assembly elections as Nigerians have voted peacefully and they

knew whom they voted for.

It added that it has the authentic results from every polling unit where voting took place on Saturday and will not accept rigged results.

It also decried claims by the PDP of victories in some place it believed the ruling party lost the elections.

“We have always said we will accept the result of any free, fair and transparent elections.

We stand by that avowal.

However, what we will not accept - and which we are sure Nigerians themselves will reject - is any move to rewrite the results and thwart the will of the people under any guise. We will not accept that.

“We have heard of the desperate moves to cancel the results in areas where the APC has beaten the PDP embarrassingly. Nigerians will definitely not accept that,” APC said.

The party said it was aware of the ongoing efforts to force electoral officers and presiding officers in Imo State to rewrite the results of the elections in the state.

“We have the results from every polling unit in Imo State and we know that we have won in over 80 per cent in the presidential election. So there must be no shenanigans,” it said.

APC also said attempts were also being made in Sokoto, Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos and other states, wondering why anyone will be seeking to reverse the results that are already settled.

“In the Nsukka Local Government Area, INEC officials, instead of collating results, handed over the exercise to PDP Nsukka zone to write.

They holed up inside Adada House (a local government guest house) to write results and change figures and were provided with security by the

police. APC candidates and agents were chased away. In collaboration with INEC, they refused to let the card readers function and no result sheets came to most polling booths.

“In Lagos, they have yet to announce the result of the Apapa Local Government, which has been ready since yesterday, apparently in a move to manipulate the outcome. Those who voted will not agree with any attempt to steal their votes,” the party said.

On its part, the PDP accused APC of posting fake results in some polling booths on social media.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said the figures were “fake and do not represent the true results which are currently being collated by INEC, the only body authorised to release and announce results.

“The APC, in its desperation for power, has resorted to posting fake results in the social media in a bid to ambush the electoral commission, mislead the unsuspecting public to believe it is winning, all in furtherance of its grand plot to cause confusion and set the stage for violence when the authentic results are finally released.

“We, therefore, alert Nigerians to be on their guard and close ranks in resisting the APC’s plot to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. Our democracy has come to stay and the will of the people must prevail over and above the parochial ambition of a selfish few".

The statement cautioned the APC against the use of dishonest methods, including physical attacks against PDP members and supporters, as these pose great threat to the nation's democracy, unity and stability.

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INEC declares results today

lGives card reader technology pass mark, despite glitches

Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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arring any last minute hitches, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) will today declare the results of the presidential and National Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, told reporters in Abuja that INEC was ready to comply with the law that election results must be declared 48 hours after voting.

He also defended the use of card readers despite the glitches recorded in some states, including Bayelsa where the machine rejected the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

Jega also said operational challenges encountered during Saturday's elections forced INEC to shift elections in some 350 polling units to the next yesterday.

According to him, elections were held yesterday in 90 polling units in Lagos State; 16 polling units in Kebbi State; 25 polling units in Adamawa State; six polling units in Niger State; 37 polling units in Yobe State and eight polling units in Borno State.

Others areas were the elections held yesterday included 37 polling units

in Jigawa State; 13 polling units in Kano State, 116 polling units in Taraba State and two polling units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Jega said in spite of the drawbacks, the commission was committed to concluding the collation of all the results and declaring the final outcome within 48 hours beginning from the close of polls on Saturday. He added that as at 6 pm yesterday, the National Collation Centre (NCC) in Abuja had received collated results from only Ekiti and Ogun states while several other states were at various stages of collation and were expected to turn in their results today for the final collation at the national level.

The INEC boss said although there were complaints about the failure of the card readers in different parts of the country, the commission had since found out that out of the 150,000 pieces of card readers deployed, only 374 were reported to have failed in the field.

He explained that in reality, the card reader was a huge success as the failure rate of the device was only about 0.025 per cent, a margin, which he described as insignificant.

Jega, who fielded questions from journalists on several issues concerning the elections, said the commission was investigating the remote and immediate

causes of the failure of the card readers in some polling units.

The investigation, he said, would enable the commission to ascertain what was responsible for the incident.

Besides, INEC will also use the investigation to establish if there was a link between the failure of the card readers and the allegation that some ad hoc staff of INEC were substituted with some untrained persons on the day of the election in some states.

"We have received allegations and accusations

that in some of the states, our ad hoc staff were substituted and we are investigating these reports.

Nobody has given us any specific information about specific polling units or wards where this substitution took place, names of the people or even the number of those said to have been substituted but people just make general statements that our people we're bring substituted.

But like I said, we will go and thoroughly investigate it.

"The fact of the matter is that we have a list of peo-

ple who we have deployed for the different categories of work and if somebody comes to us to say that in this particular poling unit, these people have been substituted, it is very easy to cross check that and confirm. So there are many such complaints and we are investigating them.

"I can tell you certainly that the number of failure of card readers to operate that have been reported surprised us tremendously and one plausible explanation would be that maybe the people operating them were either not trained or

were not the right people.

So that leaves a question mark whether substituted people were there trying to do a work that they have not been trained for. But so far we are just investigating before we can get definitive confirmation on this happening," he said.

Jega commended Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the difficulties associated with the elections and expressed hope that the good conduct of the people will continue throughout the post-election period leading to the declaration of final results.

L-R: Running mate to the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate; Hon. Asita O. Asita; the governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Hon Victor Giadom, with others during a protest over the presidential election in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

EU to Nigerian leaders: Emulate voters' patience, dedication

PDP steals Kalu’s victory in Abia North

he European Union Observers yesterday advised political leaders in the country to emulate the dedication and patience exhibited by voters during Saturday's Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU observers, Richard Young, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

He applauded the dedication and patience of the electorate, saying that the degree of patience with which the voters went through accreditation and voting was exemplary.

"I must congratulate the commitment and patience of all the Nigerians I have seen, who have come out in very large numbers to vote in a very important election and to do it with so much patience.

"The way in which they have to turn up to accredit themselves and

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then later to vote and they seem to have done it with extreme kindness and extreme dedication and with the level of patience that I think is an example to all of us.

"We want to appeal to all the political leaders to show the same degree of patience and dedication I have seen in voters in terms of waiting for the official announcement of the results and waiting for that without any intemperate comments or remarks."

Young praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) security personnel and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who served as INEC ad hoc staff for the effort they put into the smooth conduct of the elections.

According to him, it takes the effort of electoral personnel and the voters to ensure that the whole process succeeds.

lYouths ready for showdown

he electoral victory of former governor of Abia State and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) senatorial candidate for Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has been manipulated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kalu contested against Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP and Chief David Ogba Onuoha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Kalu was believed to be coasting home to victory in the Saturday’s election until the victory was reversed through manipulation.

It was learnt that the PPA senatorial candidate was leading in all the communities going by the results announced at the polling units, but the victory was altered in recording the results at the local government areas.

A source said the votes

were either allocated to the PDP or results falsified to favour the ruling party.

In the polling booth of Ohuabunwa, in Atani, in Arochukwu, Kalu scored 20 votes to Ohuabunwa’s 17 while APGA garnered 13 votes.

In Arochukwu, the former governor scored 2, 000 votes to lead other candidates. However, 12, 000 votes were recorded for Ohuabunwa.

In Isuikwuato, Kalu’s 5, 800 votes were discountenanced while higher figures were recorded for PDP. In Bende Local Government Area, PPA scored the highest votes but PDP reversed the results.

Also in Umunnochi, PPA recorded landslide victory, which was overturned by PDP in the result sheet.

In Nkporo and Ohafia, Kalu led with about 20, 000 votes, but PDP reversed

the scores in the result.

In Nkporo, there were irregularities as ballot boxes were snatched.

It was learnt that in Akanu Item, an aide of Governor T. A. Oji used thugs to harass and intimidate eligible voters to ensure victory for the PDP. A source said that the falsification of the result was necessary at the collation centres because of the non-availability of result sheets, which had been hijacked by officials of the PDP. Speaking on the development, a PPA polling agent said: “We were leading in all the communities and local government areas that make up Abia North, but the PDP reversed the results and recorded our votes for itself in some areas and allocating highest votes to themselves in other places. The PDP doctored the result in its favour.”

Dissatisfied with the development, angry youths besieged headquarters of Ohafia Local Government Area, where results of the senatorial and House of Representatives elections were to be released yesterday, threatening to go on rampage if falsified results were announced.

One of the youth said: “We are waiting for the release of the results. We have an idea of what the outcome of the polls will be. As far as voting in Abia North was concerned, PPA was coasting home to victory. In the communities, PPA won. We are here to ensure that the authentic result is released. We will not allow Governor T. A. Orji to take the victory of PPA for PDP.” The youth wondered why impunity would be the order of the day. “Is crime not punishable in Nigeria again?” he asked.

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Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

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igeria Civil Society Situation Room yesterday cautioned Nigeria against hate speeches using the social media as such can trigger post election violence.

The Situation Room in its preliminary report on the election noted in Abuja that there has been increase in the rate of hate speeches using the social media even at a time when INEC is carrying out the delicate task

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Group cautions against hate speeches on social media of collation of election results.

The group, however, urged Nigerians to exercise restraint in their comments and desist from making comments that are capable of creating disaffection.

"We wish to reiterate that individuals who by their comments trigger violence or unrest will be held accountable.”

The Situation Room also called on the public to remain patient and maintain a high level of commitment to participating in the remaining aspects of the electoral process and that all Nigerians should remain orderly and law abiding and to refrain from any actions that may further challenge the electoral process.

The group further encouraged Nigerians to cooperate with the relevant authorities and to report any action capable of undermining the electoral process to the appropriate authorities and civic organizations.

Earlier, the group had commended the peaceful conduct of electorate at the different polling booths.

Oritsejafor hails presidential poll Dominic Adewole ASABA

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he President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has hailed the conduct of the presidential election in his locality.

The CAN president said with the reports that have trickled in from across the country, the election was considerably peaceful.

He added: “From what I have seen and heard so far, the election for me had been peaceful. My prayer is that it goes for others the way it has gone for me because it will not be fair for people like us to pass through the process smoothly while others find it very hard.”

While he condemned what he described as “haphazard” electioneering exercise as dangerous, he urged Nigerians to still vote their conscience in the forthcoming elections.

He said, “Vote your conscience means you should vote for someone that will represent your interest and will do the right thing

for you and Nigeria.”

Similarly, the SouthSouth Zonal Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said although the Card Reader malfunctioned severally in Ika South Local Government Area of the state and its environs on Saturday, the voters were pretty sure of whom they voted for.

He was optimistic that the outcome of the exercise would be favourable to all parties in the contest, urging Nigerians to be patient with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its effort towards perfection.

He said: “It is an experimental process. There has been no pilot programme for this before. So, our people should be patient with INEC to get the best of the exercise. I must confess to you that I have received a lot of complaints.

But notwithstanding, my party – the PDP, and its Presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will clearly win the contest.”

Customs to take delivery of two sea-going vessels

T Procession along the streets of Lagos by the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, for the celebration of Palm Sunday….yesterday.

PHOTO:TONYEGUAYE

Ekweremadu urges INEC to allow voting without card readers Chukwu David ABUJA

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he Card Reader deployed at Amachara Mpu Ward 010 in Aninri Local Government Area failed to accredit the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Dr. Nwanneka Ekweremadu, a statement from his office claimed yesterday.

The statement, which was signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said that, although the Card Reader recognised their Permanent Voters' Cards, PVCs, the fingerprint authentication process failed

despite several attempts.

Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the Deputy President of the Senate expressed serious concern over the incident.

He said: “As you can see, there is huge voter turnout, despite the scorching sun, but we are having the same problem, as the Card Reader does not seem to be working optimally. It is delaying the process, and a lot of people cannot have their PVCs or fingerprints read.

Mine was not successful and that of my wife was not successful either. I do not know if I will be able to vote until voting starts unless the INEC provides an alternative.

“This is what you get

when people do not listen to advice. They think most advice is borne out of partisanship. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was emphatic about the issue of Card Readers. As a person, I believe in technology. I believe in the use of electronic means as a perfect way of conducting elections, but you cannot do this kind of thing in Nigeria with a voter population of over 60 million when you have not tried it before”.

According to the statement, the Deputy President of the Senate, who recalled that Ghana faced such problems when the Card Readers were deployed for the first time, reiterated that the INEC should have introduced the technology

incrementally.

He said: “We had expected that the INEC would listen to the advice of Nigerians. This is supposed to be done as a pilot scheme during bye or smaller elections. We cannot be deploying these kind of machines in a huge and important election such as this where you have presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections in one day; and you are test-running a machine that you have not used before”.

Ekweremadu, therefore, urged INEC to discard the issue of the Card Reader and use it in subsequent elections when it would have been tried and perfected.

Lanihun, Ibadan philanthropist, dies at 69 Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

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uftau Ajayi Olanihun, a popular Ibadan businessman and philanthropist died yesterday in his Oke Ado

home, Ibadan, Oyo State capital. He was aged 69.

Family sources confirmed that the late businessman had not been seen in public recently because of the illness.

His remains, according to the sources had

been interred yesterday evening at his Oke-Ado residence after a prayer session by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Suara Haruna.

Scores of sympathisers thronged his residence since the death filtered to

the public yesterday afternoon.

The man, popularly called "Olowo to nfowo saanu (Rich man that is very generous) owned a popular motor engine complex at Iwo-Road and Ogunpa areas in Ibadan.

he Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, says its operations will get a boost as it takes delivery of two sea-going vessels yesterday.

The Comptroller of the command, Mr Yusuf Umar, told newsmen in Lagos that the vessels were christened 'Customs Pride' and 'Group of Nine’.

He said the command had already concluded capacity training for some of its operatives while more would be trained as well. ``We are set to take delivery of the vessels because some of our officers have gone on mari-

time training and back, while more will go for training too,’’ he said.

Umar said that the 'Group of Nine' was so named in honour of the nine operatives who lost their lives fighting gallantly against smuggling activities. ``For the 'Group of Nine, some few years ago some dare-devil smugglers on the sea trapped our officers and killed them. ``The ComptrollerGeneral did this so that we do not forget our fallen heroes. That is why all the names of the fallen heroes are engraved on the vessel 'Group of Nine’’.

INEC cancels election results of two polling units in Kano

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano yesterday announced the cancellation of election results of two polling units in two local government areas of the state The INEC Assistant Director Public Affairs, Alhaji Lawal Garba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Sunday.

Garba said the results were cancelled following the tampering of the results by suspected thugs in the areas. ``The results were cancelled in a polling unit in Kibiya Local Government

Area and Jodade Polling Unit in Kunci Local Government Area.

He said that some people suspected to be thugs forced the electoral officers to change the election results.

Garba also said that the commission had conducted election in 13 polling units in two local government areas of the state following the hitches recorded during the Saturday’s elections.

He said the election was held in five polling units in Shanono Local Government while in Tudun Wada Local Government the election was conducted in eight polling units.

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Palm Sunday: Nigerians urged to accept election results as God’s will A

s the nation awaits the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday, Nigerians have been urged to take the outcome of the results as the will of God. Pastor Olusola Adewumi of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Church, Ikole in

Ekiti State made the call in his sermon to mark Palm Sunday.

Adewumi attributed the successful conduct of violence-free elections in the country to the prayer and fasting by Nigerians and Christians in particular during the Lenten period which would soon come

to an end.

He said: “Only the creator chooses a leader; whoever emerges as winner should be supported for the progress and unity of the country.

“Let us prevail on our fellow brothers and sisters to accept the outcome of the elections, be it the

seat of the President or National Assembly.’’

The cleric further urged Christians who were observing the ongoing Lent not to go back to those worldly activities that they had shunned during the fasting period.

He said: “You must strive to maintain the

cordial relationship with your creator so that your spiritual life will continue growing and pave way for abundant blessings.’’

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who attended the Sunday service reports that some worshippers could not attend service as they

monitored latest developments from Saturday’s elections.

Some of the worshippers were also seen browsing their cell phones for possible release of the election results online, while some called their friends to get updates.

Unity Bank denies acquisition deal with Barclays Africa Tony Chukwunyem

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L-R: Head, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Sam Ocheho; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Oladele Sotubo and Trader, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Steve Osho, at a workshop on retail bonds organised by Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited in Lagos

Water key to development, says Ochekpe Caleb Onwe Abuja

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he Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepke, has renewed her call on the general public to see water as a key to sustainable development and an important factor for socioeconomic development.

She made the call recently in Abuja while addressing stakeholders in the water sector.

The Minister also took advantage of the event to warn that if water was not managed efficiently and equitably, it could pose a serious threat to sustainable development.

According to her, “water is a finite resource that is fundamental to human well-being. It is only renewable if well managed.” She added that “ more than 1.7 billion people live in river basins where depletion through use exceeds natural recharge, a trend that will see two-thirds of the world’s population living in water- stress countries by 2025.”

Otti threatens to reject result Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

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ven before the final result of the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election is announced by the Independent National electoral Commission, INEC, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has threatened to reject the results if it failed to tally with the ones declared at the polling centres.

Otti addressed a press conference yesterday at

his campaign office in Umuahia, alleging that from reports of what transpired in the various polling centres and wards, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was desperate to manipulate the result of the exercise in some council areas after the early results had allegedly indicated that APGA was on the lead.

He also alleged that the Transition Committee Chair men of some local government areas were personally involved in snatching of ballot boxes and oth-

er election materials, apparently in line with the directive to win the election by all means.

He said they snatched the result sheets in some areas with the intension to doctor the original result obtained at the various polling booths.

The APGA candidate hinted that most of the manipulations occurred at the collation centres at council headquarters where the agents of opposition parties were allegedly denied access.

He warned that the attempt of PDP to manipulate the process would be resisted.

NECO advocates bond scholarship to improve education

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rof. Promise Okpala, the outgoing Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), has suggested the adoption of bond scholarship for development of education sector in Nigeria.

Okpala made the call yesterday in Minna in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the adoption would encourage the citizens to take educational courses that would be

of immense benefits to them and the country also.

“This bonding scholarship entails giving scholarship to outstanding students to study peculiar courses like teaching, engineering, space and atomic sciences.

“The bonding should come in the form of agreeing with the beneficiaries that they shall work for the government for a particular period of time.

“During this bond period, other Nigerians will benefit from their expertise with its ripple effect, as well as encourage others to toe such paths of beneficial course.

“At the end, a time would come when gradually such scholarship may be withdrawn and thousands of Nigerians will have been encouraged to take part without incentives from government,” he said.

nity Bank Plc has denied reports that it is the target of a takeover bid by Barclays Africa Group.

According to a statement signed by the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Theodora Amechi, a report published by New Telegraph last Friday stating that Barclays Africa had concluded plans to acquire the Nigerian lender was incorrect.

The New Telegraph report had been based on an article entitled, “Barclays Africa Group plans to acquire Unity Bank of Nigeria for $420 million” published on the activist platform, the “Groundreport” last Thursday.

Reacting to the reported deal, the President of the Progressive Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, had denied knowledge of it, expressing surprise that Unity Bank could be said to be up for sale.

According to him, the bank was doing well and had, only last year, had a successful rights issue.

He said: “I have not heard about the reported offer. The bank is profitable; it has a new management which is doing well.

So, I will be surprised to hear that they are talking about selling it.”

The last time we met the management, we said we will welcome an investment in the bank but we were not told about a sale.”

Abba Moro tasks INEC ahead guber polls Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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head of the April 11 governorship and State Assembly elections, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to step up efforts by carrying out proper configuration of the card reader machines to check complaints of collapse of the facilities during elections.

Moro, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists yesterday, described as unfortunate the disappointment eligible voters witnessed as a result of the malfunctioning of the card reader machines during accreditation of voters in the Saturday’s elections.

Moro’s charge came as Senator Joseph Waku, in a separate interview, expressed optimism that the APC will spring surprise in the state by winning the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

The Interior Minister said that it was disheartening that some of the INEC adhoc staff that were duly

trained for the exercise could not manipulate the card readers, while others were reportedly replaced at the eleventh hour with untrained staff, a development that delayed accreditation in all the 14 polling units within his community, while a sizable number were disenfranchised.

He said:”For the next election, INEC needs to step up it’s efforts especially in the area of configuring the card reader machines properly and further training and sensitizing the INEC officials to be able to use the machines “It’s very unfortunate that I heard reports that many of the INEC adhoc staff that were properly trained for the exercise were changed and replaced at the eleventh minute, and that is responsible for the hitches we had”.

“So, for the next elections, which is much closer to the people, it is going to be more competitive and I expect INEC to take notice of the anomalies and its adhoc staff properly trained on how to use the machines.”

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Metro

Irate youths burn PDP stalwart’s house Musa Pam Jos

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rate youths suspected to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday burnt down a house belonging to a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Mohammed Adam, at Angwan Rogo in Jos North Local Government, Plateau State.

Adam is also a strong supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The youths who hail from Zinaria community in the same locality, also attacked a private radio station, Unity FM and journalists from both electronic and print media.

Poll: Pregnant housewife stabs hubby to death POLL FALLOUT

An argument between a man and his wife over who would win the presidential election degenerates to a fatal brawl Juliana Francis

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pre gnant housewife at Ejigbo area of Lagos State has reportedly stabbed her husband to death over argument on the likelihood of President Goodluck Jonathan or General Muham-

madu Buhari winning the presidential poll.

It was gathered that the husband decided to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while his wife, simply identified as Onyiyechi, wanted to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shocked residents of Ejigbo said that the couple were sitting outside and chatting amicably an hour before the tragic incident.

The argument started on Saturday, moments after the voters started casting their votes.

An argument which started with the couple stressing

points against the other’s candidate snowballed into a fight.

It was alleged that the husband, unmindful that his wife was pregnant, pounced on her. Immediately the lady had a few minutes respite, she grabbed a kitchen knife and buried it into her husband’s chest.

One of the neighbours, who refused to disclose his name, said: “We were all outside waiting to vote when the woman rushed out, shouting for help. When we got into the apartment, we discovered blood everywhere. We saw that the blood was oozing from the

man’s chest. He was lying on the ground. He died before we could rush him to the hospital.”

The man added that deceased might have survived if only Onyiyechi had alerted neighbours on time.

He said: “It seems she only attempted to manage the situation immediately the incident occurred. It was when she discovered that the situation had overwhelmed her that she raised the alarm.”

As of yesterday, the couple’s apartment was locked up but homicide detectives from Ejigbo Police Station have arrested the woman.

It was gathered that the youths were after Adam, who is the governorship campaign coordinator for Jos North, after he tagged a religious scholar and youth who had stoned him the previous day as Boko Haram members during a live interview with journalists.

Adam had made the instigating remark before he rushed out of the station, accompanied by security operatives.

However, irate youths had gathered before journalists could leave the building. The youths threw stones at journalists, saying they should handover Adam and threatened to burn the building.

They damaged five cars, including that of this reporter.

The rioters also damaged the right eye of a youth leader from Zinaria community who tried to calm them.

The youth also burnt the politician’s family house as well as his brother’s house at Angwan Rogo after his family members had been evacuated.

A witness said that one person was killed when men of the Special Task Force (STF) stormed the area to disperse the youth.

It was also learnt that Adam popularly known as Dan London had been chaced out of his Angwan Rogo polling unit on Saturday when he tried to vote before.

Adam had called a press conference to explain the nature of the attack when he described a religious scholar from Angwan Rogo as a member of Boko Haram whom he claimed instigated the youth to attack his family house and also journalists.

Adam is the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Jos North/Bassa Constituency and also a strong supporter of the PDP government in the state.

One still missing in Lagos boat accident

O ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ne person is still missing in a boat which capsized in Lagos on Saturday.

A source in the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) said yesterday that eight people were in the boat.

“Eight people were in the capsized boat - the paddler and his two sons. The paddler and one of his sons survived.

“Only one missing dead body is still being searched for,” the source added.

Prince Kunle Adewale, first son of the Olu of Epe, Oba Shefiu Adewale, report-

edly lost his life in the accident.

The deceased was a director in the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair. He was said to have been recently nominated as permanent secretary but was yet to be confirmed.

The late Adewale, his wife and a local government chairman aspirant, Mr Muiz Bello and his wife were moving from Marine Road to Mahusa (other side of the water) to vote. Mahusa booth is part of Ward A4.

Mrs Bello was said to have registered across the sea and

File picture of a sinking boat

wanted to go and vote while her husband insisted that he would not allow her to go

alone.

However, the wife survived while the husband died.

News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

City Briefs Katsina CP dies

Robbers invade church, rape women DAREDEVILRY Gunmen believed to be robbers go on the rampage in Benin, killing two and injuring others

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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hat was supposed to be an all-night prayer session, tagged Koboko Night, to cast out demons and evil spirit tormenting members of Salvation Givers Church International, Benin, Edo State turned sour at the weekend.

The daredevil armed robbers invaded the venue of the prayer session and unleashed terror on the members.

The incident occurred about 4am when the members of the church located at 13 Onaiwu Street, off 2nd Cemetery Road, opposite Auntie Rose Group of Schools in the ancient town, had closed the session with ‘the Grace of God prayer’ and were about to leave when the gunmen numbering six ordered them to returned to their seats. The gunmen said “the grace has not finished”.

The robbers earlier raided a storey building near Ewuotubu community where they robbed some tenants living in four different flats of the house

T File picture of suspected robbers

and reportedly shot two persons dead, including a policeman, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The dead and injured were rushed to the Time Hospital on Agboma Street on Ekenwan Road in the city.

It was gathered that the robbers snatched one of the victims’ car.

When the masked robbers invaded the church, they started

shooting sporadically into the roof and ordered members to lie down.

They allegedly raped some of the women and ladies.

The robbers were said to have raped nine women at another worship centre within the axis.

A new convert who attended the church for the first time was not that lucky as he was beaten black and blue by the bandits.

Two kids die as fire razes building

Burnt building

Juliana Francis

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wo male infants were burnt to death in an early morning inferno

that engulfed a building at Igbo Efon area on LekkiAjah Expressway in Lagos State yesterday.

Aside from the death of the kids, ages, four and one, four

other people sustained different degrees of burnt from the fire which followed an explosion around 5am. The explosion was said to have started from the kitchen direction.

One of the residents first noticed the fire and raised the alarm. The residents mobilised and rescued the occupants of the apartment. But nobody remembered the kids. Their bodies were later recovered from under the bed where they had apparently taken cover when the fire started.

The residents explained that the kids just came to stay with the owners of the apartment because of the school break and election.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

South-West Information Officer, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the fire outbreak.

The tragedy occurred at 11 Fabiyi Street, Igbo Efon in EtiOsa Local Government Area.

At press time, investigations to determine the cause of the fire were still ongoing.

But it was gathered that the fire might have been caused by a kerosene stove explosion.

Fadipe, who said he was yet to confirm the names of the boys, disclosed that the fire might have been caused by kerosene stove explosion or Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol.

He said: “The tragic incident happened at 11 Fabiyi Street, Igbo Efon. Fire trucks from Onikan and Eti-Osa were sent to battle the fire.”

Women fleeing insurgents deliver in bush Juliana Francis

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wo pregnant women who fled into safety after suspected members of Boko Haram attacked their village, delivered in the bush yesterday morning.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the insurgents attacked Gunti Gumi village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The Manager of the Bauchi State government-owned Community FM Radio Station in Alkaleri, Mallam Bala Kurba, said that the insurgents invaded the village, forcing petrified villagers to scamper in different directions. Many of them fled into the bush. The new mothers were among those who fled into the bush.

Kurba, who said he was among those that also sought haven in the bush, explained that he saw women assist to deliver the pregnant women in the bush.

He said: “The women delivered successfully and were taken to a nearby community.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the attack, added that gunmen in a convoy of 10 vehicles attacked some towns in Alkaleri and Kirfi local

he Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Hurdi, is dead.

Hurdi, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Aminu Sadiq, said in a statement issued yesterday in Katsina, died on March 27, during a protracted illness.

The late commissioner joined the service in 1988 as ASP cadet officer and rose through the ranks to the rank of a commissioner.

Sadiq said that Hurdi would be remembered as a patriotic and dedicated officer who gave his best in the service of his fatherland.

The Deputy Commissioner of police, Mr Bala Zama Senche, prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and to give his family fortitude to bear the lost.

FRSC to enforce speed tracking device Camillus Nnaji

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he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has announced that it would introduce speed tracking device on June 1.

Speaking with road stakeholders and traffic agencies at Mowe, Ogun State, Commander, FRSC 22.23 Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, said the introduction of the speed tracking device had become necessary because of rising road crashes resulting from over-speeding.

Ogunjobi said that the device was a national affair and compulsory for all commercial vehicles.

He said: “Our headquarters in Abuja has communicated the use of speed tracking device to debut on June 1.

“We are reaching out to all motorists through their various agencies such that they can better communicate with their members on FRSC’s decisions on speed devices. We are going to begin enforcement of this usage as soon as it is inaugurated.”

‘Human trafficking, return of slave trade’ Juliana Francis

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Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, flanked by his men

government areas.

He said: “Unspecified number of unknown gunmen in a convoy of over 10 vehicles stormed many polling units in Kirfi and Alkaleri local government areas, destroying many election materials.

“The hoodlums further attacked Kirfi and Alkaleri Divisional Police headquarters, but were repelled and pursued towards Dindima Town on Bauchi Gombe

Road. Meanwhile, operations are still ongoing.”

Mohammed added that the entire surroundings had been cordoned-off by combined security forces and effort was being intensified to restore normalcy in the area.

He said: “Members of the public are urged to remain calm and disregard rumour from mischief-makers.”

he Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, has said that human trafficking in persons represented a return of the abolished slave trade in Nigeria.

Speaking during the 2015 International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Abuja, Jedy-Agba said that human trafficking had, over the years, impacted negatively on the well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians.

She said: “It must be recognised that trafficking in persons is an obstacle to the realisation of the national development, aspirations of Nigeria as contained in the Vision 2020/20 document and the fulfilment of its obligations under international benchmarks such as the MDG’s and NEPAD.” According to her, prevention remains the best strategy of curbing human trafficking.

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News

NATIONAL

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ECOWAS Observer Mission certifies polls free, fair Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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espite the hitches that characterised the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, the general conduct of the election meets the criteria for free and fair elections, the ECOWAS Election Observer Mission has said.

The ECOWAS Election Observer Mission, headed by the former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufour, in its preliminary declaration issued yesterday, also described the elections

as ‘generally acceptable.’

Kufour, however, noted that the observers were intrigued as to what could have caused the delay of the arrival of INEC officials and voting materials in some polling units.

He said the observers discreetly heard that INEC’s transport arrangement collapsed at the last minute.

The Mission, in a statement, listed the various challenges observed, but commended the security agencies for their ‘impartial’ conduct during the elections.

Kufour said the deployment of soldiers for the elections was com-

mendable, adding that although the issue had generated debate in Nigeria, the soldiers were not observed to be ‘obtrusive’ to the process; rather they helped to ensure security from distances from polling units.

He added that the declaration, which he emphasised is preliminary, is borne out of the consideration that the elections are almost over as just about 300 out of 120, 000 polling units had elections extended.

The Head of the African Union Election Mission and former President of Liberia, Dr. Amos Sawyer also noted that

the conduct of the elections and the atmosphere under which it was conducted meets international democratic standards.

Reading the preliminary declaration of the 84-man Mission, Sawyer, however, called on INEC to consider making election day procedures less tedious so that unforeseen challenges can be taken care of.

He said: “Provide ample time for testing of technology to adequately prepare for unforeseeable technical challenges during polling; consider reviewing the voter registration methodology in order to enhance the

issuance of PVCs; undertake measures to reinforce training of polling personnel.”

Sawyer noted that from observation, only 23 per cent of polling units opened on time and out of the remaining 77 per cent that opened late, 57 percent opened more than an hour after schedule.

The Director of Political Affairs, ECOWAS, Dr. Remi Ajibewa, reading the preliminary declaration of the observer mission, listed several challenges noticed while the 250-man team went around five geo-political zones, excluding the North East.

Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku, lecturing students of Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Abuja on ‘How to Grow Your Money’ during the Financial Literacy Day… recently

INEC urged to perfect voting process

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auchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sangir Saleh, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perfect the process of voting in the country.

Saleh made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Azare, Katagum Local Government area of the state.

The deputy governor praised INEC for the effort it has put into the smooth conduct of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections and called on Nigerians to disregard the minor hitches experienced with the card readers.

“Even though I am not an expert, I am not from INEC, from what I have seen, the card reader is a good development; thank God it is not as slow as we thought it would be.

“So, I would encourage another innovation to ease the voting pattern here in Nigeria.”

“It is a new innovation; it’s new in our system; we definitely have to forgive the first outing with this card reader to forestall election violence.

“With this card reader, I know that a lot of fraudulent activities will be nipped in the bud.

“But of course, the card reader is a very welcome development.”

PDP planning to tamper with Okorocha, Ihedioha trade words over elections election results, says APC day, accused the Peo- students of Rochas Foun- Imo people.

Steve Uzoechi ples Democratic Party dation College, Ogboko, “It just dawned on him

Temitope Ogunbanke

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alerted Nigerians and the international community that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Jonathan Goodluck administration is planning to tamper with the results of last Saturday’s elections and circumvent the will of the people.

The party warned that nothing, but the authentic results held by the party agents and all other stakeholders will be acceptable to the party and that whoever is planning to do otherwise should weigh its implication on the survival of the nation’s democracy.

APC, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji

Lai Mohammed, alleged that: “The information that we have received is that the administration is holding clandestine meetings with security chiefs and others with the sole aim of altering or scuttling the results, which they consider to be highly embarrassing and unpalatable, using malleable RECs.” It said the moves to manipulate the results are also being replicated in some of the states, including Bauchi, where everything is being done to reverse the outcome, and Imo, where many aides of the governor are being brutalised and arrested in hordes.

“We know they are stunned dizzy by the crushing defeat, which has been inflicted on them across the nation, going by the results in the hands of our agents.”

OWERRI

I

mo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday bandied words and invectives over the conduct of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

Okorocha, who spoke with newsmen yester-

(PDP) of conniving with military operatives to subvert the will of the people.

According to the governor, a conspiracy was being spearheaded by the PDP and top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election.

Okorocha, who lamented the arrest of more than 100 young persons purported to be

also accused the military of high-handedness and intimidation of voters.

He also condemned the arrest of some of his aides.

Reacting to Okorocha’s claims, Ihedioha said: “Governor Okorocha has exhibited his penchant for dishonesty. Imo people have witnessed a good election, but Okorocha is alarmed at the level of rejection his administration is facing in the hands of

in the course of this election that his administration is unpopular and that is why he has resorted to falsehood and fabrication of tales.”

Ihedioha said it was unfortunate that Okorocha would illegally register under-aged children from his school to vote for him and still expect the authorities to stand back and watch him truncate the electoral process.

PDP tackles INEC, Edo APC over polls’ suspension Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State yesterday traded words over the indefinite sus-

pension of elections in Orhiomnmwon council area of Edo state.

Chairman of the PDP in the council, Nosakhare Ogieva Okunbor, at a press conference in Benin yesterday, accused INEC and the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, of alleged unilaterally tak-

ing decision to suspend the polls in the area without consulting the PDP leadership nor its members on the development.

Nosakhare said the elections were held in seven out of 12 wards in the council and that materials were supplied to various poling units

of Orhionwon, but admitted that, though, the materials arrived late to some of the units during the exercise.

But the deputy governor in a reaction yesterday debunked all the allegations, describing them as baseless and not true in their entirety.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Cross River

Imoke alleges blackmail over election outcome

APC clears Oyo senatorial seats

Pwajok’s prosperity plan for Plateau

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Buhari floors Jonathan in Ogun

Senate

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Presidency

Guber poll

Politics Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, a former Minister of Information and Culture, is the Chairman, Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Organisation.

In this interview with GABRIEL CHOBA, he says the Urhobo nation will vote massively for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in the April 11 governorship election in the state.

Excerpts:

As the chairman of the Delta State PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, what is your assessment of the campaign so far?

First, I want to personally commend the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who created a level playing ground and above all, accepted the result of the primaries with such a speed which beats the imagination against the background upon which the primaries were held.

I won’t be tired of saying this because if he had not demonstrated such high level of maturity and democratic tendencies, the situation would have been difficult for us in Delta State. Secondly, he immediately swung into action by bringing all the contestants together and as we speak today, we have a more united, stronger party than before. The worst is that we have two or so people who decided to go down a little bit to contest lower offices in other parties and not the governorship seat of the state.

So, against that background,

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okowa, best choice for Delta – Oyovbaire INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

vote massively for Okowa.

Oyovbaire

the campaign organisation came out very peacefully and successfully to the acclamation of all Deltans from the flag-off at Oghara to all other areas of the state. On the whole, it has been a very successful campaign. So far so good. The height of it all was the presidential rally in Asaba, which also marked the end of all the 25 local government areas. I can tell you that we are home and dry.

Given the position of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), what are the chances of your candidate in the Delta Central Senatorial District?

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has a very firm hold of the Urhobo Constituency. I have this strong feeling that the Urhobo attachment to Okowa is higher than that of the Anioma. Of course that of Anioma is understandable. The much that I know is that even when the UPU came out with its

Okowa... will be the governor who will provide equity, fairness, and justice to all Deltans

Uvwiamuge Declaration, some of us knew it will not make any significance difference. The reason is because the UPU is like what we call super-structure in politics.

The sub-structure, which is the electorate, in Urhobo is highly attached to Okowa. And I can tell you that the Uvwiamuge Declaration has become significant because it helped to swing the whole process in Okowa’s favour when Olorogun David Edevwie emerged only 48 hours to the primaries. And why did it happen like that? The answer is simple. He is a good man as an individual and the fact that he is a grassroots person, he is trusted and he is liked by the people. He has been around for a while. The UPU represents a super-structure of Urhobo politics. And it does not hold the sub-structure. I can tell you categorically that among the electorate in the Urhobo nationality, you would be surprised, will

What do you think stands him out from the other candidates in the coming election?

I just told you that he is a good man. According to the Greek philosophers, virtue, which is goodness, is an invaluable asset and he has it in abundance. He has gone around telling everybody that “I am for Delta State as a whole and will not be an Anioma governor alone.”

And will he be the governor of Urhobo alone or Isoko or Ijaw or Itsekiri? He has said it everywhere that he wants to govern and lead all Deltans, by the grace of God, irrespective of where you come from.

That is the man, Senator Okowa. And without unduly talking about myself, I can tell you that I have never related to and with people who are bad. I get close to people in my own knowledge and definition of who they are and God has been good to me in that I have never chosen or associate with people who are bad. It is God’s doing.

What would be your advice to Deltans ahead of the April 11 governorship poll?

Well, the first thing I want Deltans to know is that as of today, Okowa is obviously the best material for the governor of the state. There were about 20 plus aspirants, who are qualified in their own right, but the best material today for the state is Okowa. Let us not make any mistake about it, yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is yet to come. But for the moment, for today, the best material is Okowa. So, I plead with all Deltans to come out and vote massively for Okowa. Okowa, to me, will be the governor who will provide equity, fairness, and justice to all Deltans.

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Politics

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari floors Jonathan in Ogun

lKashamu, Tejuoso, Dada emerge senators-elect lAPC wins 6 Reps seats as PDP clinches 3 Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has defeated President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State in the presidential election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Buhari won in 13 out of the 20 local government areas of the state with a total of 308,290 votes.

Jonathan won in seven local government areas, polling a total of 207,950 votes.

The results were announced at the INEC office in Magbon, Abeokuta, which was superintended by the State Collation Officer, Prof. Duro Oni, and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief Timothy Ibitoye.

Also, the APC won two Senatorial seats and six House of Representatives seats in the state while PDP clinched one Senato-

rial seat and three House of Representatives seats.

According to the results, Prince Lanre Tejuoso of APC won the election for Ogun Central Senatorial District while Prince Gbolahan Dada of APC won Ogun West Senatorial District.

For Ogun East Senatorial District, PDP’s candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu defeated the incumbent senator, Alhaji Adegbenga Kaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Dapo Abiodun of APC. Kashamu, who is the chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of South-West PDP, polled 99,540 votes. SDP and APC scored 12,972 and 84,001 votes respectively.

The 13 local governments won by the APC presidential candidate include Odogbolu, Ijebu North East, Ewekoro, Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode, Ijebu-Ode, Odeda, Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South, Egbado South, Egbado North, Ifo and Ipokia.

The PDP won in Remo North, Sagamu, ImekoAfon, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North, Ijebu East

LP protests in Calabar over election results Clement James Calabar

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embers of the Labour Party (LP) in Cross river State yesterday protested at the Marian Road sub-office of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), venue for the announcement of the Southern Senatorial and House of Representatives results.

The party, led by its state chairman, Mr. Austin Ibok, accused the INEC Returning Officer for the Southern Senatorial District, Hezekiah Monday, of attempting to doctor the results of the senatorial election.

Although the Police were around to ensure that the protesters did not go beyond the gate of the sub-office, the protest continued until a senior police officer arrived to pacify the agitated party members.

Trouble started when, after collation of results by the INEC staff at about 3p.m., they continued to be locked in a meeting while the LP officials, who believed that their candidate, Senator

Bassey Otu won the contest, were milling round the premises.

However, when their patience ran out, they started shouting, insisting that INEC officials should come out and announce the results.

This development attracted the security agents who simply watched as the party agents continued to call INEC staff unprintable names.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent has brought the result sheet, they said it was faked. The Police brought their result; they said it was not reliable. We have given them our result and they said they are waiting for one Presiding Officer whom they have not seen. They want to rig the election to favour PDP,” one of the protesters told journalists.

As at 6:35p.m. when our reporter filed his report, the INEC officials were still locked in a meeting without any indication that the results would be announced.

Senator Bassey Otu contested against Chief Gershom Bassey for the Southern Senatorial seat of the state.

and Ikenne local government areas.

Detailed results of the nine federal constituencies in the state as well as two senatorial districts were yet to be formally announced as at 9:02p.m.

last night.

Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has described the non-availability of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state as a manifestation of grand

conspiracy.

Amosun, who spoke at the weekend in Ajura, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area where he cast his vote, claimed that the state was being targeted.

The governor noted that lots of people were willing to vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections but were denied the opportunity of performing their civic duties due to lack of PVCs.

L-R: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Yakubu; Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and National Commissioner, Mr. Chris Eyimoga at a press briefing on the ongoing general elections and collation in Abuja... yesterday.

Imoke alleges blackmail over election outcome

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ross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has alleged of a grand plot by the opposition in the state to embark on a smear campaign against his person in a bid to discredit the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections .

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Imoke, Mr. Christian Ita, in a statement issued in Calabar yesterday, said allegations of manipulation of the elections against Imoke are ludicrous.

“This is just one in a

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

litany of lies against the governor by a desperate opposition. It has now become the pastime of the opposition to tar the governor, all in a bid to score cheap political points,” he said.

Ita said Cross River is a completely PDP state and as such, neither the governor nor the PDP has any need to manipulate elections in the state.

According to the statement, “the latest allegations are the antics of a drowning opposition desperate to stay afloat by hanging on straws.

This is falsehood taken to the level of absurdity.”

He said the outcome of the elections in the state reflects the wishes of the electorate and therefore, advised the opposition to either accept the result

or go to court.

“It has become imperative at this point to advise the misguided opposition that rather than impugn the integrity of innocent people, it should exercise its rights by going to the Election Petitions Tribunal if they think they have a case.

“They should also stop fanning the embers of violence through false claims and hate campaigns. Election is about the people and it is won on the ground and not on facebook or bulk sms,” the statement further stated.

Police officers assault journalists in Delta Gabriel Choba Ughelli

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olice officers attached to the Ughelli Police Area Command on Sunday morning assaulted and stopped journalists present at the Ughelli office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the result collation of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Lamenting his ordeal after spending close to an hour behind the counter, Vanguard Newspaper Brisibe Perez stated that when he got to the INEC

lPDP, LP National Assembly candidates arrested Collation centre at about 6:15a.m., an officer attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) assaulted him for coming into the premises.

Perez said the officer and his colleagues descended on him with slaps and punches while a female CTU officer used a horsewhip on him.

He said: “I was asked to get out of the premises which I did. But as I was walking out and trying to inform my colleagues on the phone of what had transpired, two of them pounced on me again.

“At this point, they dragged me across the

main road like a common criminal to the police station, dumped me in a tear gassed passage way leading to the cell and forced me to seat on the ground after confiscating my phone and tearing my shirt to shreds.”

He said it was a senior officer that later ordered his release.

Recounting his ordeal, the publisher of Advocate Newspaper, Mr. Shedrack Onitsha, who had come to the station to plead for the release of the journalist was also assaulted by a police officer on the order of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Hassan

Galadima.

A journalist with New Telegraph, Mr. Gabriel Choba, was also prevented from monitoring the election at Ughelli North and Ughelli South areas of the state.

Meanwhile, the Ughelli North, Ughelli South/Udu Federal constituency candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Solomon Awhinahwi and Labour Party (LP), Hon. Julius Akpovoka, were among hundreds of persons arrested for various electoral-related offences by officers of the Nigerian Police, Ughelli Area Command.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

TITBITS Tinubu’s in-law loses re-election A member of the House of Representatives representing Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon Federal Constituency, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo has lost his bid to return to the National Assembly.

Ojo, who is an in-law to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, lost to Olumide Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Oni polled 27,658 votes to defeat Ojo who secured 20, 083 votes.

Jonathan’s coordinator, Belgore, loses The Kwara State coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), could not deliver his polling unit to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Belgore, the 2011 governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lost his Ode Malawi Polling Unit 005 of Oke Ogun ward to APC. Buhari polled 201 votes against Jonathan’s 88.

Obasanjo delivers PU for Buhari Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday delivered his polling unit (PU) in Ogun State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates.

In the presidential election, APC won Obasanjo’s Unit 023 in Itaeko, Abeokuta North Local Government Area with 100 votes while PDP got 16 votes.

In the senatorial election, APC had 93 votes while the PDP scored eight votes.

In the House of Representatives, APC had 98 votes while PDP and SDP got eight and 12 votes respectively.

Akinlade loses fourth term The chairman of House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, has lost his bid to return to the Green Chamber for fourth term.

Akinlade, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal constituency, lost his constituency to the APC candidate.

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APC clears Oyo senatorial seats lBuhari ahead Jonathan Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) cleared the three senatorial seats in Oyo State.

It was learnt that Soji Akanbi (APC) defeated the incumbent Senator Lanlehin of the Accord party for the Oyo South senatorial district.

Senator Ayoade Adeseun, who defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the Oyo Central senatorial seat to the incumbent Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs Monsurat Sunmonu, while Hon. Fatal Buhari, former House of Representatives member won the Oyo North Senatorial seat to beat the incumbent senator, Hosea Agboola.

Agboola is the Deputy Whip in the Upper Chamber on the platform of the PDP.

It was further learnt that the APC secured 12 House of Representatives’ seats while Labour Party (LP) and PDP having 1 each.

The state constituencies are Ibadan North, Abiodun Awo l e ye who retained the seat; Ibadan South West/ North West retained by Saheed Fijabi; Ibadan South East/North East won by Lam Adesina; Idoo/Ibarapa retained

by Sunday Adepoju; Lagelu/Akinyele, Olagoke Temitope (incumbent House of Assembly member); Egbeda/Ona Ara, Taiwo Akintola; Atiba/Oyo East/West/Afijio won

by Akeem Adeyemi (Alaafin’s son); Oorelope /Irepo/Olorunsogo for Boson Olawale; Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/ Kajola for Abiodun Oladipo; Saki East /Saki West /Atisbo by Olatubosun; and Oluyole for Olasunmbo Olugbemi.

As at the filing of this report, the presidential

results from the 33 local government councils of the state were still being received and read piecemeal by the Returning Officer, Prof. Abayomi Salami with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ambassador Rufus Akeju in attendance.

The APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, is well ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan in Oyo State.

The presidential results as announced from the local governments already released included: Oyo West with 16,431 for APC to beat PDP that garnered 5,381. In Atisbo, APC had 9,090 votes while PDP had 6,392.

For Saki West, APC has 7,208 to beat PDP with 5,368 votes. In Iwajowa, APC had 8,715 while PDP had 7,389. In the Ona Ara in Ibadan, the council area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ms Jumoke Akinjide, APC had 12,291votes while PDP had 7,175.

In Ibarapa East, APC

garnered 10,482 while PDP had 7,009. In Atiba, APC had 16,755 while PDP recorded 6,443.

In Ido, APC got 17,235 while PDP had 6,538. In Oluyole, APC also had 19,642 to beat PDP that had 6,956.

In the Kajola local government area of Oke Ogun, APC got 14,538, while PDP had 11,045. In the Afijio area of Oyo, APC had 8,001 while PDP had 5,738. For Oorelope, it was 9,425 for APC and 5,384 for PDP. In Irepo, APC had 10,380, while PDP had 4,979. From Itesiwaju came 7,257 for APC while PDP won with 7,605.

In Iseyin, APC had 24,075 while PDP had 10,569. Oyo East had 17,105 for APC while PDP had 6, 326. In Oriire, PDP beat APC with 13,238 to 10,161. In Saki West, APC had 25,965 while PDP got 7,008.

Other results, especially those from Ibadan metropolis were still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.

Akinjide, Folarin lose LG to APC The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms Jumoke Akinjide, and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin could not deliver their local government to President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday.

Both of them lost the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo Stat to the APC. Adeyeye re-elected in Osun Central Senator Sola Adeyeye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected in Osun Central Senatorial District.

The APC won the senatorial election with 137,379 to defeat PDP candidate, Oludaisi Aina, who polled 82,529. He won in all the nine local governments in the district.

Farouk Lawan loses in Kano The hope of Hon. Farouk Lawan of returning to the House of Representatives for a fifth term hit the rocks on Saturday.

The federal lawmaker representing Bagwai/Shanomo Federal Constituency of Kano State, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost to APC. Lawan is one of the longest serving lawmakers in the House.

Kebbi governor loses The governor of Kebbi State governor, Usman Saidu Dakingari, lost his bid to go to the Senate.

The governor who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi, for the Kebbi North Senatorial District.

Buruji now a Senator The Chairman of the PDP Mobilisation Committee for South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, is now a senator-elect.

He won last Saturday’s election in Ogun East Senatorial District.

He defeated the incumbent Senator Gbenga Kaka, who ran on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC candidate, Mr. Dapo Abiodun.

Sambo wins polling unt Vice-President Namadi Sambo won his Polling Unit (PU) for the PDP in last Saturday’ presidential and National Assembly elections.

According to the results announced by Olorufemi Raphael, the INEC Returning Officer at Sambo’s polling unit, 011 in Police College, Kabala Doki, Ward 5 in Kaduna North Local Government Area, PDP polled 105 while APC had 20 votes.

But while Sambo won his polling unit, he lost by a wide margin in his ward, Kabala Ward 05 Kaduna North Council.

APC won with 10,760 votes while PDP got 1,760 votes.

Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (middle), addressing newsmen on the 2015 election in Abuja …yesterday. With him are, Officer 11, Social Media and Publicity Directorate, Mr. Uzoh Tiga and Officer 1, Media and Publicity, Mr. Charles Ibiang.

Kwara pdp woman leader resigns Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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he Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaja Nimota Suleiman, has resigned her appointment with the party.

The development is a further pointer to the fact that former governorship aspirant in the party, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, has left the party because Suleiman, a former member of the House of Representatives, is a very close associate of Gbemisola.

The Woman Leader tendered her letter of

resignation to PDP chairman in the state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and linked her decision with the defection of Saraki to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The letter, a copy of which was seen by our reporter, was dated March 23, and reads: “I hereby announce my resignation as the Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.

“This resignation is sequel to the defection of my leader, Senator Gbemisola Rukayah Saraki from the PDP in Kwara State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Since Senator Gbemi Saraki instructed her supporters to vote massively for the APC in the state, I have come to the realisation that my membership of the PDP has become untenable.

“Therefore, in fidelity to her ideology and in solidarity with her political leadership, I, Hon. Nimota Suleiman, this day, cease to be the State Woman Leader and member of the PDP in Kwara State.”

Although she is yet to make her defection formal, Saraki had on the eve of the presidential election directed her followers to use their “brooms”, an indirect endorsement of

the APC and a repeat of the politicking style often used by her late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, in his days.

Sources familiar with development within the Saraki political family hinted that leaders of the APC are most likely to storm in Ilorin, the state capital, sometimes this week, to receive Saraki.

However, the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the PDP, Femi Yusuf, denied knowledge of the resignation by Suleiman pointing out that all leaders of the party had been away from office for several days in preparation for the election.

16 Politics Tony Anichebe and Abubakari Abdul

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overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has emerged as the senatorelect for Akwa Ibom North West District in the Saturday’s elections.

In the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, Akpabio who was the flag bearer of the Peo-

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akpabio wins, Dakingari loses ples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 422,009 of the 439,449 votes to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 15, 152 votes.

Akpabio will be replacing Senator Alloyius Etuk in the Senate.

While Akpabio was successful, his Kebbi State counterpart, Us-

man Saidu Dakingari was not that lucky.

Governor Dakingari was defeated by the APC candidate, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi.

A source close to

Government House in Birnin-Kebbi told newsmen that the governor wept bitterly on hearing that the APC swept all the votes cast in four out of the six local govern-

ment that made up the Kebbi North Senatorial District.

The source said that the governor broke down when the news of his loss was broken to him.

“So, I lost this election,” the governor reportedly asked himself.

It was learnt that the security aides and protocol officers calmed the governor.

His predecessor, Senator Adamu Aliero, however won his election for the Kebbi Central.

Oshiomhole petitions Army over deployment of soldiers Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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do State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday petitioned the Commander of the 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Benin City, Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye, over illegal deployment of soldiers to parts of Edo North Senatorial District of the state during the elections.

Oshiomhole complained over what he described as illegal deployment of soldiers in Owan Federal constituency and other parts of the north senatorial district by one Lt. Colonel Abiodun Uwadia (rtd), the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

He threatened to drag the Nigerian Army before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The governor in the petition which he personally signed reads in part: “Reports reaching me indicated that Lt Col. Uwadia (rtd) had illegally and unconstitutionally deployed not less than

three trucks of soldiers to Owan Federal constituency which was used to harass and intimidate members of the APC in the Federal constituency.

“As I write, the said retired Lt Col. was also issuing threats and directing the soldiers to shoot at sight any APC member that resist his directives during and after the elections.

“Evidently, the conduct of the aforementioned political office holder is not only illegal and unconstitutional, but flagrant abuse of the military. It is not only reprehensible, it is unacceptable to abuse and misuse the army for purely partisan purposes.

“I wish to request you use your good office to call the Uwadia to order and stop this illegal and unconstitutional deployment of soldiers for purely partisan objectives during elections.

“Failure to stem this patently illegal action can result in consequences that are likely to go beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

The governor had earlier raised the alarm over alleged ploy to use the Army to intimidate APC voters in the state last Friday.

Ex-minister, Adedoyin, wins Rep poll Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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ormer Minister of State for Health, Princess Funke Adedoyin, has been declared winner of the House Representatives election for the Ekiti, Isin, Irepodun and OkeEro Federal Constituency in Kwara State.

Adedoyin, who served in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration contested for the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Returning Officer, Mr.

Murtala Tukur, from the University of Ilorin who announced the result at the Irepodun Local Government secretariat on Sunday in Omu-Aran, said Adedoyin polled 26,758 votes while her closest rival, Mr. Richard Babatunde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 23,123 votes.

Tuku said the constituency’s total number of registered voters was 154, 252, but only 54,947 voters were accredited.

“The total number of valid votes was 50,527, with rejected votes 2,729 , for the total number of votes cast to be 53,256,” he said.

Aggrieved prospective voters of Polling Unit 010, Ajah, Lagos, protesting the inability of INEC officials to conduct election in their polling unit…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Kogi senators crash out as Wada, Ali, Akanmode lose wards Bashir Ibrahim Lokoja

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overnor Idris Ichalla Wada was defeated in his Odu Ogboyaga ward in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The governor narrowly won the Odu I unit by two votes.

Also, the Director General of President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation,

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and deputy coordinator of the campaign in Kogi State, Prince Olusola Akanmode, both lost their polling units at Idah and Ijumu Local Govern-

ment areas respectively.

New Telegraph findings revealed that three incumbent senators, Smart Adeyemi, Attai Aidoko and Nurudeen Abatemi lost their reelection bid for Kogi West, East and Central.

In Kogi West, Hon. Dino Melaiye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chiel Samuel Aro of the Accord Party (AP) were ahead of Senator Adeyemi.

In Kogi Central, Senator Usman-Abatemi, who before the election

dumped the PDP to the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), was losing to former Senator Mohammed Ohiare of the APC. In the Eastern Senatorial District of the state, Senator Aidoko of the PDP is unlikely to make it back to the Senate.

The APC senatorial candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Isa is leading with the results available.

The APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, is believed to leading President Jonathan in the presidential election.

Suswam loses Benue Govt House polling unit to Buhari Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has failed to deliver the Government House polling unit in Makurdi, the state capital, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the March 28 election, President Goodluck Jonathan.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, polled 181 votes in the Government House Polling Unit while President Jonathan scored 99 votes.

The polling unit is dominated by civil servants, most of who have vowed to vote against the ruling party over what they called its insensitivity to the plight of workers in the state.

Meanwhile results of the presidential and senatorial elections held across the 23 local government areas of the state have started trickling in with the PDP leading.

The presidential and senatorial election results so far announced from the Benue South Senatorial district otherwise called zone ‘C’ by the INEC’s Collation Officers in Ogbadibo, Agatu, Okpokwu, Ado and Ohimini

local governments saw the ruling PDP in early lead.

For the presidential elections, in Ogbadibo local government, APC scored 6,258 while PDP polled 6,937 votes with 700 invalid votes. In Agatu, APC scored 3,627 against PDP’s 9,555 with 658 invalid votes. In Ado local government, APC scored 2,328 while PDP recorded 7,382 votes with 559 invalid votes.

Elections were declared null and void at Igumale ward 2 as well as Camp I and Umeyi playground on the grounds of malpractices.

There were cases of overvoting in Opialo

Ward I playground in Okpokwu Local Government, home of the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, while election was suspended in Ikpole Ward I due to failure of the card reader, and the chasing away of INEC staff by hoodlums leading to the putting off of election being put on hold.

The collation officer in Okpokwu said that APC polled 4,757 votes while the PDP scored 12, 103 votes out of the 19, 215 total number of accredited voters.

Our correspondent gathered that results from the Zones A and B of the state are being expected.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Pwajok’s prosperity plan for Plateau The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Senator Gyang Pwajok, recently unveiled his blueprint for the state in which he promised good governance, better life and socio-political tolerance if elected. In this report, MUSA PAM takes a look at his vision for the Home of Peace and Tourism

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or Senator Gyang Pwajok, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Plateau State, his years as the Director General, Research and Documentation in the Office of the Governor; Chief of Staff and presently senator representing Plateau Northern Senatorial District in the National Assembly has prepared him for the onerous task of presiding over the tourist hub of the nation.

The senator in his blueprint, which lucidly conveyed his programmes for the state, identified the various challenges facing the state, assured that he will make Plateau safe to guarantee the security of lives and property. He added that his administration will strengthen the relationship between Plateau State and neighbouring states.

The Jos North-born governorship candidate also maintained that his administration will provide logistics and information support to the police and other security agencies by providing vehicles for patrol and communication gadgets and also deploy CCTV technology at strategic points to increase capacity for investigation.

At his declaration in Mangu Local Government Area of the state, he said: “Our vision for Plateau is to consolidate on making the state the hub of developmental innovation which involves working together patiently towards finding durable developmental solutions to the vicious circle of poverty and insecurity by taking advantage of global trends in tackling very critical issues that have been responsible for slowing down our development.”

Pwajok said he is determined to consolidate and use state power to expand the capacity of the people to take ownership of the policies and programmes that encourage collective welfare of citizens of the state.

According to him, “this shall be anchored on the Almighty God and driven by a creative relationship between the young and old, where the elderly will continue to

Pwajok

dream dreams for a better Plateau and the young continue to see visions of a greater Plateau which allows the present generation the opportunity to take appropriate action and to compete favourably with their contemporaries in other parts of the world.”

A diagnosis of the blueprint shows that Pwajok has his hands on every sector that makes up the state and it was designed to address the diverse concerns of Plateau citizens. As such, if elected on April 11, agriculture, health, youth empowerment, economy, education, transportation, housing and infrastructure, among others would be addressed.

Perhaps, the sweetest of the pie in Pwajok’s blueprint is the priority he gave to security of lives and property and his desire to drastically reduce unemployment in the state. He gave life to this when he promised to expand opportunities for vocational and entrepreneurial development as well as establish youth centres for leadership and skill development in the state. Pwajok’s blueprintwhich contains a 17-mission point, is entitled “Greater Together Redemption Continues.”

Agriculture as a rewarding venture The lawmaker said he will, through collaborative efforts involving community and state support, ensure food security, make agriculture profitable and a source of foreign exchange as well as generate employment and raw materials since over 70 per cent of the state population are involved in agriculture.

He also promised that his government will encourage specialisation in agriculture and pro-

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Our vision for Plateau... involves finding durable developmental solutions to the vicious circle of poverty and insecurity

cessing of agricultural produce to make the sector a viable alternative to the now dwindling federal allocation.

According to him, the decreasing earnings from the export of crude oil has made it imperative than ever before for government at all levels to begin to diversify the source of their revenue, saying Plateau State is well placed to make agriculture a rewarding enterprise for its citizens as well as the government.

Facelift for education Pwajok’s blueprint on educations reads: “We will pursue the enforcement, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of a qualitative and functional basic education that will guarantee access to opportunities for higher education and continue the physical rehabilitation of tertiary, secondary and primary schools state wide by construction and equipping of primary schools in every local government and tertiary schools in every senatorial district.”

He added that there will be improvement in facilities, equipment, curriculum content, resourcefulness, competence of educational personal and teacher and student ratio to meet up with global standards by ensuring school enrolment for boy and girl child and a reduction in adult illiteracy rate as well as partnership with communities, voluntary organsiations and the private sector to fund and support the education sector in the state.

Enhanced healthcare For Pwajok, there would be improvement and accessibility on

the quality of primary healthcare system in the state.

“Our policy trust is to sustain current successful effort to enhance the health status of Plateau State to increase productivity, job and wealth, life expectancy and also provide access to affordable healthcare for all, reproductive health, maternal and child characterised high level of immunization against all communities diseases,” he said.

Of importance in the health plan, according to Pwajok, is qualitative health service for pregnant women and children less than five years and sustainance of current efforts to construct and rehabilitate standard healthcare centres as well as general hospitals state wide.

Security, youth empowerment Taking into cognisance of the various security challenges that had bedevilled the state in recent past, Pwajok said his administration would strengthen the relationship between Plateau and neighbouring states so as to checkmate the infiltration of hoodlums and foreign elements that are used to foment trouble.

He also promised to provide vehicles for patrol and communication gadgets to the police and other security agencies.

On youth empowerment, Pwajok said: “Our policy trust is to envisage the provision of adequate jobs, education, skill acquisition and recreational centres for the youth. This involves putting in place policies to address youth development and empowerment in order to curtail rising incidence CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The burden of antecedence Dominik Umosen

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hat most people pitching for relevance in the ongoing festival of acrimonious political propaganda have not bothered to address is that as long as fault lines that have frustrated this country’s meaningful development remain, there can be no solution to this country’s myriad of contrived problems.

While beneficiaries of this contrived patchwork remain, even desirous to defy or resist any resolution of felt grey areas of nationhood, Niger can never be a great country because this arrangement inhibits progress. This is the point most of the partisans rooting for either Gen. Muhammadu Buhari or President Goodluck Jonathan have not bothered to tell Nigerians.

Like I have always said, the only hope for an eventual resolution of these fundamental contradictions of nationhood, either speedy or deferred, lies in the re-election of President Jonathan for another term of four years in office. The long-term stability of this country requires this because beneficiaries from a malaise will never root for its resolution, only those at the receiving end.

Since independence till date, those benefitting from the rot that has been and continues to be Nigeria, have never felt the need to have these contradictions resolved. That is why northern states, specifically, have always felt more at ease recruiting Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Saudi nationals as expatriates, rather than southerners who could have affected their states at a lesser cost.

As much as it is the explicit wish of Nigerians to have the country restructured for maximum efficiency, incontrovertible evidence suggests that if Buhari wins the elections, the side of the opposition desk in the National Assembly that the report of the national conference found itself is, most likely, where it would be confined to the rest of this nauseating hypocrisy.

The only possibility of the eagerly-awaited report meeting the expectations of citizens is if President Jonathan, the originator of the idea, returns to power as expected. Just as Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger State chided President Jonathan of tampering with tradition by seeking a better live for almajiris, it has always been a long-term objective of feudalism to keep the majority oppressed and in penury, hence easy to manipulate ad infinitum as has been the tradition.

Only in President Jonathan securing victory is there any real chance of this outdated order being consigned to the dustbin of history. For Buhari, a Fulani and beneficiary from this order, there is neither urgency nor expediency in the liberation of nationalities whose aversion to the country, as presently configured, has remained the undue dominance of one segment, to the chagrin of others.

The enduring paradox in the Nigerian contradiction remains that while the section that imagines itself as superior to others blatantly refuses to upgrade itself in relation to others, it nevertheless refuses to recognize that such primitive intransigence further widens its comparative non-viability.

This, in a nutshell, has remained the summary of the Nigerian paradox.

That is the issue that is yet to be addressed in

the unreasonable war of propaganda and deliberate falsehood. All of a sudden, political entrepreneurs have tried desperately to muzzle the distinct clamour for re-structuring of the country which more notasble and worthy leaders before them fought for.

For Nigeria, there can be nothing like stability or meaningful development without re-structuring of the country. Every index of disagreeability, including the country’s civil war, pointed in this direction and only last year, the country hobbled to a near painful halt when internal dissaffection, according to Senate President David Mark, became so pronounced that the only sensible and pragmagtic step open to government was to offer the Federal Government the escape route provided therein.

Before then, for example, there was no ethnic nationality that did not suffer injury to present as evidence of the brazen impudence of Fulani herdsmen who have been formenting trouble across the country. Depending on where they strike, herdsmen are so labelled but if it is outside their traditional sphere of influence, such attacks are attributed to Boko Haram. A simple and basic issue of nationhood like this has not been resolved after 50 years of nationhood, yet we are splitting hairs about an inconsequential election.

The ability and willingness to address basic problems of nationhood is enough reason why Nigerians did not require to be mobilized before they did what is right which is queuing behind the most eligible Nigerian in the elections. Re-structuring of the country, which is the prayer of every patriot, will die a natural death under a Buhari presidency, as attested to by his antecedents which the man has been struggling to deny.

Evergreen Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa Cyan Frank-Hanachor

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ucked away up there in the north, just a few kilometers from the crisis-prone region of Nigeria is a little village where my husband and I spent what turned out to be our honeymoon.

Those names in the news are familiar and I’d driven through them in the three months I stayed in the north. I always remember those first few months because it fulfilled a never to be expressed desire I had of how I wanted to start my marriage! It gave us time to be alone and unencumbered in that quiet, little town that seemed almost to be at a standstill, in its absence of drive towards the hustle and bustle that comes with modernity!

We had the use of a tiny room and shared the bathroom and toilet with another man who doubled as the manager of the farm owned by the gentleman who possessed the property.It was right there at the back of the simple house he’d built in his village ,backed unto craggy rocks and hilly grounds.

Each day I’d gladly bear off with a book to share with my husband ; it added another dimension to my day! I loved the eclectic collection of books and the wonderful interior of the living room that bore a definite masculine imprint amidst the clutter of relics he’d acquired in his years of service to the government.

A wonderful officer and gentleman had elected to support my husband’s effort in persecuting his job in the hinterlands of the north and

His death has reaffirmed the fact that Nigeria doesn’t always celebrate her heroes ! He’s being dead for a good number of years and I’m not aware of any attempt to immortalize him! would jokingly assure him of his assistance “in the tiny,village that can break the spirit of all but a native!”

Whenever he visited his village,he would send for the younger man to pick his brains and offer useful and insightful suggestions as to where best to direct their radar in the execution of their job.

The young man who was isolated from his young family and the niceties of civilization came to look forward to these encounters for elevating conversation and self-motivation in boosting the morale and engendering the goodwill of his colleagues,all of which wasn’t forthcoming from his own superior officers who’d elected to post them there!

His kindness and intelligence soon won over the confidence of the young man and paved a way for him in the persecution of his job! His inherent open-mindedness hastened the progression of their relationship and he introduced him to members of his immediate family and close confi-

dantes who came by in the course of their meetings.

And that was how we met “Baba”,his late father! He was a grand,old man,much advanced in age but for it,still agile in mind and body!

He was a muslim,but extremely accommodating of all religions and an unrepentant polygamist who thoroughly loved the first son who’d risen to such great height in his profession.

His son had being a dark,tall,handsome,debonair officer and gentleman!He always came down from his exalted office,humble and endearing ,in a way that totally disarmed you!

Very few could have occupied the positions he held in this country and yet be as grounded and humane as he was ! He took a total stranger - a struggling ,young man - under his wings and supported him with his resources and time,without a care for himself !

He was extremely kind and thoughtful,always asking in what capacity he could be of assistance in paving the way for my husband to do his job.He was a charming host and always went out of his way to put us at our ease,the few times we visited with him.

He was urbane and open and would tease us for our naivety and youthfulness ! He was a totally detribalized Nigerian who dealt with all in a fatherly,down to heart manner that belied his status!

This is the fifteenth year of his death and I finally get to pay back a debt!

He was the late Air Marshal Ibra-

him Mahmud Alfa,the retired Chief of Air staff during the regime of Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(rtd) .He served his country meritoriously and his death was a personal loss that brought home to bear the dearth of men of intellect and honour amongst the men of the armed forces in Nigeria ! I’ll always remember him with fondness and respect!

His death has reaffirmed the fact that Nigeria doesn’t always celebrate her heroes ! He’s being dead for a good number of years and I’m not aware of any attempt to immortalize him! I may be ignorant of the facts but I’m yet to come across any establishment named for him or at least, a concerted effort by the Armed Forces to publicly recognize his contribution to the development of the force and the aviation industry in Nigeria!

I’ll always remember Baba,the late “Sarkin Garkida” and the late Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa (rtd) as the first detribalized Nigerians I met who served the needs of all they came across in a way that left you your dignity! Every year I’ve believed I’d get closer to getting in touch with his family but I know that soon the unrest in the northern part of the country woud cease and I’ll finally pack a bag and go see that hill-side retreat that closed its arms around you and held you safe,in the village that was so peaceful,you could hear the wind sigh in passing!! May their gentle souls rest in peace!!

• Frank-Hanachor (scionofpapyrus@gmail.com), is a writer and poet. 08164505519 and 08134283539.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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EDITORIAL

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

In brotherhood we stand

hings that keep us together as one are more than the perceived divisions. The over 250 ethnic nationalities that make up what became one big country in 1914, did not really live in isolation. Linguistically and historically, we all share a lot in common.

The Yoruba and the Igbo may be separated by the Bini but you can pick some similarities in their spoken languages.

Goat in Yoruba is Ewure,in Igbo it is ewu. The Igbo word bia [come] is wa in Yoruba.

Eme in Bini stands for monkey, which the Igbo call enwe. Dog [ekita in Bini] means nkita in Igbo. The Idoma of North Central Nigeria have a name for a first daughter. Ada, they call her. That is also an Igbo tradition.

The kolanut tells a good story of our togetherness.

Produced in the South-West, so common in the North –West, it is almost deified in the SouthEast. Even among the Edo, the Esan defer to the Bini in the breaking of kolanut.

There were trade relations between the South and the North in the days of yore. The old Oyo Empire benefitted from the Trans Saharan trade.

The Bini and Yoruba enjoyed smooth economic links.

It is also historically correct to say that the Bini and the Yoruba are like Siamese twins.

The former founded Lagos and one does not need to ask questions about the role of white in the regalia of the Benin and Lagos royalty.

Inspite of claims tracing their origin to the Middle East and heaven , research has shown that the Igbo and Yoruba probably migrated from somewhere in the Northern savannah, to their present settlements. The Nok civilization attests to this.

This year, 2015, is a year of history. After staying as one for 101 years, the country has gone through the level of insurgency beyond the expectations of compatriots. Apart from the Civil War years, never in our, history have we shed so much innocent blood.

Following last Saturday’s Presidential polls, Nigerians should begin to see ourselves as members of one big, strong and reliable country. We have gone through the worst phase of nation building. It is time for consolidation.

There is advantage in being big. That is why Europeans are so close, in the European Union. The United States represents an act of will. It is not a single homogenous ethnic nation. The Americans do not

have a particular culture dating back to several millennia.

What we need now is a leader that will take us to the next level. Like US President Barack Obama drummed into our ears in 2009, we could do with strong institutions, not individuals. Nigeria can only be made better by Nigerians. When we allow docile leadership, we are part of the problem.

Leadership is not all about hero –worship. A good leader must have listening ears. A great leader must be a statesman who has the interest of the people at heart. This country is blessed with abundant resources, that if well managed, should turn our land to a place of milk and honey.

Today, there is mourning in Singapore. They are bewailing the passage of Father of their nation Lee Kuan Yew. The man turned his country from a backward country that could hardly bark as a dog, to one of the Asian Tigers.

Nigeria claims to be Giant of Africa. We do not know if other members of the African Union believe in us any more.

As the new leading economy in the continent, we should work towards reclaiming our lost glory.

Our leader must unite us, for divided we fall. Once elected, the President ceases to have a

state or community. He is the Father of the Nation. No part of the country must be ostracized based on electoral accountancy. Development must be even and meaningful.

We must retrace our steps to the past. It is remarkable that the First President of this country represented our collective spirit. One Nation, United people. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, of Onitsha Igbo background, was born in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria. His early education was in the South- West.

Zik of Africa spoke the three major Languages, Hausa, Igbo andYoruba . His children have Yoruba names. One will easily find a Bamidele Azikiwe in the late Owelles household.

Some prominent Nigerians also have attachments beyond their immediate environment.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has in-laws in Imo and Edo states.

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida married an Igbo woman born of a Niger mother. Titi Atiku is Yoruba.

We all must begin to see ourselves as one. Blood, they say, is thicker than water. We are not exactly aliens, lumped together by colonialism. We share so much in common.

Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.

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Politics

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pwajok’s agenda for more prosperous Plateau CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

of social ills associated with joblessness among young people.”

He also said his administration will give the youth a voice through the increased involvement in the act of governance so as to instil confidence in the state.

Economic partnership Another area the senator intends to focus on, if elected on April 11, is economic partnership. According to him, Plateau

has the capacity to be one of the leading states in Nigeria. He said the desire of his administration is to create and sustain a growing economy that is diversified, competitive, private-sector driven, open-market oriented based on internal momentum towards postoil boom development.

He said: “This can be achieved through expansion of key poverty reduction measures by developing strategies for wealth creation, employment generation, reac-

tivation of micro, small and medium enterprises as well as the re-orientation of value and anticorruption crusade.”

He added that provision, rehabilitation and maintenance of key infrastructure including honest and transparent divestment of government holdings in ventures through privatisation and reforming the public sector for greater accountability and transparency in planning, budget and better coordination of revenue

and responsibilities as well as the key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be pursued to sustain human capacity and general welfare of the citizens.

Transportation To ensure that Jos remains a tourism hub, Pwajok said he will improve road transportation to enhance movement of goods and services as well as construct new roads that will make rural areas of the state accessible.

He also promised to construct and maintain feeder roads in the local government areas and to complete all ongoing road projects and develop new ones.

His words: “We will ensure that roads are constructed with a view to the tonnage of vehicles that may ply such highways and also improved road safety through sustained implementation of existing laws in collaboration with the Federal Government through Public Private Partner-

ship (PPP) to revamp rail and increase air routes.”

Revamping tourism Plateau State has her slogan as the Home of Peace and Tourism, and Pwajok in his blueprint pledged to develop a tourism masterplan that will capture the historic sites of the state.

He also promised to revamp the wild life park in the state.

He said: “The popular amusement park in the state named after the pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar would be given more attention for tourism attraction for the state and also encourage the state cultural festivals to serve as the tourism platform and most importantly encourage private investments in parks and gardens.”

Apart from that, the PDP flag bearer also promised to create an annual state carnival.

This, he said will enable the state to explore, execute and enshrine a new vista of jobs for youths and women. The initiative is expected to attract visitors and foreigners to Plateau and improve the revenue earning of the state.

Environment, housing and infrastructure On environment, Pwajok described it as a key sector in the development of the state and said he intends to re-introduce the monthly sanitation exercise as well as employ more environmental inspectors. He also promised to improve waste disposal management system as well as initiate green governance policies.

To beautify structures in the state, the PDP governorship flag bearer said his administration will enhance private public partnership for housing estates in the state and also rebuild areas affected due to ethnoreligious crisis.

Pwajok promised to provide functional and durable infrastructure in all the 17 local governments of the state, he noted that if elected, “we will ensure the maintenance capacity for the infrastructure and encourage building infrastructure that take care of people with special needs.”

No doubt, the blueprint has brightened the chances of the PDP governorship candidate in Plateau State because of importance to the people of the state is peoplesoriented programmes.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Insurance

Analysts back FG’s $2bn loan to boost naira

Stock Watch

Sterling Bank: Sustaining robust performance

35

37

38

Money Line

Inferno: Fashola’s fury reignites need for Compulsory Insurance

21

Interview

‘Nigeria lacks record of crude oil shipping by foreigners’

42-43

Business What's news

Why Nigerian airports remain uncertified

Indications emerged at the weekend that none of the nation’s airports had been certified more than 35 years after they were built because they were yet to meet requirements stipulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

p.22

Pension: FG’s selective payment rattles PHCN retirees A subterranean arrangement by pensioners of the privatised Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to hold a mass protest before the presidential election was tactically halted last week by the Federal Government with the payment of one-month pension to about 5,000 out of the 25,000 retirees.

p.22

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

L-R: Newly conferred fellows/Commercial Director, Promasidor, Kachi Onugbogu; Vice President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Rotimi Olaniyan; Managing Director, West Africa, Kimberly Clark and Mrs Lola Daniels, at the Institute’s forum in Lagos.

Local firms’ crude output hits 252,000 barrels p/d ndigenous crude producers in Nigeria jacked up output to over 252, 000 barrels in February, 11 per cent of the total 2.32 million barrels per day output in the month under review.

The country’s crude production statistics obtained by

New Telegraph at the weekend showed that the daily output in the month peaked at 2.47 million.

The statistics by Trading Economics entitled: “Nigeria Crude Oil Production,” was last refreshed on Friday.

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration and production subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), led the pack of indigenous producers with an average of 155,000 barrels per day.

Oando, Afren, Seplat, Conoil, WalterSmiths, Brittania-U and other Nigerian firms contributed the remaining daily produc-

INFLATION RATE February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

TALL ORDER DPR gives a target of 30 per cent production rise to local firms by 2020

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Adeola Yusuf

I

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

$1.65 billion Total costs incurred by Oando for the takeover of ConocoPhillips’ oil blocks tion average of 96,000 barrels.

Oando produces 55,000 barrels of the total 96,000 barrels.

“With the completion of sale of many lucrative oil blocks like Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 and 18 by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron, the production of indigenous firms is expected to increase tremendously be-

fore the end of 2015,” the report stated, adding that the production increase was aided by the active implementation of the local content bill.

NNPC also confirmed NPDC’s new production rise in a statement on its website.

NPDC, the corporation said, also produces over 570 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas, which makes it the fifth largest crude producing company in the country.

NNPC said: “As of today, NPDC is proudly the fifth largest producer of crude oil as well CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Mar. 27)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N221 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N326 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N237

l Foreign Reserves – $29.83bn as at 26/03/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Mar.27)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223

22

Business | News

SETBACK Items on the checklist had to do with security and safety Wole Shadare

I

ndications emerged at the weekend that none of the nation’s airports had been certified more than 35 years after they were built because they were yet to meet requirements stipulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The reasons why the

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Nigerian airports remain uncertified

Air traffic drops over naira fall, says NANTA president nation’s airports remained uncertified came on a day the President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, (NANTA), Alhaji Aminu Agoha, said that the recent devaluation of the naira has led to a slight drop in the number of

people travelling within or outside the country.

New Telegraph gathered that the items on the checklist had to do with two major issues - security and safety, which have not been complied with to get the classification and regulation they require.

The security aspect has to do with control of access to the airport’s sterile areas or airside and the security of other major points such as the catering departments, boarding gates, check-in points and perimeter fencing.

The safety feature, on the

other hand, involves the runway light, taxiway light, approach light, fire station and airport emergency response system, among others.

Equally worrisome is the rot in the nation’s aviation sector that experts said may have

L-R: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki and Honorary Adviser to Dangote, Joseph Makoju, during a courtesy visit by Atoki on CPC’s collaboration with the private sector on consumer protection, in Lagos.

Local crude output hits 252,000 barrels p/d CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

as the leading gas supplier in the country. Its production increased from 70,000 bpd to over 170,000 bpd and with reserves of over 2.1 million barrels.

Similarly, NPDC has significantly increased its gas contribution to the domestic market to over 570 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d).

“The production by indigenous companies is over eight per cent “contrary to what some want the people to believe, it is about 10 per cent.”

In the same vein, Oando Energy Resources (OER) has also increased its production to 55,000 barrels, a boost, which the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Wale Tinubu, said was made possible by the recent assets purchased from ConocoPhillips, a United States’ firm.

“Our oil production today stands at 55,000 bpd,

and 80 per cent of this output comes from assets we bought from ConocoPhillips,” Tinubu stated during the recent Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) conference in Abuja.

He said that Oando remained on course to achieve its five-year production target of 100,000 bpd. The energy company is hoping for significant increase in output from the Qua Iboe field, like in its Ebendo field where production has risen to over 7,500 bpd from 900 bpd, “through the identification and drilling of new reservoirs in the field.”

Oando, listed on the Lagos, Johannesburg and Toronto stock exchanges, last year, completed the takeover of ConocoPhillips’ four Niger Delta onshore oil blocks –OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63, and offshore oil blocks OML 145 and OML 131, for a total cost of $1.65 billion.

found deep expression in the assessed parlous infrastructural facilities bedeviling the gateways over the years, with little succour coming from the much publicised remodeling scheme.

Just last week, the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Usman Muhtar, disclosed in his interaction with the media, that the aviation regulatory body would certify the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, before June 2015.

Consequently, the 22 airports in the country have remained uncertified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on account of the poor state of infrastructure at the aerodromes.

Although the MMIA, NAIA and other airports in the country were yet to be certified by NCAA, regulatory authority officials said that the situation did not mean that the airports were not safe for operation.

They explained that it does not mean that certain aircraft and operations could not be carried out in these airports.

Indeed, the airports, according to the NCAA, lack adequate fire cover, efficient airspace communication infrastructure, water hydrant, fire fighting vehicles and airfield lighting. Also, poor security of the airport, coupled with lack of perimeter fencing, among others, are factors militating against the standard airport system stipulated CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Pension: FG’s selective payment rattles PHCN retirees Group mobilises for mass protest TRIVIAL Only 5,000 pensioners out of over 25,000 have received one-month payment from threemonth arrears Sunday Ojeme

A

subterranean arrangement by pensioners of the privatised Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to hold a mass protest before the presidential election was tactically halted last week by the Federal Government with the payment of one-month pension to about 5,000 out of the 25,000 retirees.

The payment, New Telegraph gathered, followed an earlier directive by the President of the Nigerian Union of

Pensioners (PHCN chapter), Mr. Temple Ubani, that the traumatised retirees should stay action on the demonstration as the Minister of Finance, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, had promised to offset the threemonth pension arrears.

A source, who disclosed the development to our correspondent, said that the part-payment to only a small fraction of the pensioners would not deter them from holding the mass protest aimed at driving home the degree of neglect the Federal Government had visited on pensioners in the last two years even after the privatisation.

Although, the source could not disclose the amount received by the lucky pensioners, he, however, argued that the piecemeal release of the money was a ploy to deceive them and tactically put a halt to the planned demonstration originally scheduled to hold be-

fore the presidential election.

He added that some of the pensioners were already mobilising to go ahead with the rescheduled protest.

“We cannot afford to tolerate this victimisation. Imagine the billions of naira that have been budgeted for the presidential campaign. We have mobilised ourselves for another protest.

“Even when we were under NEPA (Nigerian Electricity Power Authority) I know things were bad, but I had thought that with the privatisation of PHCN, all the rubbish about pension would come to an end, but today, it has become worse,” the source said.

PHCN pensioners, like their counterparts in other chapters have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over accumulated pension arrears and failure to fully implement the 33 per cent increase announced by government over CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

In collaboration with

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 Copyright © 2015 The New York Times

Sanctity of Truth

The Roots of Israel’s Future

TOMAS MUNITA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Eli is one of dozens of Israeli settlements in the West Bank that are seen as a threat to any potential peace deal with Palestinians.

By JODI RUDOREN and JEREMY ASHKENAS Eli, West Bank

SINGING AND DANCING greeted a triumphant Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited Eli, then a young settlement of 959 residents, shortly after first becoming Israel’s prime minister in 1996. “We will be here permanently forever,” he declared in nearby Ariel that day, promising to renew the internationally contentious construction of Jewish communities across the land Palestinians plan as their future state.

Struggling for settlers’ support ahead of Israel’s recent elections, Mr. Netanyahu returned in February to Eli, now a boomtown of more than 4,000 people that sprawls across six hilltops amid Palestinian villages and farmland. His presence was a statement in itself: Eli is among doz-

ens of isolated settlements whose expansion and entrenchment threaten the prospects of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Steady growth of settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Je-

rusalem, which most world leaders consider violations of international law, complicates both the creation of a viable Palestine and the challenge of someday uprooting Israelis, who are now raising a second and third generation in contested areas.

Along the road from Eli to Ariel one recent afternoon, a Palestinian man grazed cows and teenagers walked home from school. Inside the settlement, a $3.8 million, 28,000-square-meter community center was being built. A sign said, “Eli: A Big Place to Grow.”

As Mr. Netanyahu sought his fourth term, he declared he would not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state. This appeared to be an attempt to pick up votes from the right. After his victory, Mr. Netanyahu tried to

back off from his statement. “I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that, circumstances have to change,” he said in an interview with the American cable network MSNBC. Mr. Netanyahu’s record on settlements is a central element of his troubled relationship with Washington and at the heart of mounting European criticism of Israel. An analysis of planning, construction, population and spending data over the past two decades shows that Mr. Netanyahu was an aggressive builder during his first term as prime minister in the 1990s, when the West Bank settler population rose at roughly three times the total Israeli rate. But since

Con­­tin­­ued on Page 27

Breast Milk Is Becoming Big Business

By ANDREW POLLACK

CITY OF INDUSTRY, California — When Gretty Amaya took an unpaid maternity leave five months ago, she started what she calls a part-time job to help pay the bills. Ms. Amaya, who lives in Miami, has made more than $2,000 so far by pumping breast milk and selling what is left over after feeding her baby daughter.

Frozen milk from Ms. Amaya and hundreds of other women

is flown here to what resembles a pharmaceutical factory.

Inside, it is concentrated into a high-protein product fed to extremely premature babies in neonatal intensive care units, at a cost of thousands of dollars a baby.

Breast milk is becoming a commodity, and one of the newest frontiers of the biotechnology industry — even as concerns abound over this fast-growing

As some companies are buying and selling breast milk to help premature babies, others are working to find new therapeutic uses for the product.

Frozen milk in California.

business. The company that owns the factory, Prolacta Bioscience, has received $46 million from life science venture capitalists.

“This is white plasma,” said Scott A. Elster, who leads the company. He was comparing milk to blood plasma, which has long been collected from donors and made into medical products

Con­­tin­­ued on Page 26

MONICA ALMEIDA/ THE NEW YORK TIMES

INTELLIGENCE

WORLD TRENDS

MONEY & BUSINESS

ARTS & DESIGN

Benefits of free-range parenting. PAGE 24

Haitian president rules unchecked. PAGE 25

Children’s tablets lose out to apps.

Kendrick Lamar copes with fame. PAGE 34

PAGE 30

24

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

O P I N I O N & C O M M E N TA RY

ED I T O R I A L S O F T H E T I M ES

Next Step for Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, the founding leader of Singapore, was a towering figure on the global stage who helped transform his small city-state into an economic powerhouse. After Mr. Lee’s recent death, at age 91, President Barack Obama went so far as to call him a “true giant of history.”

But praising Mr. Lee for his vision, as many have, would be incomplete. His leadership undoubtedly helped make Singapore one of the richest and least corrupt countries in the world.

His “Singapore model” of eco-

nomic development inspired other leaders, including Deng Xiaoping of China, toward free-market policies. But, he was also an autocrat who silenced critics and sent opposition leaders to jail, suppressing dissent and intimidating the press.

Mr. Lee did not deny these tactics and, indeed, reveled in them. “Nobody doubts that if you take me on, I will put on knuckle-dusters and catch you in a cul-de-sac,” he said in 1994. And that was after he had ostensibly stepped aside as prime minister

to become senior minister, a position from which he exercised significant influence. People on the receiving end of those dirty tricks were ruined financially.

By the standards of Southeast Asian autocrats, Mr. Lee was hardly a tyrant. He did not brutalize and impoverish his country, unlike military leaders in Myanmar and Cambodia. And he has been far more successful at turning Singapore into a developed nation than strongmen in Malaysia and Indonesia. Nevertheless, he and his protégés in

the ruling People’s Action Party — including his son Lee Hsien Loong, the current prime minister — maintained tight control over politics and speech long after Singapore had achieved the kind of prosperity that Mr. Lee had cited as a reason to limit free expression and multiparty democracy.

If there ever was a moment for Singapore to embrace democratic principles fully, it is at hand. The country’s 5.6 million people appear to be increasingly unhappy with one-party rule

and growing income inequality.

In an election in 2011, opposition parties got 40 percent of the vote.

And, in recent years, poorly paid migrant workers have held protests.

As Singapore reflects on Mr. Lee’s legacy, many people will focus on the country’s economic growth under his rule. But a leader’s accomplishments should not be measured by material achievements alone. The next generation of leaders should make Singapore a political model, not just an economic one.

INTELLIGENCE/CLEMENS WERGIN

The Case for Free-Range Parenting Bethesda, Maryland On her first morning in America, last summer, my daughter went out to explore her new neighborhood — alone, without even telling my wife or me.

Of course we were worried; we had just moved from Berlin, and she was just 8. But when she came home, we realized we had no reason to panic. Beaming with pride, she told us and her older sister how she had discovered the little park around the corner, and had made friends with a few local dog owners. She had taken possession of her new environment, and was keen to teach us things

Why are Americans so afraid to give their kids room to roam? we didn’t know.

When this story comes up in conversations with American friends, we are usually met with polite disbelief. Most are horrified by the idea that their children might roam around without adult supervision. In Berlin, where we lived in the center of town, our girls would ride the Metro on their own — a no-no in Washington. Or they’d go alone to the playground, or walk a kilometer to a piano lesson. Here in quiet and traffic-safe suburban Clemens Wergin is the Washington bureau chief for the newspaper Die Welt.

Washington, they don’t even find other kids on the street to play with.

A study by the University of California, Los Angeles, has found that American kids spend 90 percent of their leisure time at home, often in front of the TV or playing video games. Even when kids are physically active, they are watched by adults, either in school, at home, at afternoon activities or in the car, shuttling them from place to place.

Such narrowing of the child’s world has happened across the developed world. But Germany is generally much more accepting of letting children take some risks. To this German parent, it seems that America’s middle class has taken overprotective parenting to a new level, with the government acting as a super nanny.

Just take the case of 10-yearold Rafi and 6-year-old Dvora Meitiv, siblings in Silver Spring, Maryland, who were picked up recently by the police because their parents had dared to allow them to walk home from the park alone. For trying to make them more independent, their parents were found guilty by the state’s Child Protective Services of “unsubstantiated child neglect.”

What had been the norm a generation ago, that kids would enjoy a measure of autonomy, is now seen as almost a crime.

Today’s parents enjoyed a completely different American childhood. Recently, researchers at the University of Virginia conducted interviews with 100 parents. “Nearly all respondents remember childhoods of nearly

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unlimited freedom, when they could ride bicycles and wander through woods, streets, parks, unmonitored by their parents,” writes Jeffrey Dill, one of the researchers.

But when it comes to their own children, the same respondents were terrified by the idea of giving them only a fraction of the freedom they once enjoyed. Many cited fear of abduction, even though crime rates have declined significantly. The most recent indepth study found that, in 1999, only 115 children nationwide were victims of a “stereotypical kidnapping” by a stranger; the overwhelming majority were abducted by a family member. That same year, 2,931 children under 15 died as passengers in car accidents.

Motor development suffers when most of a child’s leisure time is spent sitting at home instead of running outside. Emo-

tional development suffers, too.

“We are depriving them of opportunities to learn how to take control of their own lives,” writes Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College. He argues that this increases “the chance that they will suffer from anxiety, depression, and various other mental disorders,” which have gone up sharply in recent decades. He sees risky outside play of children among themselves without adult supervision as a way of learning to control strong emotions like anger and fear.

I am no psychologist like Professor Gray, but I know I won’t be around forever to protect my girls from the challenges life holds in store for them, so the earlier they develop the intellectual maturity to navigate the world, the better. And by giving kids more control over their lives, they learn to have more confidence in their own abilities.

It is hard for parents to balance the desire to protect their children against the desire to make them more self-reliant. But parents who prefer to keep their children under their thumbs should consider what sort of trade-offs are involved in that choice.

At a minimum, parents who want to give their children more room to roam shouldn’t be penalized. Cases like the Meitivs’ reinforce the idea that children are fragile objects to be protected at all times, and that parents who believe otherwise are irresponsible, if not criminally negligent.

Besides overriding our natural protective impulses in order to loosen the reins of our kids, my wife and I now also have to ponder the possibility of running afoul of the authorities. And we thought we had come to the land of the free.

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

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Sanctity of Truth

WORLD TRENDS

Town Retaken, But Army Is Absent

By ADAM NOSSITER

DIEU NALIO CHERY/ASSOCIATED PRESS; BELOW, HECTOR RETAMAL/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE— GETTY IMAGES

Haitian Leader’s Power Solidified

By FRANCES ROBLES The president is credited judiciary, where the criminal with getting the vast majoricases of some people close to the PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — president have stalled or disapWith a brisk clap of his hands, ty of residents who lost their Michel Martelly summed up homes to the devastating 2010 peared. the first steps he would take if earthquake out of tent cities.

Prosecutors who objected to he ever left the music business Solar panels light once-darkthe interference were fired or and became the president of fled, and one judge who comened streets, and government Haiti. ministries and hotels are being plained that the president had “First thing, after I establish built. An anticorruption law meddled in a civil corruption my power, which would be very was enacted, and the presicase against Sophia Martelly, strong and necessary, I would the first lady, died two days latdent found creative ways to enclose that congress thing,” Mr. er. roll more children in primary Martelly was quoted as saying “I would be very concerned of school. in 1997, when he was still a hugethis interconnected web of neThe rubble that marred the streets after the earthquake ly popular singer. “Out of my farious characters,” said Robis gone, and so are most of the way.” ert Maguire, a Haiti scholar at tents that 1.5 million Haitians His words have proved proGeorge Washington University lived in. in Washington, D.C. “Martelly phetic. A political crisis almost Haiti now has one four years into Mr. Marof the fastest-growing telly’s presidency gave economies in the Calife to the fantasy he once described: He is running ribbean, thanks largethe country without the ly to infrastructure checks and balances of a projects financed by parliament. the money Haiti saved After he and his oppoby buying oil at prefnents in Parliament could erential terms from not agree on elections, Venezuela. But even most legislative terms with that growth, and expired, and the seats rethe billions in internamain empty. Only 11 electtional aid, 24 percent of Haitians still live in ed officials remain in the extreme poverty, acentire country, and the president is one of them. cording to the World Mr. Martelly has govBank.

Nicole Phillips, a erned by executive order, lawyer for the Insticoncentrating power in the hands of a man who, tute for Justice and Haitian President Michel Martelly’s allies his critics say, is a prisonDemocracy in Haiti, face murder and drug charges. Top, a said that while Mr. er of his past, surrounded Martelly’s adminisby friends and aides who protest calling for his resignation. have been arrested on tration had improved charges including rape, infrastructure and murder, drug trafficking and built hotels, it had also cracked has empowered them to do what kidnapping. down on rights activists and they do. He has established an One of Mr. Martelly’s semanipulated the judiciary to environment of corruption, benefit the president’s associabuse of power and impunity.” nior advisers was jailed for six The president’s office did not months during the president’s ates. respond to several requests tenure after being accused of Mr. Martelly’s last prime for comment. The presidential killing a man in a gunfight at minister, Laurent Lamothe, spokesman, Lucien Jura, did the Dominican border. Another was seen by many as cracking not respond to requests for comfriend of the president vanished down on kidnapping and orgalast year, shortly after being rement. nized crime. But he was pushed But Mr. Martelly’s supportout in December as the political leased from jail in a marijuana crisis between the administrafficking case. ers defended him. “We have had The prosecutor in that case stability for four years,” said tration and opposition parties fled the country fearing retaliDaniel Edwin Zenny, a senator reached its peak. allied with the president. “We “Since Martelly arrived in ation. used to have 10,000 to 20,000 office, state institutions have The Martelly administrapeople protesting on the streets become weaker than before,” tion’s influence has been critevery day. Now we have 1,500 to said Pierre Esperance, director icized most for its effect on the 4,000, and while they are proof the National Human Rights Defense Network. “We have no André Paultre contributed testing, the country is moving rule of law in Haiti.” reporting. forward.”

DAMASAK, Nigeria — Boko Haram’s black flag is everywhere in this town, deep in Islamist-held territory in northern Nigeria.

The other unmistakable sign of the Islamist militants’ recent presence is that very few residents remain in a once-thriving town of 200,000. They have either fled to the state capital, Maiduguri, or been killed by Boko Haram.

Mostly, the only sounds are from military vehicles, carrying soldiers from neighboring Chad and Niger as they make their way through the wreckage of the deadly four-month Islamist occupation of this Nigerian town.

From time to time, the Chadian soldiers ululate to celebrate their victory against the militants in a firefight that stretched into midMarch.

The Chadians offered a rare glimpse into the group’s northern Nigerian stronghold, and into the difficulties of a cross-border fight against the Islamists. The soldiers from Chad and Niger had succeeded here, but there was not a single Nigerian soldier to be found. The force members were bewildered to find themselves as liberators without any help from the country benefiting from the liberation.

Even as the Nigerian government, with a national election looming, insists that its forces have chased Boko Haram fighters out of much of their northern territory, the deserted streets and all-foreign force here paint a different picture. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians still cannot return home to towns that have been, nominally at least, freed from Boko Haram.

In Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, officials express anger at the lack of cooperation from the Nigerians, even as Nigerian officials are discounting the extent of Chad’s role in the battle.

Chadian soldiers wonder why they, and not the Nigerians, are holding towns like Damasak, days after the last Boko Haram fighter has fled or been killed.

“We asked them to come, to receive this town from us, but they have not come,” said Second Lieutenant Mohammed Hassan.

“It is because they are afraid,” Lieutenant Hassan added.

Hundreds of soldiers from Chad and Niger were camped out under the broiling sun. “We fought on the night of the 14th, and the last attack was on the 15th,” Lieutenant Hassan said.

As for the Nigerians, “we called them on the 16th” — after the fight for Damasak had ended — “and told them to come; they didn’t believe we were here,” he said.

His country’s foreign minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat, two hours away by military transport plane and helicopter in Ndjamena, offered a similar appraisal. “The Nigerian Army has not succeeded in facing up to Boko Haram,” he said.

“The occupation of these towns, this is up to Nigeria,” he added. “My fondest wish is that

they assume their responsibilities.”

The soldiers around Lieutenant Hassan, savoring their victory over Boko Haram, displayed a pile of battered rifles captured from the Islamists. The men said that they had thoroughly searched the looted town and that there was not a single Boko Haram fighter to be found.

Several of the men noted the strange fighting habits and beliefs of their opponents.

“You would say that these are people ready to die, to commit suicide,” Lieutenant Hassan said.

He recounted how, after the battle, a Boko Haram prisoner seemed terrified by the Chadians’ superior weapons and equipment. The captured fighter insisted that the lieutenant’s armored personnel carrier was self-driving and ate its opponents.

As a convoy of military vehicles rumbled down the desert320 KILOMETERS

CHAD

NIGER

Lake Chad

Damasak Ndjamena

Maiduguri Abuja NIGERIA

CAMEROON

GABON

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CONGO REPUBLIC THE NEW YORK TIMES

Boko Haram had occupied Damasak since November. ed main street, a solitary older couple could be glimpsed at the back of a mud-walled compound.

The woman raised clenched fists to the sky, despairingly, as the trucks passed. The soldiers said that the handful of people left in Damasak were simply too feeble to move.

Boko Haram captured the town late in November, according to Nigerian news accounts.

Now Damasak, like much of northeastern Nigeria, is in a vacuum. Boko Haram has been chased away, but it is not clear that the Nigerian Army is ready to occupy and hold this and other towns.

Underscoring that point, soldiers from Chad and Niger recently discovered what appeared to be a mass grave at the edge of town, and some of the bodies appeared to have been beheaded.

Refugees from Boko Haram-controlled towns have said the group frequently decapitates young men.

“It is up to them to hold the town, not us,” said Lieutenant Hassan, referring to the Nigerians. “Our role is offensive. Our mission is to chase the terrorists.”

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

WORLD TRENDS

Breast Milk Evolving Into Big Business

Godfathers Becoming Sick Old Grandpas

Con­­tin­­ued from Page 23

By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

Not long ago, Thomas DiFiore cut an intimidating figure. For a time, he was the highest-ranking member of the Bonanno organized crime family not behind bars, despite a long record of arrests on charges of kidnapping, assault, promoting gambling and extortion. Even at 70, Mr. DiFiore did not seem to falter when challenging another aging Bonanno leader in 2013 for more than his share of a loan payment, according to prosecutors’ account of a government wiretap. “ ‘Without me,’ ” the other leader, Vincent Asaro, recalled Mr. DiFiore telling him, “ ‘you wouldn’t a got nothing.’ ” Mr. Asaro, whose words were being recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said Mr. DiFiore made a former Bonanno boss “look like St. Anthony.”

Yet now, as he was recently given a 21-month sentence for unlawful debt-collection conspiracy, Mr. DiFiore’s swagger has given way to a shuffle, and he is talking about insulin and statins rather than payback.

He is one of the “oldfellas,” Mafiosi whose lives of crime seem to have succumbed as much to the ravages of age as to the relentlessness of federal prosecutors.

In courtrooms, they can be found displaying catheter bags or discussing the state of their kidneys in hopes that a judge will take pity.

Many of these geriatric gangsters have been sentenced in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, which covers the key territories of New York’s five major organized crime families.

Mr. DiFiore, 71, outlined his drug regimen for the court: Lantus insulin shots every 12 hours; atorvastatin for cholesterol in the morning; amlodipine and lisinopril for blood pressure; and one 325-milligram aspirin a day.

As members of the Mafia seek to avoid lengthy prison terms, informers are becoming more common, said Belle Chen, an assistant F.B.I. special agent.

The prospect that these turncoats will face violent retaliation has dwindled, experts say, because of both the safety afforded by the witness-protection program and the increasing likelihood that a participant in any such retaliation could wind up helping the authorities himself.

“There are too many potential cooperators these days,” Ms. Chen said.

This dynamic has allowed investigators to target decades-old crimes and aging Mafia leaders, as has the federal racketeering act, under which old offenses can yield fresh indictments.

As a result, the federal courthouse in Brooklyn has been filled in recent years with tales from an era when the Mafia loomed larger than it does today, when it was linked to conspicuous acts of criminality like the

BRENDAN McDERMID/REUTERS

Thomas DiFiore of the Bonanno crime family, in 2014. His regimen: insulin shots and aspirin. Below, Vincent Asaro, a reputed leader of the family, in 2014. He’s lost some swagger.

JUSTIN LANE/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy International Airport — a $6 million armed robbery in which Mr. Asaro, 80, is scheduled to go on trial this fall.

Just recently, federal agents arrested reputed Mafia members and associates in their 60s and 70s connected to the New Jersey-based crime family long thought to have inspired “The Sopranos,” the HBO drama that featured its share of aging mobsters.

Given the age of the some of these defendants, court can occasionally sound less like a legal forum and more like a hospital admissions ward.

Consider Bartolomeo Vernace, who was 65 when he was sentenced last year in the 1981 killings of two owners of a Queens bar in a dispute over a

Ex-mafia bosses, with no teeth, bad hearts and diabetes. spilled drink. Like Mr. DiFiore, Mr. Vernace had detailed his prescriptions for the judge: diltiazem, Accupril, Norvasc, Crestor, Zetia, Actos, Plavix and Amaryl.

Prosecutors have grown familiar with such litanies, and have said some defendants appear to be exaggerating their medical problems in bids for leniency.

Nicky Rizzo, a Colombo family soldier who was 86 when he was sentenced for racketeering conspiracy in 2013, said his health conditions included bad hearing, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, poor blood circulation in one leg, 20 medications a day and a need to use a pump with a catheter for urination. He lifted his pant leg to

show the urinary drainage bag to the judge.

Prosecutor Allon Lifshitz said of Mr. Rizzo’s behavior, “shuffling in from the back and the purported inability to hear, and the groaning, should get zero weight.” He added, “It’s a joke.”

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, citing Mr. Rizzo’s health and age, sentenced him to six months in prison, compared with the year and a half to two years sought by prosecutors.

Some judges have questioned the aging defendants’ conditions.

Judge Matsumoto sentenced Colombo family member Richard Fusco to just four months in prison for extortion conspiracy after he listed ailments that included kidney failure, hearing loss and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, though reporters observed that his condition seemed to improve dramatically after he left court.

“If Mr. Fusco made a fool out of me, then shame on me,” Judge Matsumoto said at a later sentencing.

Thomas Gioeli, a Colombo family member convicted of racketeering conspiracy charges, detailed his health woes at his sentencing last year: back problems, a cardiac episode, diabetes and arthritis. The formerly fearsome mobster was also, literally, toothless.

“I can’t chew my food,” Mr. Gioeli told the court. “I’m choking more frequently. My back is out, my hips are out, my knee pops out.”

Just 61 when he was sentenced, Mr. Gioeli was “a very old 61 years,” his lawyer, Adam D. Perlmutter, argued.

“These medical conditions are not feigned, they are real,” Judge Brian M. Cogan said. Nonetheless, he sentenced Mr. Gioeli to almost 19 years in prison, saying that the federal prisons system offered decent medical care.

Those milk banks do not pay women for milk but do they charge hospitals a few dollars an ounce a nominal amount to cover the costs of screening donors and pasteurizing the milk costs.

While some women give milk to those who need it, some sell their milk to other mothers (or to male bodybuilders who believe it builds muscle), hoping to receive more than the $1 per 30 milliliters that Prolacta and Medolac pay. Some health authorities say direct sales or sharing pose risks because the milk is usually unpasteurized.

Prolacta’s products are intended for extremely premature infants who need more nutrition than they can receive from breast milk alone. The company makes a fortifier containing high levels of protein, fats and minerals, which is used to supplement breast milk. It costs about $180 for 30 milliliters, and a baby would typically consume $10,000 worth over several weeks.

Each batch of milk arriving at the $18 million factory outside Los Angeles is tested for viral infections, nicotine, drugs of abuse, dilution and cow’s milk. The women who supply the milk take blood tests for infectious diseases and furnish DNA samples.

“Even the vitamins you take you have to report to them,”

like immune globulin, which helps fight infections, and clotting factors for hemophiliacs.

Concentrated milk could be just the start. Researchers say that breast milk, which evolved to provide optimal nutrition and protect babies from infection, is brimming with potential therapeutics, not only for babies but possibly for adults, to treat intestinal or infectious diseases, like the bowel ailment known as Crohn’s disease, for example.

“We are at the tip of the iceberg for milk,” said Bruce German, chairman of Evolve Biosystems. Evolve and other companies like Glycosyn, Jennewein Biotechnologie and Glycom are trying to develop products based on complex sugars in breast milk that appear to nourish bacteria in the digestive tract that are important to health.

But the commercialization of breast milk makes many people uneasy. They worry that companies might capture most of the excess breast milk and make products that would be too costly for many babies, while leaving less milk available for nonprofit milk banks.

“The competition comes in the form of how much surplus breast milk is there in the country and who’s getting it,” said Kim Updegrove of the nonprofit Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin in Texas.

Debate is also intense over whether women should be paid for their milk.

Some are worried that women might try to increase their milk output unsafely, hide health problems that could make the milk unsafe, mix in cow MONICA ALMEIDA/THE NEW YORK TIMES milk or deprive their Prolacta Bioscience is among the own babies. companies that are pioneering the When Medolac Labuse of breast milk as medicine. oratories said last year that it wanted to Ms. Amaya said. buy milk from women in DeMedolac sells donor milk troit, it was accused of profthat is sterilized rather than iting at the expense of black pasteurized, so it does not women. have to be frozen or refriger“We are deeply concerned that women will be coerced ated. into diverting milk that they A third competitor could be would otherwise feed their own Glenn Snow, who founded the babies,” the Black Mothers’ milk-selling website Only the Breastfeeding Association reBreast. He has started a comsponded. Medolac abandoned pany, International Milk Bank, its plan. to buy the milk offered on that Defenders of payments say website and turn it into prodthat if companies are going to ucts for hospitals. profit, it is only fair for them Glycosyn, Jennewein and to pay suppliers, and that the Glycom, which has worked commercialization of breast with Nestlé, are trying to synmilk could increase the supply thesize the sugars in breast available. milk to make products that Mr. Elster said Prolacta would nurture a healthy gut processed about 71,000 liters “microbiome.” Prolacta and of milk last year and aimed Medolac say their ability to colfor more than 91,000 liters this lect milk nationally will allow year, which compares to the them to extract those sugars amount dispensed in 2013 by from the milk. all 18 nonprofit milk banks Until now, said Medolac’s that belong to the Human Milk founder, Elena Medo, “there’s Banking Association of North never been enough milk in one America. place to be able to do it.”

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

27

WORLD TRENDS

Israeli Settlements Grow, Alongside Complications Con­­tin­­ued from Page 23 returning to power in 2009, he has logged a record similar to that of less-conservative leaders, with settlements swelling about twice as fast as Israel over all. Mr. Netanyahu has taken several steps that make drawing a two-state map particularly problematic, and has declared: “I do not intend to evacuate any settlements.”

With negotiations stalled between the Palestinians and Israelis, the number of settlers in the West Bank now exceeds 350,000 — including about 80,000 living in isolated settlements like Eli and Ofra that are hard to imagine remaining in place under any deal.

In addition, there are another 300,000 Israelis living in parts of Jerusalem that Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war and later annexed in a move most of the world considers illegal.

“Each of those other prime ministers who were builders were also able to placate Washington and cooperate with it because they were involved in some significant effort to actually negotiate and conclude an agreement,” said Aaron David Miller, who advised six American secretaries of state on the Middle East.

“Netanyahu has drawn a blank or a zero on that. If you have no strategy, and what you’re doing is increasing settlement activity, the perception is, frankly, that you’re not serious.”

First elected in 1996 on a promise to reverse a four-year freeze on settlement expansion in all but a few areas, Mr. Netanyahu endorsed the concept of two states for two peoples upon regaining Israel’s top job in 2009, saying in his famous Bar Ilan speech: “We have no intention of building new settlements or of expropriating additional land for existing settlements.”

Mr. Netanyahu now explains his building initiatives as an inevitable accommodation to natural growth and says they have only added, as he put it, “a few houses in existing communities.”

We all need to take a break from our screens, and not just to rest our eyes. The downtime lets us get a little creative thinking done.

ExecuLENS tives’ toys that live on a desk to be played with, some say, are a productive distraction: Magic 8 Balls with cryptic messages; Zen gardens with little rakes; Newton’s Cradle, the dangling metal balls that knock against one another, the ends flying to demonstrate Newton’s law of the conservation of momentum.

Such objects provoke dialogue and relieve stress, says Adrienne Appell of the Toy Industry For comments, write to nytweekly@nytimes.com.

Modiin Illit is an ultra-Orthodox enclave widely expected to stay with Israel under any future deals.

He rebuts any suggestion that settlements are the core of the conflict, noting that Arabs and Jews were fighting in this land long before they existed.

Still, the American who led the latest round of failed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Martin S. Indyk, has said that “rampant settlement activity” had a “dramatically damaging impact.”

A recent report from the anti-settlement group Peace Now showed that government-issued bids for building have grown since 2009 to reach 4,485 units last year. Two-thirds of construction over the last two years, the report shows, was on the Palestinian side of a line drawn by the Geneva Initiative, an international working group that produced a model agreement in 2003.

Most of the growth has been in three settlement blocks near Jerusalem and Tel Aviv slated for land swaps with the Palestinians in a future peace deal. But while Palestinian leaders have accepted the concept of swaps, they

have never ­— nor has the United States ­— agreed on a delineation of such blocks.

The biggest and fastest-growing settlement is Modiin Illit, an insular, ultra-Orthodox enclave just over the 1967 line that is widely expected to stay in Israel.

Today, it has more than 60,000 residents.

Mr. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that he has not created any new settlements, but that is a question of semantics. Not far from Eli is a little place called Leshem, which opened two years ago with 104 families. The government calls Leshem a new neighborhood of the decades-old settlement up the road, Alei Zahav. There is an even bigger building boom a few kilometers east, in Bruchin, one of three outposts retroactively legalized in 2012 at the government’s prodding.

One place where there is a broad consensus that settlements will stay is the Etzion block, stretching south from Jerusalem along Route 60. There

ly see Mr. Netanyahu as a savior. His recent sojourn to Eli was to beat back a challenge from the rightist Jewish Home party. Dani Dayan, a leader of the settler council, said Mr. Netanyahu sees settlements as “a tool of policy,” not as a matter of principle.

Early in his first term Mr. Netanyahu signed the Hebron agreement, withdrawing Israelis from 80 percent of the biblical city.

Around the same TOMAS MUNITA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES time, though, he approved Har Homa, a new neighwere Jewish communities there borhood in southern Jerusalem before Israel’s establishment that the Palestinians — along in 1948. But in this area, too, Mr. with the United States and EuNetanyahu’s initiatives have deepened the dilemma for peacerope — contested for blocking access between Bethlehem and makers. Efrat, with nearly 10,000 East Jerusalem, which they residents, is to Israelis the capital claim as their future capital. Har of the Etzion block. Palestinians, Homa has more than 25,000 resithough, do not accept it as part of the block at all, because it is on dents today. the eastern side of Route 60 — “What is preventing a solution their side of the Geneva Initiative to the conflict is the refusal to map. Yet over the past four years, recognize Israel as the state for tenders have been published the Jewish people, certainly not for more than 1,100 new units in building in Gilo,” Mr. Netanyahu Efrat, and land cleared would exsaid in 2013, referring to a Jerusatend the settlement even farther lem neighborhood near Har Hoeast. ma. “Does anyone think that Gilo “What you’re doing is actually will not stay as part of Israel?” affecting the delineation of the It was the announcement of 700 blocks, but unilaterally,” said new apartments in Gilo that John Gilead Sher, who heads a group, Kerry, the American secretary Blue White Future, that is pushof state, saw last year as the final move that scuttled his peace iniing to evacuate some settlements and shore up others. Of Mr. Nettiative: “Poof, that was sort of the moment,” he said afterward. anyahu, he added, “He speaks Mr. Netanyahu shrugged it off, about the two-state solution, but saying a few months later: “The he does whatever there is in his French build in Paris, the English capability to delegitimize the build in London and the Israelis two-state solution.” build in Jerusalem.”

The settlers themselves hard-

Letting Your Mind Go Offline Association, and are useful in the digital age.

“With today’s extended work hours, multiple screens and multiple devices, it’s even more important for people to step back and take that moment to destress,” she told The Times.

Scott G. Eberle, vice president for play studies at the Strong museum in Rochester, New York, said desktop toys can induce a meditative state. Mr. Eberle has written on subjects like daydreaming, and he sees creative value in objects like Newton’s Cradle. Watching them can create a sense of detachment.

“Ideally, you need to move yourself into a state where your mind is offline,” he said, adding that lava lamps and fish tanks work as well.

Since much of our public space

is being filled by advertisers, Matthew B. Crawford reported in The Times, it’s harder and harder to get offline.

“In the process, we’ve sacrificed silence — the condition of not being addressed,” Mr. Crawford wrote. “And just as clean air makes it possible to breathe, silence makes it possible to think.”

He noticed that the trays used to place items for X-ray screening at airports are now covered with advertisements, and he was jarred by the sight of all the lipstick colors offered by L’Oréal when he put a memory stick in the tray.

This noise blocks out the silent moments we used to savor when traveling, which contribute to creativity and innovation, Mr. Crawford argued. Silence is now marketed as a luxury good.

“In the business-class lounge at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I heard only the occasional tinkling of a spoon against china,” he wrote. “I saw no advertisements on the walls. This silence, more than any other feature, is what makes it feel genuinely luxurious.”

His neck muscles relaxed, and he felt revived after just 20 minutes.

These days we don’t have much chance to relax, Teddy Wayne wrote in The Times, because of ICYMI. (In case you missed it.)

Twitter and online alerts appear every few seconds to bring links to the attention of those who may have missed them.

The news industry is publishing stories 24 hours a day, entire seasons of TV shows are released at

once and most movies are available at any time.

It’s impossible to keep up. But it’s also possible to access any of these things at any time “so there is no excuse for missing one — and, therefore, a more urgent compulsion to catch up,” Mr. Wayne wrote, “in case you missed it.”

Manoush Zomorodi, the host of a New York radio show called New Tech City, which examines how technology affects our lives, complains she hasn’t been bored in seven years.

She traces it to her first iPhone in 2007. Ms. Zomorodi, 41, started a project called “Bored and Brilliant,” which asked participants to avoid their devices and embrace idleness, hoping the wandering mind is a more creative one.

Of course there is an app for it.

“We’re trying to embrace the ridiculousness of it,” she told The Times.

TOM BRADY

28

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THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

WORLD TRENDS

In Murder Intrigue, a Chechen Chief Loyal to Putin

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

GROZNY, Russia — Ramzan A. Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Chechnya, has been at the center of intrigue surrounding the murder of Boris Y. Nemtsov, a critic of the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin. So before a busy weekend that included a night out with the boys to watch cage fighting, Mr. Kadyrov wanted to clear something up. “I am utterly devoted to Vladimir Putin and ready until the end of my life to resist the enemies of Russia,” he wrote on Instagram.

The question is not so much Mr. Kadyrov’s fealty to Mr. Putin, but whether Mr. Putin’s Faustian bargain to gain stability in Chechnya, where Russia fought two grisly wars to suppress Muslim separatists, has unleashed an unpredictable despot.

Critics of Mr. Putin have warned that he has allowed Mr. Kadyrov, 38, to create the Islamic republic that Chechen separatists had dreamed of — albeit one reliant on Moscow for financial support and where Shariah law is selective. Now, they say, Mr. Kadyrov may be seeking power far beyond the North Caucasus.

Alexandra Odynova and Neil MacFarquhar contributed reporting.

No evidence has been cited that links the killing of Boris Nemtsov to Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, left.

Unlike in other regions, Mr. Kadyrov controls his own internal security troops, known as Kadyrovtsy. He is known for ruthlessly eliminating critics.

Mr. Nemtsov had called attention to the dangers of the arrangement. “I cannot understand what Putin expects when arming 20,000 Kadyrovtsy gathered today in the stadium in Grozny,” Mr. Nemtsov wrote on Facebook in December after Mr. Kadyrov led his troops in a rally in the Chechen capital.

former deputy commander of one of Mr. Kadyrov’s security battalions. Even allies of Mr. Nemtsov who believe the Kremlin is behind his death say the investigation has exposed a dangerous rift between the chiefs of the security services SERGEY PONOMAREV FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES in Moscow and the “The country is entering a criChechen leader.

For eight years, Mr. Putin sis. There is not enough money has sanctioned Mr. Kadyrov’s for anything, including the supiron-fisted rule while seemingly port of regions. And the unspoignoring assassinations, torture ken contract between Putin and and other abuses. At the same Kadyrov — money in exchange time, the Kremlin bankrolled a for loyalty — ends. And where rebuilding effort that has transwill 20,000 Kadyrovtsy go? What will they demand?” formed Grozny into a glittering While the authorities have Caucasian oasis, and allowed produced no evidence that Mr. Mr. Kadyrov to amass his heavily Kadyrov or anyone close to him armed militia. ordered the Nemtsov killing, inThe result, admirers and devestigators have arrested five tractors agree, is a political perChechen suspects, including a sona the likes of which Russia

Pressure Is On Leader Of Brazil

By SIMON ROMERO

RIO DE JANEIRO — President Dilma Rousseff ran for office declaring that she would harness Brazil’s oil to supercharge the economy while avoiding the mismanagement that has plagued other oil-rich countries.

But less than three months into her second term, Ms. Rousseff is fighting for her political survival as Petrobras, the national oil company she oversaw, reels from a colossal scandal.

Compounding her problems is the prospect that the economy could shrink in 2015 for the second year in a row.

Public anger has brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets demanding her resignation. A recent public opinion survey showed her approval rating at 13 percent.

Much of Ms. Rousseff’s predicament can be traced to the oil industry, which she reshaped by asserting greater government control over deep-sea oil fields.

But even before Brazil starts exporting oil in large amounts, the industry is under strain as the scandal and the plunge in global oil prices produce job losses.

“Dilma Rousseff arrogantly claimed she got it all right when she was overseeing Petrobras, prioritizing oil over biofuels, encouraging the population to consume gasoline by keeping

UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

fuel prices low,” said Adriano Pires, a prominent energy consultant. “But now the shock is here: She got it all wrong.”

The political and economic crises are eroding her authority. Figures in her own Workers Party are criticizing her reluctant embrace of austerity measures sought by her critics in the business establishment.

The scandal dwarfs previous corruption cases in Brazil. Former executives who reached plea deals have described a scheme in which construction companies vying for business with the oil company paid bribes equivalent to about 3 percent of the value of contracts.

One manager, Pedro Barusco, has agreed to return nearly $100 million.

The executives also said they sent portions of the bribes to the Workers Party, some of which were used in Ms. Rousseff’s 2010 campaign, and to other parties and leader s in her coalition.

The scheme was put into motion during a period roughly corresponding to the time when Ms. Rousseff was chairwoman of Petrobras, from 2003 to 2010. She also served as energy minister and chief of staff to President Luiz Inácio Lula da

Corruption at Petrobras and a slumping economy have cut President Dilma Rousseff’s approval rating to 13 percent.

Silva, her predecessor. No testimony has surfaced indicating that she personally profited from the scheme, and she has said she only learned about it last year.

Ms. Rousseff, 67, was a forceful presence at Petrobras. She put it firmly in control of new deep-sea fields and gave it a nationalist mandate to buy ships, oil platforms and other equipment from struggling Brazilian companies. The push to build entire domestic industries supplying Petrobras, as well as huge refineries, created thousands of jobs — until now. Petrobras has had to suspend work on many projects.

Subsidized gasoline prices have also hurt Brazil’s ethanol industry by making biofuels costlier, with more than 60,000 jobs lost from 2013 to 2014 from sugar mill closings, according to the trade group Unica.

“There was this sense that oil would allow Brazil to solve all sorts of problems,” said Paulo Sotero of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. “Instead, the biofuels industry was gutted, undermining a source of pride for Brazil around the world.”

has never seen: Islamist warlord, Russian nationalist and fierce Putin loyalist — at least for now.

Mr. Kadyrov has been linked to some of Russia’s most jarring, politically charged killings, including that of an investigative journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, in 2006, and of a human rights advocate, Natalya Estemirova, who was abducted in 2009. Two of Mr. Kadyrov’s rivals in Chechnya’s notorious tribal politics were eliminated in public killings.

Mr. Kadyrov has waved off past accusations, and he was dismissive when asked about Mr. Nemtsov, a pro-democracy crusader and critic of Mr. Putin, who was assassinated just outside the Kremlin walls.

“This is a question for the Investigative Committee, for the prosecutor’s office, for the F.S.B.,” he said. “I don’t know. I am head of the Chechen Republic.

I am not a Muscovite.”

Islam Saidayev, who works in the Chechen government counseling youths against extremism, rejected the idea that Chechens had killed Mr. Nemtsov.

“The Russian Federation is a big train,” he said. “Maybe it’s going in the wrong direction, but no one can stop it. Nemtsov stood on the tracks and tried to stop it.

Of course, it ran over him.”

After Decades, Holocaust Survivor Speaks Up

By DOUGLAS DALBY But after her death in 2003, he has hardly stopped talking. “I owe it MULTYFARNHAM, Ireland to the victims that their memory — Outside the window, lush is not forgotten,” he said. pastures spread in a late winter He tells of how his idyllic childmorning. Inside, a small man with a yellow star pinned to his hood was shattered when Slosweater captivated an audience vakia became a puppet state of of teenagers with the horrors of Germany, and in 1942 the regime the concentration began to deport its camp called BerJewish population.

In 2012, when an gen-Belsen.

Irish woman living The man, Tomi Rein Hamburg said ichental, described her neighbor, a forseeing his grandmother’s body being mer Bergen-Belsen thrown onto a cart. guard, would be willHe was 9 years old. He ing to meet him, he had already experiwent.

Gerry Gregg, a enced beatings by the filmmaker, learned Gestapo; the shouts of the intended enand the dogs as his Tomi Reichental family was hauled counter and decided from the train; the to record it. “Close to scavenging for food; Evil” follows Mr. Reand the smell of the dead. ichental from his home in Dublin Mr. Reichental, 79, gives talks to Hamburg to meet the former at schools twice a week. He is guard, Hilde Michnia, now 93. booked for the rest of 2015. “PeoHowever, the filmmakers discovered a 2004 interview in ple tell me I’m the fittest Holowhich Ms. Michnia was unapolcaust survivor alive today,” he said, smiling. ogetic for her role at the camp.

The pupils at Wilson’s Hospital She said she spent her time workSchool were the latest to fall uning in the kitchens and saw no ill treatment. Ms. Michnia backed der his spell. His message is simout of the film, Mr. Gregg said, ple: “If you see someone being because of illness. victimized, don’t be a bystander “I was certainly not disap— stand up.”

Afterward, pupils and teachers pointed she didn’t agree to meet lined up to buy copies of his memme, but I was certainly disoir, “I Was a Boy in Belsen.” tressed to learn of her continued He was rounded up by the Gedenials,” Mr. Reichental said. “It is just as well we didn’t meet, perstapo in a shop in Bratislava in 1944. He never spoke of his expehaps, because shaking her hand would be something I would have riences in Bergen-Belsen, or told regretted for the rest of my life.” his wife of more than 40 years.

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MONEY & BUSINESS

Games Aim to Boost Workers’ Efficiency

By CONOR DOUGHERTY and QUENTIN HARDY

SAN FRANCISCO — If work could be more like a game, would it increase workers’ productivity?

BetterWorks, of Palo Alto, California, makes office software that blends aspects of social media, fitness tracking and video games into a system meant to keep employees more engaged with their work and one another. With the software, employees and their bosses set goals and log their progress on a digital dashboard that everyone in their company can see and comment on.

The firm has raised about $15.5 million from investors, including John Doerr, the wellknown venture capitalist.

A critic might describe it as a white-collar spin on an old idea — workplace efficiency — that used to be performed by punch clocks and assembly lines. But Mr. Doerr, who has instilled similar concepts in many of the tech companies he has invested in, is betting that the same ideas will be adopted far beyond Silicon Valley.

“I think we’re going to see

JASON HENRY FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

A 3D tree to recognize BetterWorks employees on their one-year anniversary. more and more systems in this field of quantified work, or people science, that are going to make the most valuable resource that we have — which is our team — more effective,” he said.

Silicon Valley companies are known for casual work clothes and generous employee perks like free lunches, but they share corporate America’s affinity for dogmatic processes and mind-numbing acronyms.

The Valley’s tech companies excel at turning those dreary processes into something useful.

“The big picture is how to make all this stuff more data-driven,” said Kris Duggan, the chief executive of BetterWorks.

Mr. Duggan also founded Badgeville, whose software that turns work tasks into badges and a leader board in an effort to add elements of games to work. His new company blends that game-playing sensibility with hard-core metrics.

Keeping employees engaged with work, and each other.

Using BetterWorks software, workers set goals, like “Sign 10 new customers by May,” and enter them into an internal system that can be viewed by other employees.

Co-workers can give each other encouragement (“cheers”) or shaming (“nudges”). A worker’s profile shows a digital tree that grows with accomplishments and shrivels with poor productivity.

The impulse to find ways to make people work harder is hardly new. Factories have long cajoled their people to compete with one another so that, through a combination peer pressure and ambition, they do more work.

Karen Levy, a fellow at the Data and Society Research Institute in New York, did a three-year study on performance tracking in a decidedly old-line business: trucking.

Over the last two decades, the industry has used GPS and other technologies to measure how fast drivers are going and how suddenly they brake, with the goal of getting goods delivered quickly but not so quickly that drivers waste gas.

To make drivers more efficient, companies post scoreboards in the break rooms or mail bonus checks to spouses so that they get competitive pressure from home as well as work.

One of the main ways people become more productive is by using their supposed downtime to do even more work. Many drivers did things like loading, unloading and inspecting their trucks during federally required breaks.

“If you distract workers with the idea that they are playing the game, they don’t challenge the rules of the game,” she said.

Companies like BetterWorks are importing similar concepts to office jobs where performance is more subjective.

BetterWorks charges a monthly $15 fee for each user and has “seven figures” in revenue, according to Mr. Duggan.

The software is cloud-based, allowing employees to use it across various devices.

But what if too much measurement makes people angry?

That question is at the heart of another start-up, Culture Amp, an Australian company that makes a sort of worker-polling system, essentially a set of continuous, anonymous surveys that lets companies know how their workers are feeling and rates them against other companies in the same industry.

That way they will know when everyone is about to quit.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADRIANA ZEHBRAUSKAS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Oil’s Crash Derails Mexico’s Plans

By ELISABETH MALKIN

MEXICO CITY — Mexico kicked off the opening of its oil industry to great fanfare. At a packed event at the Technology Museum here seven months ago, maps flashed on a giant screen showing dozens of oil fields that would be put up for bid to private companies for the first time in more than 75 years.

With oil fetching around $100 a barrel at the time, the projections were ambitious. Over the next four years, Mexico would attract more than $12 billion in investment a year. By 2018, private companies would be pumping half a million new barrels of oil a day.

Now, oil prices have sunk to almost half that level, and the atmosphere has turned anxious.

The question is whether private companies will still invest. Big energy players have been scaling back their investment plans as oil prices have dropped. To encourage investors to bid, the Mexican government sweetened the contract terms. It is also contemplating delaying some auctions.

The energy reform is at the core of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s efforts to jump-start the economy. The hope is that private companies will invest heavily in developing new oil and gas fields, creating jobs and adding to government coffers.

“The Peña Nieto administration put all its eggs in the basket of energy reform,” said Luis Miguel Labardini, a consultant at Marcos y Asociados in Mexico City. “If they mess it up, this administration is doomed.”

Attracting private money has taken on new urgency as low oil prices have sped up the decline at the state-owned oil company, Pemex. Squeezed by high taxes and hobbled by government control, Pemex spends — and borrows — more each year to pump less and less oil. Its daily production has slipped to below 2.4 million barrels, a million lower than its peak a decade ago.

The government had hoped to move swiftly to open its oil fields to private investment, planning to offer monthly auctions for contracts on 169 different blocks. But

With oil prices down, big energy firms are cutting back on plans to invest in Mexico. A deepwater drilling rig for Pemex. gathering all the information for investors and designing attractive contracts is proving complicated.

Energy officials admit that a lot is riding on the results of the first auction in July, when the government will award a package of 14 exploration blocks in low-cost shallow waters. But the low oil price may delay plans for bids on expensive shale and other oil fields.

Still, the low prices forced the government to make changes recently on its initial proposed contracts. The new rules for the first exploration package and a second group of shallow-water production blocks to be awarded in September relax the minimum investment requirements.

Private investors will keep a larger percentage of their profits as their returns rise. Profits are split with the government.

“We are under a different market scenario,” said Juan Carlos Zepeda, the president of the National Hydrocarbons Commission, the regulator charged with conducting the auctions.

While the changing market hasn’t altered the government’s goal of increasing output by 500,000 barrels a day, “experts say it’s very dubious,” said Jer-

emy Martin, director of the energy program at the Institute of the Americas in San Diego. Still, he says he believes that many oil companies remain interested in Mexico.

Others are more skeptical. David Shields, an oil analyst here, questioned whether production costs were as low as the government suggested. “The low-cost easy fields are running out,” he said, pointing to Pemex’s problems.

For now, oil companies are leaving their options open. Some 35 paid for access to a hermetic data room where they can study seismic information on the blocks. Of those, 23 have taken the first steps to qualify for bidding, including Shell, Chevron and Petrobras.

Although auctions for shale fields in northern Mexico may not go forward, the regulator, Mr. Zepeda, was confident that the deepwater one would.

It takes eight years for a deepwater development to produce the first barrel of oil, he said, so companies look at the long-term price when they weigh their spending.

“When you are turning to look at those projects,” he said, “the spot price is not very relevant.”

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

MONEY & BUSINESS

Technology Bypasses A Learning Toys Titan

By RACHEL ABRAMS

GILLES SABRIE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Li Ying, waiting for her number to be called in a Beijing government office, needs 14 documents to get a permit that would allow her 6-year-old son to enroll in school.

China’s Frustrating Bureaucracy

By DAN LEVIN

BEIJING — China’s bureaucracy has long been a bewildering maze of “relevant departments,” official red-ink seals and stone-faced functionaries.

Supplicants ricochet from one government office to another, sometimes across the country, in their quest for the permits needed to get through daily life.

To get a license plate for a new car, for example, a resident of Beijing must win a pass in a lottery in which the odds of success are less than 1 percent. Women often obtain permits allowing them to give birth after they wed, but they usually expire after two years. Unmarried women are ineligible for them. Just starting a new job and registering for public benefits can mean amassing a small mountain of documents.

As its ranks grow, China’s middle class — wired, ambitious and worldly — is increasingly unwilling to tolerate such obstacles, the vestiges of a capricious Mao-era bureaucracy that still holds sway.

For many educated city dwellers, it is this system, more than censorship and propaganda, that serves as a grinding reminder of the Communist Party’s dominion over their lives.

“The government isn’t there to make our lives easier,” said Daisy Li, a media producer who has applied nine times for a passport for her daughter, whose father is Scottish.

“They’ve set up all those rules so the people are easier to control.”

Analysts say such frustrations feed public discontent at a time when the party is trying to bolster its appeal by combating corruption and vowing to ease the constraints on small businesses. President Xi Jinping’s motto for cutting through bureaucracy in government is: Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Hong Kong.

“Deal with it instantly.”

Keeping the middle class happy, China’s leaders have come to realize, is vital for the party’s long-term survival. Concerns about potential social unrest starting within the urban elite are not far-fetched.

Aware of the public’s mounting exasperation, the government has gradually eased some restrictions. Yet, like recent changes to the country’s onechild policy, they come with additional reams of paperwork.

One well-traveled joke suggests that approval for a second child takes so long to obtain that couples should begin applying before they conceive — or else the baby might arrive first.

Minxin Pei, an expert on Chinese politics at Claremont Mc­Kenna College in California,

Want a job? Want a child? Not till the paperwork’s done. described the nation’s bureaucracy as a time-tested mechanism for control that functions as “an unmovable layer insulating the top leader from popular pressure.

“In China, after you go through the red tape, you often don’t get an outcome or an explanation,” he said. “The system is designed to allow bureaucrats to do nothing and get away with it,” he said.

The head-spinning tangle of regulations infuriates many ordinary Chinese. At the heart of their ire is the hukou, or family registration, an onerous system akin to an internal passport that often tethers services like public education, subsidized health care and pensions to the birthplace of a Chinese citizen’s parents — even if he or she never

lived there.

Created in the 1950s and designed to restrict the flow of rural villagers into large cities, the hukou system has become widely detested in recent years. Hundreds of millions of migrants have flocked to work in China’s booming metropolises, and critics say the system makes them second-class citizens and subjects them to widespread discrimination in schooling, housing and employment.

Young professionals often go to extremes to get a coveted hukou in cities like Beijing or Shanghai. The lucky ones find jobs with state-owned enterprises or with well-placed private companies.

The hukou bureaucracy forces many migrants to choose between their child and their livelihood. About one-fifth of Chinese children, more than 61 million, live without their parents in remote villages, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

One recent afternoon, Li Ying, 39, sat in a fluorescent-lit Beijing government office, waiting for her number to be called so she could apply for a temporary residence permit that would allow her 6-year-old son to enroll in school.

Although Ms. Li moved to Beijing with her parents as a child in 1981, her hukou is registered in a distant town, meaning her son will be shut out of the city’s public schools without the permit.

Among the 14 required documents, Ms. Li must provide her hukou certificate, proof of residence, a diploma, a job contract, a marriage license, her husband’s identity card, his hukou, a certificate proving that she has only one child and a company document detailing her work performance and tax payments.

“What a headache,” she said.

“Red tape is good for the government but not for us Chinese people.”

Flora Bojadziev browsed through a Toys “R” Us in Manhattan, looking for educational toys for her 2 1/2-year-old son, who plays with her iPad. She balked at spending $130 on LeapFrog’s LeapPad Ultra XDi, a tablet for children. “With that money, I’ll buy him so many apps,” she said.

That is precisely the problem for LeapFrog, which built a multimillion-dollar company on children’s devices before babies learned to swipe the screens of iPads. As cheaper alternatives have come on the market, LeapFrog has watched its sales plummet. It has become the target of short-sellers, investors who bet on a company’s failures, and was sued by shareholders who claimed it had overestimated demand for its products.

Critics say LeapFrog has become a modern-day fable for how quickly technology has unseated the toy industry’s titans.

Mike Wood, a lawyer, created the company in 1995, and in 1999 introduced the first LeapPad, an electronic book with audio and pen that helped children learn to read. As technology evolved, LeapFrog created a tablet for children: no web-browsing abilities and a limited set of games.

In 2011, the LeapPad tablet sold for $100 when the average tablet in the United States sold for about $470, according to Euromonitor, a market research company.

Sales skyrocketed. Sean McGowan, an analyst with Needham and Company, estimates that the company sold 1.2 million tablets the first year, and more than doubled that in 2012, when the LeapPad 2 came out. The hardware, combined with its software and content, most likely made up accounted for more than half of the company’s revenue, Mr. McGowan said.

A few years later, however, the idea of a tablet that appeals precisely because it can do a limited set of tasks seems quaint. Older generations of iPads have become hand-me-downs from parents to children, while tablets get cheaper every year. Parents can program their grown-up devices with educational games, instead of buying a separate specialized system.

Mr. McGowan estimates sales of LeapPads dropped more than

40 percent in 2014.

“You gotta fish where the fish are, and the fish weren’t in the enclosed system anymore,” said Gerrick Johnson, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.

LeapFrog has taken steps to make some of its content available on other platforms. Some of its educational apps, like My Robot Pal and Scout’s Shapes and Colors Farm, are available through the Apple iTunes store.

But so are hundreds, if not thousands, of competing apps. And the competition — not just for LeapFrog — is fierce.

Even though Americans most likely bought more than twice as many tablets in 2014 as they did in 2011, they paid $330 on average, according to Euromonitor. That has forced everyone to cut prices.

Manufacturers, like Amazon, RCA and Toshiba, now make tablets that sell for less than $100.

And LeapFrog’s latest tablet, the

Creative destruction hits the educational toy market.

LeapPad Glo, sells for about $40 less than its 2011 predecessor.

Technology has revolutionized the toy industry, creating created a new breed of small upstarts to challenge established players like Mattel and Hasbro. And the old guard has tried to adapt to the new environment with varying degrees of success.

John Barbour, LeapFrog’s chief executive, acknowledged that the company was too reliant on its electronic platforms and is looking for ways to branch out.

LeapFrog is busy converting some of its content to work on Android tablets, for example, and plans to start its own Android platform this year.

In January, LeapFrog reported net sales of $145 million in its fiscal third quarter and a net loss of $124 million. Its shares fell more than 30 percent.

Jim Silver, the editor in chief of TTPM, a toy review website, said “As each year passes by and more apps are for free and they’re lower priced, it becomes a tougher sell.”

EMILY BERL FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

LeapFrog made one of the first tablets for children, but it has lost market share to tablets that can run multiple apps.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Icicle Gets Its Day in the Sun, Just Because

By JAMES GORMAN

The reason Stephen Morris studies icicles is simple. They are common and beautiful, and they make you wonder. And they are now documented online in the Icicle Atlas.

Dr. Morris, a University of Toronto professor who created the atlas, is a physicist who probes the subtle underpinnings of the kinds of obvious physical phenomena people see every day.

“Being Canadian,” he said, “I see a lot of icicles.”

But not enough. And not created in controlled conditions. He recruited a graduate student, Antony Chen, now an instructor at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. Dr. Chen produced “the most elaborate study of icicle morphology ever done,” Dr. Morris said.

Their most surprising discovery was that ripples on icicles result from impurities in the water.

Dr. Chen’s data is now available online at www.physics.utoronto. ca/Icicle_Atlas for other scientists who want to tackle some of the remaining issues.

The atlas also includes images and movies that Dr. Morris said might interest artists and do-ityourself types who want to use a 3-D printer to make icicle ornaments, as well as people who just miss winter. A multimedia art installation is already planned for May in Toronto.

Raymond Goldstein of the University of Cambridge said the availability of all the data “is a fantastic service to the scientific community.”

He and Dr. Morris had worked on stalactites together, and then they turned to icicles. Dr. Goldstein, then at the University of Arizona, joined with colleagues there to come up with a “platonic theory” of how the ideal icicle shape is created.

Growing icicles in a refrig-

ANTONY SZU-HAN CHEN AND STEPHEN MORRIS; BELOW, JOHN LARKIN

A composite photograph of icicles created artificially in a lab, above. Naturally curved ones formed at a house in California.

erated lab had its frustrations.

“At first they grew into really strange shapes,” he said. Without air flow, icicles grow multiple legs. So the researchers had to blow air to get them to form as single upside-down cones. Then they rotated the growing icicles to get images of all sides.

Some scientists had suggested that the ripples on the surface of icicles had to do with surface tension. Dr. Chen and Dr. Morris found out that this wasn’t so. When they used distilled water, no ripples formed. When they used tap water or added even tiny amounts of salt, the

ripples appeared. They do not yet understand the physics of the ripple formations. But they discovered that the spacing of the ripples doesn’t seem to vary with different levels of impurities. “The ripples have a universal wavelength of exactly one centimeter, no matter what you do,” Dr. Morris said. “That’s the real mystery.”

Although information gleaned from studying the formation of icicles could someday help with the management of ice formation — or the building of better house gutters, for that matter — Dr. Morris said he was motivated more by curiosity than practical applications.

The icicle atlas includes about

237,000 pictures. Each icicle was photographed from eight different points of view, at 10 frames per second as it grew.

Data on water, air flow and temperature are also available for each icicle, along with computer analyses of the shapes as the icicles grew.

Dr. Morris said he likes to think that his pursuits capture the spirit of 19th-century natural philosophers, who did not separate beauty, form, mathematics and science into different domains.

Classical physics is experiencing a renaissance, he said, “because of the tools that we have now to analyze and look at systems where there are huge amounts of data.”

Being Older but Wiser Is Supported by the Data

By BENEDICT CAREY

Behind all those comments about older adults that show appreciation for their wisdom is something that scientists have had a hard time characterizing: mental faculties that improve with age. Knowledge is a large part of the equation. People who are middle-aged and older tend to know more than young adults, by virtue of having been around longer, and score higher on vocabulary tests, crossword puzzles and other measures of so-called crystallized intelligence.

Still, young adults who consult their elders don’t do so just to gather facts or solve crosswords.

Nor are they looking for help with short-term memory or puzzle solving. Those abilities, called fluid intelligence, peak in the 20s.

No, the older brain offers something more, according to a new paper in the journal Psychological Science. Elements of social judgment and short-term memory, important pieces of the cognitive puzzle, may peak later in life than previously thought.

The postdoctoral fellows Joshua Hartshorne of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Laura Germine of Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed scores on cognitive tests taken by people of all ages.

The researchers found that the broad split in age-related cognition — fluid in the young, crystallized in the old — masked several important nuances.

“There are a lot more patterns going on, and we need to take those into account to fully understand the effects of age on cognition,” Dr. Hartshorne said.

A year ago, German scientists argued that cognitive “deficits” in aging were caused largely by the accumulation of knowledge — the brain slows down because it has to search a larger mental library of facts. Scientists have debated that idea.

Experts said the new analysis raises the question: Are there distinct, independent elements of memory and cognition that peak at varying times of life?

The study evaluated historic

scores from the Wechsler intelligence test, and compared them with more recent results from tens of thousands of people who took short cognitive tests on the authors’ websites, testmybrain. org and gameswithwords.org.

The one drawback of this approach is that, because it didn’t follow the same people over a

Social judgment and short-term memory peak later in life. lifetime, it might have missed the effect of different cultural experiences, said K. Warner Schaie, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University.

Participants on the websites were 10 to 89 years old, and they took a battery of tests, measuring skills like memory for abstract symbols and strings of digits,

problem solving and facility reading emotions from strangers’ eyes.

At least as important, the researchers looked at the effect of age on each type of test. The result of the new approach? “We found different abilities really maturing or ripening at different ages,” Dr. Germine said. “It’s a much richer picture of the life span than just calling it aging.”

Processing speed — the quickness with which someone can manipulate digits, words or images — generally peaks in the late teens, Dr. Germine and Dr. Hartshorne confirmed, and memory for some things, like names, does so in the early 20s.

But working memory peaks at least a decade later and is slow to decline. The ability to recall faces and do some mental manipulation of numbers peaked about age 30, the study found.

The researchers also analyzed results from the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. The picture that emerges from these findings is of an older brain that moves

CHRISTOPHER SILAS NEAL

more slowly than its younger self, but is just as accurate in many areas and more adept at reading others’ moods — on top of being more knowledgeable. That’s a handy combination, given that so many important decisions people make intimately affect others.

The details of this picture of the aging brain are still far from clear, and social measures like the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test have not been used much in this kind of research, Dr. Hambrick and other experts said.

And it is not apparent from the new analysis whether changes in cognition with age result from a single cause — like a decline in the speed of neural transmission — or to multiple ones.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Optimism Strikes A Global Doomsayer

By JOHN SCHWARTZ

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Al Gore wants to make a point about cellphones, and he has a helpful set of slides on his laptop. “Do you want to see that?” he asks, and starts to turn the MacBook around.

“It’s not two hours — don’t worry.”

Mr. Gore knows he is The Guy With the Slides, the man who will talk about the environment until you can no longer remember the color of the sky. He long ago mastered the self-deprecating gestures that let you know that he knows what you are thinking.

And then he shows you the slides anyway.

Slides have been very good to the former vice president of the United States, almost president, environmental activist and now successful green investor. His slide show on the threat of climate change, presented in the movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” won an Academy Award. His efforts to spread the word about global warming earned him, along with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a Nobel Peace Prize.

Over the last year, however, the prophet of doom has become much more a prophet of possibility — even, perhaps, an optimist. Still an object of derision for the political right, Mr. Gore has seen support for his views rising within the business community: Investment in renewable energy

sources like wind and solar is skyrocketing as their costs plummet. He has slides for that, too.

Experts predicted in 2000 that wind-generated power worldwide would reach 30 gigawatts; by 2010, it was 200 gigawatts, and by last year it reached nearly 370, or more than 12 times higher. Installations of solar power would add one new gigawatt per year by 2010, predictions in 2002 stated. It turned out to be 17 times that by 2010 and 48 times that amount last year.

“I think most people have been surprised, even shocked, by how quickly the cost has come down,” Mr. Gore says in his office in Nashville.

Over an hour and a half, he delivers an endless stream of facts and trends from around the globe. Every minute in Bangladesh, two more homes get new rooftop solar panels. Dubai’s state utility accepted a bid for a solar power plant with a cost per kilowatt-hour of less than six cents. “Wow,” he says, his eyes wide. “That just set everybody on their ear.”

Such changes, he says, represent a sharp break with the past, not a slow evolution. That is the point of those slides on his laptop.

In 1980, one shows, consultants for AT&T projected that 900,000 cellphones might be sold by 2000.

In fact, there were 109 million by then. Today there are some seven billion. “So the question is: Why were they not only wrong, but way wrong?” he says.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos recently, Al Gore and the singer Pharrell Williams announced a Live Earth concert.

LAURENT GILLIERON/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

The same is happening now in energy, he says, with new technology leapfrogging old infrastructure. “It’s coming so fast,” he says. “It’s very, very exciting.”

All of this means, he adds, that the worst effects of climate change can be blunted. “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he says.

“We’re going to win this.”

Mr. Gore is continuing to spread the word. In February, at the end of an optimistic talk about climate change at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he and the singer Pharrell Williams announced a Live Earth concert to be held on all seven continents on June 18.

He has met with large groups in Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, India and elsewhere to present local versions of his climate change slide show. Those who attend, in turn, make the presentation to their own countrymen, spreading the word far more

broadly than the documentary ever did.

Mr. Gore has also become very rich. He co-founded Generation Investment Management, a firm that takes positions in companies that manage themselves along principles of sustainability, including the effects of climate change. He also sits on the board of the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which invests heavily in green start-ups. He sold his cable channel, Current TV, to Al Jazeera America in 2013 in a deal that earned him a reported $100 million.

Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, who has called climate change “the greatest hoax,” now heads the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. When asked his view of Mr. Gore, he issued a lengthy diatribe against the former vice president’s “alarmism

campaign.”

Through a spokeswoman, he said in part, “Al Gore’s immense wealth is largely due to his shameless and incessant promotion of the liberal global warming agenda.” He added that the federal climate policies Mr. Gore endorses “would infuse his business ventures with large sums of taxpayer dollars and set him up to become the first climate billionaire.”

In response, Mr. Gore says, “The reality of the climate crisis is overwhelming, and more and more people see it and feel it every day.”

Much of the profits he makes, he says, go to his advocacy group, the Climate Reality Project.

“I never imagined when I was younger that this would become the principal focus of my life,” he says. “But once you pick up this challenge, you can’t put it down.

I can’t. Don’t want to.”

Deeper Into Space, Water Everywhere

By KENNETH CHANG

Oceans trapped under ice appear to be pretty common in the solar system and one of them, on a small moon of Saturn’s, appears to be quite hot.

In the journal Nature, scientists reported evidence for hydrothermal vents on the Saturnian moon Enceladus, with temperatures of its rocky core surpassing 90 degrees Celsius. The discovery, if confirmed, would make Enceladus the only place other than Earth where such chemical reactions between rock and heated water are known to occur today — and would make Enceladus a promising place to look for life.

“The most surprising part is the high temperature,” said Hsiang-Wen Hsu of the University of Colorado, the lead author of the paper.

In a paper in The Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, another team reported signs of another under-ice ocean, on Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter’s moons. Scientists are already convinced that there is a large ocean, also covered by ice, on another Jovian moon, Europa.

NASA’s Galileo spacecraft had also found hints of hidden water on Ganymede and on another of Jupiter’s moons, Callisto.

The new research, using the

Hubble Space Telescope, fits with earlier hints. “This is now stronger evidence for an ocean,” said Joachim Saur of the University of Cologne in Germany, the lead author of the Ganymede paper.

Christopher P. McKay of NASA, the American space agency, said, “After spending so many years going after Mars, which is so dry and so bereft of organics and so just plain dead, it’s wonderful to go to the outer solar system and find water, water ev-

Finding hot oceans buried underground on other moons. erywhere.” Dr. McKay, who studies the possibility of life on alien worlds, was not involved in either of the papers For the Enceladus findings, Dr. Hsu and his colleagues based their conclusions on minuscule dust particles that NASA’s Cassini spacecraft encountered as it approached Saturn and after it entered Saturn’s orbit. Instruments determined the particles were high in silicon but had little or no metals like sodium or mag-

nesium. Dr. Hsu said the dust was probably silica, a molecule of one silicon and two oxygen atoms, the building block of the mineral quartz. The researchers were also able to trace the dust to Saturn’s E Ring, and the material in the E Ring originates from Enceladus, from plumes that emanate near the moon’s south pole.

“That’s the circumstantial part of the work,” Dr. Hsu acknowledged.

Experiments showed that alkaline water, heated to at least 90 degrees, could produce silica particles.

The mystery is how the interior of Enceladus, just 504 kilometers wide, grows that hot. A moon that small probably does not have enough radioactive elements at its core to provide continued warmth. A chemical reaction between water and rock called serpentinization could also provide some heat, but the primary mechanism is probably the tidal forces that Saturn exerts on Enceladus.

The earlier evidence for an ocean on Ganymede came from magnetic measurements during flybys by the Galileo probe, which suggested a conductive layer below the surface. Ice is not a good conductor. Saltwater is. But the readings could also be explained by oddities in Gany-

NASA

A depiction of auroras on Ganymede, as it orbits Jupiter.

Observations suggest the moon has an ocean under ice. mede’s magnetic field.

In the new research, the Hubble telescope scrutinized Ganymede for seven hours. It could not see below the surface, but it observed the shimmering lights of Ganymede’s auroras. As Jupiter rotates, once every 10 hours, its changing magnetic field causes the auroras to sway. If Ganymede were frozen, computer simulations showed, its auroras would sway by 6 degrees. But the salts of an under-ice ocean would generate a counteracting magnetic field, and the auroras would sway by only 2 degrees. The auroras swayed 2 degrees.

The scientists are now applying the approach to the moon Io,

a fiery world that does not have an ocean of water but might have an underground ocean of magma that would dampen the swaying of auroras. The technique could one day be used to explore planets around distant stars.

As a place for life, Ganymede is less promising, because the ocean looks to be sandwiched between layers of ice and not in contact with rock. By contrast, Enceladus appears to possess all of the necessary ingredients — heat, liquid water and organic molecules — and a future probe could analyze the water by simply flying through the plumes.

“My mantra now is follow the plume,” Dr. McKay said.

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Sanctity of Truth

33

PERSONALITIES

NAJAT VALL AU D -B ELKACEM

Education Chief Knows Immigrants’ Struggle

“I’ve always wanted to prove people wrong, and that’s what drives me.”

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHEL deGROOT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

MI CHA EL A D e P R I N C E

From War Nightmare to Ballet

By NINA SIEGAL

AMSTERDAM — Michaela DePrince, a 20-year-old American ballerina who joined the Dutch National Ballet’s main company in August, is in some respects the equivalent of a chorus girl in a Broadway musical. But night after night, people show up just to see her dance.

Ms. DePrince, who was an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone and became a professional ballerina against staggering odds, has become a celebrity since the publication last year of her best-selling young-adult memoir, published in the United States as “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina” and internationally as “Hope in a Ballet Shoe.”

For the past several months, “there’s been a barrage of requests for personal appearances, interviews and talk shows,” said the company’s artistic director, Ted Brandsen. She has also been asked to be a model for fashion brands, a spokeswoman for international charitable organizations and even a cultural ambassador for the Sierra Leone embassy in the Netherlands — all of which she has turned down.

This is a very different kind of life than anyone might have imagined for Ms. DePrince, born Mabinty Bangura in 1995,

during an 11-year civil war that killed 50,000 people, including her father when she was 3. She and her mother moved into the home of an uncle, who gave them so little food that her mother died of starvation. The uncle then deposited the child in an orphanage.

There she was nicknamed “devil’s child” and told that she was “too ugly” to be adopted because of the white patches on her neck and chest, caused by a skin condition.

But one day, the West African trade winds blew a magazine through the orphanage gates. On its cover was a ballerina in a pink tutu, her leg bent in an elegant passé. Four-year-old Mabinty was immediately captivated, and vowed that she would one day become just like that girl. At the time, she didn’t even know what ballet was.

This account comes from her memoir, which she wrote with her mother, Elaine DePrince, who adopted Mabinty.

In 2012, she was one of several ballet dancers featured in Bess Ka rgma n’s documenta r y “First Position,” about contestants in the Youth America Grand Prix, a competition that landed Ms. DePrince a scholarship to American Ballet Theater School.

She told her own story in a TEDx Amsterdam talk in November that has been viewed about 25,000 times.

Ms. DePrince is also impressing her audiences. Within weeks of joining the main company, she had an opportunity to perform a soloist role in “Swan Lake.” Her performance “made it immediately clear to everyone that this girl was doing what she should be doing,” Mr. Brandsen said.

He hired Ms. DePrince to the junior company a year and a half ago after an open audition, and she quickly moved up the ranks.

She is confirmed for two soloist roles in a program of four contemporary ballets.

“I’ve always wanted to prove people wrong, and that’s what drives me,” Ms. DePrince said.

She says she landed at the right place with the Dutch National Ballet, where 30 nationalities are represented onstage. “Companies in Europe are going out of their way to do amazing contemporary pieces, and people take chances,” she said.

No one has been as surprised by her sudden celebrity as Ms. DePrince, who said she didn’t like talking about her childhood.

“When I first started to do all this, I was like, ‘Why are you interested?’ ” she recalled. But as she has received messages from young girls and their mothers, and people in Africa, she has come to understand.

“It’s my way of reaching out to people,” she said. “It’s my way of inspiring people.”

By AIDA ALAMI She attended law school, then the Paris Institute of Political PA R IS — Najat Va lStudies — a training ground laud-Belkacem sat in her office for the French political elite — recently in the Hôtel de Rothewhere she met her husband, lin-Charolais, reflecting on the Boris Vallaud, who is now depidentity crisis among young French Muslims. uty chief of staff at the Élysée “When these young people Palace. feel frustrated with school, they The elections of 2002 were a look for an identity elsewhere turning point for her. She joined and put forward their religious the Socialist Party in the hope identity,” said the 36-year-old of making a difference. “I was Moroccan immigrant, the first very shy and reserved, so it female education minister in was a bit contradictory to get France. “It is not surprising into politics,” she said. “I decidthat they are impervious to reed to make a lifetime commitpublican values.” ment against social injustices, Ms. Vallaud-Belkacem has for against inequalities, and that is some time been considered one why I am profoundly from the of the rising stars of the counleft.”

She rapidly climbed the potry’s governing Socialist Party.

As France looks to its schools to litical ladder. When François help heal religious and racial diHollande ran for president in 2012, he appointed Ms. Valvisions, particularly in the wake of the murderous rampage at laud-Belkacem his campaign the satirical magazine Charlie spokeswoman.

Hebdo, she is under pressure After Mr. Hollande’s electo make that process work. tion victory, he appointed her “School was always a major minister of women’s rights and player in my personal journey,” chief government spokeswomshe said. “It allowed me to open an. Last year, she was named up to the world, and also social youth and sports minister and mobility. It allowed me to enrich myself, to read, learn and understand.”

Ms. Vallaud-Belkacem has been given the task of building bridges to millions of alienated young Muslims in France.

In January, she announced a 250 million euro, or $285 million, plan to train educators in discussing racism and transmitLAUREN FLEISHMAN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES ting French values of “vivre ensemble,” or “When these young people living together, in the classroom. “It is not feel frustrated with school, just family that must transmit values, but they look for an identity school also,” she said.

Ms. Vallaud-Belkaelsewhere and put forward cem said that she, too, could have grown up their religious identity.” angry and disaffected, having been raised rose to education minister in in poverty on the excluded side August. of French society.

Muslims in France have critiShe said she has fond memories of her childhood and sumcized her for supporting French secularism to the detriment of mers she spent in Beni Shiker, Islam. She denies that and says a mountain village in Morocco she loosened restrictions on where she spoke Berber and Muslim mothers wearing head tended goats at her grandparscarves during school activients’ farm. She saw perhaps one car a month. Her father ties, like field trips. worked construction in France, Part of the conservative and she and her mother and oldpress also savaged her, calling her “Ayatollah,” describing her er sister joined him when she appointment as a “provocation” was 4 years old. Her five other and predicting that she would siblings were born in France.

Islamicize French schools. Her Ms. Vallaud-Belkacem grew reaction was to secure the pasup in a poor neighborhood of Abbeville, a town in northern sage of laws that reflect the secFrance, and then in the city of ular liberalism of the Socialist Amiens. In her family, men and Party, including bans on sexual women had traditional roles: harassment and measures to The men worked and the wompromote gender equality.

“Endless political debates en looked after the children. have stigmatized Muslim famiHer father was strict; she was not allowed to date. Books lies,” she said. “School needs to became her escape, the lack of teach people that everyone is leisure activities providing a part of one community and that chance to excel at school. we are all free and equal.”

34

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

ARTS & DESIGN

From Streets, Hip-Hop Prophet Comes Calling In his new album, “Pimp a Butterfly,” Kendrick Lamar confronts fame and fortune, race, police violence and his attempts to navigate a new culture. Below, he performed last November in Puerto Rico.

By JOE COSCARELLI

LOS ANGELES — Following the success of his major label debut, “good kid, m.A.A.d. city,” in 2012, the rapper Kendrick Lamar did not indulge in earthly luxuries. Instead, he got baptized.

That album was the story of his redemption, not just from street gangs but from a life of sin. His long-awaited follow-up, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” is about carrying the weight of that clarity: What happens when you speak out, spiritually and politically, and people start to listen? And what of the world you left behind?

Mr. Lamar, who grew up in Compton, California, had a religious experience as a teenager in a parking lot of a grocery store. A grandmother of a friend approached him after one of his friends was killed, asking if he had accepted God. “She had seen that we weren’t right in the head,” Mr. Lamar recalled. “That was her being an angel for us.”

Having found that fame and riches did not offer additional salvation, or happiness, Mr. Lamar “wanted to take it to the next level — being underwater,” he said.

“I felt like it was something I had to do.”

Whereas “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” zoomed in on a day in the old life of Mr. Lamar, a gifted but wayward high schooler in a neighborhood filled with death and temptation, “To Pimp a Butterfly” brings listeners up to his present day, from world tours to the Black Entertainment Television Awards and the separation he feels from his past.

A wider vantage has made Mr. Lamar more outwardly political, as he confronts race, police violence and his attempts to navigate new cultures — and to bring what he’s learned back to his neighborhood. “You take a kid out of Compton, and he has to meet these different types of people that are not black,” Mr. Lamar said.

With this challenging 75-minute story of “survivor’s guilt,” he has also broadened the con-

JOHN FRANCIS PETERS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES; BELOW, CHRISTOPHER POLK/GETTY IMAGES FOR BACARDI

cept album format, forgoing obvious radio singles and daring fans to invest in close readings at the risk of commercial success.

For many fans, “I’m the closest thing to a preacher that they have,” Mr. Lamar, 27, said. “I know that from being on tour — kids are living by my music.”

Mr. Lamar is working to purify hip-hop, a genre he hopes to ground in his experiences of growing up poor, the son of a former street gang member. He offers an alternative to the exaggerated storytelling of some mainstream rap.

“You know the songs that are out — we all love these songs,” he said. “They sell a lot of singles and make these record labels a lot of money.”

But those “really living” in the streets don’t want to hear boasts about murder and drug dealing.

“They want to get away from that,” he said. “If it comes across as just a game all the time, the kids are going to think it’s just a game.

“It’s bigger than a responsibility, it’s a calling.”

In addition to being religious, he rarely drinks or smokes, eschews fancy clothes and jewelry and has reportedly been in a quiet, decade-long relationship with his high school sweetheart.

But at the start of his new album, George Clinton intones over a Flying Lotus beat: “Gather your wind, take a deep look inside, are you really who they idolize? To pimp a butterfly.”

In repeated spoken word sec-

tions, each telling more of the story, Mr. Lamar acknowledges the risk of “misusing your influence” and in song aims criticism at himself as well as the powers that be.

Kiese Laymon, who has taught Mr. Lamar’s music as a professor of English at Vassar College in New York State, said the rapper recalls singers like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield — “artists who have positioned themselves as prophetic witnesses.” While Mr. Lamar is “reckoning with violence, race, police power and white supremacy, he’s implicating himself in what he’s witnessing.”

On “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” phone calls re-enacted by Mr. Lamar’s parents went to voice mail because he was a teenager getting into girls and home invasions.

This time, the chasm is fame.

“Where was your presence?

Where was your support that

you pretend?” he raps to himself in character on “u” after a friend is shot.

Mr. Lamar, who lives in a condo not far from his old neighborhood, said he was not prepared for the uncertainty and depression that came with being accepted as a voice of his community.

“You can tell a person about fame and fortune all you want, but until you’re really in it and you know the person that you can become ...” he said, trailing off.

The album ends with “Mortal Man,” Mr. Lamar’s attempt to own his role as hip-hop prophet.

“As I lead this army, make room for mistakes and depression,” he raps. “Do you believe in me?” he asks, before challenging the listener: “How many leaders you said you needed then left them for dead?”

But to call “To Pimp a Butterfly” a political record “would be shortchanging it,” Mr. Lamar said.

“It’s a record full of strength and courage and honesty” but also “growth and acknowledgment and denial.”

What the Homeless See on Paris’s Streets

By ALISSA J. RUBIN

PARIS — The images capture a different Paris from the one beloved by tourists: refuse in a garbage bag that could be mistaken for a bloom on water; a dank tunnel opening onto a light-filled avenue of trees; a longhaired figure in a heavy coat silhouetted in a window, deeply alone.

That they are exhibited on the iron grille that surrounds the historic mayor’s offices in central Paris is no surprise in an international capital of photography.

What is unusual is that the photographers are homeless.

The exhibition is the latest example of how politics and art can interweave in France. Politicians have long gained luster through their backing of arts institutions, and the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has made building more low-income housing a central goal and

has expressed concern about the issues of the homeless in one of the wealthiest cities in the world.

There are 11,000 to 12,000 homeless people in Paris, said Dominique Versini, a deputy mayor.

The photography project was the brainchild of Elisabeth Tiberghien, a retired professor who decided to act on a long-running desire to help the homeless. First she volunteered at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a charity dedicated to aiding the poor, and then she started an organization called Deuxième Marche, or Second Step.

With help from a board member, she teamed up with Wipplay. com, a website for photography that, in collaboration with Olympus, agreed to provide her with digital cameras, Olympus pointand-shoots.

Fifteen homeless men and

women volunteered to participate. Only two did not finish the project.

Ms. Tiberghien also persuaded a professional photographer, Jean-Paul Lozouet, to mentor the photographers, many of whom are struggling with mental illness and, in some cases, alcoholism. They were asked to shoot from November 17 until December 20; then Mr. Lozouet winnowed the thousands of photos to a few hundred. Wipplay asked web visitors to vote for their favorite images. A jury that included photography experts, artists and a representative from the mayor’s office selected the 27 photographs for the show.

Deuxième Marche has been selling prints of the photographs, giving half of the proceeds to the photographers and using the rest to repay Wipplay for overseeing

DMITRY KOSTYUKOV FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

‘‘Here Where Everything Should … End,’’ one of 27 photographs by the homeless outside Paris’s city hall. the online voting and to cover the costs of the exhibition. So far, about 40 prints have been sold; the larger ones go for about $250, and the smaller ones for $150.

Corporate sponsors also made donations.

Several of the photographers

said they liked going to the square near the mayor’s office and quietly watching passers-by look at their pictures.

One of them, who gave only the name Lorenzo, said, “It warms you to see all these reactions, truly.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

35

Analysts back FG’s $2bn loan to boost naira DEVALAUTION If the reserves were further eroded, the CBN would be forced to devalue the naira again

B

anks’ customers would not incur any charge for their Bank Verification Number (BVN) that would be issued to them after they have completed their registration, Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Ade Shonubi, has said.

BVN is an initiative aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system.

It is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with the Bankers’ Committee, meant to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoid losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the industry.

The NIBSS boss, who is responsible for the implementation of the BVN said: “We are giving the BVN cards out for

Tony Chukwunyem

F

inancial analysts have thrown their weight behind the plan by the Federal Government to source $2 billion from the World Bank and the African De-

velopment Bank (AfDB) to support the naira.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had revealed last week that government was seeking the loan under the 2012-

2015 External Borrowing Plan to help in the implementation of the 2015 budget as well as address foreign exchange demand and strengthen the naira.

The slump in global oil prices by as much as 50 per cent since last June,

Banks won’t charge customers for BVN cards, says NIBSS free. The cost is borne by the Bankers’ Committee, which considers the whole biometric project very important. They have been bearing the cost; the cost of the cards, cost of almost everything else that has to do with the BVN.” Shonubi, who stated that the number of bank customers that had so far obtained their BVN has been quite encouraging, said that going by the current high level of compliance by customers, he was optimistic that banks will achieve their targets of customer registration.

In a statement from the Bankers’ Committee, he said that lenders would soon commence the distribution of the BVN cards, stressing that the cards are ready and are with the banks awaiting

collection by customers.

He said: “I have gotten my BVN card. I would encourage banks’ customers to talk to their banks as well. They have been printing them and sending them to the banks to distribute to the branches where you have enrolled; you would be sent an SMS. For those that have given email address, it would be sent to their emails.”

As part of efforts to encourage enrolment on the BVN, CBN directed banks to only honour transactions over N100 million from customers with BVN from March 2015. Such transactions, according to the apex bank, include but not limited to, money transfers, loans and contingencies, among others.

The regulator also urged all bank customers to register for their BVN by June 2015, warning that any bank customer without a BVN would be deemed to have inadequate know-yourcustomers (KYC) by that date. BVN involves the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology, making accounts more secure by unique identifiers such as fingerprints. Analysts have also described the BVN as a ‘silver-bullet solution’ to many of the challenges in the banking industry. The BVN is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customer financial history and activity.

This will allow banks

Economic Indicators N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$30,155,350,527

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 17/3/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

of Nigeria (CBN) burning through billions of dollars to deplete reserves to $29.83 billion as at last Wednesday.

Oil accounts for only 15 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but up to 80 percent of government revenues.

Reacting to OkonjoIweala’s disclosure, a financial analyst at Delta Associates, Mr John Ejiro, said that the move was a step in the right direction because the external reserves with which the CBN was defending the naira was dwindling at a rapid rate.

He said: “If government succeeds in securing the loan, it will really help the CBN in its battle to defend the naira. Right now, the external reserves have fallen below the $30 billion mark and analysts have warned that once the reserves go below this level, there would be more pressure on the naira.”

Similarly, a director with Bultham Consultants Ltd, Mr. Ekene Umeh, said that the loan would help to check the decline of the naira, as it will provide the CBN with more dollars.

Election outcome to determine direction of bond yields

he outcome of last Saturday’s presidential elections will determine the direction of yields on Nigerian bonds, fixed income dealers have predicted.

Yields on Nigerian bond have dropped across the board last week, fuelled by increased liquidity.

Traders said that local pension and some lenders were taking position in the market, driving down yields, but said that the market would be driven by the outcome of the election.

“We see the market taking a cue from the out come of the election on Saturday. If all goes well, the market should see more demand, if otherwise, we should expect a bit of volatility going forward,” another dealer said.

Yields fell across the major tenors, with the 2016 bond trading at 15.5 per cent from 16.03 per cent last Friday.

The 2022 paper fell to 15.4 per cent against 16.99 per cent, while 2024 note was down to 15.45 per cent from 16.35 per cent.

Overnight lending rates rise

O

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applications and other complex transactions.

The initiative, which was launched on February 14 2014, will also encourage financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric information rather than traditional identification methods.

The NIBSS, which is owned by the CBN and all licensed banks in the country provides the infrastructure for automated processing of data, such as customers ’biometric information, settlement of payments and fund transfer instructions between banks, Discount Houses and card companies in Nigeria.

T

As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

has led to the devaluation of the naira twice in the last three and half months. Consequently, the naira has hit a series of record lows against the dollar, breaking through N200 to the greenback, despite the Central Bank

vernight lending rates rose to an average of 12.5 per cent last Friday, compared with nine per cent the previous week, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mopped cash from the money market.

According to Reuters, the CBN debited banks N58.2 billion to enforce its Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) and another N306 billion to fund Treasury Bill purchases, curbing liquidity.

The apex bank debits lenders twice in a month to enforce its CRR rule,

which requires banks setting aside cash with the regulator against its public and private deposits.

“Rates shot up... to an average of 15 per cent when the CRR was debited, but later eased as cash for government workers hit the market,” one dealer said the previous week. The secured fund was one percentage points below the 13 per cent CBN’s benchmark interest rate.

Overnight placement also rose to 13 per cent against 9 per cent last week.

36

Business | News

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Nigerian airports remain uncertified CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

by the global aviation regulatory body.

An inspector in NCAA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said that as part of requirements for ICAO certification, an airport must have operational and perimeter fencing, certified aviation security personnel, state-of-the-art navigational equipment and the personnel must be regularly trained and retrained.

He said: “Other conditions include standard runway and runway strength known as the Pavement Classification Number (PCN), which enable airports and airlines to know if a given aircraft may put undue stress on a runway, non-interference from government; adequate fire tenders; standard instrument landing systems; fuelling; baggage handling, apron and quick response to distress, among others.”

Currently, most of the airports, including the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, have not been able to meet these conditions.

It was learnt that though the nation’s airports had been given the checklist applicable globally, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was yet to comply with the requirements on the checklist, especially the ‘open items.’

Another official close to the certification, who also elected not to be named, said: “In terms of the security issues, we have a number of items under airport access control, catering department, cargo department, personnel, boarding gate, perimeter fencing and sterile area.

Each of these has many items under them. Some have been closed, while a few still remain open.”

He listed other safety items to include runway light, approach light, taxiway light and fire station, among others. “All these safety and security issues are subdivided into several areas. We have more than a hundred items. Some have been closed while a few are still remaining. As soon as FAAN closes them, they will invite us and we will certify the airports. From there, we will move to others,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Agoha, who spoke at the 39th Annual General Meeting, (AGM) of the association in Lagos, explained that the devaluation of the currency, if not quickly nipped in the bud, would

affect the airlines in the country as most of their activities are determined by dollar.

The slump in global oil prices by as much as 50 per cent since last June, has led to the devaluation of the naira twice in the last three and half months. Consequently, the naira has hit a series of record lows against the dollar, breaking through N200 to the greenback, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) burning through billions of dollars to deplete reserves to $29.83 billion as at last Wednesday.

Oil accounts for only 15 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but up to 80 per cent of government revenues.

The NANTA president noted that the moment the value of dollar goes higher against the naira, cost of air travels skyrocket in the country.

He, however, said that despite the devaluation of the naira, people still take to air travel because it is regarded as the safest and quickest means of transportation, adding that NANTA hopes that the government would quickly address the situation.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

years ago.

In an attempt to properly handle the PHCN pension liabilities, the Federal Government transferred the liabilities of over 20,000 pensioners from the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) to the newly created Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

The Managing Director of NELCOM, Mr. Samuel Agbogun, had said that the Federal Government came up with the transfer plan from the NELMCO to the PTAD to put an end to the irregular payments to pensioners.

FG’s selective payment rattles PHCN retirees Our source, nonetheless, said that the transfer was a ploy to further manipulate the pension payment. In his words, “it is all a ploy to make life more difficult for the poor pensioners. They are looking for a way to further delay the payment. They know what they are doing but we will go ahead with the struggle. “What we have been agitating for is for them to pay us off instead of subjecting us to this unbearable situation.”

Also lamenting the epileptic power supply,

the source questioned the huge dollar investment in the sector without a commensurate result. “Everything boils down to corruption. Let’s take a look at this simple analysis. It costs $1 billion to generate 1000 megawatts. With $20 billion, Nigeria will enjoy 20,000mw. Brazil recently spent $10 billion to arrive at 10,000 mw. Nigeria needs, provisionally, 12,000mw.

You can see that with the money spent so far, which is over $30 billion, Nigeria has no business with epileptic power supply.”

Business |Stock Watch

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

37

Sterling Bank: Sustaining robust performance POSITIVE Bottom-line earnings showed considerable growths Chris Ugwu

S

tructural and economic reforms continued in various sectors of the Nigerian economy last year. These had led to sustained growth, which of course, were driven in part by lenders that have continued advance credits to the deficit side of the economy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) kept its benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), unchanged at 12 per cent until its November 24-25, 2014 meeting where the MPR was raised by 100 basis points to 13.0 per cent. The average interbank rate, which remained relatively stable, witnessed a significant swing in December 2014. Thus, interbank rate moved from 10 per cent in January to 11.91 per cent in August before closing at 24.30 per cent in December 2014.

However, the regulatory environment governing the Nigerian banking industry has been characterised by policy changes aimed at supporting the fiscal tightening stance adopted by the CBN. The combined effect of the regulatory changes had significant impact on the operation of banks and, by extension, their bottomline. The cash reserve ratio (CRR) hike forced most banks to revisit their portfolio and asset liability management strategies and, in certain cases, led to the collapse of discount houses where exposures were significant.

Without any doubt, 2014 was another challenging year for operators in the banking industry.

Sterling Bank Plc, like any other lender, was not insulated from the challenges which regulatory headwinds brought to the banking industry. This notwithstanding, the bank was able to exploit the opportunities within the environment as a review of its 2014 full year results shows a strong and positive performance across all financial indices.

Market watchers believe that despite the decline in overall market indices, market sentiment for the shares of the bank will be enhanced as bargain hunters will take position on the back of positive results.

Although, the bank’s share price, which closed at N2.20 per share on April 30, 2014, dropped by 10 kobo to close at N2.10 when the closing gong rang on Friday, given the significant drop its peers had recorded during the review period, Sterling Bank’s share could be said to have done creditable well.

Just as other quoted firms in the local bourse are depleting in share prices, market sentiment for the shares of the banks have dwindled due to the challenging operating environment.

Financials The bank, after showing good numbers in 2013, consolidated on the performance with improved results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2014.

Sterling Bank reported gross earnings of N24.6 billion, up from N19.84 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Profit before tax rose from N3.02 billion to N3.54 billion, while profit after tax increased from N2.72 billion to N3.14 billion.

Net interest income rose by 58 per cent due to 31 per cent growth in interest income relative to a modest increase of eight per cent in interest expense. This resulted in a 35 per cent growth in operating income to N16.2 billion.

The bank also recorded growth in its top-line profitability in the first half of this year as gross earnings rose to N48.7 billion. The interim report for the period ended June 30, 2014, which indicated a double-digit growth of 16.3 per cent against N41.86 billion in the preceding year, was driven by a larger growth of 20.5 per cent in interest income.

Its profit before tax also rose slightly from N6.27 billion in 2013 to N6.34 billion in 2014. The result further showed that the income tax moved by 131 per cent from N350.15 million to N809.73 million, while profit after tax stood at N5.5 billion.

The bank continued its impressive record with 41 per cent growth in pre-tax profit during the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Interim report and accounts of the lender for the third quarter showed that while gross earnings grew by 12.1 per cent, net interest income rose by 32.8 per cent. This further bloomed into 41.3 per cent and 39.2 per cent in pre and posttax profits respectively.

Sterling Bank sustained its resilient performance in 2014 as top-line and bottom-line earnings showed considerable growths with gross earnings rising by some 13 per cent to N103.7 billion.

In the same breadth, profit before tax rose by 15.4 per cent to N10.7 billion.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2014, released last Wednesday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed appreciable growths in all key performance indices, sustaining the strong performance outlook of the lender despite industry-wide headwinds.

Major highlights showed that net interest income leapt by 20.1 per cent to N43.0 billion in 2014 as against N35.8 billion recorded in 2013. This was driven mainly by 11.4 per cent growth in interest income to N77.9 billion, which far outweighed the 2.2 per cent increase in funding costs to N34.9 billion. This underlined the increasing cost efficiency of the lender as cost of funds had dropped from 6.1 per cent in 2013 to 5.3 per cent in 2014. Similarly, non-interest income grew by 18.3 per cent from N21.8 billion in 2013 to N25.7 billion in 2014. This was boosted by 82.2 per cent growth in net trading income to N6.8 bil-

Share price movement of Sterling Bank Plc 2014 Apr 30

N2.20

May 31

N2.23

Jun 30

N2.32

Jul 31

N2.36

Aug 31

N2.37

Sept 30

N2.25

Oct 31

N2.33

Nov 30

N2.36

Dec 31

N2.54

2015

Adeola

The bank’s performance shows the strengths of its resilient growth model and its ability to continue to deliver value for all stakeholders

lion.

The bank continued to strengthen its mid and bottomline performances as its increasing focus on cost reduction, credit risks management and operating efficiency cushioned macro headwinds and retained values for shareholders.

Net operating income rode on the back of growth in net interest income and a 10.5 per cent reduction in impairment charges to N61.4 billion in 2014, an increase of 24.4 per cent on N49.3 billion recorded in 2013.

Meanwhile, operating expenses increased by 26.5 per cent to N50.6 billion in 2014 as against N40 billion in 2013.

This was due mainly to on-going investments in branch refits, expansion and rollout of alternative channels as well as regulation-induced cost.

Consequently, profit before tax inched up by 15.4 per cent to N10.7 billion, while profit after tax increased by 8.8 per cent to N9 billion. The net profit was impacted by 68.4 per cent increase in income tax expense.

The bank’s balance sheet also emerged stronger. Net loans and advances increased by 15.4 per cent to N371.2 billion in 2014 compared with N321.7 billion in 2013. Customer deposits rose by 15 per cent to N655.9 billion as against N570.5 billion, while shareholders’ funds increased by 33.5 per cent from N63.5 billion to N84.7 billion. Total assets closed 2014 at N824.5 billion, representing an increase of 16.5 per cent on N707.8 billion recorded in 2013.

Appraisal Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said that the bank’s performance shows the strengths of its resilient growth model and its ability to

Jan 31

N2.32

Feb 28

N2.38

Mar 13

N2.10

continue to deliver value for all stakeholders.

The top-flight banker noted that 2014 was a difficult year in many respects for the Nigerian banking industry as the multiple challenges arising from a weaker macroeconomic environment and the various regulatory responses to them put significant pressure on the margins of banks.

“Despite these pressures, we achieved double-digit earnings growth in line with our mediumterm strategic objectives. This performance underscores the commitment of the entire team to our corporate goals and the resilience of our business model,” Adeola said.

He noted that during the year, the bank initiated the upgrade of its technology infrastructure and the re-engineering, centralisation and automation of processes to improve the customer experience while in recognition of the critical role that human capital plays in successfully driving strategy and its execution, it also continued to invest substantially in employee training, talent retention and the creation of an environment that fosters continuous learning and development.

Looking ahead Adeola gave the assurance that going forward, the bank would continue to deliver better values to all stakeholders, given the steadiness of its strategic growth plan and its current strong balance sheet position.

Besides, the Sterling Bank boss said the lender would further strengthen its capital base by raising new funds to support its business expansion and enhance its ability to undertake large-ticket transactions.

“While the economic landscape may be challenging, I strongly believe that the bank is on a sound footing, given its stronger capital position, outstanding asset quality and a dedicated workforce to advance its growth plans. Our capital plan remains on track as we advance to the last phase of the capital raising programme, a multicurrency subordinated debt tranche of $200 million,” Adeola said.

38

Insurance

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Inferno: Fashola’s fury reignites need for Compulsory Insurance WARNING Underwriters have always reminded business people of the need to take insurance cover Sunday Ojeme

L

ast week, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, opened up on the need to boost insurance penetration especially among traders who have been falling victims of fire incidents within the metropolis and elsewhere.

Recent outbreaks The governor’s decision to address that particular issue before the insurance community in Lagos is obvious, considering the enormity of losses most families have suffered as a result of fire outbreaks.

For instance, barely three months into year 2015, billions of naira in goods and cash have been lost to fire in not less than three incidents in Lagos alone.

In January, traders at the popular Balogun market said they lost over N30 billion to the fire outbreak that engulfed the market.

Each time the tragic situation occurs, the victims are always quick to demand compensation from the government as a way of restoring their businesses and keeping hope alive.

Except in very rare cases, the government hardly meets such requests even when they had been tempted to make promises to the effect of rebuilding the markets and handing them over to the original owners.

Many cases abound where markets originally occupied by the common man were taken away from them after the fire outbreak. The popular Tejuoso market is a case in point. The market, which was originally occupied by low end window blind sellers, is now being owned and occupied by more financially endowed individuals after it was rebuilt.

Deprivation Despite not being compensated after losing millions of naira to inferno, the original occupiers were tactically sent out when the government increased the cost of getting a shop far beyond the resources available to the former owners.

Several cases of fire outbreaks abound in all the ends of Lagos from Balogun, Apogbon, some plank markets, and lately, the Mile 12 market incident that

Fashola

occurred earlier this month.

While imploring insurance regulators to ensure full penetration of insurance companies into the market business activities for the benefit of the nation, the governor said that this would be of immense benefit to Nigerian traders whose goods were often burnt in fire outbreaks.

He reminded the traders that those with insurance cover won’t have to worry when their goods were burnt during market fires as the insurance company would cover up for them.

The governor also recalled that the increasing cases of fire outbreaks in markets were of great concern to the government as the victims of the outbreak always fell back on government for assistance, which should not be so.

“We want the insurance industry to take over and actualise the objectives they were established to achieve,’’ he added.

Although the governor restated the obvious, it is, however, on record that the insurance practitioners have often used every available opportunity to send the message of insurance to all segments of the society including business men and women of all classes.

Stakeholders’ clamour The President, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu, recently lamented such losses and appealed to the market men and women to embrace insurance.

Shoderu identified insurance as the last hope of any human being in or out of business for restoration.

He said, “If a loss occurs and

Daniel

N30billion Amount lost to fire in a single outbreak

If a loss occurs and insurance has been purchased, it puts the individual in better stead

insurance has been purchased, it puts the individual in better stead as if no loss occurred. But where no insurance has been purchased, it causes a reduction in wealth by the amount of value of those insurable assets.”

He appealed to individuals and corporate institutions to avail themselves the benefits of insurance, particularly those that relates to fire and property.

Apart from past messages to the traders, aftermath of such outbreaks, the insurance regulator has often time hammered on the need for Nigerians to embrace the provisions embedded in the Insurance Act especially as regards Compulsory Insurance, which makes provision for Occupiers’ Liability.

However, the lone campaign has not been taken seriously either by the citizens or to a large extent the government that has the power to prevail on landlords to obey the extant law and take insurance cover on behalf of their tenants.

Section 65(1) of the Insurance Act stipulates that “Every public building shall be insured with a registered insurer against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquake, storm and flood.”

While the governor has never hidden his sympathy for victims of such losses in the state, it will be instructive to also deploy the state’s resources to ensure that

developers and landlords take seriously the issue of insuring public buildings including buildings occupied by traders.

Pending collaboration To underscore the import of the situation, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), recently had a dialogue with the management of the Federal Fire Service with a view to fully implementing and enforcing Section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel while meeting with the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Joseph Anebi, reaffirmed the need to seek a mutually beneficial partnership and collaboration with the Fire Service in the ongoing drive by NAICOM to enforce compliance with relevant provisions of the extant laws relating to insurance of public buildings in the country.

Daniel disclosed that in recognition of the unique role of the fire service especially in safeguarding the society from losses arising from fire and other perils, the insurance law provides that .25 per cent of insurance premium generated from public buildings be set aside to assist in the funding of the fire service.

The fund is to be applied in the procurement of fire fighting equipment for the agency.

The NAICOM boss said the number of public buildings in the country is estimated to be 10 million “but it is sad that most of these buildings are uninsured, thereby putting the lives and property of third parties who have rights of access to these buildings at great risk.”

Business | Insurance

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

TRAGIC Not less than eight people died in the country last year due to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease

T

he sudden outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease that claimed the lives over 10,000 has led to the creation of a common insurance fund aimed at curtailing the effects of crisis emanating from pandemic situations.

The cover tagged pandemic insurance is the

Nigeria, others to benefit from World Bank insurance brainchild of the World Bank, the African Union and a consortium of aid agencies and experts in the private sector.

Already, the promoters are working out what such scheme could look like.

The Ebola virus, which was imported into Nigeria by a Liberian, killed about eight Nigerians including doctors and health workers Unlike natural disasters like earthquakes, the

spread of a contagious disease rapidly pushes up the cost of halting it, the death toll and the economic damage unless swift action is taken.

“This is a really exciting time. What the crisis of last year has done is to cause an upheaval in the whole of the humanitarian sector in terms of thinking of how to mitigate disasters, rather than just respond afterwards,” Gordon Woo, a catastrophist specialising in pan-

demics at Risk Management Solutions, said.

The World Health Organiation’s (WHO) first major Ebola appeal was for $71 million in August last year, months after Guinea had reported the Ebola outbreak in March.

By mid-September $1 billion was needed, the United Nations said, and the costs have risen steeply since then.

Even though Ebola was deemed a global threat, donor funds were slow to

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; on a visit to the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Fola Daniel, in Abuja...last week.

MTN highlights Y’ello Life insurance in report

M

TN Group said its efforts to advance social development in its markets through the integration of sustainable business practices in day-to-day activities were yielding positive outcomes. The company’s Sustainability Report for 2014 details how MTN’s voice and data products and services are creating sustainable economic value in its markets.

MTN said it has made significant developments in enabling digital inclusion and access to basic financial, m-health and m-insurance services across its markets. In this regard, 1.9 million affordable handsets were made available to customers, and 4,000 farmers received payment for cotton produce via MTN Mobile Money in 2014.

In Nigeria, MTN offers Y’ello Life insurance for affordable cover to indi-

39

viduals and Y’ello Biz for easily accessible small business insurance protection, while m-health services are available in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Yemen and Zambia.

Also contained in the report is information on how MTN is contributing to sustainable societies by ensuring safe and healthy living and working environments for employees, customers, communities and operations, as well as the strides made by MTN towards becoming a more eco-responsible business.

The company reduced and avoided more than 29,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2014, which is the equivalent of taking 3,249 diesel cars off the road for one year. The report states that in the year, MTN realised ZAR 49.6 million savings from energy efficiency and green energy investments.

O

ne of the largest financial services groups in South Africa, Sanlam Group, has lauded the rate at which life insurance is patronised in Ghana.

According to the group, despite the low penetration rate of just about two per cent, Ghana is the most-outstanding market after South Africa - compared to the other 11 key markets in its sub-Saharan Africa operations.

Sanlam, which has been in existence since 1918, has evolved from a traditional insurer to a diversified financial service provider with both local and international footprints.

In Ghana, Sanlam is partnering Enterprise Group. It acquired a 49 per cent stake in leading Life Insurance Company, Enterprise Life in 2006.

According to the Corporate Development Executive for emerging markets, Thabied Majal, apart from South Africa, their Ghana operations has so far proven to be the most successful across the African markets they have presence in.

“When I say Ghana is our most successful business, I mean mainly in terms of life business and we use the term

materialize.

“It’s like having a fire in your kitchen. If you don’t deal with it, your whole house could burn down ... it’s not the time to start haggling over who should be putting out the fire,” Woo said.

Pandemics top the list of extreme risks that matter most for the insurance industry over the long term, according to a 2013 survey of 30,000 insurance industry experts by Towers Watson.

Typically, insurers pay out after losses have occurred. “The novelty here is to try and come up with financial instruments which trigger when there are signs that something bad is on the horizon. It’s like early warning,” Woo said.

The African Union recently set up an insurance fund for countries affected by natural disasters, and is exploring insurance for epidemics.

The African Risk Capacity began with a $200 million fund, donated by British and German development institutions.

Countries pay premiums into the fund and receive payouts when certain measurable criteria are met.

For countries to qualify for the insurance scheme, they have to develop rigorous contingency plans to ensure payouts from the fund reach the most vulner-

able people quickly in the event of a crisis.

The World Bank is consulting with the African Union, the United Nations and national governments to develop a Pandemic Emergency Facility, which could include an insurance scheme that would pay out to governments and international bodies like the WHO. “The better our response, the greater our ability to save lives and safeguard development gains,” Joachim von Amsberg, vice president of development finance at the World Bank, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The Bank has said the Ebola outbreak may cost West Africa up to $15 billion over the next three years in lost trade, investment and tourism.

“A key part of this response is to make sure the money is available at the first sign of a health crisis,” von Amsberg said.

Aid agencies are also exploring insurance schemes they could draw on in the event of a pandemic.

“The potential is brilliant, but the question is whether we can convert it into something affordable and workable,” said Emily Montier, crisis anticipation advisor for the Start Network of 19 humanitarian agencies.

Sanlam Group hails insurance penetration in Ghana called the Value of New Business which is simply, the present value of the premiums and it gives you a sense of our profits going forward. And if I look at all the countries we’re operating in, Ghana is the biggest driver of Value of New Business for Sanlam. So its not about profitability in the short term but in the long term because we’re going to be here in the next 50 years plus.

So the value of new business is what we use as the key metric to measure the success and potential of the business going forward,” he said.

He continued, “Insurance in sub-Saharan Africa is underdeveloped and that obviously is the opportunity for us. So if we look at where we are and what we have achieved, the business in Ghana has been particularly successful in terms of number of lives insured compared to other markets where we entered at the same time. So, for example has in a market like Tanzania, it taken a whole lot longer to get insurance there and the same with Uganda

where we entered about three years after Ghana and still taken a lot longer to grow life insurance. If you look at the average life-insurance penetration for the world is about 4% even though places like South Africa and US have double digits.

So in Ghana, we understand it’s a slow growth but all we see is the opportunity as long as we can first get people to buy into the concept of life insurance and develop the market.

We’re not in a hurry to want to change the market overnight”.

The Chief Executive of Enterprise Life, C.C Bruce, on his part, also said they are stepping up efforts to harness technology to boost insurance penetration in the country.

“With our business where we deal with volumes of data, that’s a strong retail business with a number of policy-holders and all of them pay premium every month. You can see that there’s a lot of data to be processed and the operating software makes a huge difference in the company’s operations.

Business | Financial Market News

40

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

27-Mar-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 54.00 600.00 499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,526.42

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.07 1.39 2.09 2.33 2.43 3.18 4.26 4.58 4.88 6.84 8.97 13.67 14.15 14.65 15.32 19.31

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.51 15.32 15.41 15.40 15.41 15.45 15.50 15.48 15.45 15.32 15.38 16.29 16.41 16.54 15.88 15.60

12.49 15.19 15.33 15.32 15.33 15.32 15.41 15.37 15.36 15.25 15.32 16.23 16.34 16.45 15.80 15.54

99.21 97.21 99.42 89.40 88.09 88.37 101.43 72.90 100.25 104.36 94.34 92.96 78.63 56.10 66.50 79.04

99.36 97.36 99.57 89.55 88.24 88.67 101.73 73.20 100.55 104.66 94.64 93.26 78.93 56.40 66.80 79.34

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.16 0.89 1.70 2.06 2.28

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

17.56 18.22 17.32 16.38 18.25

97.22 99.36 98.04 99.21 92.56

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

313.61

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.43

4.44

20.15

96.93

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.27

3.23

18.64

98.62

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.78

4.46

20.38

95.58

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.79

3.48

19.40

97.23

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.06

1.00

16.38

89.18

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.33

1.00

16.52

96.83

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.76

1.79

17.22

93.08

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

1.94

1.80

17.16

95.21

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.95

1.00

16.37

96.36

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.14

1.00

16.39

96.78

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.14

4.78

20.17

90.11

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.33

1.00

16.40

98.32

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 25.70

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

2.57 4.66 2.73

1.00 1.00 1.00

16.42 16.47 16.43

98.24 93.69 96.52

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.18

1.00

16.45

96.06

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.67

1.00

16.37

89.59

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.76

1.00

16.36

94.97

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.42

1.44

16.91

94.18

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.45

1.00

16.47

96.37

97.52

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

459.68 429.95

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.40

1.00

16.65

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.45

1.00

16.76

97.97

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.54

2.63

18.48

97.81

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.51

1.00

16.29

95.76

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.58

1.34

16.64

96.76

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.51

1.00

16.41

93.19

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.53

1.88

17.17

101.76

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.54

1.00

16.29

99.65

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.95

1.00

16.37

102.52 99.40

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.95

1.00

16.37

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.49

1.00

16.47

93.64

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.81

2.29

17.63

97.32

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.14

6.11

21.50

94.52

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.76

2.16

17.59

96.69

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.64

2.76

18.13

90.01

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.76

1.13

16.40

100.12

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.51

1.00

16.46

78.58

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.51

1.00

16.46

84.83

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

162.73

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

155.16

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.88

1.00

16.43

86.10

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

16.46

82.48

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.01

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.43

6.23

101.51

102.51

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.97

5.66

97.51

98.42

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.51

6.35

99.12

100.15

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,490.71

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

121.26

121.26

48.00

48.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

7.81

6.03

99.65

101.58

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

12.05

12.05

90.50

90.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

14.07

12.81

82.37

85.17

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

9.13

8.60

90.54

92.08

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

39.22

39.22

43.63

43.63

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

8.55

8.55

92.24

92.24

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.80

15.12

79.11

80.88

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

13.44

13.44

80.00

80.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

24.00 14.45 13.62

24.00 14.11 13.62

47.50 79.08 76.00

47.50 80.24 76.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.48

10.96

87.13

89.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,677.72

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 13 20 27 34 41 48

FIXINGS Maturity 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.92 14.12 13.94 13.96 12.28 13.89

Offer Discount (%) 9.67 13.87 13.69 13.71 12.03 13.64

Bid Yield (%) 9.95 14.23 14.08 14.14 12.45 14.14

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.3767 15.5235 16.5229 17.2475

Rate (%)

OBB

12.75

O/N

13.17

Tenor

REPO

Rate (%)

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M

199.06 201.81 202.13 202.87

199.16 201.93 202.28 203.37

^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

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

14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,526.42

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

8.97 13.67 14.15 14.65 15.32 19.31

15.38 16.29 16.41 16.54 15.88 15.60

15.32 16.23 16.34 16.45 15.80 15.54

94.34 92.96 78.63 56.10 66.50 79.04

94.64 93.26 78.93 56.40 66.80 79.34

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.16 0.89 1.70 2.06 2.28

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

17.56 18.22 17.32 16.38 18.25

97.22 99.36 98.04 99.21 92.56

Business | Financial Market News

Agency Bonds

FMBN

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

41

Unilever overseas mulls more stakes in Nigeria ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

313.61

Sub-National Bonds

PROFIT DROP A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

Unilever Nigeria records ‡ /Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 58%‡ /Agusto fall in pre-tax profit *BAYELSA Stories

by Chris ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† Ugwu *EKITI ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

U

‡ /Agusto

NIGER

*NIGER

*ONDO nilever Nigeria Plc *GOMBE has notified the LAGOS NigeBBB-/Agusto; *OSUN rian A-/GCR Stock Exchange BBB-/Agusto *OSUN (NSE) that Unilever Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro B.V KOGI Overseas Holdings . has ‡ /Agusto *EKITI approached the Board of DiA-/GCR *NASARAWA ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

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

rectors of12.50the company KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 with 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 an intention to make an offer 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 to increase equity stake in 15.50its IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 the company from 50.04 per 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 cent up to a maximum of 75 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 per cent. 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 Unilever Overseas Holdings 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 B.V., however, intends to main14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 tain the company’s listing on 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 the Exchange.

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 12-DEC-2019 Under 14.75 theOSUN terms of the pro14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 posal, Unilever intends to ac13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 shares quire up 15.00 to 944,465,532 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 in the company at an intended 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 12.50 offer price of N45.50 per share 13.00 in cash. 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 14.00 It is intended that the 30-Jun-09 15.50 pro19-Apr-10 posal would be effected10.00 by way 30-Jun-10 13.75 of a Tender Offer, by giving 30-Dec-10 14.00 any 30-Sep-11 shareholder who elects14.00 to sell 04-Oct-11 14.00 some or all of their shares in 09-Dec-11 14.50 Unilever 12-Dec-13 Nigeria the opportu14.00 15.50 nity to do14-Feb-12 so.

02-Oct-12 15.50 The proposal, according 22-Nov-12 14.50 to a 12-Dec-12 14.75 statement obtained from NSE’s 10-Oct-13 14.75 website, represents a premium 27-Nov-13 13.50 15.00 of 33.8 per31-Dec-13 cent to the company’s 31-Dec-13 14.50 closing share price on 23,15.00 March 06-Jan-14

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Cadbury’s pre-tax profit down by 80% to N1.46bn

C

Corporate Bonds

‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

*UPDC

17-Aug-10

12.00 FLOURMILLSby 9-DEC-2015 09-Dec-10dur*FLOURMILLS adbury Nigeria Plc ings were compressed N17.46 billion recorded 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS has reported 80 per weak sales, leading to a dip ing the comparable period 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 cent drop in pre-tax by 31.31 per of 2013.

FSDH in pre-tax profit 30-SEP-2017 30-Sep-10 UBA profitsA/GCR for the 2014 financial cent relative to13.00 theUBA reduction Cadbury Nigeria had 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING year asNiltop-line and bottomin gross profit to N1.15 bilsaid that the reason behind MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 *DANA MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWERlion in March, line earnings showed con2014, from its capital reduction was MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER siderable declines with N1.68 billion in March 2013. due to the excess capital in 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA gross Bbb+/Agusto; earnings equally its disposal to attend to the due 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERAThis was principally CHELLARAMS 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS needs of the company . down by 15 per cent. to the declineMPR+5.00 of 43.64 per II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA KeyA+/Agusto; extracts of the aucent in net finance income Capital reduction entails 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 NAHCO dited report and accounts to N274.59 million inI March the decrease of the com16.45 UBA 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR 30-Dec-14 UBA 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC from N487.23 of the company for the year 2014 million pany‘s share capital and 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC endedTOTAL December 31, 2014, in March 2013, according to share premium and the reOUTSTANDING VALUE released at weekend at the market watchers. turn of this capital to the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Nigerian Stock Exchange The decline in the first company’s shareholders.

Supranational Bond (NSE),AAA/S&P showed drop in quarter, which signaled Managing Director, Cad10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 IFC 11-Feb-13 worry to investors, were growths in all key perforbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emil 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 Moskofian, who stated this manceTOTAL indices, damping OUTSTANDING VALUE sustained during the secMARKET CAPITALISATION strongTOTAL performance out- ond quarter, as the com- while addressing stock look of one of the leading pany posted a 50 per cent market community at the Description Rating/Agency Issuer Issue Date consumer goods companies decline in post-tax profits company’s facts behind the in the FGN country . during the half year ended capital reduction, said that Eurobonds Consequently , profit be- June 30, 2014. the company’s projections 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 The company, in a filing indicated that it would genfore tax dropped by 80 per BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 cent toBB-/S&P N1.467 billion from with the Exchange, said erate sufficient capital to 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 its expansionary 12-Jul-13and N7.421BB-/Fitch; billion recorded in that its half-year net earnmeet BB-/S&P 2013 while afterVALUE tax ings decreased from N2.51 operational requirements.

TOTAL profit OUTSTANDING also decreased byCAPITALISATION 75 per billion in 2013 to N1.26 bilMoskofian noted that TOTAL MARKET cent to N1.512 billion dur- lion, accounting for a drop rather than invest the exCorporate Eurobonds of 50 per cent. ing theB/Fitch; period under review cess capital on behalf of 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 Similarly , pretax profit as against N6.023 billion reshareholders at what might 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 cordedB+/S&P in 2013. Revenue was toPLCN1.79 billion, down7.25 50JUL 25,be sub-optimal returns, 2017 ACCESSfell BANK 25-Jul-12 the 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC from N3.58 billion also down by 15 per cent per cent board of directors09-May-13 decided 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 duringB+/Fitch; fromB+/S&P N35.760 billion in the same period last year. to recommend the return 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 08-Apr-12 to N30.518 billion.

Turnover equally deof excess capital to share6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 2019 The company’s dwincreased toMay 21,holders who are best placed B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC by 12.1 per cent8.75 21-May-14 8.25 AUG 07, B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 N15.32 billion during the dling fortune began in the to2020take their own invest6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 first quarter of 2014 as earnsix months to June 30 from ment decisions.

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14

10.00 12.00

14.25

#

16.00 14.00 15.75

#

18.00

#{r}

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

16.00 15.25 16.45 11.93 13.25

10.20 11.25

Coupon (%)

6.75 5.13 6.38

11.50 7.50 7.25 6.88 6.00 10.25 6.25 8.75 8.25

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.45

1.00

16.76

97.97

06-Jan-16

0.54

2.63

18.48

97.81

29-Sep-16

1.51

1.00

16.29

95.76

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.58

1.34

16.64

96.76

450.00

23-Jul-21

13.62

13.62

76.00

76.00

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.48

10.96

87.13

89.25

idson 30-Sep-17 Healthcare2.51Plc 0.64 30-Nov-17 1.53 a 308 per1.54cent 6.30 has posted 09-Apr-18 2.54 growth09-Sep-18 1.95 in post-tax profit 0.70 09-Sep-18 1.95 for the financial year ended 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.49 December 31, 2014.

2.40 18-Oct-18 1.81 0.36 17-Feb-19 The company , in a filing2.14 with 4.50 01-Apr-19 2.76 the Nigerian14-Nov-20 Stock Exchange 2.05 5.64 (NSE), recorded a profit6.76 after 30.50 30-Dec-21 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.51 tax of N631.825 million for 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.51 the year ended 2014 as against 162.73 N154.980 million recorded in 155.16 2013, accounting for a growth of12.00 308 per cent.

11-Feb-18 2.88 Pre-tax profit equally 4.75 grew 12.95 01-Feb-21 to24.95 N870.812 million in 2014 from 21.01 N249.591 million posted in 2013, indicating an increase Outstanding Value Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) of($mm) 249 per cent, while revenue firmed up by five per cent to N9.725 billion from N9.247 bil500.00 28-Jan-21 6.43 lion, accounting for a growth of 500.00 5.97 five per cent.12-Jul-18 500.00 12-Jul-23a 26 per 6.51 Fidson posted cent growth 1,500.00 in pre-tax profit during the third quarter ended Septem1,490.71 ber 30, 2014.

In a notice01-Feb-16 to NSE, the121.26 com450.00 pany’s profit before tax rose 500.00 19-May-16 7.81 from million in 350.00 N545.037 25-Jul-17 12.05the 300.00 02-May-18 corresponding period of14.07 2013 08-Nov-18 9.13 to400.00 N685.825 million in 2014.

300.00 08-Apr-19 39.22 Profit after tax (PAT)8.55also 500.00 22-Apr-19 climbed up 22 per cent from 200.00 21-May-19 15.80 300.00 07-Aug-20in the 13.44 N381.526 million Q3 of 360.00 09-Dec-20 24.00 2013 to N466.361 million in the 400.00 24-Jun-21 14.45 20.00

18.00 16.00

09-Dec-15

0.42

15.00

F

13.00

18.00

4.44 20.15 96.93 visory Partners Limited are 3.23 18.64 98.62 acting as financial advisers to 4.46 20.38 95.58 Unilever Overseas97.23 Holdings 3.48 19.40 1.00 .

16.38 89.18 B.V 1.00 16.52 96.83 In a statement by the Head, 1.79 17.22 93.08 1.80 17.16 95.21DepartListings Regulation 1.00 16.37 96.36 ment, Josephine Igbinosun, 1.00 16.39 96.78 Unilever cautions that this 4.78 20.17 90.11 1.00 16.40 announcement does98.32 not repre1.00 16.42 98.24 sent 1.00 the announcement 16.47 93.69 of a de1.00 16.43 finitive agreement 96.52 to proceed 1.00 16.45 96.06 with the proposal and 1.00 16.37 89.59 accord1.00 ingly , there16.36 can be no94.97 certainty 1.44 16.91 94.18 that the proposal will proceed.

1.00 16.47 96.37 Unilever reserves the right not to proceed with theproposal or to vary the terms of the proposal in any way 1.00 16.65.

97.52

Fidson’s net earnings rise by 308%

13.00

#

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

18.75

14.00

#{r}

8.50 and a premium 31-Aug-15 0.43per 2015 of 33.2 4.18 30-Sep-15 0.27 cent to the three month Volume 4.86 30-Jun-16 0.78 Weighted Average price.

5.73 30-Jun-16 share 0.79 57.00 total value 19-Apr-17 2.06 The of the transac25.73 30-Jun-17 1.33 tion Offer 2.76 Price 25.00at the intended 31-Dec-17 34.14 maximum 30-Sep-18 1.94 is and acceptance 9.00 04-Oct-18 1.95 approximately N42.973 billion 13.73 09-Dec-18 2.14 (£144.5 million).

10.20 12-Dec-18 2.14 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.33 The proposal will be subject 16.23 02-Oct-19 2.57 to80.00 the prior22-Nov-19 approval of4.66the 25.70 and the 12-Dec-19 NSE Securities2.73and 11.10 10-Oct-20 3.18 Exchange Commission (SEC).

87.50 27-Nov-20 5.67 5.00 formal 31-Dec-20 5.76 The offer documenta4.55 3.42 tion will be31-Dec-20 posted to share4.56 06-Jan-21 3.45 holders as soon as the approv459.68 als are obtained.

429.95 Citigroup Global Markets Limited and17-Aug-15 Chapel Hill 2.50 0.40Ad-

1.00 16.41 93.19 review period of 2014.

1.88 17.17 101.76 1.00Also, gross 16.29 earnings 99.65 firmed 1.00to N7.510 16.37 102.52 N7.240 up billion from 1.00 16.37 99.40 billion; indicating a growth of 1.00 16.47 93.64 four per cent.

2.29 17.63 97.32 6.11The healthcare 21.50 94.52 company had 2.16 96.69 reported a17.59 positive Q1 result as 2.76 18.13 90.01 it1.13 recorded16.40 a five per 100.12 cent in PBT 1.00 16.46 78.58 from N269.563 million in the 1.00 16.46 84.83 first quarter of 2013 to N283.015 million in the Q1 of 2014.

Again, Fidson recorded an increase of five per cent86.10 in its PAT, 1.00 16.43 which stood at N203.771 1.00 16.46 82.48 million, compared with N194.503 million in the same period of 2013.

Revenue climbed up slightly Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price by three per cent to N2.699 billion from N2.624 billion recordPrices & Yields ed in the corresponding period 6.23 101.51 102.51 of the previous year.

5.66 97.51 98.42 Chairman, Fidson, Mr. Fe6.35 Ohiwerei, 99.12 had, at 100.15 lix the company’s 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, said that the institution has commenced its48.00 brand building and 121.26 48.00 extension programme in the 6.03 99.65 101.58 production of new items.

12.05 90.50 90.50 12.81 He said82.37 that the85.17 initiative 8.60 was in line90.54 with the 92.08 strategy to 39.22 43.63 43.63 continuously position the com8.55 92.24 92.24 pany at foremost therapeutic 15.12 79.11 80.88 13.44 80.00 80.00 segments in the pharmaceuti24.00 47.50 47.50 cal industry .

14.11 79.08 80.24

4,760.00 3,677.72

27-Mar-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ FIXINGS Money professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basisMarket and may not be accurate up to date.

We& do not guarantee ForeignorExchange (Spot Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount Bid Yield (%) the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any(%) of the Information, neither do we accept NIBOR liability for the results of any Tenor action taken onRate the (%) basis of the Information.

9.67 13.87 13.69 13.71 12.03 13.64 13.85 Date Issue 14.35 13.50 23-Apr-10 14.29 14.48 16-Aug-13 14.24 27-Apr-12 14.28 27-Jul-07 14.37 31-Aug-07 14.49 14.45 30-May-08 11.55 29-Jun-12 14.24 23-Oct-09 14.49 13-Feb-15 14.43 14.65 27-Jan-12 14.40 14-Mar-14 13.79 28-Nov-08 13.84 22-May-09 14.20 14.19 20-Nov-09 14.07 23-Jul-10 14.22 18-Jul-14 13.89

9.95 OBB 12.75 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 14.23 Tenor Rate (%) 14.08 O/N 13.3767 Spot 199.06 199.16 O/N 13.17 14.14 1M 15.5235 7D 201.81 201.93 Price 12.45 3M 16.5229 14D 202.13 202.28 REPO 14.14 6M 17.2475 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 202.87 203.37 Outstanding Value Offer Yield 204.24 14.41 Call 13.00 Coupon (%) Maturity Date TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) 2M Bid Price 205.31 Offer Price (N'bn) (%) 15.01 1M 14.00 3M 205.60 207.21 14.15 3M 15.00 6M 206.28 213.47 535.00NITTY 23-Apr-15 15.084.00 6M 0.07 16.00 14.51 1Y 12.49 220.29 99.21 226.27 99.36 15.33 Tenor Rate16-Aug-16 (%) 13.05 581.39 1.39 15.32 15.19 97.21 97.36 15.15 1M476.80 14.1411 15.10 27-Apr-17 NOTE: 2.09 15.41 15.33 99.42 99.57 15.24 2M 14.3837 9.85 20.00 27-Jul-17 2.33 :Benchmarks 15.40 15.32 89.40 89.55 15.39 3M 14.4537 NA :Not Applicable 31-Aug-17 * :Amortising Bond 2.43 15.41 15.33^ : Market Prices 88.09 88.24 15.579.35 6M100.00 14.7828 15.57 9M300.00 15.8453 Bond 10.70 30-May-18 µ :Convertible Bond 3.18 15.45 15.32# : Floating Rate 88.37 88.67 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 12.41 12M 16.6318 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 16.00 351.30 29-Jun-19 4.26 15.50 15.41 101.43 101.73 15.47 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 7.00 233.90 23-Oct-19 FMBN: Federal4.58 15.48 15.37‡ : Bond rating72.90 73.20 15.81 Mortgage Bank of Nigeria under review 15.54 54.00 13-Feb-20 IFC: International 4.88Finance Corporation 15.45 15.36†: Bond rating100.25 100.55 expired 15.84 NIFEX 16.14 Receivables Management 15.25N/A :Not Available 16.39 600.00 27-Jan-22 LCRM: Local Contractors 6.84 15.32 104.36 104.66 Current Price ($/N) 14-Mar-24 NAHCO: Nigerian 15.94 Company 14.20 499.68 8.97Aviation Handling15.38 15.32{r} :Issuer in receivership 94.34 94.64 O/N: Overnight 15.53 BID($/N) 199.0125 15.00 75.00 28-Nov-28 UPDC: UAC Property 13.67 Development16.29 16.23NGC: Nigeria-German 92.96 Company93.26 15.69 OFFER ($/N) 199.1125 Company 12.49 150.00 22-May-29 WAPCO:West 14.15 16.41 16.34UBA: United Bank 78.63for Africa 78.93 16.29 Africa Portland Cement Company 16.388.50 200.00 20-Nov-29 14.65 16.54 16.45 56.10 56.40 16.33 10.00 591.57 23-Jul-30 15.32 15.88 15.80 66.50 66.80 16.63 12.1493 254.50 18-Jul-34 19.31 15.60 15.54 79.04 79.34 16.30

13.80

13.55

15.95

363 24-Mar-16 14.27 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14.02

16.62

FGN

13 20 27 Bonds 34 41 48 55 Rating/Agency 69 76 90 97 111 118 125 132 139 153 160 167 NA 181 188 202 251 265 286 300 314 328 342

356 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

9.92 14.12 13.94 13.96 12.28 13.89 14.10 Description 14.60 13.75 4.00 23-APR-2015 14.54 14.73 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 14.49 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 14.53 9.85 27-JUL-2017 14.62 9.35 31-AUG-2017 14.74 14.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.80 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 14.49 7.00 23-OCT-2019 14.74 15.54 13-FEB-2020 14.68 14.90 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.65 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 14.04 15.00 28-NOV-2028 14.09 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.45 14.44 8.50 20-NOV-2029 14.32 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 14.47 ^12.149314.14 18-JUL-2034

17-Mar-16

Bonds

5,023.13 4,526.42

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Agency Bonds FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM <3

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3<5 >5 Market

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 1,395.51 1,409.48 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,059.77

1,059.68

570.06

815.07

3,025.33

3,284.23

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 42.92 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 46.13 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 0.43 66.49

24.82

18.84

322.38 0.25

100.00

100.00

32.27

0.00

Weighting 17.25

by Mkt Value 0.00/16.00

35.03

Bucket Weighting

0.32

Maturity Date

24-May-15

03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 20.95 06-Jul-17 38.24

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

#

Risk Premium (%)

0.16 2.63 0.89 Implied 2.27 1.70 Portfolio Price 2.00 2.06 1.00 15.43 102.1442 2.28 2.85

Implied Yield

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

17.56 97.22 18.22 YTD Return99.36 (%) 17.32 98.04 16.38 99.21 1,144.42 3.3009 18.25 92.56

INDEX

15.35

100.2156

40.81

15.79

71.3461

1,002.78 -

999.96 -

1.2454

0.4211

1.00 313.61

100.00

15.55

93.8786

1,060.82

0.5342

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.43

4.44

20.15

96.93

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.27

3.23

18.64

98.62

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.78

4.46

20.38

95.58

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.79

3.48

19.40

97.23

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.06

1.00

16.38

89.18

42

Business | Interview

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Nigeria lacks record of crude oil shipping by foreigners’ Managing Director of Ocean Server and Logistics, Mrs. Chime Ezenwa, has said that the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) is a controversial fund.

In this interview with Maritime Editor, BAYO MAKOMOLAFE, she notes that identified capacity building, insecurity and poor management are some of the challenges facing the maritime sector What is the perception of Nigeria as a maritime country?

Without doubt, Nigeria is a maritime nation; the largest maritime nation in Africa. With 10 states that are littoral in nature, how maritime do you want a nation to be?

The country has Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and it has over 832sq miles of land area covered with water. Also, it is a tran-shipment nation band, most goods that leave America and Europe end in Nigeria, never mind that they first stop at Cotonou, Benin Republic.

It is not only the littoral states, we talk of maritime activities. The oil and gas cannot be severed from maritime, because without maritime, there will be no oil and gas.

If Nigeria is not a maritime nation, the international oil companies won’t be carrying her oil. All these are what qualified Nigeria to be recognised as a maritime nation. But at the international level, there is a different yardstick for determining a maritime nation and one of it is tonnage. Nigeria has no single tonnage to make it a maritime nation in the international maritime community. How can the country have the tonnage when most of its freights are being carried by foreigners? We don’t even have a national carrier. Our managers don’t seem to be getting things right and we will not because of that say we are not a maritime nation. What the country needs is the right leaders.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced last year that it would soon float a national carrier.

What is your opinion on this?

The agency must get the private sector involved. In fact, it has to be private-sector driven. We want to know right now who are the ship owners? How many Nigerians

At the international level, there is a different yardstick for determining a maritime nation and one of it is tonnage

Ezenwa

own ships? You cannot say that you are an indigenous ship owner and that is your tag. This does not qualify you as a ship owner. Let us

get to know who those Nigerians are and what they have. Then they can partner with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety

Agency (NIMASA). It should never be done by government. After involving the stakeholders, government should not allow itself to

Business | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

while the private sector is allowed to drive it.

B I O D ATA

There is no doubt that Nigeria has the cargoes. But how has this translated into national development?

This is a tough question. We used to share the available cargoes in the past. That was when Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) could have played the major role by getting information that concern cargoes. However, there are different forms of cargoes. If we are talking about wet cargoes, you will not be talking to Nigerian ship owners, because all wet cargoes are managed and shipped by foreigners. So, we don’t even know anything about those cargoes. Up till now, we don’t even know how many barrels of crude oil or ship load of crude oil they are taking away from Nigeria. So, I cannot talk about that kind of cargo that is being managed by foreigners. But for the local cargoes, how much of the cargoes do you take out of Nigeria? Who does the export of the commod-

Former office: Director, Federal Ministry of Transport Acting managing director of NIWA Expertise: Administration, research and training Schools: Federal Government College, Warri Concordia University Enugu State University of Science and Technology Certificates: B Sc, MBA

be part of the carrier. They should push it back to the private sector. You can even go to the stock exchange and let them run it as a public liability company.

These are public fund kept in trust.

So, don’t just use it to empower individuals and say you have a national carrier. NIMASA was established specifically to empower the indigenous shipping operators. Today, we have the cargoes and there is no ship.

Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) is over 10 years old with billions of idle naira. Can you explain why NIMASA has not empowered ship owner?

There is a lot of controversy over the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF). While I was in service, I served in two committees of the fund. One was headed by one Dr. Ubah and another headed by Captain Adamu Biu, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council.

We have a very beautiful report on Cabotage. However, there was this Nigerian factor still hunting the disbursement of that fund. By that, I mean people who applied for CVFF don’t have the counterpart funding that is required by the banks.

How is the bank going to give money for that?

NIMASA is only going to give a percentage of the fund and the banks will give the rest. But this Nigerian factor, where people don’t want to tell the truth, nobody will give you money to go and buy a ship and then you will go and buy something else. Vessel management is a serious business. Ship ownership is for serious minded people. So, I think the CVFF is a controversial fund. My opinion is that before the fund is disbursed, they should tinker with Cabotage Act, because it is not working. They should use part of the CVFF for the national carrier as a way of eliminating the problems of people who are not qualified, yet they are applying for CVFF, because we don’t want it to go the way of the other funds. Let the CVFF be government’s contribution to the national carrier,

43

Up till now, we don’t even know how many barrels of crude oil or ship load of crude oil they are taking away from Nigeria

ity? I don’t think we have any cargo in that area. This is the only country that allows its cargoes to be carried by foreigners.

We are talking about insecurity.

This is the height of insecurity and this is one of the reasons why NIMASA must float the national carrier. NIMASA should live up to its mandate. They have the money in the CVFF. You can start with one vessel and loan that vessel to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), IOC or whoever and let us start something, even training of our cadets. We know that at least, we are building enough structure.

Right now, we are churning out young graduates.

The country has no single vessel to train them. I think CVFF should be urgently put into use in order to stop embarrassing ourselves. We talk about our vessels that are not allowed to carry cargoes. If we have a national carrier, we can be making money for Nigeria and also we will be able to train the young seafarers, who can be deployed in other countries of the world to earn foreign exchange. It is not only just to carry oil, but to develop human capacity. We need capacity building urgently.

Right now, we don’t have the people to man the vessels, assuming that we buy a lot of vessel now, who will man them?

After independence, what do you think is responsible for the uncoordinated transport system in the country?

This is one question I would have love to avoid, because I have

Ez-

attended several National Council of Transport (NCT) meetings where this issue was deliberated upon. The policy is in the making. It takes a lot of bureaucracy.

I am sure it is hanging somewhere. The last time I spoke with them at the ministry, they told me they were still working on it.

There is this issue of professionalism in the transport ministry.

People that are not qualified are being brought to man certain key positions in the Federal Ministry of Transport and its parastatals.

People are now calling for professionalism for effective service delivery. What is your opinion on this issue?

I don’t agree with whoever is

saying that we are celebrating mediocrity in the ministry. Everybody that has come to work in this ministry must have some level of qualifications.

What I will agree with is that there should be more exposure.

For instance, while I was there, many young people were sent out for training. When they came back, they were posted out of the ministry and I was one of those who made a serious case that they should come back to the ministry because the ministry spent a lot of money training them. Even if you need to, convert their carrier from administration to maritime and they were brought back. That is something I can testify to because many of them are back in the ministry.

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015

Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032

44

Business | Capital Market

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 27, 2015 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 27 10 38

Current Price 0.50 28.42 26.47

Quantity Traded 100,000 317,986 179,372 597,358

Value Traded 50,000.00 8,969,274.02 4,924,077.88 13,943,351.90

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 2.19

Quantity Traded 196,017 196,017

Value Traded 416,227.23 416,227.23

793,375

14,359,579.13

Quantity Traded 52,188 350 1,010,818 17,407,762 806,495 19,277,613

Value Traded 66,602.52 1,316.00 950,168.92 52,124,606.46 26,151,652.38 79,294,346.28

AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 CONGLOMERATES Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 Diversified Industries

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

57 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT Daily Summary TRANSCORP UACN

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 6 2 3 (Equities) 199 52 262

CONGLOMERATES

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONGLOMERATES Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.24 3.95 0.94 3.00 32.05

Page

262

1

of

19,277,613

79,294,346.28

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.61

Quantity Traded 759,500 759,500

Value Traded 465,295.00 465,295.00

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 41.81

Quantity Traded 17,481 17,481

Value Traded 741,975.76 741,975.76

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 9.17

Quantity Traded 685,875 685,875

Value Traded 6,340,012.67 6,340,012.67

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 120 120

Value Traded 1,200.00 1,200.00

1,462,976

7,548,483.43

Quantity Traded 1,343,970 372,651 82,697 3,421,248

Value Traded 8,158,946.38 47,681,710.38 1,627,394.60 482,102,046.14

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. BREW. PLC. EQTY ActivityNIGERIAN Summary on Board Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS

48 Symbol CHAMPION INTBREW NB

Symbol

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 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Food Products Totals

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables TotalsEQTY Activity Summary on Board

CONSUMER GOODS

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Personal/Household Products ©

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

No. of Deals 203

Current Price

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 7 7

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MANDRID NASCON

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian StockINSURANCE Exchange © COMPANY PLC. CORNERSTONE EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. Daily Summary asINSURANCE of 27/03/2015PLC. UNIC Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

of

12

12

Quantity Traded 696,230 2,824,925 781,972 24,080 200 807,443 5,134,850

Value Traded 2,567,975.64 18,925,849.80 26,290,951.50 70,050.00 1,018.00 5,459,456.25 53,315,301.19

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 24 34 58

Current Price 39.23 800.54

Quantity Traded 48,626 164,962 213,588

Value Traded 1,887,581.14 132,189,575.43 134,077,156.57

Symbol

No. of Deals 11 1 12

Current Price 3.80 0.93

Quantity Traded 164,312 100 164,412

Value Traded 625,287.48 89.00 625,376.48

Page Quantity Traded

3Value Traded of 12

530 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 188 5.89 DIAMONDBNK 72 4.00 ETI 53 18.00 FIDELITYBK 97 1.50 GUARANTY 191 24.36 SKYEBANK 54 2.41 STERLNBANK 45 2.10 UBASummary (Equities) 521 3.79 Daily UBN 26 10.16 UNITYBNK 9 0.50 Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM STACO STDINSURE UNIC UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 11 256 1,523

Current Price 0.95 18.90

No. of Deals 13 7 3 1 1 10 1 6 1 8 1 1 1 1 71 126

Current Price 0.87 0.88 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54 0.50 3.05 0.50 0.63 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) ABBEYBDS RESORTSAL

743,419,395.16

Quantity Traded 14,732,790 55,305,568 1,371,806 6,846,025 25,340,149 2,807,691 3,276,780 166,355,456 313,958 7,481,700

Value Traded 86,094,159.10 230,919,697.71 24,688,315.92 10,532,005.73 611,478,366.56 6,819,414.14 6,929,773.86 602,721,308.30 3,160,485.06 3,740,850.00

Quantity Traded 300,597 35,366,131 319,498,651

Value Traded 280,763.55 662,027,832.67 2,249,392,972.60

Quantity Traded 535,500 1,010,300 Page 120,284 3,000 6,200 449,333 500 25,884 1,100 211,884 1,000 1,000 1,000 2,000 16,388,512 18,757,497 Quantity Traded 50 200,000

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Quantity Traded 200,050

Value Traded 100,068.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB NESF STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 83 23 604 243 1 13 118 1,085

Current Price 2.49 3.83 8.80 2.81 552.20 28.00 1.29

Quantity Traded 3,160,094 3,688,229 66,388,084 49,928,418 10 757,034 7,076,782 130,998,651

Value Traded 7,874,608.05 13,912,183.75 587,440,556.79 135,881,450.97 5,500.00 21,166,032.55 9,251,302.14 775,531,634.25

469,454,849

3,035,094,623.36

Quantity Traded 65,315 507,440 2,637 172,399 267,750 236 1,015,777

Value Traded 127,364.25 1,639,661.60 114,758.03 273,284.42 193,797.62 502.68 2,349,368.60

1,015,777

2,349,368.60

Page

2,736 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 9 23 5 4 12 1 54 54

Current Price 2.05 3.29 42.00 1.59 0.73 2.24

Page

5

6

of

of

Quantity Traded 20 20

Value Traded 80.00 80.00

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000

Value Traded 50,000.00 50,000.00

122,242

61,191.00

Current Price 18.33 8.00 34.00 10.99 153.00

Quantity Traded 26,456 89,224 7,294 93,620 1,620,755

Value Traded 477,840.08 713,792.00 258,595.88 1,067,168.00 247,922,810.90

Quantity Traded 81,020 720,114 2,638,483 Page

Value Traded 279,805.20 60,498,230.28 311,218,242.34 7 of 12

4

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

Symbol No. of Deals ASHAKACEM 7 BERGER 6 CAP 8 Daily Summary (Equities) CCNN 9 DANGCEM 80

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 5 49 164

Current Price 3.30 84.00

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.45

Quantity Traded 25,906 25,906

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 22.57

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 47,380.00 47,380.00

2,666,389

311,302,317.92

168

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC.

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 273,600 273,600

Value Traded 136,800.00 136,800.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 220 220

Current Price 13.40

Quantity Traded 7,853,205 7,853,205

Value Traded 105,578,425.60 105,578,425.60

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 33.91 2.84

Quantity Traded 90,699 2,168,515

Value Traded 3,069,701.80 5,974,130.19

CONOIL ETERNA

10 66

Symbol FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 76 14 6 31 203

Current Price 224.89 147.95 50.54 158.74

Quantity Traded 487,675 24,925 2,650 68,996 2,843,460

Value Traded 107,228,054.49 3,680,857.75 127,253.00 10,911,305.47 130,991,302.70

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 399.00

Quantity Traded 39,231 39,231

Value Traded 15,591,414.00 15,591,414.00

11,009,496

252,297,942.30

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

452

8

of

12

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.73

Quantity Traded 266,084 266,084

Value Traded 194,140.63 194,140.63

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 4 4 8

Current Price 3.75 1.11

Quantity Traded 47,100 136,000 183,100

Value Traded 184,432.00 150,960.00 335,392.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 57 57

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,194,034 10,194,034

Value Traded 5,097,017.00 5,097,017.00

Hotels/Lodging TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 1,190 1,190

Value Traded 11,900.00 11,900.00

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 6 2 9

Current Price 1.06 1.07 4.63

Quantity Traded 250 352,750 15,000 368,000

Value Traded 265.00 371,105.00 67,500.00 438,870.00

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 30,050 30,050

Value Traded 16,799.94 16,799.94

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 5 22 27

Current Price 1.70 5.04

Quantity Traded 12,037 521,676 533,713

Value Traded 21,367.34 2,598,365.22 2,619,732.56

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 3.00

Quantity Traded 146,940 146,940

Value Traded 438,126.00 438,126.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery Daily Summary asSTAR of 27/03/2015 RED EXPRESS PLC Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

CILEASING Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

12

Value Traded 36,695.58 36,695.58

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Page

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Value Traded 68.00 100,000.00

1.30 0.50

Current Price 4.00

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 474,480.00 889,064.00 4 60,142.00 of 12 1,500.00 3,100.00 230,779.05 250.00 78,946.20 550.00 134,381.26 500.00 500.00 500.00 1,000.00 8,194,256.00 10,069,948.51

1 1

No. of Deals 1 1

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

1,185,700.00 14,235,728.20 15,421,428.20

11,142,365

Symbol CWG

OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Current Price 3.70 6.68 33.60 3.00 5.35 6.80

44,535 361,772 406,307

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals

Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 Integrated Oil and Gas Services

No. of Deals 29 75 79 4 1 32 220

No. of Deals Current Price 11 26.82 19 39.35 30

Value Traded 11,111.00 11,111.00

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy and Services Totals Daily Summary asEquipment of 27/03/2015

Value Traded 410,035.22 410,035.22

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

Quantity Traded 22,222 22,222

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded 2,642 2,642

VONO

Current Price 0.50

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Current Price 156.00

Daily Summary (Equities) VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 2 2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Value Traded 539,570,097.50

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals 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

2

Symbol COURTVILLE

ICT Totals

Quantity Traded 5,220,566

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 6.39 127.00 18.00 141.19

Page

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Daily Summary of 27/03/2015 Foodas Products--Diversified Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.

No. of Deals 65 53 9 76

Daily Summary (Equities) GUINNESS

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Daily SummaryNIGERIAN as of 27/03/2015 AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032Services Totals Transport-Related

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Page

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

SERVICES SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

9

10

of

of

134

11,724,111

9,152,478.13

4,445

528,669,193

4,454,879,725.31

Quantity Traded 300 300

Value Traded 486.00 486.00

12

12

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.55

1

300

486.00

ASeM Board Totals

1

300

486.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,446

528,669,493

4,454,880,211.31

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF Daily Summary as of 27/03/2015 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Printed 27/03/2015 14:44:32.032

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 9.55 2,311.00

Quantity Traded 1 21 Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 9.55 48,531.00 11

of

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

12

Symbol VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3

Current Price 13.95

Quantity Traded 266,804 266,826

Value Traded 3,721,915.80 3,770,456.35

ETF Board Totals

3

266,826

3,770,456.35

ETP Activity Totals

3

266,826

3,770,456.35

12

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Photo | News

45

L-R: Chairman, Abuja District Society, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Simon Kato; Executive Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Samuel Pam and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Davou Mang at the inauguration of the CITN in Jos. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Head, Retail Services, Leadway Assurance, Tunji Amokade; Corporate Communications Officer, Union Bank Nigeria, Chineye Ogwo; Public Diplomacy Officer, United States Consulate General, Lagos, Rhonda Watson and Executive Director, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Oreoluwa Lesi, during an Entrepreneurship and Technology Development workshop for Women in Lagos.

L-R: Commissioner, Government Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Abba Ibrahim; Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi; Chairman, Electricity Consumer Association of Nigeria (ECAN), Mr. Goodluck Ehyinanya and Legal Adviser, ECAN, Mrs. Florence Wogu, during ECAN’s visit to NERC in Abuja.

L-R: Director, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ogun State Agriculture Development Programme (OGADEP), Alhaji Basiru Bakare; Sustainability Manager, British American Tobacco West Africa, Ms. Oluwaseyi Ashade; Deputy General Manager, Chi Farms Limited, Mr. Ola-Davis Abiodun David and General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Ms. Abimbola Okoya, at the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation’s training of Ogun State women in poultry farming in Abeokuta.

L-R: Mr. Yinka Okelola; Mr. Adewunmi Adepoju; Mr. Kanayo Elikwu and Pastor Ola Akano, during the Orientation training for Interns and firm’s representatives in Lagos state, organised for the Federal Ministry of Finance graduate inters hip scheme in Lagos.

L-R: Member, Nigeria Marketing Association (NMA), Miss Adelogun Kenny; Secretary, Mr. Collins Obi; General Secretary, Shukura Yam Market, Alhaji Haruna Isa and Chairman, Alhaji Dandama Yabo, during the presentation of the award of Outstanding Personality to Yabo, in Lagos.

Chairman, Care, Organisation, Public Enlightenment (COPE) Breast Cancer Awareness Network, Prof.

Osato Giwa-Osagie and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Ebunola Anozie, during the unveiling of the Network’s new logo in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

A cross-section of the New Covenant Voices of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Ejigbo Branch, at Shabach 2015 session, in Lagos.

46

News

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Anxiety in Lagos, as INEC fails to hold rescheduled election Muritala Ayinla

T

here was anxiety in some parts of Lagos as the hope of some residents to exercise their civic responsibility and participate in the process of electing their president and National Assembly members was dashed as the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), failed to hold the rescheduled election in some parts of Oshodi area of Lagos State where election did not hold on

Saturday.

Although, it could not be ascertained why the INEC officials failed to show up at the polling units in the area, as many attributed the development to the growing apprehension in the area, which was said to be politically motivated.

As at 5 pm yesterday, there was palpable anxiety amongst the voters as INEC officials were yet to conduct the rescheduled election in 28 polling units in Oshodi, as residents waited endlessly for their

arrival.

Both the police officers detached to the units and residents lamented the failure of the official of the electoral management body to conduct the election.

Many expressed the fear that the materials might have been taken to another place while others described the development as attempt to manipulate the results of the votes that were never cast by the electorate.

Speaking with New Telegraph at polling

units 054 and 055 on Salami Street, residents who were eager to cast their votes, lamented that INEC officials refused to show up for the election.

The story was not different at 056, Akiodu Street, where INEC officials were still being expected as at 3 pm with frustration written on the faces of residents who were eager to cast their votes. Intending voters at the polling unit 060 on Abdulrasak Street, where the officials also failed to show up few minutes to

4pm also flayed the election process.

New Telegraph also gathered that INEC officials, have not arrived at Agbalaya Street, Ishola Daniel, Lawanson and some other areas in Oshodi, for the rescheduled election.

A member of the Community Development Association (CDA), in the area, who craved anonimity, said there were 28 polling units where INEC failed to conduct election on Saturday, saying that the promise of

the commission to hold a rescheduled election was not fulfilled as there was no presence of the commission’s officials in any of the polling units.

Also lamenting his frustration, Fatai Smith, an itending voter at polling unit 055, said: “we have been here since morning and INEC officials have not come. On Saturday, we were here from morning till evening and they did not come. People even left the church to vote, but they can’t vote as INEC officials have not come.”

APC wants Ekiti deputy gov charged for violence Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, Chemstar Paints Industries (Nig.) Limited, Mr. Remi Awode; Assistant Manager, Finance, Mr. Tiwalade Adebiyi and Chief Executive Officer, Baylly Ventures Nigeria Limited, Mr. Omotosho Adebayo, at the painter’s sensitisation on ‘Shield/Fine Coat Paints Cover 4 Cash Painters Rewards Promo to kick start the company’s 20th anniversary at Sango, Ogun State…at the weekend.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Lagos residents commend INEC on free, peaceful polls

S

ome residents of Lagos yesterday lauded the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in conducting free and fair elections in the country.

The residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the elections went on smoothly.

A health and safety professional, Mr. Vincent Fagbolagun, said the introduction of the card reader device also improved the electoral process.

“If we study the lapses very well and we improve on the gaps identified, I am sure it will take our elections to the next level which is a free and fair one to start with.

“Free and fair elections will take away violence and we will begin to trust ourselves, knowing that when any government comes in place, they have to deliver to the masses,’’ Fagbolagun said.

He said the conduct of the elections would challenge elected officers to deliver the dividends of

PUBLIC NOTICE CHRISTS’ INTERDENOMINATIONAL BIBLE MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Pastor Oluwatosin Kolawole Oladoke 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Rhoda Omobola Oladoke 3. Pastor Olusesi Johnson Osibote 4. Pastor (Mrs.) Oluwaseyi Rachael Apena 5. Deaconess Felicia Omotunde Bolaji

- President

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the lost souls.

2. To plant churches and create missionary outreach worldwide.

3. To establish a central prayer centres to mobilize leaders of

ministries and saints interdenominationally to pray for a

continued monumental global evangelism.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, has called the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to charge the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, for election violence.

APC’s call followed his alleged directive to his security aides to shoot an APC member, Jide Owolabi, in Ikere-Ekiti, during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It also urged the electoral management body to cancel the election result in Ire-Ekiti, over allegation of violence and ballot snatching.

Reacting to the two incidents, Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that the two incidents were well plotted as strategic plan by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to have undue advantage to win the ballot.

He alleged that the deputy governor’s action in the Ikere-Ekiti incident, was a reckless display of lawlessness and flagrant abuse of power to intimidate the opposition for an advantage at the poll.

He said: “What happened in Ikere-Ekiti was a

pre-meditated incident to cow the opposition to submission. We had earlier raised the alarm on the plan by top officials of Governor Fayose’s administration to employ violence and intimidation to cow our members for them to manipulate the electoral process. We wrote the security agencies, including both local and international human rights organsations about the PDP’s plan. Yesterday’s incident was just a manifestation of the fears we raised.

“The deputy governor cannot claim ignorance of the provisions of the Electoral Act which prohibits movement of government officials from one unit to the other on the election day. He can’t claim ignorance of the law that disallows government officials’ security men to carry weapons during election. It is clear that the deputy governor was not accredited to carry out any election duty, including providing or restoring order where there is violence.

“But he deliberately exercised a reckless abuse of power by leaving his unit with his armed security who he ordered to shoot our member for complaining that his interference in other polling units outside his unit is a breach of the law,” Olatubosun explained.

democracy to the masses.

Mr. Nwere Chidi, a Local Area Representative of the Nigeria Breweries, said that though there was violence in some areas during the elections, but the situation was managed.

“Before, we were thinking that the elections will be violent, but nothing like that came up.

“We need job opportunities for the youths, whoever wins should provide jobs for the youths.

Another resident, Mr Micheal Okosis, a photographer, said that it took him five minutes to be accredited, adding that the process

was smooth and fast.

“These elections have shown that Nigerians were beginning to understand the democratic system of government because people really came out to vote for their choices,’’` Okeosis said.

A trader, Mrs. Ayantoye Iyabo, said that in her area at Railway Line, EbuteMeta, Lagos, the elections was peaceful, saying that she voted before 4 p.m.

“We want government to provide stable power supply and the government should also improve on health facilities,’’ Ayantoye said.

T

APC wins two reps seats in Lagos

he All Progressives Congress (APC), has won two Lagos Island Federal constituencies in Saturday’s House of Representatives election.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), CHANGE OF NAME

OLISEMEKA

I formerly known as MISS ADEBIMPE OYINDASOLA ILUYOMADE now wish to be known as MRS. ADEBIMPE OYINDASOLA OLISEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

the Returning Officer for the Lagos Island Federal constituency Mrs. Martha Amadi, who announced the results said Mr. Enitan Badru, of the APC polled 15,389 votes to beat Mr. Lukman Oladipo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 5,732 votes. ‘’I hereby declare Hon. Badru, winner of the election; he won the highest votes and satisfied the

requirements of the election,’’ Amadi said.

The Returning Officer for Lagos Island Federal constituency 2, Mr Adekunle Salvador, declared Mr. Yakubu Balogun of the APC winner with 16,437 votes against Mr. Rahman Salawe, of the PDP, who secured 7,305 votes. ‘’Having satisfied the 2015 election require-

ments, Hon. Yakubu Balogun of APC, is declared winner of Lagos Island Federal Constituency 2 seat,’’ Salvador said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Adebisi Adegbola, the Returning Officer for Lagos Central senatorial election, said that the election was inconclusive on Saturday in one council area.

He said that the election would be concluded yesterday.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Violence, late accreditation greet elections in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

V

iolence and late accreditation of voters on Saturday greeted the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ebonyi State.

Reports said there were shootings in some places in Ikwo Local Government, including Onunwakpu Market Square polling unit and Nsok-

kara, Amaezekwe, Okoffia, Amana Communities, Ezza South Local Government of the state during the elections.

In Onunwakpu Market Polling Unit, someone dressed in jeans emerged from the bush with AK-47 and started shooting into the air. Another joined suit while unarmed security agents watched. Ballot boxes in the unit were later snatched.

The situation caused pandemonium in the af-

fected areas as voters scampered for safety while journalists, who were monitoring the exercise, were forced out of the area by the gunmen.

There were also shootings in Ebuwanna and Nguzu, Afikpo South Local Government area of the state.

Earlier, there were late arrival of materials, inadequate materials and mix up of the materials in some of the polling units monitored

by New Telegraph. All these

led to late accreditation at many polling centres across the state.

At Nwofe Polling Unit 001, accreditation did not start till after 11.00am.

Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Edward Nkwegu, regretted that the number of those accredited by the card reader were lesser than those not accepted by the machine.

“The most disturbing part is that only five incident forms were provided

while about 200 persons failed the accreditation by the card reader. So, how are the rest of the people going to fill the forms?”

Nkwegu expressed worry that the election may witness a large number of disenfranchised voters.

He, however, urged INEC to go ahead with the card readers, but to work assiduously to ensure that the challenges are solved and that all eligible voters take part.

Some other political

stakeholders in the state alleged sabotage by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the distribution of electoral materials.

Commissioner of Education in the state, Chief Ndubisi Chibueze-Agbo, regretted that the INEC officials were supposed to arrive at Ohaukwu, Ebonyi North, by Friday evening.

“The electoral materials had not arrived at my polling unit for instance as at 10.00am as the INEC officials brought a ‘GP tank’ on Friday instead of personnel and materials.

He said he was suspecting sabotage from INEC as the main intention is to disenfranchise Ohaukwu people.

Mokwenye: We want peaceful elections Flora Onwudiwe

T

Former Anambra State governor and the Deputy National Director, South, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Mr. Peter Obi (right) and his wife, Margaret, performing their civic duties at their Amatutu, Agulu Ward

Onu: Elections should be held same day Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

A

former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has advocated for the conduct of all elections same day across the nation during general elections.

He spoke in his Uburu country home, Ohaozara Local Government area, shortly after casting his votes.

“We should be able to hold all elections on the same day, because there are so many advantages. It will make more persons to participate.

“You can see that only 82 per cent of the voters collected their PVCs even with the extension of six weeks and I am not sure that all those who collected their cards will vote.

“We want more Nigerians to participate in performing their fundamental rights of choosing their leaders and the cost of elections will be drastically reduced if the elections are held same day.

“The will of the people will be supreme, because the band wagon effect that you see when you hold elections at such intervals will not be there and today you can find that the primary colours - red, black green used for identifying ballot boxes, which are not supposed to be so’’, he said.

Onu condemned the shifting of election date and the two-step system in the election saying; “We should be able to do accreditation and vote immediately because for you to do accreditation and then go and come back later to vote, many people may not be willing to come back and cast their votes.”

Your 50% salary increase deceitful, workers tell Elechi Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

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he Organised Labour in Ebonyi State has described as deceitful the 50 per cent salary increase being proposed by the state government.

In a release signed by the state Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Joseph Nweke, Chairman TUC,

Comrade Elias Oduma and Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, Labour said the 50 per cent salary increase was derived from what it called ‘current home-made salary structure imposed on workers in the state’ instead of the table which the Salary Incremental Rate Committee proposed and

recommended for implementation and on which Labour is standing on.

The release debunked the claim by the government that the three weeks industrial action embarked upon by the workers was politically motivated.

“The strike by Labour in Ebonyi State is neither politically-motivated nor is it being sponsored by any political party or candidate.”

he President of ‘We Care for Humanity Nigeria,’ a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Ambassador Henry Mokwenye, has advised candidates in the 2015 elections to embrace peace and love either they win or lose the election in the interest of Nigeria.

He said: “The loser should demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship by joining hands with the winner to make useful contributions that will move the unity of this country forward.”

The ambassador also advised Nigerian youths to shun all forms of violence as they are usually the victims during electioneering period, “we educate them to refuse to be used as tools or instruments of violence by politicians.”

He said: “The world peace committee is primarily established to campaign for promotion of peace throughout the world and Nigeria is a member state and our membership cuts across the six geo-political zones of the country.”

PVC best in Nigeria’s electoral history, says contestant Flora Onwudiwe

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contestant for the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Magnus Ozongwu, has lauded the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the 2015 elections, saying it was the best in the electoral history of Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to put away the fear of insecurity and come out to vote candidates of their choice during the elections.

The contestant, a graduate of Accountancy, in an interview said the fear of insecurity was the beginning of failure in the democratic dispensation.

“If you fail to take a risk in life, you have started failing, we cannot sit in our homes and project insecurity, your vote is your opinion, do not allow fear to overcome our democracy.

“No success can be achieved without taking a bold step, by sacrificing our

pleasures and businesses, let us make that day a day of obligation for our country,” he said.

According to him, what kills a man is failure, it is either you take a risk or you fail, we should go out and vote out insecurity and fear rather than sitting down and complaining.

He described the introduction of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) as the best thing to happen in Nigeria’s electoral history.

Ozongwu, vying on the platform of the APC, told journalists that using the PVCs would eliminate electoral fraud, adding that anyone opposing the idea was in support of corruption.

He said the cards would also ensure healthy political atmosphere in the country.

“The introduction of the PVC is an excellent idea, because it will stamp out corruption and promote credible election that is free and fair.”

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pipeline explosion: Urhobo claim responsibility Gabriel Choba Ughelli

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x-militant group, Urhobo Gbagbako, from the Urhobo extraction in Delta State, has owned up to the bombing of oil pipelines in the state, threatening to carry out bombing in the 24 kingdoms of the kindom of the Urhobo nation, if the federal and state governments

lThreaten more bombing refuse to accede to their demands immediately.

The group also claimed to be responsible for the Ekiugbo community pipeline explosion of March 22.

They also explained that failure by the federal and state governments to act swiftly on the lingering issues on the oil minning li-

cences OML 26, 30 and 34 would lead to their being bombed as part of their demands.

The spokesman of the group, Mr. Priest Omodjuvwu said, “We the Urhobo ethnic tribes, comprising all ex-militants in Urhobo land, youths, women, community leaders and traditional rulers have not, at any time, said Mr.

Morris Idiovwa or his sponsors(HOSTCOM) have the mandate to speak on our behalf.

“We, therefore, strongly advise the federal and state governments, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corperation (NNPC), the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shoreline, and

the general public to shun and disregard any party claiming to speak on our behalf in the interest of peace.

“We also use this opportunity to denounce HOSTCOM and whatever they stand for as we will never allow this gang of vultures (HOSTCOM) to feast on us, usurp and hijack the duties of our duly elected representatives and unsuspecting community leaders and traditional

rulers.

“We must consider first the developmental strides of the president in all sectors of the economy in general and the interest of the Niger-Delta region in particular in coming to this conclusion. Even then, we must stand up as an entity to take our rightful place in this country and also to take our possession by force if necessary and truly be respected as a nation.”

Lecturers petition EFCC over provost’s alleged N3m scam Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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ollowing the failure of the Provost of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State, Professor Amen Uhunwangho, to remit the over N30 million trust fund accruable to members of the academic union and the non-payment of two month salary arrears in spite of the release of subvention by the state government, the union members have declared war against the management of the institution.

The lecturers of the institution said a petition has been sent to the anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), for investigation and prosecution of the case.

The President of the Union, Comrade Fred Omonuwa, who debunked allegations against the members that the protracted crisis rocking the institution was politically motivated, challenged the Provost to defend the issues raised by the members bothering on alleged mismanagement, intimidation, victimization and breach of agreement, rather than chasing shadows.

The Provost had, in an earlier interview, dismissed all the allegations

against him, saying the state government had already set up an audit panel to probe all the financial dealings in the school.

He said the action of the academic staff of the school has political undertone, stating, ‘’The other three Colleges in the state that have similar problems with ours. the governor has set up the audit panel to look at the accounts of the four institutions. They have come and they have looked at our books, income and expenditure.

The audit panel was the best any government can do”.

But the union, which last week demanded for the immediate sack and probe of the Provost, insisted that the problem of the institution was that of fraud and mismanagement.

Omonuwa said: “I want to say that there are no political undertone to these crisis, otherwise the question one would have asked is whether N30 million trust fund being owed to workers and the two months salaries owed are political. Even when the state government have given him subvention up to February, he refused to pay us. The Provost of the college of education, who was the major culprit of the investigation has not been able to do anything. Is the illegal tax deduction a political issue as well?”

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan (left), receiving an award of the Most Outstanding Governor in Human Capital Development from the Chairman, Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Paul Osuyi, at the chapel’s visit to the governor at Government House, Asaba…recently

INEC to Amaechi: You’re not permitted to see result sheets during accreditation Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has absolved the commission of any wrongdoing during last Saturday’s presidential election.

The Commission was reacting to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s complaint

over the absence of result sheets, at polling units.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, said that nobody was per mitted under the electoral law to see the result sheet, noting that the Gover nor came to be accredited, and not to be shown the result sheet because election had not taken place.

It will be recalled that Amaechi had led

Polls: Anxiety heightened in Delta over Jonathan’s fate Dominic Adewole ASABA

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ear that the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan may be defeated by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday engulfed the entire Delta state.

The panic may not be unconnected with the

analysis of voting pattern posted on facebook, indicating President Jonathan coming second in the contest in most of the Northern states of the country.

This is moreso as supporters of the APC were seen celebrating Buhari’s victory at different joints particularly in Asaba, in anticipation of the official declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prince Yemi Emiko, the Delta South Senatorial candidate of the APC categorically said “We are in this business to win the election as our party and the people have clamoured enough for a change.”

Supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were, however, calm even as they continue to heap blames on the INEC for introducing a rigourous experimental process.

For instance, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, in Asaba, flayed the INEC for abandoning a major challenge in the implementation of the card reader device.

He condemned the technological hitches recorded during the exercise, maintaining that the aged were unnecessarily compelled to go through the slow process of the exercise.

his supporters out of Omuanwa Town, near his Ubima hometown, complaining of lack of result sheets to declare the eventual winner of the election in the area.

But Khan, who reacted in a statement, said that INEC officials who perfor med electoral duties in Ikwerre, where the Gover nor and other APC chieftains shunned the election, said that result sheets were taken to the field, contrary to the Gover nor’s position.

She said: “It is on record that All Progressives Congress (APC) accredited political party agent, who was present at the INEC Ikwerre LGA office, Steve Worgu, signed that the materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive distributed at the LGA, were complete including result sheets, before the of ficials proceeded to the field. INEC did

not receive any report from any APC party agent in all the 181 polling units in Ikwerre LGA”.

“At the state, the Gover nor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, complained of not sighting the Election Result Sheets. Voting has not commenced; that was merely accreditation stage, which has nothing to do with result sheets. Please, note that the Governor of Rivers State went to the poll as a voter and not as a governor”.

Khan also said that the Commission’s office inside Emohua Local Government Council was bur nt down, by arsonists. She did not disclose whether or not any INEC staff was injured during the attack.

She also disclosed that INEC of ficials were compiling the results of the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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NORTH

Police arrest INEC officials, party agents in Zamfara Elections

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he Zone 10 police command in Sokoto State said it has arrested six suspects, including INEC officials and party agents, over alleged electoral offences in Zamfara State.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the

zone, Mr. Bala Hassan, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Sokoto.

The zone comprises Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.

Hassan said the suspects were arrested in Maradun Local Govern-

ment area of the state during the conduct of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

He said the police would continue to ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act to ensure credible elections.

The AIG commended

the people in the states under his supervision for conducting themselves peacefully during the election.

“So far so good, we have not recorded any political violence,” he said.

He urged the people to continue to support the security agencies with

useful information on the activities of people with criminal intentions.

“We will continue to provide a peaceful environment through effective security measures that will enable eligible voters exercise their civic responsibilities,” Hassan said.

L-R: Government Community Relations Officer, Abuja Region, MTN, Mr. Micah Michael; Gago of Oyifu Area, Anokwu, Chief Momo Omata; Head, Department of Works, Dekina Local Government, Kogi State, Mr. Amedu Friday; MTN Trade Partner, Mr. Isa Usman and Madaki of Anokwu, Mr. Pius Atadoga, at the inauguration of a borehole project donated by MTNF to Anokwu community, Ayingba, Kogi State

continue in Plateau

Musa Pam Jos

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he Presidential and National Assembly elections in Plateau State, which started on Saturday, continued yesterday as result of late arrival of materials, delayed accreditation, as well as communication problems.

New Telegraph gathered that out of nine local government councils, seven council areas could not vote on Saturday and had to continue yesterday.

INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, Osaretin Imahiyerobo, told journalists that the councils affected are Kanam, Bassa, Jos North, Jos East, Wase, Kanke, others are Langtang South, Mangu and Riyom.

According to him, the reason for the continuation of the elections yesterday was due to the bad terrain in some villages, where materials could not arrive on time during Saturday’s polls. He also revealed that when the directive for all INEC officials to revert to the manual voting process and set aside the card readers it wasn’t possible to reach those in the villages due to the non-availability of network.

INEC postpones election in 18 polling units in Yobe Kwara’s result not ready, says INEC

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he Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe State, Mr. Habu Zarma, yesterday said INEC had postponed elections indefinitely in 18 polling units in Giedam Local Government area of the state due to security challenges.

He told newsmen in Damaturu that security challenges in the council area had scared INEC ad

hoc staff from going to conduct election in the affected units on Saturday and yesterday.

“Elections could not hold in those areas on Saturday and yesterday due to security challenges.

“The commission will meet to consider the position of the affected units,” the commissioner said.

The News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) reports that rescheduled elections were ongoing in 18 polling units in Fika, Potiskum and Yunusari Local Government areas yesterday.

The commissioner said the elections were shifted in 10 polling units in Fika, four in Potiskum and four in Yunusari Local Government areas due to late delivery of electoral

materials.

“The elections are currently taking place peacefully in the affected polling units in the three local government areas except Giedam,” Zarma said.

NAN also reports that the Presidential and National Assembly elections were conducted peacefully in other council areas on Saturday across the state.

CAN seeks curfew in volatile areas T

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has advised that adequate security measures be put in place in volatile areas across the country before the announcement of election results.

CAN Chairman in the North East, Rev. Shuaibu Byel, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Bauchi.

Byel said the measure would help in averting post-election violence, especially in regard to

the outcome of the presidential election.

He said: “Past experience clearly showed that post-election violence erupted immediately the result was announced, particularly the presidential election result.

“That was what happened in 2011; we should learn from past experience.”

Byel commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a peaceful and successful election, with just minor hitches caused by the

malfunctioning of the Smart Card Readers in some areas.

He equally commended the electorate for coming out en masse to exercise their civic right.

According to him, this is a clear indication that Nigeria’s democracy has come to stay and is gradually growing to maturity.

“The process was generally peaceful, people turned out en masse like never before in the history of elections in this country, usually characterised with apathy.”

The chairman urged politicians, as well as the electorate, to embrace the outcome of election in good fate and accept it as the will of God. “Contestants and the supporters should embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.

“Anyone who loses should accept the outcome and try again another time.

“The person that won should return God’s favour by being a good leader and a true representative of the people,” he advised.

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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he results from Saturday’s election in Kwara State will not be formally known until much later today.

According to the spokesman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Jacob Ayanda, only results from Isin and Oke-Ero Local Government areas have been

released by the commission’s headquarters as at about 3.00pm yesterday.

There are 16 local government areas in the state.

However, results collated from polling centres across the state yesterday indicated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in clear lead with most leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state losing their polling units in the election.

PDP wins Pwajok’s polling unit in Plateau Musa Pam Jos

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he governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok, yesterday won his polling unit in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

President Goodluck Jonathan won at Pwajok’s polling unit. The result shows that the President got 122 votes

to defeat General Muhammadu Buhari, who scored 79 votes, at unit 009, Osumeyi Street, Ali Kazaure Ward in Jos North Local Government area of the state.

Governor Jonah Jang, who is contesting the northern senatorial seat on the platform of the PDP won with 102 votes against APC’s 95 votes, in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, the PDP scored 104 against APC’s 73.

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jihadist chief killed as thousands march on Tunisia

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unisia said yesterday it had killed the leader of the jihadists behind the massacre at its national museum, as foreign leaders joined thousands of Tunisians in a march against extremism. Chanting "Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!" the demonstrators marched in a

sea of red Tunisian flags to the capital's Bardo Museum, where 21 foreign tourists were killed in the March 18 jihadist shooting rampage. "The Tunisian people have proven that they will not give in to terrorism. My thanks go out to all and I tell the Tunisian people: 'Forwards. You are not alone,'"

President Beji Caid Essebsi said after joining the march with foreign dignitaries.

French President Francois Hollande, whose country held a similar march after January's attacks in Paris, was among the figures attending along with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Palestinian

leader Mahmud Abbas. "We must all fight against terrorism," Hollande told reporters after the march. "Tunisians wanted this international solidarity." Renzi said: "We are here today to give a message of hope. We want to say that Tunisia does not stand alone: we are together in combating terrorism." Tunisian authorities earlier said Lokmane Abou Sakhr an Algerian who allegedly masterminded the museum attack was killed along with at least eight others from the notorious Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade. Officials had accused Abou Sakhr and his group of organising the attack on the Bardo National Museum carried out by two gunmen who were shot dead, despite a claim of responsibility from the Islamic State jihadist group.

Tunisian forces "were able

yesterday (Saturday) to kill the most important members of the Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade including its head Lokmane Abou Sakhr," Prime Minister Habib Essid told reporters.

Interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told AFP that security forces had killed "nine terrorists" in an operation in the west-central area of Sidi Aich. Interior Minister Gharsalli Najem told a news conference they had been shot at a checkpoint while travelling by car.

Authorities say Okba Ibn Nafaa has been behind a series of attacks on security forces that have left some 60 dead since late 2012. During the official march, a stone tablet was unveiled with the names of the foreign tourists and a Tunisian policeman killed in the attack.

Fifth Kenyan minister steps down over graft probe

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Chanting 'Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!' the demonstrators marched in a sea of red Tunisian flags to the capital's Bardo Museum.

Israeli PM lashes out as Iran nuclear talks intensify

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sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a dire warning yesterday about a possible nuclear accord with Iran as talks in Switzerland towards the outline of a deal intensified days before a deadline. "The dangerous accord which is being negotiated in Lausanne confirms our concerns and even worse," Netanyahu said in remarks broadcast on public radio. He said the "IranLausanne-Yemen axis" was "dangerous for all of humanity" and that combined with Tehran's regional influence, a nuclear deal could allow Iran to "conquer" the Middle East.

Israel, widely assumed to have nuclear weapons itself, is concerned that a deal that six powers are trying to agree the contours of by midnight on March 31 will fail to stop Iran from getting the bomb.

Iran, hit hard by international sanctions, denies wanting nuclear weapons and insists that its atomic pro-

gramme is purely for peaceful purposes. Israel, not Iran, is the real regional danger, Tehran says. In Lausanne meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled plans to leave for an event in Boston Monday in order to keep negotiating, the State Department said. His French and German counterparts, Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, both due in Kazakhstan on Monday, have followed suit, diplomats said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Lausanne yesterday morning. Russian and British top diplomats Sergei Lavrov and Philip Hammond were expected later, completing the line-up of foreign ministers from the six powers.

Kerry met again early yesterday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the latest in a flurry of closed-door discussions at a luxury hotel in the Swiss town.

Asked afterwards if he was going to get a deal, Kerry said: "I

don't know." "It's going all right.

We're working," he added. Officials have expressed guarded optimism that after 18 months of tortuous negotiations and two missed deadlines that a breakthrough might be in sight for a deal ending 12 years of tensions. "If we manage to resolve all the remaining issues today or in the next two to three days, then we can begin to draw up a text. But for the moment we are still in discussions," a source close to the Iranian delegation said yesterday. Steinmeier said Saturday the talks were in the "endgame" but added that "the final metres are the most difficult but also the decisive ones".

The aim is to agree broad outlines for an accord by Tuesday's midnight deadline, and then flesh out a series of complex annexes containing all the technical details by June 30.

The mooted deal would see Iran scale down its nuclear programme and allow unprecedented inspections of its remaining activities.

Mozambique president elected head of ruling party

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ozambique's President Filipe Nyusi was elected head of the ruling party Frelimo yesterday, allaying fears his predecessor was planning to cling to power behind the scenes. Nyusi took over at the helm of the party from Mozambique's ex-president Armando Guebuza, Frelimo spokesman Damiao Jose told reporters, ending weeks of uncertainty.

He was elected with 98.4 percent of the vote at the an-

nual congress of the supreme decision-making body of the Marxist-Leninist party, which has ruled the former Portuguese colony since independence 40 years ago. Guebuza, 72, was succeeded by 56-year-old former defence minister Nyusi as leader of the southern African nation in January following an October election. Guebuza was not eligible to run for president as he had served a second and final term, but he could have stayed on as party head as his mandate

was not due to expire until 2017.

Seen as a Guebuza protege, Nyusi represents a changing of the guard at Frelimo, which has been headed by former freedom fighters since independence in 1975. Although Mozambique remains one of the world's poorest countries, it has posted a seven percent average annual growth rate in recent years. It is poised to earn billions of dollars in foreign investment over the next decade on the back of discoveries of significant coal and gas deposits.

fifth Kenyan minister has temporarily stepped down over a probe by the country's anticorruption commission, leaving the cabinet without more than a quarter of its members, the presidency announced yesterday. President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier asked those named in a confidential report by the east African nation's Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to step aside while its work continues. The probe is expected to continue for about 60 days and the allegations involved have not yet been made public. "Lands, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has stepped aside to allow for ongoing investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive," a presidency statement said.

Four ministers out of a total of 18 had already on Saturday announced they

were temporarily quitting due to the report. They included Agriculture Minister Felix Koskei; Michael Kamau, transport and infrastructure minister; Davis Chirchir, energy and petroleum minister; and Samuel Kazungu Kambi, who held the labour portfolio.

Saturday, Kenyatta spokesman Manoah Esipisu said that "the president reaffirms that there are no sacred cows and that this is just the beginning of an unwavering war against corruption."

Earlier this month, a court charged seven former officials including an ex-minister in connection with a multi-million dollar corruption scam involving bogus state contracts.

Known as the "Anglo-Leasing scandal", after a British firm that was hired at hugely inflated costs to provide a new passport printing system, the overall money involved has been estimated to be at least $640 million (580 million euros).

23 injured as Air Canada flight slides off runway

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n Air Canada flight crash landed and slid off the runway in the east coast city of Halifax yesterday, with the airline confirming 23 passengers and crew suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The airline said the incident happened shortly after midnight, and 18 of the 23 admitted to hospitals for observation and treatment of minor injuries had been released. Air Canada said the Airbus A320 flying from Toronto was carrying 133 passengers and five crew members. The airline did not give the cause of the accident but said it was cooperating fully with investigators.

It was snowing heavily at the airport at the time of the accident. Passengers interviewed

by local media described a "big flash" before landing and speculated the flight may have struck a power line, but this was not confirmed by the authorities. Peter Spurway, a spokesman for the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, told local media that two people from the plane required "urgent care".

He also confirmed power was out at the airport around the time of the crash but did not give the cause. Power has since been restored. Photos posted online by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada showed the nose of the airline broken off and one wing badly damaged. The federal agency said it was deploying a team to investigate the crash.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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Amokachi: Bafana draw fair result

Chelsea to bid £75m for Bale

Firmino hands victory to Brazil

Sport

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Clarke dedicates Cricket World Cup to late teammate

Did you know?

A crowd of 93,013 witnessed Australia claim their fifth Cricket World Cup title as a match that promised so much ended up being incredibly one-sided.

B’Bafana hold Eagles Ajibade Olusesan

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Sport Festival Handball action

Cash crunch hits sports festival

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

uper Eagles stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa, scored a late minute goal but Bongani Zungu equalised minutes later as South Africa forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly match played at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday Musa, who stood in for Vincent Enyeama after the Eagles skipper opted out of the tie due to a back injury, scored in the 85th but Zungu capitalised on a poor defending two minutes into the injury time to earn the hosts a deserved draw.

Coach Daniel Amokachi changed four players from the team that started in the shock 1-0 loss to Uganda last Wednesday.

Warri Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi replaced Enyeama in goal while Kingsley Sokari, Moses Simon and Aaron Samuel all got places on the start list.

Although the Eagles showed some improvement, the Bafana Bafana dominated possession for most part of the game. The South Africans fluffed several chances and even had a 65th minute penalty stopped by Akpeyi and got punished in the 85th minute when Musa cut in from the left flank and curled the ball into the far corner.

However, just when Musa was thinking he had won the match for Nigeria, Zungu pounced on a rebound from Thusa Phala’s effort to equalise right at the death.

• May not hold this year

Ajibade Olusesan

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ational Sports Festival may not hold until the last quarter of the year as the Local Organising Committee of the event is facing acute cash crunch.

The festival has been postponed twice and has now been scheduled to hold after the general elections, but our investigations revealed that there was nothing on ground that suggests that the games would hold anytime soon.

A source told our correspondent that the LOC for the festival was experiencing funding shortages which had brought grinded its operations to a halt.

The source said that work has stopped at various sites of the facilities scheduled to be used for the games because of lack of money.

Cross River is the host of the festival.

“Only a miracle will make the festival to hold this year because there is nothing on ground. The LOC has nothing to do because they have not received any money this year for their operations.

“The facilities for the festival have not been completed. The state government has not paid our three months’ salary because there is no money. it is a big problem and maybe things will begin to take shape after the elections,” said the source who is a top official in the Cross River State civil service.

Australia win 2015 Cricket World Cup

Musa

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Amokachi: Bafana draw fair result S Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles caretaker coach, Daniel Amokachi, is comfortable with the team’s 1-1 draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in their international friendly match on Sunday.

Stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa, hit the target in the 85th min to put Nigeria ahead but Bongani Zungu scored in the injury time to earn the hosts the share of the spoils at the Mbombela Stadium.

Amokachi said he was satis-

fied with the outcome of the tie despite the late goal that denied his team victory.

“It is fair result, coming away from home after losing to Uganda [1-0 at home] . Ninety-eight percent of the players are having their second or third game,” he said.

“It is a fair result but when winning and conceding is not good. But that’s football, that’s what happens, it’s not over until the referee whistle sounds,” concluded the former Everton striker.

We were unlucky against Eagles –Mashaba

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outh Africa head coach, Shakes Mashaba, said his team should have won their international friendly match against Nigeria even though he was pleased to see his side fight all the way to earn a 1-1 draw.

Bongani Zungu struck in stoppage time to secure a draw for South Africa against the Super Eagles and Mashaba said they were unfortunate not to have scored more goals.

Balogun (right) battling for the ball with a South African player

Siasia thumbs up Akpeyi

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ormer Super Eagles manager, Samson Siasia, has rated highly the side’s goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi’s performance against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Sunday’s friendly tie at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.

Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw with the side’s captain, Ahmed Musa, scoring the opener in the 85th minute while a defensive blunder allowed South Africa a stoppage time equaliser from forward, Bongani Zungu.

The Warri Wolves shot stopper had early masterly stopped a penalty that would have given the South Africans the lead in a largely lacklustre encounter.

Siasia said Akpeyi stood out for him in the encounter and would have ended the clash winner if not the loss of concentration from the back men.

“The goalkeeper is the best player on match day against South Africa but his defence let him down at the crucial moment. Akpeyi deserved a victory in the clash to compensate for his five-star performance in the game.It’s unfortunate they

allowed what would’ve been a deserved victory to slip off their hands at the most inauspicious time,” he said.

“I congratulate the captain on match day, Ahmed Musa for the wonderful opening goal against South Africa. Musa at times played as if he wasn’t there, a bit listless and anonymous but he remains a good player.

“His solo goal effort is wonderful on his special day as the captain of the side,” said Siasia to supersport.com.

Siasia

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he President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Sani Ndanusa, has said that tennis in the country will benefit from the decision of the Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen to choose the nation ahead of Russia.

The NTF has included the youngster in the Nigeria’s squad for the forthcoming ITF/CAT African U-18 Championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt from April 5 to 10.

Ndanusa said that the 16-year-old right hander, who

was born of Nigerian father and a Russian mother, has built an encouraging profile since she started to play tennis at the age of five.

Ifidzhen was a member of the Russian National Team U-12 and has won several titles including the European Championship in 2010. She was also the Russian champion for the U-12 in 2010.

Some of her achievements so far include being a finalist at the Argayon Cup U16 Belgium while she was also the champion in the singles and doubles of the Hitec

Mashaba

you need leaders in the game, to push them up.

“But what else can we do, it’s one of those things. The second time it happens, it gives cause for concern.”

Keshi: NFF knows best, says Afejuku Okon charges Falcons as Charles Ogundiya camp reopens

F

or mer inter national, Prince Afejuku, has said the Nigeria Football Federation should not be castigated for re-employing Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Afejuku said the NFF had a reason for bringing the coach back and people should trust NFF’s judgement and give Keshi a second chance.

“Personally, I don’t know how the NFF has been running the secretariat, I am not an insider and I believe they must have a good reason for asking Keshi to return, “ he said.

“There are some things the general populace is not privy to, so I will say we should trust their judgment.”

“Before the AFCON qualifiers and after we crashed out, the NFF wanted him out, and

Ndanusa tips Russian-born tennis star for greatness Ajibade Olusesan

“I want to say to the boys, congratulations, they played very,” Mashaba said after the match.

“We were unfortunate not to score more goals; I don’t want to talk about that penalty again. They fought to the end and that’s how we got the goal.

“It’s a normal thing, we were all over them for three quarters of the game until we missed the penalty, and you will always get that, that’s where

Bouneweg Junior Open U-14.

Ndanusa said that the player had the capacity to get to the top of her career in the next few years.

“Women tennis in Nigeria will undoubtedly develop to a great height because of the influence of a global star prospect in Melissa. Her profile is absolutely wonderful because this is the type of profile that superstars like Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova had as a junior player and we can only hope that she gets to the top in the next few years,” Ifidzhen Ndanusa said.

S

Keshi

now the same people are asking him to come back, who are we as fans not to accept him? I will say let us give him a second chance and see if he has learnt from his mistakes.”

He stated further that coaching was not really the problem in Nigeria, claiming that management also contributes to team success or failure.

uper Falcons head c o a ch , E dw i n Okon, has charged his players to work hard when camp resumes on Tuesday ahead of the second leg All Africa Games qualifiers against Mali on Monday.

The two teams played a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Bamako and Okon said that the Malians would be tough when the two sides clash again in Abuja. ‘’I’ve spoken to the players on the need to step up their game and prove themselves worthy ambassadors. ‘’Mali will be a tough challenge for us but we would put them where they belong,’’ the coach said.

The coach said he was delighted with the progress made by his team since they converged in Abuja for preparations towards the All Africa Games Qualifiers, Olympic Games qualifiers and the World Cup. ‘’I’m delighted with the progress of my team since we resumed for the assignments ahead of us. The Malians gave us a good fight, but we can’t complain. I believe we would complete the job here in Nigeria,’’ Okon told SL10.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Chelsea to bid £75m for Bale

R Van Persie

Fenerbahce want Van Persie

M

anchester United striker Robin van Persie has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

The 31-year-old joined Man United from Arsenal in 2012 and struck 26 league goals as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side lifted the Premier League title in the 2012/2013 season.

Since then, the Dutchman has netted 28 times in 53 games, but it is widely thought that the forward will be surplus to requirements at the end of this season, despite his close relationship with current boss Louis van Gaal.

According to British newspaper, The Sun, Fenerbahce are interested in signing Van Persie and will make an official offer at the end of the season.

A number of European clubs are also said to be monitoring proceedings.

eal Madrid winger Gareth Bale will be the subject of a £75m summer bid from Premier League leaders Chelsea, according to reports.

The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals in 25 La Liga appearances this season, but has come in for criticism from sections of the Spanish media and some Real Madrid supporters.

The Welshman is thought to be keen to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, though Real Ma-

drid’s desire to keep the former Tottenham Hotspur man will be tested by Chelsea’s bid, reports the Daily Mail.

The British newspaper added that a £75m offer may trigger a minimum fee release clause in Bale’s contract with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Bale scored twice in Wales’ 3-0 victory over Israel in Haifa on Saturday, which leaves Chris Coleman’s side top of Group B in the Euro 2016 qualifiers

‘Mourinho better than Van Gaal’

H

risto Stoichkov has lambasted Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal by insisting the Dutchman is ‘garbage’.

Stoichkov played under Van Gaal during his second spell at the Nou Camp before leaving the Spanish outfit for CSKA Sofia in 1998.

Stoichkov, speaking to Sport Sunday, said: ‘I have no respect for him, he’s garbage.

‘One day, when I was injured and I was with my wife at the Nou Camp. He went up to her and asked “how was it possible that she married someone like me?”

‘It was the fault of Van Gaal that I moved on to CSKA Sofia.’

In contrast, Stoichkov - who played a major role in helping Barcelona to four consecutive league titles during his first spell at the club - had nothing but good words to say about Van Gaal’s former assistant Jose Mourinho.

He added: “I do not think that Mourinho was a simple interpreter or assistant. He was already a coach, but he never thought he was worth more than [Bobby] Robson.

“Mourinho understood everything. He knew everything about our team, and our opponents.”

Bale

Hamilton applauds victorious Ferrari, Vettel

L

ewis Hamilton has conceded that Ferrari “were too quick for us” after he was beaten at the Malaysian Grand Prix by Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton was on pole at Sepang, but had to settle for second place as Ferrari got Vettel’s tactics spot on to better the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who completed the podium.

Speaking after the trophy presentation, Hamilton said: “Firstly huge congratulations to Ferrari and Sebastian, they had huge pace today (Sunday).

“I knew coming into this weekend they’d made a step, we didn’t know how much, but they were too quick for us.

“We need to get back together as a team and work out where we lost time, and

I’m sure we’ll be fighting at the next race.”

Vettel’s victory ended Ferrari’s 34-race winless drought and was the four-time world champion’s first triumph since 2013 after he failed to win a race in his final season with Red Bull.

The third Grand Prix of the season takes place in China in two weeks’ time.

Brook challenges Khan to title fight Man City show

K Djokovic

Djokovic reveals Miami frustration

N

ovak Djokovic has conceded that he was left “frustrated” during the second set of his 6-0 5-7 6-1 win over Martin Klizan at the Miami Open on Sunday.

It appeared that the world number one was heading for a swift victory when he claimed the opening set in just 23 minutes, but his Slovakian opponent was able to take the encounter into an unexpected third set.

Speaking afterwards, Djokovic said: “Credit to Martin for battling and making me play the extra shot. It was a pretty different game in the second set than it was in the first.

“I was frustrated, no doubt about that, and every athlete goes through ups and downs and various emotions during matches like this. It’s important always to regroup and maintain that self belief and composure.”

Djokovic will now face Belgium’s Steve Darcis in the third round of the competition.

ell Brook has called upon Amir Khan to set up an all-British world title fight later this year.

The 28-year-old made the first successful defence of his IBF crown with a four-round demolition of Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield on Saturday night.

After the fight, Brook set his sights firmly on a summer super-fight with the Olympic silver medallist at Wembley Stadium.

He told Sky Sports News:

“If you’re watching Amir Khan, then get in here with me. I know you’re delicate around the whiskers.

“I’ve come from a council estate, now I’m world champion and defending my title.

I’ve made it. I’ve come from the bottom and I’m at the top.

“I didn’t think I would walk again, never mind box again.

Now I’m here defending my title.”

Brook won his IBF title with a points victory over Shawn Porter last August.

Brook

interest in Morata

M

anchester City are reportedly interested in signing Juventus forward Alvaro Morata at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old joined Juventus from Real Madrid last summer and has netted 11 times in 32 games for the Italian champions this season.

Morata also scored his first senior goal for Spain on Friday - netting the winner in his country’s 1-0 victory over Ukraine in their Euro 2016 qualifier.

Real Madrid are believed to have retained a buy-back option on Morata, but according to AS, Man City will test the water with a big-money move this summer.

The Premier League champions are expected to part with both Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic in this summer’s transfer market.

54

Sport

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Euro 2016 qualifiers/friendlies

Brazil pip Chile, continue resurgence

RESULTS EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS Albania 2 – 1 Armenia

R

oberto Firmino came off the bench to score a second-half winner as Brazil beat South American rivals Chile 1-0 in a friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Neymar, Alexis Sanchez, Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal were all on display in North London, but the game’s biggest names could only show glimpses of their attacking best and it was left to substitute Firmino to find the decisive goal in the 72nd minute.

Since last year’s humiliating exit at their home World Cup, Brazil have now recorded eight successive victories under new manager, Dunga, including wins over Colombia, Argentina and France.

The first half failed to match the colourful atmosphere around the stadium before kick-off as both teams struggled to establish a rhythm or create any clear-cut chances.

Chile began the second half with more attacking intent, but both sides continued to lack any real urgency.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw, but, 17 minutes from time, Brazil found a breakthrough as Danilo sliced open Chile’s back-line with a superb through-ball and Firmino rounded Bravo before slotting into an empty net.

The same duo combined minutes later as a cute flick by Willian set Danilo free down the right and the impressive full-back found Firmino on the edge of the area, but he dragged his shot wide.

Chile pressed for an equaliser and goalkeeper Jefferson had to push a Matias Fernandez free-kick wide in the 84th minute, but there was to be no late drama as Brazil’s post-World Cup resurgence continued.

N/Ireland 2 – 1 Finland Romania 1 – 0 Faroe Islands Scotland 6 – 1 Gibraltar Kazakhstan 0 – 3 Iceland Azerbaijan 2 – 0 Malta Croatia 5 – 1 Norway Czech Rep 1 – 1 Latvia Israel 0 – 3 Wales Andorra 0 – 3 Bosnia Belgium 5 – 0 Cyprus Bulgaria 2 – 2 Italy Netherlands 1 – 1 Turkey FRIENDLIES

S

Mexico 1 – 0 Ecuador

Firmino

South Africa 1 – 1 Nigeria

Tevez relishes first Argentina start in years

C

arlos Tevez said he was “overjoyed” at making his first start for Argentina in almost four years in the 2-0 friendly win against El Salvador on Saturday.

Tevez, who was fielded up front alongside Gonzalo Higuain by Gerardo Martino, was left in the international wilderness by former boss Alejandro Sabella.

However, following Martino’s appointment last summer, the Juventus forward made his first appearance

Spain’ll soon be back to top form – Del Bosque

pain coach Vicente del Bosque insists his side not as far away from the form that saw them win three consecutive major tournaments between 2008 and 2012 as their critics suggest.

The European champions’ 1-0 win over Ukraine on Friday was met with a lukewarm reaction by Spanish fans and media for the lack of control and attacking intent showed

by Del Bosque’s men.

Indeed, the former Real Madrid boss himself admitted after the game that Spain’s lacklustre secondhalf showing had left him with a “bad taste in his

Georgia 0 – 2 Germany

mouth.”

However, he believes Spain’s disastrous 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil showing, when they were eliminated after just two games last June, has coloured the views of their current qualification campaign for UEFA EURO 2016.

“It is a logical reaction after all that happened at the World Cup in Brazil.

Before we were blessed and now people focus on the bad things rather than the good,” he said. “Everything seems worse and it is not like that. We are doing some things well.

Spain aren’t so far away from what they were.”

since 2011’s Copa America from off the bench against Croatia in November, before starting in Saturday’s clash in Washington, D.C. “I was overjoyed -- playing from the start is totally different to being brought off the bench,” Tevez is quoted as saying by Goal. “It definitely gives you more confidence. This game can be good for the team because plenty of our potential Copa America 2015 opponents play in such a closed-up manner.

It requires patience to break the deadlock and we are on the right track.

“We must continue to grow but this is just the beginning and it was important for me personally to get more game time for my country.”

Ever Banega and Federico Mancuello found the back of the net for Argentina, who were without an unfit Lionel Messi. Martino’s side next face Ecuador in another friendly on Wednesday.

Brazil 1 – 0 Chile Jamaica 2 – 1 Venezuela Iraq 2 – 1 D.R. Congo Morocco 0 – 1 Uruguay Ghana 1 – 2 Senegal Salvador 0 – 2 Argentina MONDAY FIXTURES FRIENDLIES Thailand Vs Cameroon Belarus Vs Gabon Oman Vs Algeria Qatar Vs Slovenia Kuwait Vs Colombia Macedonia Vs Australia

My England form down to Arsenal, says Welbeck

D

anny Welbeck believes signing for Arsenal has helped him to improve his international form for England.

Welbeck, 24, scored England’s second goal in Friday’s 4-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Lithuania to take his tally for his nation up to 14, while his display led to him being named man of the match.

The forward also leads the qualifying scoring charts with six goals, and he puts this all down to playing more regularly since making the move from Manchester United to Arsenal last summer.

“When you are playing regularly, you feel a lot sharper on the pitch”, he told the Evening Standard. “Once you

play regularly, it just becomes second nature to do things on the pitch. I feel match-sharp and that is important.”

England’s victory on Friday means they have now won all five of their qualifying games and sit top of Group E, six points clear of Slovenia and Switzerland.

“As a team, England are progressing well. We are on a good run and we just want to keep it going. As a whole squad, we are excited whenever the games come up,” Welbeck is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

“We’ve got great options.

And it is not just the attacking players, but it is all over the pitch. With the way we are playing at the moment, if you get a chance you want to take it.”

Welbeck (right) celebrating with Rooney

Conte: Croatia, Norway will push Italy

I Del Bosque

taly coach Antonio Conte admits the Azzurri could be pushed all the way by Croatia and Norway as they look to secure one of the top two places from Group H in qualifying for the 2016 UEFA European Championships.

Conte’s side had to settle for a 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria in their fifth match, a result which left them in second place behind leaders Croatia. Italy remain unbeaten but with Norway in third place the former Juventus coach

said after their draw in Sofia: “We’ll be pushed all the way for qualification from the group by Croatia and Norway. But I’m not surprised at all about Croatia topping the group. In many aspects they’re currently stronger than us.”

Although Italy will be expected to achieve qualification from a Group H which also includes Azerbaijan and Malta, the big test of their European credentials could come on Tuesday when they host England in friendly in Turin.

Interview/Features 55

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Clarke celebrating with his wife Kyly and the trophy in the Australian dressing room

M

ichael Clarke – who joins Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting (twice) in the pantheon of Australia’s World Cup-winning captains – scored a classy 74 in 72 balls in his final one-day international before quitting the format to focus on Tests.

And with Australia overhauling the New Zealanders’ disappointing total of 183 with seven wickets and nearly 17 overs to spare, he went out in style, watched by an MCG crowd of 93,013 – an official world record for a single day’s cricket.

Referring to the black armband he wore in memory of Hughes, who died in November after being struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery during a domestic game in Sydney, Clarke said: ‘As you can see it’s got PH on it. I’ll wear it every game I play for Australia.

For everyone in Australian cricket it’s been a tough few months.

“We played this World Cup with 16 players and this is certainly dedicated to our little brother and team-mate Phillip Hughes. Hughesy used to party as good as any of them, so I’ll make sure we drink two at a time – one for Hughesy and one for us.

“Hughes used to party as good as any of them so I’ll make sure we drink two (beers) at a time tonight, one for Hughesy and one for us.”

Hughes would have approved of the manner in which Australia crushed their trans-Tasman cousins, even if the neutrals were deprived of the climax which the tournament – if it’s honest with itself – so badly needed.

From the moment Mitchell Starc bowled New Zealand’s captain and talisman Brendon McCullum in the game’s first over, a sense of inevitability descended on the MCG like the evening shadows. Here were the pretournament favourites doling out a painful lesson to a team taking part in their first World Cup final.

Victory path The one-way traffic was held up only during a gutsy fourth-wicket stand of 111 between Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott, New Zealand’s hero during their semi-final thriller against South Africa.

But James Faulkner, named man of the match for figures of 3 for 36, removed Taylor and the big-hitting Corey Anderson in the first over of the batting powerplay, and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi fell in the next, to the outstanding Starc.

Elliott went on to make 83, but New Zealand’s last seven fell for just 33 in 10 overs. After eight successive games on their smaller, less intimidating, home grounds, they never came to terms with either the occasion or the relentlessness of the Australian attack.

The dismissal of Martin Guptill, who had hammered West Indies for an unbeaten 237 from 163 balls in the quarter-finals, summed up their day: trying to dab a gentle off-break from Glenn Maxwell through backward

Australian players celebrating their Cricket World Cup triumph

Clarke dedicates Cricket World Cup to late teammate An emotional captain Michael Clarke dedicated Australia’s unprecedented fifth World Cup triumph to his former team-mate and friend Phillip Hughes after his side trounced New Zealand in the final at Melbourne.

New Zealand’s Grant Elliott (right) bats on his way to 83 - the highest score by any player during the Black Caps’ innings

point, he was bowled for 15.

Australia lost Aaron Finch to Trent Boult in the second over of the reply, but for New Zealand’s bowlers that was as good as it got. David Warner hit 45 in 46 balls, before Clarke joined Steve Smith – his heir apparent – to add 112.

After carting Tim Southee for four successive fours, Clarke chopped on against Matt Henry with nine runs still needed, but Smith was there at the end, a fifth successive half-century in his increasingly irresistible bag.

Clarke said: “We’re really proud, it’s a wonderful achievement. It’s a great thing just to make a World Cup final, but to be able to win in your own

back yard in front of your family and friends is extremely special and I guarantee we’ll celebrate hard tonight.”

Good Fight “The New Zealand team deserve a lot of credit. They’re always a tough team to beat it seems in any sporting event. Australia v New Zealand is always an exciting contest and tonight was no different.’

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent my country in both Test and one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket.

“The time is right for me to walk away from one-day cricket, but I’ll keep playing Test cricket.’

Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets in World Cup.” As Australia prepared to celebrate into the night and beyond, it was left to McCullum to confirm his status as one of the World Cup’s most impressive characters.

He said: “It’s been one hell of a ride for us right the way through. I think we’ve played some outstanding cricket and we ran into an outstanding Australia team tonight who continue to set the way in international cricket and full credit to them, they deserve to be champions.

“Michael Clarke as well, he deserves to bow out a World Cup-winning champion too. They were outstanding in this World Cup and thoroughly deserved to win.

“We were the second-best team on the day and all credit to Australia.”

McCullum took time to reflect on the tournament as a whole and said he was ‘proud’ of his team’s performances as they became the first New Zealand side to reach a World Cup final.

He added: “We’ve forged some memories and friendships that will last forever.

“Obviously we’re not able to lift the trophy but the brand of cricket and the entertainment that we’ve been able to give people throughout our country and throughout the world is something we’re immensely proud of.

“We have no regrets and we walk away from this tournament with our heads held high.

“It’s the greatest time of your life to be able to represent your country on the international stage with a group of friends and then put your skills against the world’s best - it is the greatest time of our lives and that’s how we tried to play the game, play with a free spirit and plenty of heart all the way along.”

On Marble

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

– George Eliot

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

The largest human currency symbol consisted of 300 people and was achieved by the bank ME by TMB (Thailand) as part of their project "Wake up your money with ME", in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2, 2014.

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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Vision, mission as Presidential tools GUEST COLUMNIST Fred Nwaozor

E

veryone was born to win.

But we must also acknowledge the fact that for one to be a victor, or a winner, he or she must plan to win, prepare to win and above all, expect victory at all times. It is obvious that most of us are yet to embrace this candid analogy; that’s why we often fail in our respective endeavours.

He was damn scared of hurting his subjects or stepping on someone’s toes; but amazingly, he ended up hurting virtually everyone. This is the summary of a true-life story that is not unconnected to one of my friends who happened to be the overall leader of one of the local government councils in my home state, Imo. That’s the irony of life.

Vision and mission are two obvious facts that are closely related, and can never be taken for granted. In other words, they are tools that are not meant to be overlooked by anyone provided he or she is in a state of sanity.

Vision, according to the context of this piece, can be described as the mental picture of a certain possible situation that is yet to occur. Thus, if one sees a vision, he/she is imagining or picturing how things might be different from their current states.

On the other hand; a mission, based on the context of this crusade, is a crucial task that one willingly or mandatorily embarks on.

That was what propelled men like Winston Churchill, Leopold Senghor, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Lee Kuan Yew. The bone of contention is that, both vision and mission are worthwhile, interdependent and inevitable factors that are expected to be embraced by every living soul. Of course it is needless to reiterate that life is all about “Task”. Therefore a life without a task is simply meaningless, because it is only a task that can guarantee victory, which everyone looks forward to.

How do you intend to grab victory or success if you do not have any task ahead of you? And eventually if you are faced with a task, how do you intend to maneuver it? It is already boldly stated that, for one to win or to become victorious, he must plan towards it as well as prepare for it.

Above all, having planned and gotten thoroughly prepared, he must anticipate victory; and this is where prayer and faith come in.

Mind you; the intention to win or to grab victory is your vision.

Whilst, the plan or onward preparation towards the anticipated victory remains your mission. Suffice to say; a mission begets a vision. Thus, there is no vision without a mission. In the same vein, any mission without a vision is useless. There are no two ways about it. This signifies that Mission and Vision are interwoven or interdependent. Summarily, your life journey

Winston Churchill - U.K.

Leopold Sedar Senghor - Senegal

Julius Nyerere - Tanzania

One of Nyerere's legacies

or odyssey is your mission while your target or foreseen destination remains your vision.

At this point; let’s take reference from the second paragraph of

this piece. Beware; whenever you embark on a mission, don’t ever be scared of hurting someone, because for a mission to beget success or to be fruitful, you must surely hurt one or two persons at the long run either intentionally or unintentionally.

The aforementioned phenomenon is not by our making; it is natural. That is where nature comes in; and it is clear that no one can cheat it (nature). Thus, whenever you are on any mission, what you ought to concentrate on is to ensure that you do the right thing; this is where your conscience comes in. Mind you; most times if you are afraid of hurting someone, you would end up hurting everyone.

Frankly, it dears my inside out each time I see someone living without any tangible mission. Funny enough; the mindset of some of these persons without a single mission are often preoccupied with one or two visions.

Then in such situation, you would be forced or tempted to ask; how does he or she intends to actualize the vision in question, or if he/she is really sane. It is absolutely ridiculous for one to be nurturing a certain vision in his psyche without thinking of how to embark on a mission that would

It is also shameful to notice that most of our socalled politicians lack vision; this is the reason they invariably embark on meaningless missions in the name of “Life changing projects” all to no avail

Lee Kuan Yew - Singapore

instigate the said vision.

It is also shameful to notice that most of our so-called politicians lack vision; this is the reason they invariably embark on meaningless missions in the name of “Life changing projects” all to no avail, whenever they assume any political position. Rather than embarking on politics of vision accompanied by a mission, they would prefer to do otherwise.

In most cases, you would ascertain that the mentality of the said set of persons is sound and high, but their consciences seem to be dead. Needless to say that, their respective visionless attributes while serving in a certain political position is attributable to lack of conscience.

Surely, lack of vision or the nurture of a vision without a mission has really endangered humanity in its entirety, that, if adequate and drastic measure is not taken to reverse the anomaly or aberration, we might wake up one morning to see ourselves dancing to the tune of Makosa music when we are meant to dance Rug & Blues. Think about it!

• Nwaozor ( frednwaozor@gmail.com), is a Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist (+2348028608056)

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