New telegraph thursday, march 10, 2016 binder1

Oshiomhole, Emefiele, Fayemi, Ogbeh for New Telegraph Economic Summit

T

op political officeholders, captains of industry and other major stakeholders will converge in Lagos on Thursday, March 17, to brainstorm on the way forward for Nigeria’s troubled

economy.

The event, tagged New Telegraph Economic Summit, has as its theme: ‘Nigeria: Beyond the Oil Economy’, and is being organised

by New Telegraph NewspaCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Oshiomhole

Emefiele

Fayemi

Ogbeh

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Gunmen kidnap magistrate, shoot police orderly }42

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 750

Arase

Arms deal: You have case to answer, court tells Metuh }5

Metuh

Unlicensed driver killed Ocholi, wife, son – FRSC }6

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com @newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Biafra: Again, Kanu accuses judge of bias Ocholi

}4

Kanu

Forex scarcit y, weak Naira:

EFCC probes banks, BDCs, businessmen lFG’ll prosecute culprits, says AGF }2

Oil workers shut down NNPC operations nationwide }5

Oil workers protesting the unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in Abuja... yesterday.

Photo:ELIJAH OLALUYI

Collapsed building: Man survives with spinal cord injury

lDeath toll rises to 34 lRelatives storm site, demand release of bodies Too much sleep increases heart disease risk –Research }7

}8

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Thursday, March 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

D a i ly T e l e g r a p h P u b l i s h i n g Co m pa ny Ltd. Presents

ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2016

Theme:

Nigeria: Beyond the Oil Economy

Keynote Speaker:

Special Guest of Honour:

Mr. Godwin Emefiele

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Executive Governor, Lagos State.

SPEAKERS:

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

Chief Audu Ogbeh

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Otunba Segun Runsewe

Executive Governor, Edo State

Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals

Ex Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)

DATE:

March 17, 2016

TIME:

10:00am prompt

VENUE: Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

R S V P: Laurence Ani 0802 310 3360

Taiwo Ahmed 0803 304 2915

Yemi Ajayi 0802 314 2833

Supported by:

Lagos State Government

Edo State Government

Dangote Group

Thursday, March 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3

4

NEWS

Thursday, March 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Forex scarcity, weak Naira: EFCC probes banks, BDCs, businessmen Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Federal Government yesterday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), banks, Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and some businessmen, among others, over the forex scarcity and weak naira.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), further stated that any operator found guilty to have contributed to the fallen naira will be prosecuted

irrespective of who such a person or group of persons are.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Malami noted that there is an urgent need to review the foreign exchange market from the perspective of the degree of compliance with extant laws and regulations.

He further noted that the current state of naira is not as a result of neutral economic factors or directly related to demand and supply forces alone, but rather by a carefully orchestrated criminal conspiracies and manipulation by unscrupulous elements hiding under the cloak of so-called 'market

forces'.

According to him, "as a responsible government, we cannot afford to allow such a situation anchored on unlawful alliances and criminal enterprise to continue unchecked, when it is apparent that its primary objective is to sabotage the economic agenda of the present administration.

"Government will continue to adopt a broadbased approach to the resolution of this issue.

Government is aware of the insidious activities of certain elements within some strategic national institutions, who, rather than exert their regulatory powers, have chosen to use their strong accom-

plice within the system to manipulate the foreign exchange market for personal corrupt gains and to the detriment of the national economy.

"Let me restate in the strongest terms that these nefarious malpractice by unscrupulous individuals and institutions will no longer be tolerated. In this regards, measures are already in place to deal with infractions decisively and relevant security agencies are on the red alert to investigate these infractions and appropriate sanctions shall follow accordingly.

"In the exercise of the powers of my office and in consonance with the vision of this administration of

L-R: Group Corporate Strategy Specialist, Dangote Industries Limited, Mariya Aliko-Dangote; Executive Director, Halima Aliko-Dangote; Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank Limited (Nigeria), Mrs. Bola Adesola and Head of Commercial, NASCON, Fatimah Aliko-Dangote, at the launch of Dangote Women’s Network in Lagos...yesterday

zero tolerance for corruption, I have therefore directed the EFCC and other relevant security agencies to further investigate and confirm the information already available to government about the nefarious activities of these unscrupulous elements within and outside our national institutions.”

The AGF stated that the activities of groups and individuals are sabotaging the genuine efforts of government. He said that all persons indicted by the EFCC investigation will be prosecuted.

His words: "Let me emphasise that government is fighting this menace with all the resources because the activities of these group of persons in our view, amounts to economic terrorism. Our efforts will be all-encompassing and robust order to save our economy from total collapse. After the outcome of investigations, all persons indicted will be brought to book and face prosecution in due course.

“As I emphasised earlier, government will always apply a pro-active approach to curb the activities of these unscrupulous elements.

The Federal Ministry of Justice will always ensure that the CBN is always alive to its responsibilities by way of ensuring that breaches and infractions are punished and all iden-

Biafra: Again, Kanu accuses judge of bias ...appeals order to shield witnesses

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

F

or the second time, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial alongside two of his compatriots over alleged treason and maintaining unlawful society, among others, yesterday, accused Justice John Tsoho of bias.

Speaking through one of his lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu stated that he was sure that he can not get fair hearing before the judge.

He, however, called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to re-assign the case to another judge.

New Telegraph recalls that Kanu had raised the same allegation against Justice A.R Mohammed who was hitherto sitting over the case.

The allegation, however, prompted the Chief Judge of the court to re-assign the case to Justice Tsoho.

Also, Kanu had filed a notice of appeal, seeking to

upturn the decision of the court, which ordered that the witnesses to be brought by the prosecution will be shielded from the public through the use of a screen.

In the notice of appeal, Kanu is praying the court for an order to stay further proceedings in the hearing of the criminal charge against him pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Kanu also noted in the application that the trial court had earlier granted his prayers.

In the 10-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion for stay of proceedings, the Biafran leader attacked the ruling of the court, saying that the court sat on an appeal over its own ruling.

He further contended that the court has no jurisdiction to re-litigate on issue that it had already decided.

Kanu alleged that “the court had manifested serious bias in the conduct of this trial, which is gravely impending the defendants’ constitutional rights to fair hearing/trial.”

He, however, prayed the

Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the trial court on the use of screen by the prosecution witnesses and to also direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case to another judge of the Federal High Court.

The processes, which include the Notice of Appeal and the motion for stay of proceedings, were served on the prosecution in court yesterday.

The prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Diri, however, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him respond adequately.

The court consequently adjourned the matter till April 5 for hearing of the motion for stay of proceedings.

Kanu had opposed an application by the Federal Government to conduct his trial in secret.

The Federal Government had, in its application, decried that all the witnesses billed to testify against Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and

David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial with him, have declined to appear in court.

Prosecution counsel submitted that the witnesses insisted that they would not testify against the defendants unless their safety was guaranteed.

Diri informed the court that the witnesses in the suit had declined to testify following threats from associates of the detained IPOB leader.

While opposing the application to shield witnesses, Kanu’s counsel, Chuks Muoma (SAN), argued that the court had, on February 19, decided on the Federal Government’s request to protect witnesses, adding that if the prosecution was not satisfied with the court’s decision, it should appeal against the order.

After listening to counsels’ submissions, Justice Tsoho dismissed Muoma’s objection and added that Federal Government’s request for its witnesses to testify behind a witness screen did not amount to revisiting the court’s earlier ruling prohibiting the prosecution witnesses from wearing masks.

The court upheld the argument of the prosecution that the screen would only shield the witnesses from the members of the public present in court.

Kanu has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival in Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The central government alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of IPOB, which it described as “an unlawful society.”

Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts,” encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra” from Nigeria.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje Prison in Abuja.

£75m

The estimated wage bill of Stoke City in the 2014-2015 season.

Source: Goal.com

165.1m The estimated total population of Central America in 2012.

Source: Un.org

tifiable forces are brought to book.

"It has become obvious that having failed in the attempt to force devaluation, certain forces have aligned to create an artificial currency situation, whose primary purpose is to undermine the economic programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

"We are witnessing manipulative, coordinated and speculative activities in the foreign exchange market, leading to the current wide differential between official rate at the CBN and the parallel market rate, respectively, in a manner that defies rational economic analysis."

The minister explained further that these nefarious speculative activities exert further pressure on the naira exchange rate and have created a very wide artificial differential between the aforesaid two rates, which are now being exploited by unscrupulous individuals and institutions.

"Government is aware of the insidious activities of certain elements within some of our strategic national institutions, who, rather exert their regulatory power, have chosen to use their strong accomplices within the system to manipulate the foreign exchange market for personal corrupt gains and to the detriment of the national economy.

"Let me restate in a strongest terms that these nefarious malpractices by unscrupulous individuals and institutions will no longer be tolerated. In this regard, measures are already in place to deal with the infractions decisively and relevant security agencies are on red alert to investigate these infractions and appropriate actions will follow accordingly," he added.

He further emphasised the government's intention to diversify the economy through the blocking of all revenue loopholes, undertake a robust recovery process in Nigeria and overseas and prosecute all treasury looters in accordance with the law.

New Telegraph tried unsuccessfully to get a reaction from the CBN to the minister’s remarks.

NEWS

Thursday, March 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

Oil workers shut down NNPC operations nationwide

lSenate summons minister Our Correspondents

A

ctivities of Nigeria’s oil giant, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), were yesterday grounded all over the federation following a directive from the leaders of the relevant unions in the industry to shut down in protest against the announcement of the unbundling of the corporation.

Loading of crude on oil platforms and lifting of refined products were at risk yesterday, compounding the fuel scarcity across the country.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Tuesday, announced the unbundling of NNPC into seven entities, following the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Enraged by this action, oil workers, on Wednesday, shut down NNPC’s operations nationwide.

The group executive committee (GEC) of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) convened an emergency meeting at 10p.m. on Tuesday to discuss the development.

At the end of the meeting, GEC sent a message to all members to shut down.

A copy of the message obtained by New Telegraph read: “The GEC of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, at its meeting of March 8, 2016, which started at 10p.m., has extensively discussed the pronouncement of the GMD on NNPC unbundling.

“We observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage stakeholders. Hence, from midnight today, all NNPC locations will be shut down completely until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly.”

New Telegraph learnt that due to total compliance to the directive, some members of staff and management of the NNPC who arrived their various

22.24m

The total number of subscribers of EMTS Limited (Etisalat) as at March 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

£10.89m The annual salary of Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

offices in the morning were unable to gain entrance.

Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, confirmed that the protesting workers also denied him entry into his office.

He said that when the management of the corporation met, it would comment on the development.

At the NNPC headquarters in Abuja, hundreds of the corporation’s staff besieged the road, causing gridlock on Herbert Macaulay way.

Unionists, in red, were at the scene, barricading the entrance to the NNPC building. Also, security agents were on hand to forestall breakdown of order.

The shutdown, it was learnt, affected all the depots, loading gantries and installations of NNPC across the country.

“Except the situation is remedied, the ugly situation will put a lot of pressure on efforts by NNPC to cushion the effect of the fuel scarcity currently rocking the country,” a source at the corporation said.

“As we speak, all workers in NNPC subsidiaries have joined the strike and this is beginning to affect activities in the fuel loading gantries, depots and all installations of the corporation,” he added.

Nigeria exports over two million barrels of crude daily.

While the lifting is done through the international oil companies (IOCs), the staff of NNPC subsidiaries are on standby to always monitor the loading.

“What this means is that while the crude lifting may, for now, continue, it will be affected negatively immediately it became clearer that the oil workers on the platforms have joined their counterparts in the total strike,” he said.

In Abuja, residents were confronted with queues at the fuel stations as NNPC staff shut all its facilities.

The actions led to fuel stations hoarding their products, which resulted in long queues at the fuel stations.

The union members and staff were seen hanging out along Herbert Macaulay way, as the National Headquarters of NNPC was shut.

Kachikwu, while addressing the issue of not carrying the union along in the unbundling, stated that it would not be in the best interest of government to involve the union on every level of its policy.

Motorists, who spoke on the long queue at the filling stations, were of the

opinion that the minister should find a lasting solution to the problems.

According to them, any restructuring that would not make fuel available to Nigerians, no matter how profitable, would not receive commendations.

In Ilorin, the gates leading to the NNPC Depot in Oke-Oyi, Kwara State, were under lock and key yesterday as staff members joined their colleagues nationwide.

Also, the NNPC Mega Station along Asa Dam Road was affected by the strike, as there was no one to attend to motorists who

had earlier queued to buy petrol.

Also, workers at the Enugu depot of NNPC joined their colleagues in the strike.

A visit by New Telegraph to the depot on Emene-Abakaliki road showed a total shut down.

Further investigation revealed that no worker of the depot was at the site.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday invited Kachikwu over the unbundling of the NNPC. The minister is to appear today at a joint session of the Senate Committees on Petroleum (Downstream, Upstream and Gas).

Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum

(Upstream), Senator Tayo Alasoadura, who endorsed the letter of invitation, said that they were “shocked” and “in disbelief” over the announcement of unbundling the NNPC. The letter read in part: “Shocked by the announcement in disbelief, three committees overseeing the industry wish to invite the minister to appear before them to brief them of this critical decision in a meeting schedule Thursday.”

Alasoadura said that the action was taken “without recourse to the Act establishing the NNPC and approval by the Senate of Nigeria.”

Kachikwu named the new units to include those

for Upstream, Downstream, Gas and Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning and Services, and Finance and Accounts.

He said that each of the units would be headed by Chief Executive Officers; namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih for Downstream; Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas and Power), while Babatunde Adeniran takes charge of Ventures.

The Group Executive Director in charge of Finance and Services would be Isiaka Abdulrazaq, while the Executive Head, Corporate Services will be Isa Inuwa.

L-R: Commission Secretary, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Felix Adeoye; Director, Special Duties, Mrs. Iyabo Solanke; Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo; Executive Vice Chairman, Prof.

Umar Danbatta and Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, at a stakeholders' forum in Abuja…recently.

Court to Metuh: You have case to answer

... throws out fundamental rights application Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, told the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, that he has a case to answer, as a prima facie case had been established against him by the Federal Government.

The court also dismissed the enforcement of fundamental right suit filed by Metuh.

The Federal Government is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, over alleged diversion of N400 million, part of the fund, which was meant for the purchase of arms.

The fund was alleged to have been collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

After the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had presented all its witnesses, Metuh filed a no case submission.

He submitted in his application that the prosecution has not established

any case against him and, therefore, he has no defence to make.

Ruling in the matter, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that from the evidence of PW3 and PW8, a prima facie case was established against Metuh for which he needed to defend himself.

He further held that “act and intention” has been established by the prosecution and that Metuh will need to prove otherwise.

The court also held that there are certain questions Metuh will have to answer in relation to the transfer of money into the account of a company, where he (Metuh) is the sole signatory.

“When the first defendant knew that on November 24, 2014, the sum of N400 million was paid into his Diamond Bank Account, why didn’t he ask the bank about the source of the funds.

“Why did he go ahead to disburse the money to others without asking the source of the money.

“It is my view that the first defendant knew that

the money came from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd),” the judge said.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Metuh to explain how he acquired the $2 million, N400 million equivalent, he allegedly gave to a Bureau de-Change operator to change into naira.

Justice Abang later adjourned till March 17 for Metuh to open his defence.

In the fundamental right suit, Metuh had challenged his detention for 11 days in the custody of the EFCC. Metuh is claiming damages from the Federal Government for detaining him beyond the constitutional limit without being taken to a court of competent jurisdiction.

In his argument in the suit, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), argued that it was unlawful for the EFCC to hold his client unnecessarily without charges.

The PDP’s spokesman sought a declaration that his detention by the antigraft agency, without

access to his family and lawyer and without being charged to court, was a violation of his fundamental rights.

In his ruling, Justice Abang held that the prosecution produced an order of court, which was obtained to detain Metuh and, as such, the order was never challenged in the application or in a separate application.

He, however, held that the order still subsists, even as at the time he was released.

He also ruled that the defendants failed to establish that the EFCC did not prove its case against them.

The judge further noted that it lacked jurisdiction to vacate such other.

According to the judge, since the EFCC obtained a Magistrates’ Court order to arrest Metuh, then the arrest will not be said to have been done in error.

The court consequently dismissed the application for lack of merit.

The judge consequently ordered him to pay N15,000 to the anti-graft agency as damages.

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NEWS

Thursday, March 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Unlicensed driver killed Ocholi, wife, son –FRSC

FEC approves scholarship, employment for late minister's children Driver may face prosecution

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has submitted an interim report to President Muhammadu Buhari on the actual cause of the accident that claimed the lives of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), his wife, Blessing and son.

Ocholi and his two family members died in a fatal car crash on Sunday along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who briefed a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Buhari, yesterday, confirmed that the late minister’s driver was unlicensed.

He said that investigation carried out by the Corps revealed that the car conveying the minister and his family, which was allegedly over speeding, hard

one of its rear tyres burst.

The Corps Marshall said that “information gathered revealed that the driver of the crashed vehicle was actually moving at excess of the stipulated speed when he had a tyre burst.”

Boboye disclosed that “there was no record on the driver’s licence national data base of the driver of the late minister with the name Taiwo James Elegbede.”

Media reports also indicate that the late minister had excused his official driver, whose wife had recently put to bed and had engaged another driver for the ill-fated trip According to the Corps Marshall, “the driver must have entered into a panic situation, which resulted to his hard application of brakes and subsequent loss

of control that took him into the bush paths.”

According to the report, “the driver of the crashed vehicle was driving too fast and he slammed on his brake so hard. These two factors materially contributed to the inability of the driver to maintain control when the left rear tyre burst.

“Skid marks and grooves found on the westbound shoulder made by the Lexus LX570 for about 15m and 9.3m respectively before it began somersaulting several times and the ejection of the minister and his son showed clearly that the travelling speed of the Lexus LX570 presented unsafe consequences in the event of certain road risk that may have occurred.

“The DOT number of the tyres were inward, which cannot easily be read from outside. This

N3.44m

The total capital importation value of Marketing sector in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

indicates that the orientations of the tyres were not properly fixed, which could adversely affect the performance of the tyres.

“The Federal Road Safety Corps Investigation Team (FIT) determines that the probable cause of the March 6, 2016, fatal crash at KM34, KadunaAbuja expressway, near Rijana village in Kaduna State, was the driver’s failure to maintain directional control of his vehicle when the rear left tyre burst occurred.

“Severity of the fatality was increased due to the ejection of the minister and his son as a result of non-use of rear seat belt.”

He also revealed that “the ejection of the minister and his son who occupied the rear seat confirmed the fact that their rear seat belt were not in use and, on the contrary,

£9.7m

The amount of money spent by Leicester City in the January 2016 transfer window.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

President Muhammadu Buhari signing the condolence register for the late Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja …yesterday

MTN must pay N1.04trn fine, Reps insist Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives’ Committee on Telecommunications yesterday insisted that MTN Nigeria must pay the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on it by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) for Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) deactivation default.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (APC-Oyo), made the declaration at a meeting with the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Dambatta, at the National Assembly.

He said that the N50 billion paid by MTN as a

down payment for negotiation out of court was not adequate to make up for allegedly undermining government’s efforts to tackle security challenges in the country.

“The law is there to serve as deterrent for you not to go against them.

MTN has been trying to circumvent the process and find a way of running away from the law instead of them facing the music,” Akinade-Fijabi stated.

A member of the committee, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinman (PDP-Edo), said that MTN violated sections 19 and 20 of the Telephone Subscribers Regulations under the Communications Act 2010.

Section 19 of the Act reads: “Any licensee who fails to capture register,

deregister or transmit the details of every individual or corporate subscriber to the central data base as specified in the regulation or as may be stipulated from time to time by the Commission is liable to a penalty of N200,000 for each subscription medium.

“Therefore, MTN’s failure to deactivate 5.1 million SIM cards should be liable to a fine of N2.8 trillion,” Agbonayinman said.

In his response, Danbatta said that the Commission was committed to ensuring compliance by telecommunication operators to register all SIM cards in the country.

“SIM card registration is a continuous process.

There is on-going regis-

tration exercise by all operators and NCC will do enforcement checking to ensure compliance,” Danbatta said.

He said that the money was not paid into NCC’s account. “I do not know the account where the money was paid into. The commission only received a letter from the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation indicating that MTN had paid the amount into the Federal Government account,” Danbatta said.

It would be recalled that NCC, in October 2015, issued a landmark fine of N1.04 trillion against MTN Nigeria for failing to disconnect subscribers with unregistered and incomplete SIM cards registration within the stipulated time.

the driver and the orderly survived because the front seats belt were in use.”

The corps recommended, among other things, “the certification and recertification of convoy drivers at intervals of two years of issuance of convoy driver’s licence.”

Meanwhile, President Buhari is expected to lead the campaign on compliance with speed limits, starting with installation of speed limiting devises in commercial vehicles.

The president, who led the special session to pay tribute to the late minister, said he respects the humility of Ocholi throughout the period he came in contact with him.

The president noted: “I began to respect his hard work and humility. When he attempted to be governor of his state, I campaigned for him almost throughout all the local governments.

“But the system we are running, one will always keep on trying. He didn’t make it. And then the series of committees we are having, I recalled one particular, ACN, CPC, ANPP, I think APGA and DPP, he represented us and what impressed me about him is that he agreed to serve under a junior lawyer to him. And that showed a lot of humility, because I know of two professions: legal and military, they are very jealous about seniority.

“But he agreed to serve under a junior ACN lawyer, him being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Even his contribution here, whether there are memos from his ministry or not, he made substantial contributions. May his soul rest in peace.”

Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Lawal Babachir, disclosed that the president has approved employment and full scholar-

ship up to university level for the four children the minister left behind.

He said that out of the four children, two are university graduates, one an undergraduate and the other presently in the secondary school.

He disclosed that beginning on March 16, there will be a songs of worship at the International Conference Centre in Abuja after which the body will be moved to Dekina in Kogi State for wake keep on March 17.

Ocholi will be buried on March 18 in his village, Dekina.

Briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, Babachir could not rule out the possibility of the late minister’s driver facing prosecution for over-speeding and not owning a driving license.

He said: “As to the issue of whether we would prosecute the driver, yes. There is a speed limit in place and so, if anybody chooses not to obey the traffic laws, of course, it is subject to prosecution by the agencies concerned. But as to this particular incidence, I think we will leave it until the final report of the investigation comes out.

“But, of course, as we say, accident is accident and nobody goes out deliberately to summersault and die, but as to allegations you claimed from the family, we are not aware and anybody who has anything to the contrary that they didn’t die in an accident is free to report to the law enforcement agencies who will appropriately take it up.”

The SGF explained that the Federal Government did not extend automatic employment and scholarship benefits to the driver’s relative and other surviving victims because they are alive and still on government payroll.

Oshiomhole, Emefiele, Fayemi, Ogbeh for New Telegraph Economic Summit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

pers, as part of its contribution to finding solution to the nation’s economic crisis that was triggered by the falling prices of oil, Nigeria’s chief source of foreign exchange.

The New Telegraph Economic Summit, scheduled to hold at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, is expected to be attended, among others, by Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor,

Mr. Godwin Emefiele and former Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Board, Chief Olusegun Runsewe.

Fayemi and others, at the one-day event, are expected to deliver papers on how the Federal Government could diversify the nation’s economy as a way of broadening the federal revenue stream, especially in the area of earning of foreign exchange.

The guest speakers will look at other sectors of the economy the Federal Government could grow to make them viable as alternatives to oil and how to achieve the objectives.

thursday, march 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Adeola Yusuf

T

he picketing of power installations belonging to the Ikeja Electric by the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) entered day three yesterday, worsening the power situation at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Police College, Ikeja, big manufacturing companies and other facilities across the firm's network.

Already, Ikeja Electric has tendered an apology to its customers over the worsened power outages that the labour actions have subjected them to in

Dickson reconciles feuding Imo PDP factions

T

he chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Peace and Reconciliation Committee and Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, yesterday, held a crucial meeting with the party’s leadership cutting across the feuding factions of the party in Imo State at the Bayelsa State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja.

In a communiqué signed after several hours of deliberations, the warring factions resolved to unite and join forces to strengthen the party and ensure the victory of the party in all elections beginning with the March 19th rerun in Imo North Senatorial district.

While promising to be loyal to the National Chairman, National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party, the leaders also resolved to cooperate with the national leadership to conduct the forth coming congresses in a free and fair manner in line with the party’s constitution.

Kumuyi assures on God’s unlimited power

T

he General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, yesterday assured all would-be participants at the church’s national Easter retreat of God’s special intervention in all spheres of their lives.

Kumuyi, who expressed optimism that God would visit his people in a mighty way, announced that the event with the theme; ‘Experiencing the Power of His Cross,’ would take place from Thursday, March 24 to Sunday, March 27, 2016 at the Deeper Life Conference Centre (DLCC) on KM 48, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

national | news

Power outage worsens in Lagos as picketing enters third day ●DISCO apologises to consumers the last three days.

Those on the company' network include Cadbury Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company, among others.

The labour force was enraged by an alleged sack of 400 staff by the management of Ikeja Electric.

NUEE and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Matters (SSAEAM) grounded activities at the main office and some installations of Ikeja Electric, alleging that the company disengaged 400 employees inappropriately.

But the company yesterday apologised for the

epileptic power supply across its network in the last three days.

The company's Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, made this appeal in a statement in Lagos and attributed the poor service to the ongoing activities by some labour unions, who are picketing the facilities of the company.

According to him, the staff of the company is not on strike, rather they have been prevented by the protesting labour unions from gaining access to the facilities and are therefore, not in a position to provide any

consistent services to its valued customers.

"This situation has impacted negatively on the power supply as well as purchase of recharge units because all the substations, business units and undertakings have been taken over by the protesting unions," he said.

It said: "Ikeja Electric regrets all inconveniences this action may have caused its customers and

£75m

The estimated wage bill of West Ham in the 2014-2015 season.

Source: Goal.com

appeals to all its customers to please bear with us. We assure that the company is doing its best to normalise the situation within the shortest possible time. We thank all our customers for their patience and understanding," he added.

Ofolue has earlier faulted figures of affected staff given by the labour union.

“We will like to state that the number of employees that were disengaged was 229 and not 400 as earlier reported.

In accordance with best practice, employees in the organisation went through a thorough, transparent and objective performance assessment exercise and those

7

that were deemed to be performing below the required performance objectives were exited from the organisation.

“This is also to ensure that Ikeja Electric maintains an assemblage of the right staff in the right roles that are equipped to perform optimally,’ he said.

The company added that it had also employed 603 staff between January 2015 and February 2016, in keeping with its commitment to drive service excellence through robust human capital profiling and development.

Those who were sacked were deemed to be performing below mandatory performance objectives.

L-R: Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Chairman, Better Life for Rural Woman, Nigeria, Hajia Aisha Babangida; Chief Executive Officer, Internet Solutions, Mr. Olusola Teniola; APC Women Leader, Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Celebrity Ambassador, International Women’s Day, Mrs. Omoni Oboli, and Executive Director, SME 100 Nigeria, Charles Odii, at the International Women’s Day Conference organised by SME 100 Nigeria and Rubies Vocational School in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Too much sleep increases heart disease risk – Research NECO: Candidates score 68.30%, Appolonia Adeyemi 62.55% credits in Maths, English

S

leeping more than eight hours a night increases the risk of heart disease. This is the report of a new study recently released by a news medium, Independent, in the United Kingdom.

According to the study, people who have eight hours or more of sleep become 34 per cent more likely to suffer from heart disease, while those who sleep for less than four hours are 35 per cent more likely to be at the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Heart and blood vessel disease - also called heart disease - includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries.

This buildup narrows the arteries, making it

harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Previous studies have shown that lack of sleep is linked to stress, increased blood pressure and the secretion of adrenaline, all of which are factors in the increased risk of heart disease.

The researchers of the study at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology are unsure why more sleep leads to a higher risk of heart problems.

Lead author, Dr. Linn Beate Strand said: “We don’t know which mechanism can explain a direct causal link between long sleep duration and an increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease.”

The study used information collected from 400,000 Taiwanese adults who had medical checkups between 1994 and 2011 for the study.

Participants, aged

about 20, were asked how long they slept for, from zero to more than eight hours a night.

The finding showed those who slept for between six and eight hours were most likely to die from cardio vascular problems.

Researchers found during a follow up that 711 people died from cardiovascular disease.

The results also showed women in both groups were more at risk of the disease than men.

Strand said: “Women are more prone to sleep problems than men, and previous studies have also shown that women who sleep a little or a lot may be at increased risk for cardiovascular.

“Our results show that enough, but not too much sleep, is important for a healthy lifestyle.”

Study authors said adequate sleep duration should be considered an important component of a healthy lifestyle.

Dan Atori MINNA

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he National Examinations Council (NECO) has said that the results of the 2015 November/December Senior School Certificate Examination just released showed that 29,718 candidates, representing 62.55 per cent obtained credit pass in English language. It also said 32,484 candidates representing 68.30 per cent of the total number of candidates got credit in Mathematics.

While addressing journalists at the Council’s Headquarters in Minna yesterday, the Registrar/ Chief Executive, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, said out of a total of 50,060 candidates registered for the examinations, 47,507 sat for English Language

while 47,554 sat for Mathematics.

The performance of the candidates by subject according to him revealed that out of 47,507 that sat for English Language, 29,718 representing 62.55 per cent obtained credit pass, while out of the 47,554 who sat for Mathematics 32,484 or 68.30 per cent passed at credit level.

Lamenting the level of malpractices, the Registrar explained that in view of the fact that the examination was for private candidates who were no longer in the school and only seeking one or two credits, the desperation to engage in malpractice was high.

Garba said the Council, was however, devising more ingenious ways to curb the level of malpractices, just as the candidates were coming up with new methods.

8

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Collapsed building: Man survives with spinal cord injury

lDeath toll rises to 34

lRelatives storm site, demand release of bodies

Rescuers at the site … yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Busari

Muritala Ayinla and Camillus Nnaji

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escuers yesterday recovered 16 more bodies from the rubble of a five-storey building which collapsed on Tuesday morning at Horizon 1, Lekki Gardens, Ikate area of Lagos State.

The recovered bodies brought the casualty figure to 34.

On Tuesday, emergency responders rescued 13 survivors and recovered the bodies of a nursing mother, her eight-month-old baby and 16 others.

But as early as 6a.m. yesterday, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), Red Cross Society, the police and National Security and Civil De-

Corrigendum On page 9 yesterday, the picture of the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, was captioned Akiolu. The error, which occurred during production, is regretted.

fence Corps (NSCDC) as well as firefighters from both the federal state services were at the site to continue rescue operation.

The South-West Zonal spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the additional 16 bodies were recovered between 7am and 5pm.

He said: “We have not given up hope and we will not stop until we reach ground zero to make sure everyone under the rubble is brought out.”

On his part, the LASEMA General Manager, Michael Akindele, said SEHMU had evacuated the bodies to the mortuary.

Also, the General Manager, NEMA, Yakubu Sulaiman, said no survivor was rescued yesterday while the recovered bodies were being identified by their family members.

A doctor at the General Hospital, Lagos, who craved anonymity, said some of the survivors had been stabilised.

According to him, the fate of others still hangs in balance.

A survivor, Tunde Busari

(27), told our correspondent that he was sleeping when the building fell on him.

The welder, who hails from Ibadan, Oyo State, was the last survivor rescuers brought out from the rubble about 6p.m. on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with spinal cord injury.

Busari said when the workers noticed that the beams were bent about three months ago, they drew the attention of the engineer to it.

According to him, the engineer fixed the fault by double piling the beams.

Members of the Islamic societies from Kano, Kaduna and Borno states were at the site with official letters to allow them to collect bodies of Muslims from their states for burial according to Islamic rites.

Malam Hussain, from Borno State, said he was at the scene to receive the remains of his brother, Abbah Ali (35), who was the security guard at the collapsed property.

He said: “Many of them are still there; they have sunk into the ground. We want to remove their bodies and bury according to our own religion. They said they will compensate us, but we don’t know who will do that now.”

Hussain gave the names of those they had not seen as John, Adelo, Mustapha, Ibrahim, Johnson, Yohana, Mariam (mother of four children who also died), her children–Yacob, John, Elias and Yohana.

Others, according to him, are Abbah, Ali, Isiaku, Bala, Saidu, Gwerim, Buhari, Yusuf and Eunice.

It was gathered that some of the victims were family members, wives and children of the deceased who worked at the site.

A bricklayer working at the site, Atom Abbah (22), who hails from Borno State, said he would have been dead like his brothers and friends being excavated from the rubble.

According to him, his friends among them Ali (now dead) persuaded him to pass the night at the site on Monday but he refused.

He said: “Ali told me to stay back and sleep over to be able to collect my money because they were going to pay the next day. The persuasion also came from some of my friends and colleagues at the site, but I had a second thought and decided that I was going back to my house. I left here about midnight. That was before it started to rain. The following morning I heard the building had collapsed and Ali and others taken to the mortuary.”

Another artisan at the site, who gave his name as Vincent, said the rumour that Lekki Gardens had abandoned the site since January was not true because even last Monday they were still working.

He said: “If they don’t have work here then we would not be here.”

This came as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday vowed

to prosecute developers handling the collapsed structure.

The governor, who condoled with the families of those who died, said that preliminary reports showed brazen act of defiance and impunity on the part of the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, in the construction work.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) said it had sealed the building since December 2015 for increasing the structure from four floors, which was approved, to six.

The LASBCA General Manager, Mr. Olusola Adeigbe (an engineer), said the contractor broke the seal to continue construction work on the site.

But in a statement issued yesterday after the State Executive Council meeting by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the governor ordered the suspension of work at the site and directed the police to cordon off the site “as it is now a crime scene”.

The governor also said that the state would no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenged its supervisory control thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.

He said: “Based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency. It has also been discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.”

Ambode also advised all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited to submit themselves to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police within the next 24 hours in their own interest or face immediate arrest.

However, the police said they had arrested the contractor handling the collapsed building.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Oladapo Badmus, who made the disclosure to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, did not disclose where he was arrested.

Badmus gave his name as Odofin Taiwo.

According to her, Taiwo is currently under investigation.

Meanwhile, the body of one of the victims identified as Alli Abba, was yesterday released to the Muslim community. The body was said to have been buried later at Agege area of the metropolis according to Islamic rites.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Car thieves devise new method Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

T

hieves in Kaduna State have now devised a new method of stealing cars from where they are parked. According to the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Alhaji Modu Bunu, the criminals now steal parked vehicles with the use of towing vans.

Bunu said yesterday that the situation was assuming a worrisome dimension and that the car thieves were now on the prowl.

The commandant warned car owners and members of the public to adopt proactive measures to check the criminal act.

He also assured of the corps’ readiness to collaborate with other security agencies to combat the crime.

Bunu recalled a recent incident of a car owner who ran out of fuel and parked his vehicle on Kaduna– Abuja Expressway. But before he left to look for petrol, the car owner claimed to have asked a private security operative whose duty post was nearby, to help him guard the car, the commandant said.

A few hours later, the car owner got a call from the man who sold the car to him that some unknown people were towing it to Panteka, a mechanic site located on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, Kaduna.

He said: “The first owner of the car added that when he approached them to ascertain who gave them the car, the two suspects replied that they were towing it for the owner.

“However, as soon as the first owner started calling the owner on phone, they took to their heels but one was arrested.”

Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that they towed the car from where it was parked on Kaduna–Abuja Expressway to go and sell as scrap to dealers at Panteka, who would cannibalise it and sell the parts.

My family lost everything to fire, says man, 62 Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

hirteen members of an extended family at Umuduruke Amano village, Eziachi community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State have been rendered homeless and forced to stay inside the rains after a mysterious fire razed the family’s house.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday morning while the entire members of Mr. Gabriel Dim’s family were in church, also destroyed their valuables, even as the cause of the fire is still a mystery.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists, Dim said he was in the church attending Sunday mass when he received a call that his house was on fire.

He said: “On returning home from the church, I saw that the entire building has been completely razed and nothing was saved from it.

As I’m talking to you now, 13 members of my family lost their personal belongings, including certificates to the fire.”

the fire, the 62-year-old farmer said: “We don’t use candle in the house and there has not been electricity in this part of the community in the last

9

six months. So, it couldn’t have been power surge. I can’t explain the cause of this fire.

This is the only house and we are 13 in my family including my grandchildren. I really need help and support to start over again and get at least two rooms for us to lay our heads.”

Dim appealed to the state government and public spirited individuals to come to his aide and help him get a roof over his head.

The burnt house

50 child trafficking victims rescued Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

O

ver 50 children in Ebonyi State have been rescued from traffickers since May last year till now.

The Desk Officer, National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Florence Onwa, disclosed this in Abakaliki during a meeting with security agents and other stakeholders on the fight against child trafficking in the state.

She expressed concern over increasing cases of child recruitment for sexual exploitation and hard labour in the state.

Onwa said the meeting was organised

City Briefs

Navy moves to check oil theft, piracy Flora Onwudiwe

N

Dim added that his major concern was where the rest of the members of the family would lay their heads.

On the possible cause of

METRO

igerian Navy said it had adopted new strategies to tackle oil theft and piracy in Nigerian territorial waters as well to establish an operational base in Lake Chad.

This was disclosed at a seminar tagged: “The future of professional training in the Nigerian Navy,” aimed at keeping naval personnel abreast of the new strategies adopted to tackle maritime challenges.

The strategies include the Regional Maritime Awareness Centre (RMAC) and the FALCON Eye as well as the Navy creating chokepoints on the waterways.

While the RMAC and FALCON Eye take care of monitoring of the maritime domain, using top technology, the choke-points involve positioning houseboats around creeks for easy patrolling.

Ete-Ibas

by the office to look at the ugly trend and efforts by government to curb the menace.

According to her, investigations show that her office, the police, Immigration and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have in the last few months recorded multiple cases of child trafficking involving over 50 children across the state.

Earlier, the Deputy Commander of National Agency for Trafficking in Persons in the South East Zone, Mrs. Comfort Agboko, said curbing human trafficking in the state required political will.

Agboko urged security agencies to always transfer rescued trafficked persons to the agency for proper rehabilitation and

monitoring.

On their part, Mrs. Grace Okoro, a police officer in charge of Juvenile Welfare Centre, Abakaliki which oversees cases of child trafficking within the state command, the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of Anti-Human Trafficking, Ebonyi State Command, Mr. Martin Ifeatu, pointed out that some of the victims were trafficked beyond the shores of the country through the Trans Sahara Highways.

In a her remarks, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rebecca Ogbuewu, assured the stakeholders of government’s readiness to put an end to the act.

Lagos schoolgirls: Group praises Ambode 22-year-old bricklayer commits suicide It added that more cooperation Temitope Ogunbanke

A

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Christian Conscience, has commended Governor Akinwumi Ambode for providing quality leadership, especially for his efforts at rescuing the three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS), Ikorodu.

In a statement by its National Chairman, Chief Enock Ajiboso and the Publicity Secretary Tunji Oguntuase, the group lauded the governor for assisting the various security outfits in the provision of modern equipment in fighting crime as well as boosting the morale of officers and men of the agencies.

The organisation also commended all the security agencies for their proactive actions which led to the rescue of the students.

and intelligence sharing should be intensified among security agencies.

The statement reads in part: “It is on record that Lagos State government has not only committed huge financial resources at providing state-of-the-art equipment to fight crime in the state but has also been providing the right leadership needed to ensure that the equipment are adequately put into use."

Ambode

Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

A

22-year-old man, Akabuike Onyedika, has reportedly committed suicide in Enugu State.

The bricklayer was said to have left home on March 5 and did not return until his dangling body was discovered under a cashew tree in the bush.

Onyedika, who hailed from Isiukwuato in Abia State but resided at Umunkpume Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, went out and never seen until security operatives were alerted.

A search party later discovered his body on a cashew tree with rope on his neck.

Police said they had commenced full scale investigations into the incident while the body had been deposited at Prince Eze Hospital mortuary at Obolloafor for autopsy.

10

NEWS | national CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

Sakiru: I, formerly known and addressed as Adeoye Shakiru Adeshina now wish to be known and addressed as Adeoye Adesina Sakiru. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Asiegbunam

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adinde Loveth Onyinyechukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Asiegbunam Loveth Onyinyechukwu. All former documents remain valid. Ogige Microfinance Bank Ltd, Nsukka and general public note.

Eyekorogha

I, formerly known and addressed as Kodorkor John now wish to be known and addressed as Eyekorogha Hapohapo John. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Kenikeni

I, formerly known and addressed as Kinikini Kenimoz Kenward now wish to be known and addressed as Kenikeni Kenimozimogha. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Tombra

This is to confirm that Tombra Stanley Noah is the same person as Tombra Stanley Ouserigha which appears on my UBA account. That henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Tombra Stanley Noah. All former documents remain valid.

UBA Plc and the general public should please take note.

Mark

I, formerly known and addressed as Isaac Ikasuote Mark-Scent now wish to be known and addressed as Isaac Ikasuote Mark. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ikechukwu

This is to confirm that Odoemelam MichaelIkechukwuandOkpakuMichael Ikechukwu refer to one and the same person but now wish to be addressed as Okpaku Michael Ikechukwu. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public note.

Jamiu

This is to confirm that Alabi Jamiu Shola and Solihu Muhammed Jamiu refer to one and the same person but now wish to be addressed as Alabi Jamiu Shola, All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLOWE

Chukwudi

I, formerly known and addressed as Ogbonna Romanus Chidi now wish to be known and addressed as Ogbonna Romanus Chukwudi.

All former documents remain valid.

First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ken

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Efeke Ebikeniye Ken and Ogbono Efeke Ken refers to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Efeke Ebikeniye Ken. Also, my true date of birth is 25th July 1978. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Komoere

This is to confirm that Akinduro Kemi Komoere is the same person as Kemi Akinduro with which my Diamond bank/BVN was registered. That henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Akinduro Kemi Komoere. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and the general public should please take note.

T

he Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has cleared the air over the ‘controversy and misinformation’ trailing the role of his ministry in the out-of-court settlement of the N1.04 trillion fine by MTN Nigeria and its payment of N50 billion to the Federal Government. He tasked the media on factual reporting.

Speaking in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Victor Oluwadamilare,

the minister said: “To all intents and purposes, there is no controversy whatsoever about the expected role of ministries over their agencies and parastatals , and the ministry of communications could not have been an exception. Thus, it is a supervisory role over its agencies, including the NCC.” The statement said it was against this backdrop that the ministry had found it ‘strange and curious’ that a section of the Nigerian media have decided “to deliberately misinform the reading

public about the correct position. It is evidently untrue that the Nigerian Government sidelines its own regulator, NCC” by striking a secret deal with MTN, adding “In whose interest will this be?”.

According to the minister, contrary to the innuendoes based on jaundiced reasoning, there was no negotiation of any kind by the Communications Minister and the MTN over the fine regime imposed on it by the NCC. “Rather, the whole theatrics of going to court, ostensibly to buy time and escape the December

31, 2015 deadline, wanting an out-of-court settlement and the eventual payment of N50 billion, as down payment, were all decision freely taken by the MTN without any prompting from Barrister Adebayo Shittu,” the statement said.

According to the statement: “It is equally important to set the record straight that no money was paid to the accounts of the ministry as being maliciously insinuated, as this is not the practice since the ministry does not collect money on behalf of any of its agencies.

Rickey Tarfa and Joseph Nwobike, coming from the Efcc Lagos office to the courtroom, in Lagos… yesterday

Amangala

I, formerly known and addressed as Otobo Ataman now wish to be known and addressed as Amangala Itologi Ataman. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should please take note.

SALVADOR

£9.35m

I, formerly known and addressed as Titilope Omowunmi Owonikoko now wishes to be known and addressed as Miss Titilope Aminat Salvador. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

The net amount of money spent/ received by Leicester City in the January 2016 transfer window.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

Sulaimon

This is to confirm that Suleimon Kabir Gbolahan and Sulaimon Kabir Agbolahan refer to one and the same person but now wish to be addressed Sulaimon Kabir Gbolahan. All former documents remain valid.Uba Banks,Skye Banks and general public take note.

NICODEMUS

EMEDE

DADA

Angel

Kunle Azeez

Adebiyi

I, formerly known and addressed as Akuneziri Nicodemus Eberechukwu now wishes to be known and addressed as Nicodemus Paul Williams. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Marian Effiom .E. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angel Marian. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note

Minister clarifies issues on MTN N1.04trn fine

I, formerly known and addressed as Adebo Olawale now wish to be known and addressed as Adebiyi Adebowale. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Seyi Adebayo Adeniyi now wishes to be known and addressed as Seyi Olowe. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Daniel Theresa Tessy now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Emede Theresa Tessy . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

thursday, march 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayeni Olasimbo Eunice now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Dada Olasimbo Eunice. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OMOYOJU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ehinola Abimbola Mayowa now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoyoju Abimbola Mayowa. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA This is to inform the General Public that the above name Society of Apostolic Life has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990 The Trustees are: 1. Monk Maximilian Mary Ede 2. Rev. Father John Bosco Ohadugha 3. Mr Nfiaji Christopher 4. Mr. Nebeolisa Geoffrey Michael AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To bring our Lord Jesus Christ, nearer to the people through the Traditional Catholic Latin Mass 2. To help the Spiritually poor in the Society especially the youth and children 3. To provide monastic institution for both male and female 4. To provide school of catechizes, Nursery, Minor and Major Seminaries.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED : TRUSTEES

Boko Haram flee under EFCC arraignsTarfa, Nwobike heavy air bombardment on alleged bribery Emmanuel Onani

T

he Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has said that its Alpha Jets carried out air strikes on a Boko Haram camp in Iza, Borno State, leading to the liberation of the town.

A statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain

Ayodele Famuyiwa, said as a result of the heavy bombardment, several members of the insurgent group were forced to fleeinto Sambisa Forest.

The statement added that the development had paved the way for a clearance operation by troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, who were said to have completed the liberation process.

Akeem Nafiu

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, at the Igbosere High Court for allegedly bribing two judges of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.

Reps ask prison authorities to feed inmates' babies Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday directed prison authorities and the Ministry of Women Affairs to make provisions for the feeding and welfare of babies given birth to by female prison inmates alongside their mothers.

This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored

by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion (PDP, Edo) titled "Call for improvement of the living conditions of babies born and living with their mothers in prisons throughout the federation."

In passing the motion, the House also called on the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, to help ensure the speedy trial of pregnant women and nursing mothers standing trial.

It further mandated its committees on Interior, Women Affairs and Social Development, to monitor compliance and report back to the House for further legislative action.

Igbinedion, who represents Ovia North East/ South-West, had in her presentation cited the African Union on the Rights and Welfare of the Nigerian Child for 2013, adding that a large number of children live in Nigerian prisons and

detention centres across the country along with their imprisoned mothers.

She said that serving jail term and nursing a baby could be emotionally stressful both for the mothers and the babies, since many of the prisons lacked basic facilities to cater for the female prisoners with their babies behind bars.

According to her, toddlers have become a common sight in Nigerian prisons because relations of many female inmates hardly bother to show up to check on them. She said some female prisoners go to jail with their children if they are too young to be left alone.

In two separate charges filed by the antigraft agency, the duo of Rickey Tarfa and Joseph Nwobike, were accused of bribing Justices Mohammed Yunusa and Nganjiwa Hyeladzira with N2,335,000 and N1,050,000 respectively.

Rickey Tarfa was arraigned before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on a 27-count charge of alleged willful obstruction of EFCC's authorised officers, refusing to declare asset, making false information to an officer of the EFCC and offering gratification to a public official.

However, Nwobike was docked before Justice Raliat Adebiyi on a fivecount charge of allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice and offering gratification to public official.

The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read out to them.

They were later granted bail on self-recognition.

Tarfa's case was adjourned till March 22 and 23, while Nwobike's case was adjourned to April 11, 21 and 22, for trial.

11

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Governance Nigerians should be patient with Buhari – Onabis

Politics President Muhammadu Buhari was recently in Qatar where he held talks with the country’s Emir on many issues. He later spoke with Al Jazeera on falling oil prices, anticorruption war, naira devaluation, Boko Haram war, Islamic anti-terrorist force and agitation for Biafra, among other issues. FELIX NWANERI brings the excerpts

Interview It’s no longer business as usual in Ebonyi – Nweze

13 15

Why Nigeria is part of Islamic force – Buhari

You are in Qatar, which is currently the president of Organisation of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC). What is your thought on the organisation concerning prioritising market shares over oil price?

OPEC has to work together to save the situation. It has always been an interesting aspect; if you can produce less and earn more, why produce more and earn less?

I have not been able to understand it but the market forces are influenced by lots of political decisions both regional and global and we have to live by it.

There are countries within OPEC which can manage to endure low oil prices, but there are others, which cannot and Nigeria is one of them.

Does OPEC then necessarily reflect the interest of your country?

OPEC as an organisation has to be mindful of the economic conditions in each member country because that will influence that country’s ability to go along with OPEC’s production restrictions. In Nigeria, we were unable to diversify our economy hence we are much more disadvantaged by the low oil prices. OPEC may try to help us, but it is basically our own making.

Do you think that the policy adopted by major suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries with enormous foreign reserves will affect other countries within OPEC with fewer reserves like Nigeria and Venezuela?

There are individual nations and regional interests; there are

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Buhari

also OPEC and global interests.

There are large producers like Russia that are not members of OPEC that are swing producers.

If Russia decides to go flight, it can destabilise OPEC’s principles of control production.

Will Nigeria therefore withdraw from OPEC? Certainly, under my leadership, Nigeria will not withdraw from OPEC. Between 1976 and 1979, I served as Minister of Petroleum, so I very much value the institution of OPEC and I think Nigeria will make the necessary sacrifice to remain in OPEC. Nigeria’s economy is suffering as everybody knows, from low oil prices, and at the moment you are running a budget deficit of $10 billion. One of your government’s response to this economic situation has been your insistence on freezing the value of the naira, but there is a chorus of voices calling on you to devalue the Naira to allow market forces to prevail.

Are you prepared to reconsider your position?

No! I have explained that countries that play around with their currencies are countries that have enormous production capac-

ity. They have factories in place, their infrastructure in terms of power, communications and security are almost perfect. Nigeria virtually import everything; from rice to toothpick. If we don’t have the money to import these things, what is the value of further devaluing our Naira?

If there is an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it

But that is the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and you are going against it?

If it is not in the interest of our nation, why can’t we go against IMF’s advice?

Another response of your administration to the economic situation is halting of imports of a vast array of products and this is being criticised by those who believe that the policy is starving local entrepreneurs as it is making them unable to get imported goods needed to grow their businesses. The critics say that you are strangling the economy.

That is the irony of it. Nigeria can only afford to live within her means. If we don’t have the foreign exchange to back the naira for people to buy the dollar to import toothpick, chocolate, rice, glamorous dresses and others, what do we do?

What about essentials like pharmaceuticals?

We have pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, and at a time, we did what was called institutional strengthening by giving them funds to import machineries and essential materials. We have already given an instruction for the ministries to find out which industries need foreign exchange on quarterly basis to produce essential products like pharmaceuticals but certainly not to import rice and others.

Some people believe that your policy on the devaluation of the Naira has opened another window for corruption as some people among the privileged few that are allocated with foreign exchange at the official rate sell it at the parallel market because of the huge difference between the rates of the two markets and this is against one of the main tenets of your presidency.

I agree with you but we are going to check that. We are going to apply hard sanctions on anybody that is given foreign currency officially by the Central Bank for CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘No dialogue with Biafra agitators’ the last 16 years? Does it mean that they didn’t know what happened in the last 16 years?

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

importation of essential raw materials and he diverts it for another thing because he can make more than N100 from the parallel market.

The security situation that you alluded to is obviously one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria at the moment. I am particularly interested in the Islamic anti-terrorist force being put together by Saudi Arabia. Is Nigeria going to be part of this Islamic force?

We are part of it because we’ve got terrorists in Nigeria, which everybody knows, and who claim to be Islamic. So, if there is an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it because we are victims of Islamic terrorism.

What of Nigerians who have children in schools abroad, who can no longer source the foreign exchange needed to pay school fees?

If the country cannot afford it, so be it.

But your children will continue to study abroad...

Those who can afford it can still afford it. But for those who cannot, Nigeria cannot allocate foreign exchange to all those who have decided to train their children outside the country. We just can’t afford it. That is the true situation that we are in.

The presentation of your first budget to the National Assembly on time surprised so many Nigerians, but it is being described as the worst presented budget ever. There was budget padding, duplications and miscalculations, suggesting that even within your own ranks, there is corruption.

I don’t know whether it is corruption but basically you know that the job of producing the budget is that of the technocrats and I will like people to access Nigeria, especially my government by where we found ourselves.

When we came in, there were 42 ministries but we realised that the economy cannot take care of the 42 ministries. So, we reduced the number to 24. This means that 21 permanent secretaries were removed and the remaining ones cross-posted.

So, people who want to be fair to us should sit down and reflect on the fact that the offices of president ministers and permanent secretaries were taken over after 16 years of governance by the opposition political now (Peoples Democratic Party) and we cannot assume that from permanent secretaries downwards are 100 per cent loyal to the new government.

So, you think that there is an element of sabotage?

Certainly, but we are going to apply sanctions. Since the budget is still before the National Assembly, I wouldn’t like to talk more about it.

What is your take on the $25,000 that was said to have been budgeted for books for the vice president, which many say is higher than the allocation for books for the country’s polytechnics?

I cannot comment on that until I see the details.

What of the allocation for the State House clinic, which is meant for you, the vice president and some other privileged persons, when the state of most Nigerian hospitals is lamentable. This is seen as so unfair and not in line with your campaign promises.

I don’t think that our decisions are perfect, but we are going to revisit all observations that are really serious enough to be considered.

What of the issue of security votes,

How many troops is Nigeria contributing to that force?

We will dedicate a certain number of troops like we did in the multi-national taskforce set up by the Lake Chad Commission, which is a regional grouping comprising Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin for the security of our sub-region. But I don’t think we have to disclose the details to the media.

So, you think that Nigeria’s security interest would be best served by being part of this Islamic coalition against terrorism?

Certainly! It is Boko Haram that declared link with ISIL (Islamic State) and ISIL is basically based in Islamic countries. So, if there is a coalition to fight terrorism, why wouldn’t Nigeria be part of it? Those fighting in Nigeria claim to be Muslims although what they are doing is anti-Islam.

Buhari

which has been described as the most durable form of corruption in Nigeria. Why don’t you eliminate it completely?

You know about our budget more than I do. That’s very interesting but don’t forget that we are fighting Boko Haram in the North-East; we are fighting the militants in the South-South who are destroying our installations and which in turn, is affecting our relationship with investors and there is insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea that extends from Senegal to Angola. So, if money was voted for security, I don’t mind if we can go as far as we can to find out whether that money was utilised for that purpose or was shared by some individuals like the $2.1 billion which the previous administration approved.

Precisely, that is what I mean by security votes being an avenue for corruption. If $2.1 billion can be siphoned through security vote by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), why don’t you scrap it?

That was why I said that you know more about our budgets, but I can assure you that Dasuki, who is now in detention and all those who took that money from him instead of buying the military hard and software are being arrested and interrogated. If anybody dares us while we are still there, I think he will correctly predict where he will end up.

The anti-corruption corruption war earned you the support of many Nigerians during the 2015 elections but there is no conviction up till now.

What do you say to Nigerians about your campaign against graft?

The fact remains that some people who were identified to have taken public funds without going through the normal process are being detained and are undergoing interrogations but some people are in a hurry about convictions. What have these people being doing in

But there are Christians who are worried that President Buhari is turning Nigeria’s identity into an Islamic state.

Why can’t those Christians who are complaining go and fight terrorism in the North-East or militancy in the South? It is Nigeria that matters and not opinions of some religious bigots.

I think they are joking with Nigeria’s security and Nigeria will not tolerate it

So, you don’t think that you are trying to change the religious identity of Nigeria?

How can I change Nigeria’s religious identity? I cannot because I am Muslim just sit and watch a set of people continue to kill innocent people whether in the churches, mosques or markets because they claim to be Muslims. Islam is against injustice in any form.

Nigerians have been reportedly seen fighting alongside ISIL forces in Libya and some security analysts have said that ISIL’s aim is to establish a domain from Alepo in Syria all the way to Abuja. Do you think that lack of government in Libya is partly responsible for Nigeria’s security problem?

Yes, because there were a number of people from the West African sub-region and also from the Sahel region including Burkina Faso and Mali who used to be in Libya, where they got military training and weapons. And with the demise of the Muammar Gaddafi regime, they found themselves back into the sub-region and the only thing they can do is to use weapons. They are available to any person who can pay them and are available to fight.

Would you send Nigerian troops to be an international force in Libya?

If Nigeria is approached, we can consider it on its merit.

You promised to defeat Boko Haram

by December 2015 but clearly, you have not. You have failed.

I haven’t failed. When we came in, Boko Haram was effectively in control of 14 local government areas. Nigeria has 774 local governments. They hoisted their flags and claimed a certain caliphate, but now they are no longer holding a local government. They have resorted to improvised explosive devices, attacking soft targets.

That is a kind of terrorism which would be difficult for anybody to totally eliminate.

Do you believe that they still have the capacity to kill and maim people in the North-East?

They are using technology, but they no longer have the capacity to organise attacks, overrun police posts and attack military institutions. They cannot do that now.

Your Information minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recently said that Boko Haram has been technically defeated.

What do you say to the people of Nigeria about the fight now that your deadline has passed?

The people of Nigeria know better. They know that their 14 local governments, which were formerly under Boko Haram, are no longer being held. So, the people of Nigeria, especially the people of the North-East, know better.

Another challenge facing your government is the protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and there has been evidence of security forces opening fire on unarmed protesters, which has led to several deaths. How are you planning to deal with this issue of Biafra?

We fought a 30-month civil war in which at least two million Nigerians were killed. So, it is unjustifiable for somebody to wake up, maybe he wasn’t born then, to say he wants Biafra again. We have multi-party democracy now, let them organise themselves and vote for, perhaps, a state within a state. But to try and interfere with movement of Nigeria’s affair, the economy, by looking for Biafra after losing two million people, I think they are joking with Nigeria’s security and Nigeria will not tolerate it.

Why don’t you invite them for talks?

Why should we invite them?

Like you said, they are mostly young people who didn’t witness the civil war that was fought between 1967 and 1970. They are young men and women, who are, perhaps, protesting because of lack of economic opportunities. And it is clear that allocation to state governments in the South-East has reduced by about 50 per cent?

How much does oil cost now?

In the last 16 years, it was between $100 and $140 per barrel, but now it is under $30. So, the system of allocation has to be correspondingly reduced. Why shouldn’t it affect them if it is affecting the whole of Nigeria? From where do we get the money to give to them?

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

As President Muhammadu Buhari promises to remove trade barriers on investment in the country, industry operators are watching with keen interest on how soon it will come to fruition. Taiwo Hassan reports

Industry

Removing trade barriers for real sector devt

R

ecently, President Muhammadu Buhari gave assurance to the business community willing to operate in the country that his administration is poised to create a conducive environment for trade by removing any impediment that could hinder investment in the country.

The clarion call by the President to remove bottlenecks on trade has long been awaited by the business community, especially members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), who believe that trade facilitation in any country can only be enhanced under a conducive atmosphere.

Specifically, there are numerous trade impediments facing effective business operations in Nigeria. They include politics, economy and insecurity. These challenges have resulted in harsh operating environment for businesses.

Genuinely, the President’s intention to remove trade impediments is expected to open up foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow into the country.

Security Speaking at a meeting with senior executives of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and some private businessmen in Doha, Qatar, Buhari admitted that for Nigeria to attract foreign investors, there was need to remove impediments that could hinder investment.

He said that security was essential to prosperity and development.

“Nobody invests without first knowing how secure a country is. That is why we have placed high premium on securing the country because you cannot effectively manage a country you have not secured.

“My party campaigned on three main planks, security, em-

Buhari

Akande

ployment generation and anticorruption.

“We campaigned on zero corruption, promising that we would run an accountable government and we are keeping our promises,’’ he said.

President Buhari said that Nigeria was blessed with vast arable land for agriculture and rich deposit of solid minerals, which the businessmen could invest in and reap rich returns in a short while.

“Agriculture and solid minerals will mobilise youths for gainful employment.

“All impediments like delayed processing of permits, multiple taxation and corrupt practices would be removed,’’ the president said.

OPS’s position Speaking on creating conducive environment for business operations, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Nike Akande, said that the private sector remained pivotal to the transformation of the Nigerian economy, and indeed any economy in the world.

Regulatory laws impede growth of SME operation in Nigeria

She said that the Federal Government should live up to its responsibility and create the necessary investment climate for private sector to thrive in the country’s economy.

The LCCI boss noted that it was time for renowned private sector associations to buckle up and contribute immensely to the transformation of Nigeria’s industrial sector and economy by creating job opportunities for the teeming youth.

She said the government knew that it would go a long way to remove bottlenecks facing business environment in Nigeria for the country to realise her goals and objectives.

Her words: “The private sector is pivotal to the transformation of the Nigerian economy, and indeed any economy for that matter. We need the private sector to create wealth from which the government could generate revenue; we need the private sector to generate employment to address the acute and frightening unemployment, poverty and insecurity in our society; we need a virile private sec-

Diageo plans increased local raw materials for beer production Taiwo Hassan

D

iageo has said it will increase its use of Nig erian-sourced raw materials in an effort to tackle macroeconomic challenges in the country.

Speaking to analysts during a conference call late last week, Diageo’s Africa President, John O’Keeffe, said he was “mindful of the short-term uncertainty” in Nigeria, which could lead to currency devaluation.

Nigeria has been hit by

29

falling global oil prices, and in the past few weeks the unofficial rate of the local naira has soared.

The Federal Government has so far resisted pressure from within Nigeria to devalue the currency.

Diageo is taking proactive steps in the market, according to O’Keeffe.

“We are increasing the amount of local raw materials that we’re using. Not that long ago, we were using about 30 per cent in Nigeria, and that has moved up to 50

per cent. We will be kicking on from that at an accelerated pace,” he said.

Diageo’s competitors would face the same problems in the market, O’Keeffe warned.

“I think there will be a direct impact associated with direct input materials that are not available in Nigeria, and I think that’s going to be common across all the competitive sets, not just ourselves.

“In addition, we expect local packaging material

inflation to be impacted by both FX on domesticallyproduced goods, and again that will be common across all players,” he added.

Elements of the inflation impact would have to be passed on to the consumer, but the company would remain “mindful of affordability”, said O’Keeffe.

The Africa president also reiterated that Diageo did not expect Anheuser Busch InBev’s impending purchase of SABMiller to impact its business in Africa.

tor to make Nigeria a respectable country in the comity of nations. We would not relent in our advocacy to promote a conducive environment for the private sector to play the role expected of it in the realisation of the Nigerian vision.”

LCCI’s position The recent regulatory sanctions of some key companies operating in the Nigerian business environment have further showed a clearer picture that all is not well with the country’s real sector, as companies are still facing the challenges of provision of an enabling environment by the Federal Government for their business to thrive.

Specifically, the chamber saw the regulatory sanctions as an impediment that could thwart FDI into the country if they were not handled with maturity.

Some of the regulatory sanctions in the recent past include the N1.4 trillion fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); N1 billion administrative charge imposed on Guinness by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); penalty on Skye Bank to the tune of N4 billion imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); First Bank’s N 1.9 billion imposed by the CBN; and the N2.9 billion imposed on UBA also by the CBN. The penalties further shows doubt that the country’s business operating environment is harsh, thus already sending danger signals to the international community.

SMEs’ woes In his opinion, the Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium scale Enterprise Group (SMEG), John Kachikwu, said that regulatory laws have really impeded the growth of SME operations in the country.

His words: “Obviously, they are closing shops. It is the survival of the fittest right now. I said earlier that the environment is so harsh for the SME operators and obviously, it is. It is not easy for them at this moment to access the fund, even if it is meant for them. The forex is a big issue now, as you are aware, that when you deposit dollar, it is very hard to get it back from your account. Even (we) as a company, we have money in the bank, about four banks precisely, but we cannot withdraw dollars from those accounts. These banks will tell us they don’t have dollar and they will direct us to different branches. These are part of the challenges the SME companies are going through.”

Conclusion For the OPS, it will be a new dawn if President Buhari makes good his promise to remove the bottlenecks hindering smooth business operation in Nigeria.

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business \ industry

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NACCIMA urges Turkish financiers to invest in six sectors INVESTMENT

Nigeria has a Gross Domestic Product of over $520 million Stories by Taiwo Hassan

T

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has advised the President, Republic of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, and members of his delegation to the Nigeria-Turkey

business forum to invest in six critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

The National President, NACCIMA, Dr. Bassey Edem, made the call during the Nigeria-Turkey business forum in Abuja.

He said this was to help improve the trade volume between the two countries, which stood at $2.3 billion as at 2014.

The critical sectors are mechanised agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, solid minerals, tourism/hospitality, power and telecommunication/ICT. Edem said that the Turkish business investors needed to

key into the Federal Government’s diversification programme.

He said that Turkey currently had a comparative advantage with respect to trade relationship between both countries, adding that this could improve the trade volume if Turkish counterparts consider more of technology transfer by partnering with their Nigerian counterparts to invest in some specific sectors of the country’s economy.

He said NACCIMA appreciated the cooperation of Dis Ekonomik Iliskiler Kurulu (DEIK) to put the business forum together, adding that this

would further strengthen the existing trade relations between the two countries.

His words: “Hosting a business forum between the Turkish business community and their Nigerian counterpart at this time is a worthy venture considering the fact that Nigeria is among the next destination for global economic prosperity.

“Nigeria as a country is a mixed economy and an emerging market. As a matter of fact, Nigeria’s economy is the largest in Africa and the 26th in the world, with a GDP of over $520 million, and a population of over 170 million people.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Notore Chemicals Plc, Onajite Okoloko; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh at a meeting after the facility tour of Notore Fertiliser plant in Onne, Rivers State.

LCCI, PwC hold forum on state of the economy

T

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria is planning to organise a stakeholders’ forum on the state of Nigerian economy.

The objective is to proffer solutions to the lingering economic challenges in the country by identifying and presenting alternative sources of revenue to the government.

The stakeholders’ forum is expected to bring together key government agencies and major players in the various sectors of the economy, especially the nonoil sector. This is to enable businesses align with the economic diversification and long term sustainability of the Nigerian economy.

The Director-General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf said: “The Nigerian economy has been witnessing oil price shocks leading to exchange rate volatility and forex market crisis since mid-2014.

Overdependence of the economy on dwindling earnings from hydrocarbons has threatened government revenue with extended consequences of slowing growth, rising unemployment, depleting external reserves and higher cost of doing business.

“Records have also shown that Nigeria remains an investment destination in Africa with the certainty of a very good return on investment within a reasonable period of time after establishment of a business venture.”

He said that NACCIMA had no doubt that the trade between the two business communities would further improve tremendously in the identified sectors of mutual interests, as well as new areas of interest to be explored/exploited through joint venture partnerships that would be established.

He added that the present bilateral trade efforts being accelerated by the Federal Government and Turkey on one hand and the chambers of commerce of the two countries on the other hand through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements would be effective and resultoriented.

Simplifying the mechanised agriculture and agribusiness sector, the NACCIMA boss said that Nigeria was basically an agrarian economy with a wide variety of produce with strong value chain for agribusiness and skilled labour, adding that there were therefore, extensive potential for investors to take advantage of the industrial utilisation of this sector in terms of trade and investment.

BoI, others sign pact on entrepreneurial capacity

I

n a bid to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country, the Bank of Industry (BOI) has signed a Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) programme with 11 enterprise development centres and capacity building consultants to produce potential entrepreneurs.

The 11 training facilitators with whom BOI signed the MoU according to a statement are, African Community Bridge Foundation; After School Graduate Development Centre; Empretec Nigeria Foundation; Fate Foundation; Growing Business Foundation and Kaduna Business School.

Others are: Leap Africa; Pan Atlantic University Enterprise Development Centre; Prinsult Global Consult Limited; Valucon Business Services and VSL Consulting Limited.

Speaking on the programme in Lagos, acting Managing Director, BoI, Waheed Olagunju, said the YES-programme was another initiative of BoI designed to address youth unemployment in Nigeria.

He explained that the YES-programme entailed

building the capacity of the youths by equipping them with the requisite entrepreneurial knowledge and skills as well as funding their business plans, which would enable them to be self-employed and manage their own businesses.

According to him, the bank decided to venture into the youth entrepreneurship support programme as part of the quest to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in the country, especially among the youths.

The BoI boss said the first youth scheme was the graduate entrepreneurship fund (GEF) programme organised for serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that was launched in October 2015.

Olagunju said that the bank was committed to support the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to grow their business by making funds available to them.

He pointed out that it was the bank’s objective that every fund given out to potential entrepreneur or SME operator would create value addition in the country, es-

pecially in the area of job creation.

His words: “At the BoI, we believe that per every billion invested in SME businesses it can potentially create at least 4,000 jobs because the multiplier effect of this investment in SMEs is higher than in large enterprises, particularly in the agro processing sector. So, that is why we are encouraging and emphasising on value addition based on commodity based industrialisation proposed

by UNESCO for Africa.”

He added: “YES, GEF was N2 billion but that was setaside as a pilot programme for the NYSC graduates but this is now YES-programme.

If you ask me, we will make all our funds available for this scheme because we are talking about youth unemployment in the country.

“According to the International Labour Organisation, those seeking for employment are in the double digit that is about 25 per cent in this country. If you look at the working class, they run into 20 million who are seeking employment and they can’t get jobs, so, we need to bring

this down to single digit from 25 per cent to maybe seven or eight per cent. We have lost many years in development, so, we are in a hurry that is why we are not putting a ceiling for now.

Youths account for more than 60 per cent of Nigerian population.”

Besides, he said that participants would be drawn from young aspiring entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 years, with innovative ideas who must have a minimum educational qualification of an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or its equivalent.

He said that 10,000 online applications would be solicited nationwide, out of which 2,000 would be selected for the online training component of the YESprogramme.

He added that applicants would register online and be expected to provide accurate answers to questions.

Such answers count towards determining the suitability of the applicants for the training programme, adding that only the top 1,200 online participants would qualify for the in-class training programme annually.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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eWORLD

Telecoms: Taming porting breaches While the objective of mobile number portability (MNP) introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was aimed at providing wider choice of services for subscribers, recent developments have shown that some operators appear to be frustrating the growth.

KUNLE AZEEZ reports

T

he launch of mobile number portability (MNP) by telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in 2013 has been described as one initiative in the telecoms industry that today provides wider opportunity and greater freedom for telecoms subscribers in switching to any service of their choice.

The introduction of porting service was informed by the regulator’s decision to offer subscribers the ability to move freely from one network to another preferred operator without changing their telephone line.

The MNP service provides wider choices for mobile subscribers, allowing them to switch from their existing network to another competitor’s network of their choice, depending on the quality of service they expect to enjoy, while retaining their numbers.

According to the regulator, apart from providing wider choices to the over 152 million telecoms subscribers in the country, MNP is also expected to keep the telecoms networks on their toes, as it is expected that competing GSM companies would constantly upgrade their respective networks so as not to lose customers to competitors.

Value for money Over the years, telecoms subscribers have had to pass through harrowing experience on their respective service provider network, as a result of poor quality of service with no opportunity to migrate from such network.

For instance, telecoms subscribers on various mobile networks in Nigeria expended over N2.8 trillion on telecoms services in 2015, according to New Telegraph investigation.

Meanwhile, reports and stakeholders in the industry have also confirmed the increasing position being occupied by telecoms in the household spending spectrum in the country.

Already, a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the World Bank indicated that Nigerians might be spending more money to recharge their

Telecom base station

phones than they spend on feeding.

The survey showed that each household in Nigeria spent an average of N20, 874 on recharge cards, N14, 620 on food N33, 373 on house rent, N13, 860 on petrol, N7, 748 and N6, 660 on kerosene on a monthly basis.

President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, noted that despite the huge amount of money being spent on telecoms services, subscribers, before the launch of MNP, were still left with no other option to port out of their network even where their network was offering poor services.

“But, MNP has changed all that, as if an operators delivers poor services, it can be sure that subscriber will port out of the network and then migrate to a competitor. What this means is that the donor network loses its subscriber to competitors, which the subscribers believe offer better services. So, MNP, in a way, makes us as subscribers get value for our money. At least, we have choices,” he said.

Formalising MNP rules In July 2014, the NCC gazette the ‘Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2014’ with a view to creating sanity in the MNP business, making the porting rules binding on all the four Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators including Glo, MTN , Airtel and Etisalat.

The objectives of the regulations, according to the Commission, are to provide a regulatory framework for the operation of Mobile Number Portability in Nigeria; while touching on such other areas as routing of traffic and interconnectivity between operators and Number Portability Clearinghouse (NPC); rights and obligations of donor operator; rights and obligations of recipient operator; rights and obligations of NPC administrator, dispute resolution mechanism as well as penalties, among other.

No fewer than 431,362 subscribers have changed networks since the introduction of MMP

source: www.corporateethos.in

Traction in uptake According to the NCC latest status report on MNP, the introduction of the service has created wider service choices for telecoms subscribers, as no fewer than 431,362 of them have changed operators since the introduction of the new regime. Currently, there are over 152 million active lines in the country.

Following the launch of the service in 2013, telecoms networks in June, July, August, September, recorded 5,802; 6,753, 12,039 and 13,072 ported lines respectively.

In October, November and December 2013, the monthly figure also increased to 14,296; 7,830 and 5,850 in that order.

The number of subscribers porting their telephone lines also continued in the upward swing in 2014.

As at January last year, the number of ported lines were 6,880; 7,080 in February; 13,383 in March; 14,183 in April; 9,365 in May; 10,325 in June and July, 2014, the figure stood at 11,110.

By the end of August 2014, the total number of monthly ported telephone lines was 13,878; 18,980 in September; 16,697 in October; 13,578 in November; and 10,539 in December.

By January this year, the monthly ported lines stood at 14,330; 14,801 in February; 14,718 in March; 15,357 in April and in May, the figure stood at 18, 071.

In June, July, August, September, October, November and December, the figure seated at 21, 152; 28,712; 19, 453; 20, 370; 16,579; 18, 258 and 17,558 respectively.

Breaches and sanctions Meanwhile, in spite of the MNP regulations developed by the regulator and its gazette, telecoms operators still frustrate the porting procedures, as the NCC recently imposed a combined fine of N34 million on MTN and Globacom for breaching porting

business guidelines.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, Globacom Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited were fined the sum N22 million and N12 million respectively for non-compliance with the MNP regulations, though the regulator said they had paid up the fines.

Specifically, the regulator said MTN, Globacom and Etisalat violated Mobile Number Portability (MNP) process time obligations in the third quarter of 2015.

According to an NCC enforcement report, there was a timer deactivation violation by Etisalat, regarding a Corporate Port request of over 63 lines belonging to Neoconde Energy Limited.

The commission said Neoconde Energy Limited had initiated a corporate port out request from Etisalat to Airtel on August 7, 2015 at 9.13a.m., but was partially completed as at 1.52p.m same day.

This, the Commission said, resulted in 63 subscribers unable to receive calls from Etisalat’s network.

The commission also said it noticed a deactivation violation from MTN, regarding a corporate port request of over 109 lines belonging to Nigerian Breweries Plc. According to NCC, the company initiated a corporate port out request from MTN to Glo via lead MSISDN: 07036735494 on August 11, 2015 at 1.20p.m., but was partially completed as at 11.22a.m on August 14, 2015.

Also, a timer validation violation by MTN regarding four individual port requests from MSISDNs: 08139382308, 08143810152, 08135485305 and 08162108093 was also recorded.

“MTN breached the timer of two hours for validation of four port requests from the NPC as stated in the MNP Business Rules,’’ it said.

For Globacom, the telecoms regulator said that a timer validation violation was also observed regarding 11 individuals and one corporate port request.

NCC, therefore, said that Glo had breached the two hours allowable for validation of six port requests from the NPC, as stated in the MNP business rules.

It explained that Globacom validated one of these port requests over nine hours after receipt from the MNP administrator.

According to the regulator, Glo also breached the one allowable hour for the donor to deactivate 147 ported out lines belonging to Reckitt Limited consistent with provisions of the MNP business rules.

Conclusion Industry analysts are of the view that NCC must ensure adequate enforcement of the business rules of porting service in order to realise that the overarching objective of the initiative, which is to improve quality of service, broaden service choices for the operators as well deepening overall industry competition is sustainably actualised.

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business \ eWORLD

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telcos seek support for infrastructure protection IMPACT Inadequate protection for telecoms facilities could dampen quality service provisioning Kunle Azeez

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Gbenga Adebayo, enlisted the support of the Nigeria Police Force on the industry protection during a recent visit to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Aranse in Abuja.

According to Adebayo, who noted that telecommunications development in Nigeria is playing an integral role in the country’s march towards a greater country, said the sector has also improved the quality of life of the citizens.

“From basic voice call, to Internet services and to numerous value-added offered by our members, we have greatly improved the living

he Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has, for the umpteenth time, sought the support of the Nigeria Police to help in adequately protecting telecoms infrastructure across the country.

Telecoms operators have laid several kilometers of fibre L-R: Head of optic cables across the country Programme and have deployed over 32,000 Management, base transceiver stations Smile (BTS), which are physical Communications infrastructure necessary for Nigeria Limited, the provision of unhindered services to over 152 million Ogor Chukudebelu; telecoms consumers in the Managing Director, Michiel Buitelaar country. and Chief The facilities help in serving the growing needs of voice Marketing Officer, Alero Ladipo, at a and data services to Nigerians. ALTON said providing Media Roundtable to announce the adequate protection for ICT infrastructure against cases introduction of two of indiscriminate closure of 4G LTE innovations - Smile Voice and TBS, willful damage caused to Smile Unlimited fibre optic cables, among othin Lagos. PHOTO: ers, are capable of hindering SULEIMAN provision of quality service to HUSAINI the subscribers.

President of ALTON, Mr.

63% unbanked in Nigeria, four others, says report Kunle Azeez

S

ixty three per cent of people in the sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Uganda remain unbaked, a new study

by EricssonLab has revealed.

Even as mobile money services become part of daily life for millions in Sub-Saharan Africa, many potential customers face basic barriers to accessing the services on their own mobile phones, as only 52 per cent use mobile money through agents.

Lack of awareness and basic prerequisites, and low appreciation of the benefits are some of the hurdles, the report says.

According to the study, over half of consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa are using mobile money services through an agent, and some 20 per cent use mobile money themselves on a mobile phone.

However, among the lower socioeconomic groups, four out of 10 people do not meet the basic requirements for independent access, such as a valid form of identity or ownership of a mobile phone.

Others simply do not know about the services or consider mobile money unnecessary or too complicated, the Ericsson ConsumerLab report titled ‘Financial Services for Everyone’

notes.

The study presents insights from a sample of 6,215 respondents aged 17-59, representing 150 million people across the five countries.

According to the findings, 63 per cent of adults in the region have no bank account.

Patrik Hedlund, Senior Advisor, Ericsson ConsumerLab, says that for this large, unbanked proportion of society, cash is the predominant way of receiving and making payments, as well as saving and borrowing.

Yet, since more people have mobile phones than bank accounts, mobile financial services offer a stepping-stone to financial inclusion.

According to the report, consumers find cash easy to use, but the study shows that they also recognize the risk of theft and loss.

“Consumers have to make long journeys to reach the location where they can pay their bills,” Hedlund says.

“Saving money and taking loans also becomes problematic in unbanked Africa, with many hiding cash in their homes and relying on informal lenders who charge high interest rates. So, mobile money is really beneficial to them – if they can use it.”

The barriers to adoption of mobile money are basic and many, according to the report.

conditions of the people and economic activities in the country,” he said.

The ALTON President, however, told the police boss that, despite the progress made in the industry so far, “We are still facing a number of environmentally related problems in particular, on the issues of interference with the smooth operations of telecom services”.

On the incidence of arbitrary closure of BTS sites without court order, Adebayo said: “The incidence of closure of our members’ BTS sites and other telecommunications infrastructure on

the excuse of non-payment of arbitrarily imposed taxes and levies imposed by states and local government authorities in the name of Internally-generated revenue (IGR) is having adverse effect on our quality of service.

He noted that the Taxes and Levies (Approved list for Collection) Law of 1998 specifically states in its section 2 (1) that members of the Nigeria Police shall only be used to collect taxes in accordance with Tax laws.

According to him, the law also provides that no person, including a tax authority shall use road blocks to collect

taxes. “A reading of section 2 (1) and (2) together can only lead to the conclusion that the police force should only intervene in collection of taxes pursuant to lawful order,” he added.

Consequently, Adebayo urged the police boss to “kindly direct all Police commands to kindly and strictly enforce taxation demands pursuant to court orders only”.

He stated that in the case of telecommunications companies, “such order should only be orders of the federal high court since telecommunications is on the exclusive legislative list.”

Stakeholders to discuss digital inclusion’s hurdles

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takeholders in the Information and Communication Technology and financial services sectors will, at this year’s edition of eWorld Forum, discuss measures for digital financial inclusion in the country.

The 2016 eWorld Forum, which is scheduled to hold on March 24, in Lagos, has as its theme: ‘Expanding Nigeria’s Digital Frontier in the Change Era.’ The conference according to the organisers, shall also discuss such sub-themes as the digital financial services and financial inclusion, expanding the infrastructure

and services ecosystem, the role of broadband infrastructure, digital broadcasting ecosystem, the question of the Nigerian content and ICT as catalyst for economic rejuvenation.

Publisher of eWorld Magazine, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, said Nigeria’s 2015 slide in performance in global ICT Development Index shows that the country was yet to overcome its digital divide challenges and derive maximum benefit from ICTs for her development.

He said Nigeria has not adequately situated itself in global growth in digital financial services in the form

of mobile money so as to advance the trend and bring about inclusiveness.

According to him, “digital financial services allow millions of people who are otherwise excluded from the formal financial system to perform financial transactions relatively cheaply, securely, and reliably.”

Ukodie also stated that mobile broadband infrastructure and services that could enhance the digital life and its associated benefits are still at the low level and stakeholders need to be galvanised to achieve the 2018 broadband penetration projections.

Sasware drives initiative to grow startups

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asware Nigeria, the technology investment subsidiary of Signal Alliance, has initiated a programme aimed at growing startup in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

The programme tagged “Start-up In Residence (STAIR),” according to a statement from Sasware, is a coentrepreneurship programme focused on aspiring entrepreneurs and newly founded startups who are looking to build a viable technology business.

The co-entrepreneurship programme is an intensive 12 months’ resident package that aims to nurture entrepreneurs

working on the next big idea on a focus sector that is of interest to Sasware.

The STAIR programme, which will start in 2016, will run annually. It will create technology start-ups in specific areas in the economy.

During the incubation period, Sasware and the entrepreneur, according to the statement, would become a team that would define, develop and iterate a product to take to market.

As co-entrepreneur, Sasware would provide the business support skills needed to make a business succeed and would support the entrepreneurs at every phase of their compa-

ny’s growth by being actively involved and providing multisector expertise and funding.

Commenting on the initiative, the Chief Operating Officer of Sasware, Ifeoma Uddoh, said the 2016 programme will focus on building Financial Technology (Fintech) companies that address the challenges the country and Africa still have with their financial systems.

According to her, future programme will focus on other areas that Nigeria and Africa need innovation to grow the continent such as agric technology, government technology, renewable energy and manufacturing.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Francis Onabis, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, speaks on anti-corruption war, Edo governorship election, state of the economy, among other issues One of the campaign promises that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is implementing is the war against corruption. What is your take on it?

It is something that was bound to happen. Cleaning up the system is not a day job and for everybody to be swept into line, it is going to be a gradual process. It took a lot of years to destroy the system, so repairing it will take some time.

It is not something that can happen overnight. Therefore, I will appeal to Nigerians to give President Buhari the breathing space to do his job. There are issues and it will take some time to solve those issues in a country of about 170 million people. There are people that are rotten to the core and it will take some time to bring them out. So I will appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the president, even if it will take four years.

Nigerians are good people and when you tell them the truth, they will understand but whereby the people come out to tell them lies, then it becomes a problem. So the Minister of Information should be able to communicate very well to the people. He should try and relate with people and if possible, he can tour the whole country and organise a town hall meetings to meet with people and explain the situation of things to them. There are 774 local governments in the country; he should go to each one of them, explain to them the situation of things and what the government is doing to fix things.

The anti-corruption war is on the right track. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is now the opposition party was in government for 16 years and during those period, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had a lot of files but they weren’t doing much but now the fear of who is at the top has made those files to be coming out. It is going to take some time and it will go through everybody. If you are corrupt, there is nowhere to run to. For example, President Buhari was in United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently. He didn’t go there for holiday and everybody is aware that he signed the extradition treaty because a lot of assets and money from Nigeria were stashed in that country. Nigeria has a bad image and the president is already moving around to market Nigeria to the outside world.

How would you assess the present administration?

I will score the president 90 per cent. He is doing a great job. If you look at where we were coming from and where we are at the time, you will even give him 95 per cent. Gone are the days when peo-

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

13

Nigerians should be patient with Buhari – Onabis

leave in Lagos, when you come to the bus stop, you know how chaotic it is, people start rushing if you are not careful, you get injured but when they started the War Against Indiscipline, you stay on the queue. That is one thing I remember about Buhari. That is the love I have for him as a President because these is what is missing in Nigeria. We just do whatever we like and however we like it. This is not good.

There are speculations that Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is planning to nominate his successor...

No; people will always say whatever they want to say. Don’t forget Adams Oshiomhole was a labour leader, so there is going to be a fair playing ground for everybody. Whoever the people choose is going to be the person. He cannot impose candidate; it is not going to happen. He has promised a fair playing ground for everybody. In APC there are 15 or 16 aspirants in Edo state, so whoever wins the primary should go.

So godfathers will play no role in the coming election?

It was something that used to happen mostly from my town; I think that is what makes the town so popular. It used to be on the back stage in those days, not anymore. At least in APC, No.

Onabis

ple do things like the way they like.

When you have the fear of that person at the top, if you do wrong things, you will get into trouble.

People think twice now before they do anything. Last year before the change of government, people don’t do the right thing. Taking away the fact that the ordinary people are not seeing the effect, look at the petrol thing, we have been paying billions of Nairas as subsidy but look at the price now.

Even when the price of oil was falling, there was no corresponding decrease in the price of fuel in Nigeria not until this January. You can attest to that. That is change.

brother, wife or daughter you are guilty, you are suppose to face the consequences whatever it is. In fact, when EFCC started probing Dasuki, some people said he was being witch-hunted because he arrested Buhari in 1985, and the president wants to pay him back.

But when the facts started coming out about the arms procurement scandal, a lot of people seem to be praising the anti-graft agencies now. There are many displaced refugees throughout the country.

People that have homes and farms are now homeless in their own country because of someone’s action. How do you think about that?

How would you rate the president on respect for human rights and rule of law?

If I have to lay blames, I will lay it right squarely on the judicial system. They are actually not helping the president and the executive arm of government. The judiciary is not helping at all in the fight against corruption. If somebody is accused, he has the right to go to court and that person is not guilty until found guilty.

But it is not fair for judges to be releasing people who are under trial in controversial manners.

The President is not intervening in the affairs of the judiciary; he just allows them to do their thing.

Despite the claim by government that they have defeated Boko Haram, the sect is still carrying out some attacks. Do you think government is sincere with its claim?

Let us be sincere with one another. We have a retired MajorGeneral as president and there is no way President Buhari will come out to tell lies. Government is winning the war. There are lot of things wrong before President Buhari came in. The morale of the soldiers was not boosted and there were not enough ammunition for them to fight, but yet monies were been budgeted and people were just pocketing funds meant for security all these years. Some soldiers were becoming fatter but now there is a new sheriff in town.

In 1985, I was in Lagos when Buhari and Idiagbon were at the helms of affairs and I remember how they implemented the War Against Indiscipline. People have to clean their compound. If you

What about former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who is being kept in the custody despite being granted bail by different courts?

We should learn not to be biased and tribalistic. If as my

Gone are the days when people do things like the way they like...

That is change

How would you describe the state of Nigeria economy today?

I think the government is moving in the right direction. Before the last general elections, there were issues and there was no money with the Central Bank.

When oil was selling for $130, what did we do with the excess money?

In most countries, they would have invested in infrastructure but there are lot of roads in this country not completed. There is power failure up till now in Nigeria. They were just wasting the money instead of building roads, infrastructure, schools and hospitals that people will benefit from.

When the money was there, they mismanaged it but now the money is not there anymore.

Nigeria’s economy is based on oil and it is now about $30 per barrel. Don’t forget that the United States weren’t exporting oil all these years but now they have started exporting oil and many countries are also planning to bring more products into the market. It is about demand and supply and if the supply is higher than the demand, what happens, the price will keep falling. There is no way we should expect in the next two years or three that the price of oil is going to be $130; it is not going to happen anymore.

We just have to learn to live with what we have. We have got to look inward and produce more things locally and reduce importation.

There are things we don’t need to import because when you import, the little foreign exchange we have is sent out. Importation of goods is killing local industries in Nigeria.

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POLITICS

Ebere Wabara

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, had last year quashed the outcome of the Abia North Senatorial District election on grounds of unprecedented mutilation of the poll result and ordered a rerun, a repeat, of the exercise that took place on March 5, 2016.

Immediately after the judicial pronouncement, a group petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, demanding, among other things, that the perpetrators who are at large and the beneficiary, Mr. Mao Ohuabunwa, of that sordid act should be investigated and prosecuted for the electoral criminality that enveloped the worst electoral malpractice in the country’s history.

The worst in the sense that this is the first time that an appellate court of this land will make such a damning declaration. The group’s complaint was published as an advertorial in major national newspapers.

As at now, there has been no response to the advertised and couriered communication to the IGP. It is unfortunate that the Office of the IGP could ignore such a weighty complaint with its grave concommittance on our political evolution.

Even if the IGP or his subordinates on delegation were not going to do anything, unsurprisingly, simple courtesy and official decorum expect a reply, which is basic in bureaucracy. It is this kind of levity and inexplicable nonchalance to critical issues of our nationhood that emboldens fraudsters in our midst when they realise that law enforcement is compromiseable and negligible here.

Beyond the IGP, I had equally thought that the federal government should have shown interest in the theatre of electoral absurdities in Abia State, especially after the Appeal Court intervention. Alas, government looked the other way as if it was not its kettle of fish— without knowing that such manifestations and tendencies are what define a nation, positively or negatively. We do not have to wait untill it becomes a national challenge before taking appropriate steps. If government had shown interest in what goes on in Abia State, particularly after our Lordships’ ruling, the banditry that characterized the rerun would not have taken place at all.

This kind of governmental turning of a blind eye is what will spell doom for this country.

Of course, if the police and the government could not basically function effectively and efficiently, it would be foolhardiness to expect the lethargic Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to get its act together. Last year’s mutilation could not have been possible without INEC officials who must have had their hands soiled with filthy lucre. The INEC never issued a word in response to the Appeal Court’s expose. In fact, the minimal expectation would have been that the electoral officials involved in the robbery in Abia North should have been dismissed and dragged to court to face the full wrath of the law.

In the absence of the foregoing, the civil society and other allied groups could not do anything but toe the sleepy and tragic line of docilty and utter indifference.

Today it is Abia North and Abia State, generally. Tomorrow, it would be elsewhere with this kind of an-

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abia North rerun banditry

Kalu

tecedent. We cannot deepen our democracy in a situation where a cabalistic and cliquish band of anti-democrats comprising immediate-past and present governors of states stay in their cocoons and determine who gets what political office with official endorsement by the central authority and its corrupt ministries, departments and agencies. At this rate, all the talk about anti-corruption will be balderdash, ultimately. There cannot be a worse fiasco than the current cosmetic crusade about corruption mitigation.

Now, let us return to what transpired last Saturday in the Abia North senatorial rerun. It is certain that if the police had interrogated Ohuabunwa and all those who committed the initial electoral scam of last year, we would not have had a repeat of the same thievishness that stalked everyone in the face last weekend. The least anticipation from the police end was that by now the culprit and suspects in that sham election result would still be answering questions about their heinous and despicable roles in the unparalleled roguishness of last year. Similarly, I had also believed that the INEC would clean the Augean stables and deploy men and women of integrity to conduct the rerun poll, considering the scandal of 2015 in this same election. But what did we get? A perfection of the electoral robbery profile using figures, which were marginal and inconsequential, to stupidly foreclose any possible suspicion. Such statistical manipulation to drag the wool over people’s eyes cannot hoodwink victims of the brazen and official banditry or other right-thinking members of our society.

After the rerun on that fateful Saturday, the INEC all through Sunday morning declared the voting process as inconclusive. Then from the blues, that same afternoon, at 1.45 p.m., without any plausible justification or catalytic development, reversed itself and announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa, as the winner to the greatest befuddlement of electors!

Yakubu

It is astounding that these things are happening in our beloved Abia State and everyone keeps quiet in acquiescence

The INEC confusion and disorganisation began with the disqualification of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate for the poll only for the contestant to campaign and participate in the rerun, a distraction that split votes, unnecessarily. Can the INEC leadership tell Nigerians what happened between that Sunday afternoon and early evening when the ignominable and suspicious self-reversal took place? Why did the PDP stalwarts and other like-minds storm the INEC office and, thereafter, electoral officials began to sing a new swan song? Was it not the same thing that took place last year when the government, the PDP leadership and other vicious and jobless hangers-on in the state invaded the INEC office and the aftermath was the grand and irresponsible mutilation of the senatorial result and decimation of the people’s will? The governorship election had similar foundations.

How I wish that Abia State was in any part of the South West and let me see how these robberies will be going on without the perpetrators and their lineage having their clans and existential humanism burnt beyond recognition! This type of daylight electoral banditry cannot take place in that part of the country two times or even less without the typicality of fatalistic mayhem. And to worsen our case in God’s Own State, our people are so docile, timid and selfish. Most of the so-called elders of inequity and the wretched elite are so famished that pots of porridge and mess of peanuts are all that are needed to sway them irredeemably. Even a Toyota Prado Greek gift from Government House, Umuahia, makes them lose their heads, dignity and self-respect, if any, when their peers elsewhere have since conquered that level of need. It should interest the hungry elders that the official vehicle of top management staff in Dr. Kalu’s companies in Nigeria and overseas is this same brand!

Ohuabunwa and his PDP government backers—in and out of power in Abia State—know that there is no way that he (Ohuabunwa) can

defeat the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate and twotime governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in any free and fair election anywhere in the state and the country as a whole. Otherwise, these incidents of criminal mutilation of the zone’s polling results and inconclusive electoral vicissitudes will not arise. As long as the leadership of INEC remains aloof to the PDP bovine comicals and juvenile theatricals gaining maturity in Abia State electoral processes so will the party’s candidates—even if dark horses or persons of questionable pedigree or legislative statistic in the past four years or thereabouts—so will the person(s) continue to win. With the systemic rot in our electoral processes and structural carelessness, reruns will continue to produce the same predictable manipulated results. The antidote is for government and its agencies to wake up and pigeonhole the elements of darkness aborting the people’s will. Otherwise, mutilation of results and idiotic reversals on inconclusive polling will persist till Armageddon.

The point is not about Dr. Kalu deservedly winning, but the institutionalization of a credible electoral regime that will outlive us. We cannot bequeath the current charlatanism and mockery of democracy to our children. Whether Dr. Kalu is politically robbed 100 times or not, it will not affect his popularity, fame, attitudinal inclination to overall sportmanship in life, opulence, philanthropic disposition of superfluity, economic ambassadorship, revolutionary human capital development, humaneness, multifarious contributions to existential exigencies and global reckoning.

Rather, he will continue to diminish his vicious and amnesic individual/group antagonists. Apart from their predatory success in electoral banditry in 2011 and 2015/2016, all attempts in the past nine years to criminalize, humiliate, virulently calumniate and demonize Dr. Kalu, their incontrovertibly acclaimed benefactor, have always hit the rocks to their disgrace and chargrin and perpetual fiasco.

With the controversial circumstances surrounding the conflicting release of results despite cancellation of the outcome of eight wards, constitutional/legal/lawful supplementary elections in some parts of the constituency, declaration of inconclusive polling and the volte-face in the announcement of disputable figures, it is a puzzle that the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Nwankwo Ojike, could not stick to his guns in this volatile matter no matter the empty threats and intimidation by obvious losers who incidentally had excess instruments of official terror, unlike his counterpart in last year’s futility and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, who remained unshaken till the end of time.

When one looks at the figure purportedly garnered by Ohuabunwa (26,009) and the popular datum by Dr. Kalu (25, 814), it is compelling to smell a rat and the need for caution by the intimidated INEC staff on ground. This is where I blame the federal government for not being proactive by ensuring massive security for the INEC staff on duty.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITICS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hon. Fidelis Nweze is Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works and Transport. In this interview, he says it is no longer business as usual when contract sums are inflated with the intention to defraud the state in projects execution.

UCHENNA INYA reports Most roads in the state capital and rural areas of the state have received attention by the David Umahi led administration. What is the magic?

You asked what the magic wand of what we are doing is? The answer is just the conscience and determination. The Bible says whatever your hands find doing, do it well because it is that thing that will showcase you to the world. If you are a driver and a very good driver, everybody will like to have you as a driver. If you are a bus driver and every time you travel, people have accident, whenever they see you, they will avoid you.

We are determined. Whatever we are asked to do, we do it well collectively as a people.

We are not some foreigners who will come here and play pranks.

We are here to do the job because we will live tomorrow to see those things we have done. If we do not do it well and after eight years we see that those jobs that we have done have collapsed, we will not be happy because our conscience will tell us we are the ones who did them and that is why whatever we are doing, we do it well.

It appears that it is in this administration that government became aware of the need to construct rural roads. Why did the government consider this as one of its policy trust?

The idea is that when we see any area the government needs to visit in terms of road construction, we draw government attention to those areas because the promise, Governor David Nweze Umahi made to the people during his electioneering campaign is to try to remove dust from every part of Ebonyi State. And that is what we are doing.

15

It’s no longer business as usual in Ebonyi – Nweze we use to be. It is not evil if Ebonyi becomes the first economy in Nigeria that people will be making reference to and I know God is determined to do that. What you are seeing now happening is not by our own power. We are not doing any magic; we are not the people doing it.

At times we get surprise ourselves about what is happening. At times those things happen within a twinkle of an eye. We believe that there are angels that help us to do the job at night.

Because I know contractors when you give them two kilometer of road, they spend six months. three kilometres of road, they spend one year and they will be there. But we are constructing a kilometre of road and within one month. How did it happen, sometimes we do not know ourselves but we know there is a strange hand backing us.

Nweze

We cannot make these promises and turn back. Whatever has proceeded out of your mouth, you have to keep to it. We try to emulate God because whatever God has said He is able to do.

Whatever we promised, we are doing and we are not looking at the economy because the economy is one thing; your determination to do that thing is another thing. If you are determined to do it, God will find avenues through which he can help you to do those things.

Notwithstanding the achievements of Governor Umahi less than eight months in office, some people have not still come to terms that he is delivering on his campaign promises.

Why is it so?

God who brought the young man, Engr. David Umahi to the seat this time, I did not make mistake. He brought him to salvage Ebonyians, to bring us from where

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

These figures cannot be a reflection of reality because everything pointed to a landslide victory for Dr. Kalu. In fact, the only contentious issue was the margin he would use to beat his main opponent in the rerun. I reaffirm it without any equivocation, irresponsibility, fear, favour, or any extraneous consideration that it is impossible for Ohuabunwa to beat an independent Dr. Kalu without political godfather instrumentality and subsequence of electoral banditry known to everyone.

It is astounding that these things are happening in our beloved Abia State and everyone keeps quiet in acquiescence. Nobody calls a spade a spade. It is as if credible elders, genuine patriots and defenders of democracy have been compromised beyond redemption. Those that are supposed to raise the alarm are the ones leading the gangsterism in curious advocacy of purported equity that is anything other than inequity. If we must build sustainable democracy in Nigeria and Abia State, the

We are determined.

Whatever we are asked to do, we do it well collectively as a people

How then do you come about these achievements, can you shed more light on it?

If you have seen anything good in this administration; one is that you should advertise it and two to pray that those things continue and that the tempo and zeal does not go down. And all hands must be on deck to make sure that those things come to reality. Speculation of cost, if you go to the market the same Nokia 3310 you bought from Fine Brothers may not be the same cost you will buy from C-net. We try as much as possible not to put our clothes where our hands will get to.

We do these things judiciously.

We go to the market to buy these things ourselves. We go to the market; we check the raw cost before buying them. The road is still far.

We go to the market if it is N1.00, we pay N1.00. If it is N2.00, we put N2.00 so that Ebonyians will know that these people they voted for are the right persons.

What legacies do you think will be left behind by the Umahi administration which incoming government can

Abia North rerun banditry time has come for all of us to take interest in what is going on in the state lest there will be a karmic implosion presently.

According to media reports, there were heavy indiscriminate shootings that Saturday, snatching of ballot boxes and other malpractices in parts of the district involved in the rerun. Expectedly, the state government said the rerun was peaceful and hitch-free. No government will give a contrary report in this kind of do-ordie combat by the eclipsing protagonists of “never-must-it-be-Kalu-at all-costs” in a terrain that oppositional elements are ready to sacrifice their vanishing lives, if it becomes necessary and a last resort, to ensure that Dr. Kalu does not succeed! And fortunately for them, Dr. Kalu just takes these matters in his stride without making any effort to counter the ingrates through a balance of terror and power which they know he has the quintessential capacity,

competency, illimitable resources and national/supranational clout/contact/network to beat them in their market-dance game if he decides to condescend to their devilish, kamikaze and idiotic level!

The blanket electoral provision that rerun elections must be concluded and results announced willy-nilly is not just specious but irrational and stupefactious.

So, irrespective of the outcome of polling or sharp practices during the process or cases of disenfranchisement in eight wards, the result must be announced.

Such flagrant violation of the law should be for lower animals! It is in abuse of this section of the Electoral Act that desperate and irresponsible political godfathers get away with their mutilation of results and other imbecilic improprieties.

The time has come for the federal government to take a special interest in what the PDP is doing in Abia State with regard

build on?

Any other government that may come should toe this line. If they toe this line, Ebonyi place will be a place to be envied by the world. It is not business as usual.

Umahi is an engineer. He has been into this business for long. I am an engineer too and have been into this business for a long time, so, we know the secret. That is what is helping us. We are not looking at the people’s money to enrich ourselves but to work with it. We have been able to beat down the cost of construction to what it used to be.

Some residents where roads are constructed are complaining over the level of demolition done in the course of these roads construction. What is your take on this?

There is what we call set -back in every road. If it is a state road, there is a distance you are not supposed to build any structure. For federal roads, it is 30 metres. But our people are still violating that law and building along that area they are not supposed to build. We have tried as much as possible to talk to them to either carefully remove their property when we are doing construction work to reduce the destruction of property because there are our brothers and sisters. We are involved and they are involved. We do not want to put anybody under pressure.

We put ourselves in their shoes.

It is not that there are no properties that are affected but we try to make use of our brains to ensure that many properties are not affected but we still have to develop the city. Like Ezeekeikwo Street, you will see that there are buildings along the road.

Between one fence and another is five metres while our road is supposed to be 11 metres. All of them build along that line and they are calling government to come and construct road for them. Government will not construct these roads on top of their buildings; it has to be on ground, so some of these fences have to go unless if they do not want the road.

to elections. If the party’s leadership is allowed to continue the way it did in the 2015 and 2016 polls and rerun, there will be a conflagration soon that will engulf not just the state but neighbouring PDP states, which may cultivate the same subversive tendencies.

For anyone to attribute the abuse of electoral process in the rerun as divine revalidation of earlier mutilation of the senatorial result is demonstrative of asininity and blasphemy of incomparable magnitude.

Without being judgmental, most vicious and querulous politicians from Abia State are certified candidates for hell.

If the federal government continues to handle electoral banditry with levity and inexplicable indifference, especially in Abia State, I have the conviction that the fight against other forms of corruption will not succeed as other spheres of life inevitably depend on the enthronement of good governance!

•Wabara is the Media Adviser to Dr. Kalu

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Opinion Politics of the US dollar Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-309-7251 (sms only)

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s an introductory concept, the United States dollar is the official name and currency used by the United States of America. It is the most recognized and most popular currency in the world upon which other currencies are built, in terms of exchange rates. It is imperative to add that the US dollar is also the symbol of global commercialization.

Further, the US dollar is the most converted currency and used as a benchmark in the Forex market. Due to its international acceptance, some countries use the US dollar as an official legal tender, a practice known as dollarization. For other countries, the dollar is an accepted alternative for the country and therefore multiple currencies are pegged to the US dollar.

According to the Federal Reserve Office of the United States, the official users of the currency include El Salvador, Zimbabwe, Panama, East Timor and four other countries. The countries who also use the dollar in the United States territory are: the United States of America, American Somoa and four others while the non-US Territories include: the Caribbean Netherlands, British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fifteen countries are also unofficial users of the dollars. An average inflation rate of the US dollar as at

October, 2015 was 0.7 per cent.

It must be noted that at the moment, the politics of the US dollar in Nigeria has taken a different dimension. For some time now, the price of crude oil and gas in the international market has consistently dropped to an unacceptable proportion to the extent that the economies of the oil bearing states are bleeding with the attendant financial paralysis or an outright stroke. In the process, the budgets of the affected sovereign states and their benchmarks are being adjusted serially to enable them cope with the degenerating cost of oil and gas. It has also led to the free-fall of the various currencies. The need to cope with the ravaging US dollar against local currencies have become some complex teething problems in these circumstances.

In Nigeria, the mandatory statutory federal allocations per month to the states have been negatively affected and depleted. As a result, the 36 states in Nigeria and the administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) find it extremely difficult to manage and perform their constitutional responsibilities to the people who voted them into public offices.

The Governors of the states are unable to pay the salaries and wages of their workers. As at today, the governors are paying the backlog of salaries to the workers, gradually, which on the whole, is not in the best and fundamental interest of the Nigerian workers.

This chaotic situation has also thrown-up a scenario whereby the federating states are unable to award contracts and execute projects which usually form the basis for the assessment and achievement of State Governor(s).

The developmental traits of the states appears to be grounded to a complex halt. As far as

The mandatory statutory federal allocations per month to the states have been negatively affected and depleted

the Governors are concerned, the battle royal being fought is how workers salaries can be paid as and when due. It is the priority of any State Governor until there is an improvement and upgrade of the cost of oil within the global context.

Having narrated briefly the major cause of the downward trend of the Nigerian economy which has adversely affected the Naira as a currency, it is instructive to mention that our own currency has suffered immensely in the hands of the US dollar. Let it be known also that the Naira has been badly battered by hyper-inflation. This has led the world financial institutions to mount pressure on President Buhari to embark on the devaluation of the naira, but so far, he has stood firm and refused to yield to such advise. Of course, Mr. President did not see the wisdom and perhaps, the clear advantages of the devaluation of the Nation’s currency for whatever reason. Even in recent times, the naira was 390 to 1 US dollar which is still fluctuating.

In view of this circumstantial factors, Nigerians now blame the US dollar for whatever happens. For instance, the prices of almost all commodities and services have gone-up. Nigerian’s and especially those who buy and sell have always blamed the US dollar as the cause. Majority of Nigerians are ignobly ignorant of the fact that the US dollar is a stable currency while the naira has plummeted. It is the naira that is to blame and not the US dollar. The naira has only be fighting hard inorder to rise and measure-up with the US dollar. The sharp drop of the naira against the US dollar is also due to the inability of our country to develop and manufacture items and other commodities for export so as to boost our country’s foreign reserve.

Still waiting for the ‘change’ Dons Eze

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s it is generally said, a damsel that had married two different husbands will be better placed to tell which one is better. Though some people may consider it too early to make any fair comparison between a political party that had been in power for sixteen years and the one that is barely nine months old, yet every discerning eye can easily detect a chick that could grow up to become a fowl.

During the 2015 electioneering campaigns, Nigerians were inundated with the “change” agenda of the then opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), which was designed to transform Nigeria into an El Dorado or heaven on earth. The people were told to vote out the “corrupt” “inept”, “visionless” and “lame duck” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that had been in power for sixteen years without recording a single progress.

The PDP, they were told, was responsible for all the ills bedeviling the country, such as corruption at both the high and low places, youth unemployment, non-payment of salaries to civil servants, pensions and gratuities to retirees; the Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and armed robbery; non-functional infrastructure like poor health and educational services, epileptic power supply, di-

lapidated road networks and dry taps; depreciating value of the Naira, high cost of goods and services, etc, etc.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who presided over the affairs of the PDP led federal government, was castigated and tagged “clueless”, and therefore deserved to be changed without delay.

Nigerians were equally told what it would look like to have a “disciplined” retired military officer like Muhammadu Buhari who had zero tolerance for corruption, to preside over their affairs. They were also reminded of the impeccable character of General Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state and his no nonsense posture on corruption and other social vices.

Therefore, giving him opportunity this time around would turn Nigeria into a paradise on earth.

So, Nigerians were easily sold to the “Change” mantra and many of them got infested with it. In the social media as well as in the traditional media – print and electronic, at beer parlours, street corners, markets centres and other public places, the slogan was the same – “CHANGE.” Nigerians were told to vote out the PDP and give the APC a chance to “change” the country.

Then came March 28, 2015 Presidential Election, and the PDP could not find its feet. It was trounced by the opposition APC. Luckily, the PDP Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, did the unthinkable, at

least in the history of Nigerian politics.

He conceded victory to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Nigerians were happy. At least, there would be no election violence (Remember the 2011post election mayhem?). There would also be no wasting of precious time and resources at election tribunals. They therefore were thankful to God for proving the prophets of doom wrong, and commended Goodluck Jonathan for his patriotism.

Expectantly, Nigerians began to look forward to May 29, 2015 for the manifestation of the “change” mantra. A beautiful day it was and the new President lived up to its billing. He told the bewildered nation that he “belonged to nobody, but belonged to all”. That was statesmanship like, and everybody applauded it, believing that he would match words with action.

Unfortunately, our President has the penchant for saying one thing and doing another. In saying that he belonged to all Nigerians, President Buhari made 29 key appointments into his kitchen cabinet, and picked 24 of the appointees from the North, four from the South West, one from the South South, and none from the South East. He justified this by saying that no one should expect him to give equal weighting in his dealings with those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him. Of course, the South East did not vote for him, and hence, were to be excluded from the “change” agenda.

On another occasion, the President said he was not interested on who leads the legislative arm of government – the National Assembly. But when he was outwitted and a leadership different from what he had expected emerged, he became furious and began to talk about “party supremacy”, as if the internal affair of a political party is superior to the supreme law of the land – the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For more than two months, activities at the National Assembly were at standstill as the two organs of government tested their might. And Nigerians were perplexed, but still waited for the “change”.

For six months, our President could not choose members of his cabinet; those who would help him deliver the expected “change”. When Nigerians began to grumble, and called him “Baba Go Slow”, he said he was taking his time to assemble a special team, a different species of people, who were not tainted with the ills of our society, unarguably people from the outer space! When however the veil was lifted off the lid, Nigerians were astonished that the team members were just ordinary people they had been with in their day-to-day activities, some of whom, their hands were as black as charcoal! And they began to wonder and to ask why the long wait?

•Eze, Ph.D can be reached via donseze@ymail.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Curtailing deaths on waterways

oat mishaps have assumed a disturbing dimension in recent times. Even more frightening is the regularity with which they occur.

The one that happened some weeks ago when seven people lost their lives underlines the severity of the situation and the risk associated with this mode of transportation in a country where many people use the waterways as a means of movement but scant consideration is given to safety measures.

The boat, which was conveying 17 passengers from Ijede to Badore in the Lekki area of Lagos State, capsized on January 30, killing seven people while others sustained varying degree of injuries.

A similar incident took place two weeks earlier when two commercial boats collided along the same route, apparently due to poor visibility.

However, the main cause of incessant waterways accidents seems to be the condition of the boats themselves. How good and safe are they? How old and how well maintained are the boats? Clearly, they fail these very basic credibility tests. But in a country where little value is placed on the sacredness of human life and so much emphasis on making profits, without a corresponding effort on providing the required services, anything goes.

Interestingly, in the immediate aftermath of these disasters, government usually makes promises that are soon forgotten until another accident happens again.

On February 2, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) summoned an emergency meeting with all commercial boat operators in the state during which it vowed to clamp down on boat operators who continue to contravene the rules and regulations guiding their operations.

The Managing Director of LASWA, Abisola Kamson, underscored the need for vessels operating on the state waterways to

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this instance is to make sure that the operators of the boats use standard vessels and other facilities.

In this regard, the question to ask is how far has the Lagos State Government gone in ensuring that vessels that do not meet the required standards are removed from the waterways? The private operators in the business are more concerned with making profits, so how is the government

...government must be ready to prosecute those operators who are in the habit of flouting regulations guiding boat transportation in the country

comply with safety standards.

She said some boat operators flouted the rules and regulations thereby putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk and that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate the operation of substandard vessels on the waterways.

LASWA’s knee-jerk reaction is the standard fare, the usual government response; only that in the meantime the vicious cycle continues. But the cycle needs to be broken and the only way, is for government to make good on its promises, which in

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holding them to the highest standards?

What has been done in this regard since that February 2 meeting?

Answers to these questions will go a long way in

ensuring that these accidents are curtailed, if not contained.

We also note that the issue of providing standard life jackets to passengers in these boats has also been subverted by the profit-seeking drive of commercial boat operators.

Only bright red, orange and lemon are the approved colours for life jackets in the state but it is a well-known fact that most operators are in the habit of using substandard life vests on waterways.

Local fashion designers reportedly sew all manner fab-

rics as live jackets, which are then presented to unsuspecting commuters. The danger inherent in this can be better imagined.

Kamson said in the meeting with boat operators that LASWA had confiscated about 700 fake life jackets and appealed to boat passengers to insist on standard vests when travelling on waterways.

We find this latter bit of advice to the commuters a little odd. Inasmuch as those travelling in boats should be vigilant, it is doubtful whether the majority of them will recognise fake life jackets let alone insist on being given standard ones.

This is where the government has a huge role to play.

It must continuously monitor the boat operators to ensure that they only use only standard and well maintained boats; it must remove from the waterways vessels that are not worthy and it must also ensure that standard life jackets are made available to commuters. Eternal vigilance is a price we must be ready to pay if things are going to work in that sector as well as others.

Again, government must be ready to prosecute those operators who are in the habit of flouting regulations guiding boat transportation in the country.

This is the only way to stop the periodic convulsions in our waterways.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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SouthEastFocus SouthSouthFocus

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Death of a pastor’s wife Victor Mba

Their gift, their curse

Aba

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Though she admitted to being given drugs by her mother in the night and in the morning, she was still not feeling very well.

“My mother said I should go and sell because it will make me strong and she insisted I should not go to school. She gave me medicine in the night and this morning. My father knows I am not well but he doesn’t know my mother sent me out to sell today”, she said.

There is no doubt that there are many Naomis, who despite being sick, are still out and about in the major roads of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia, looking for customers to feast on their wares, so they could make money for those that sent them out.

Despite the pain of child birth, some women, because of poverty and hardship have thrown caution to the wind, especially with regards to their girl child. Little Naomi, of course, may not have the guts to stand down the instruction of her mother. Also, the idea of “go and hawk as that will make you strong” might have perhaps given her young brain the interpretation that hawking while sick, makes one strong and that she will grow up to exhibit same attitude to her children hence, the fight to stop child labour remains an exercise in futility.

t is often said that the mistake of a legal practitioner may land his client in prison, while the mistake of a medical practitioner lands his patient in the mortuary. This saying is true because these two professions deal with human beings.

Any mistake has grave consequences for anybody that consulted them. This aptly played out in the death of late Nene Francesca Nelson, who after going through rigours of pregnancy for nine months, died during child birth.

Narrating how it all happened, her husband, Pastor Ndukwe Nelson, who hails from Amawom Ikwuano in Umuahia Abia State, told New Telegraph that the late wife, throughout the period of the pregnancy was hale and hearty. He said on that fateful day, the wife walked to the clinic when she noticed labour pains.

According to Pastor Nelson, the brother of his late wife told him that on January 27 at about 9:30pm, her sister left for medical attention at Blessing Clinic, along Port-Harcourt road Aba. In the wee hours of the morning, he was told that the wife gave birth to a baby girl safely.

Continuing, he said he was told that after about one hour, his brother, Anyim C. Anyim, got a distress call to report at the clinic.

Nelson said when the brother got to the clinic, he was told that the sister had been bleeding and needed blood transfusion. He immediately offered himself but after some test, his blood did not match with his sister’s own.

Painting a vivid picture of how it all happened, he said three other volunteers came but it was not the same blood group. The only person that had same blood group was told by the laboratory technicians that she had insufficient blood to donate.

Pastor Nelson alleged that during this period, the Doctor was nowhere to be found, while his late wife was left at the mercy of nurses at the clinic.

The brother of the deceased, according to the Pastor, told him that 2 to 3 hours later, the nurses showed him the body of his late sister, lying stone dead.

Pastor Nelson said because he was in Lagos on that day, he used his phone to know minute by minute account of how his wife fared at the clinic.

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21 Help Giving a helping hand to the needy

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File: Some children street hawkers

Sick, but out for survival Is it hardship, poverty or poor parental care? When an eight-year-old girl is sick and sent by her mother to hawk on the street to get well, Pamela Eboh in Awka writes that the attitude of some parents endanger the lives of their children, especially girls

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GEOFFREY EKENNA

aomi, a little girl of eight, who hails from Benue State, may not be the only sickening story of an under-aged, unfortunate girl that peddles wares for people to buy along the various roads in Awka.

But her case appears to be different because she was forced by her mother to carry her basin of canned sprite drinks and pure water, even while she was sick with fever.

In Awka, the capital city of Anambra State and its suburbs, it is common sight to behold a horde of women and children with oversize T-shirts and skirts primarily hawking wares by the road sides and along the major busy roads like Ziks Avenue and Enugu-Onitsha expressway when there are gridlocks.

As is often the case over the years, the children involved in this kind of trading engage in it mostly after school hours, on weekends or during their holi-

days.

Naomi, whose father is an ironbender and mother, a petty trader, who hawks can drinks, biscuits and pure water along the EnuguOnitsha express road, has been in the hawking business since she was five years old.

But the case of Naomi, who is in primary two was different because it was on a day when pupils were supposed to be seated in their classes in school learning that she was seen hawking wares along the ever- busy secretariat road in Awka, even though she was ill and running temperature.

The solemn look and the tears dripping down the face of Naomi attracted the questioning of some ladies, working at a cyber café, who out of concern and empathy, called her close to know her problem.

According to little Naomi, her mother knew her state of health but still asked her to hawk, since, according to her, it will make her to be strong.

If the child is very sick and lying down on the bed, then there is no reason why such a child should be sent out to hawk

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Death of a pastor’s wife C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

“When I was told that my wife delivered safely, my joy knew no bounds. When I called to know the condition of my wife, I was told the doctor is cleaning her in the theatre. After some minutes, I called but was told that she was bleeding and required blood. I told them to do all they can to give her blood, that I will settle the bill when I arrive Aba. When I sensed danger, I took the next available transport to Aba. When I arrived, I was told by my wife’s elder brother that she could not make it. I was so devastated because I saw an empty world without my wife who left two children.”

Pastor Nelson, who said he nearly fell out of faith, alleged that the wife died of neglect, and also went ahead to accuse the clinic of not referring his late wife to a specialist hospital, when they found out that the doctor was not on hand to handle the issue, as a result of which the situation went out of hands. He also alleged that when the doctor was called, he did not come until after the wife had died, adding that the nurses that attended to his late wife were not qualified to handle complications of that magnitude.

Pastor Nelson also wanted to know why they did not call him as the husband whose phone number is on the clinic’s card to explain things to him before he called the clinic.

He concluded that his late wife died as a result of neglect and poor medical attention she received at the clinic.

Nelson said his wife’s body has been deposited at the St. Francis Mortuary along Aba Owerri Road, Aba. When our reporter visited the clinic, the medical director, Dr A Ezirim, refused to comment on the issue.

At the clinic situated along Port-Harcourt road Aba, nurses were seen attending to patients.

They also refused to comment.

A barn of yams

It is regarded as the king of crops. Multiple barns of yam were a measurement of the wealth of a man.

It could fetch him many wives, titles and prestige. So powerful is the crop that it is celebrated all over Igbo land.

But today, the barns are disappearing as OKEGWO KENECHUKWU in Onitsha reports

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n the traditional Igbo setting, before the early 19th Century, a man’s wealth is measured with the number of yam barns he has at the end of each harvesting period.

Barn is usually built behind the Imeobi, called the man’s own house.

The barn is a place where crops are stored and preserved till the next planting season.

These crops include yam, cocoyam, water yam, potatoes, etc. Women dare not go into the barn without permission because of the regard

Vanishing yam barns in Igbo land ...When traditional titles were for men, nobody was given an Ozo title without owning a number of barns...

and significance attached to the barn. It is also an abomination for a woman to go into the barn to untie or collect yam usually tied on the barn either for sale or for domestic purposes. The barn is regarded as a deity that abhors interference, particularly from the women, no matter how highly placed.

It was against this backdrop that the Igbo people at the beginning of each planting season, celebrate the feast of the Afiajioka (goddess of Crops). Afiajioka is a time of thanksgiving to Goddess of the earth for the protection of the people throughout the harvesting period and a time for the people to appease the gods for a bumper harvest.

The Afiajioka festival is celebrated throughout the Igbo land but at different times of the year, usually before the planting season. Afiajioka festival is of high significance to a

Sick, but out for survival C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

That may not have been the first time she was sent out to hawk while ill and running temperature but that was per chance, the first time God chose to expose such malady that has systematically eaten deep into the society.

To some people in the stock of Naomi’s mother, it doesn’t matter whether the child is mildly sick or not, but to the other stock with regard for moral, it is a huge crime sending a sick child out on the road to go and hawk.

A banana seller, Mrs. Charity Ikeakor, said; “As you can see, I hawk banana and groundnut and my eight year-old daughter helps me out because through the proceeds, I feed and fend for her needs. My husband does not bring much because he is only a brick layer but that does not mean I will send her to go out and sell when she is sick....no

Another set of hawkers

way. That’s wickedness. It’s not an attitude of a good mother.

“Her recovery should be uppermost before we talk of business. What if she slumps on the road? The money she made from that day’s hawking will not even be enough to take care of her hospital bill. Sometimes, hardship makes some women lose their motherly instinct”.

But for her neighbour, Mrs. Ebele

Ikwuani, who hawks oranges and pawpaw: “That a child is running temperature and is not lying down on the bed is not a reason for her not to hawk.

It is important and good for them to be part of life’s struggle through thick and thin, so they know in time that life is not easy.

“If the child is very sick and lying down on the bed, then there is no reason why such a child should be sent out to hawk...that way, you know that she is really sick”.

lot to the Igbo people. It is also a time where the Igbo leaders of thought, the academia and all other Igbo in Diaspora gather to brain storm on some vital issues of common interest. It has also been institutionalized in a forum called Ahanjoku lecture.

During the lecture, the Igbo people formulate policies and programmes of Ndigbo as it affects their socioeconomic and future development.

Scholars are drawn from all field of human endeavour to brainstorm on diverse sectors of nation building and as well, proffer ways forward for a better society in the Igbo speaking states and Nigeria as a whole.

During that period, each state within the region showcases their farm products in an exhibition usually held at the state and Local Government levels. The best farmer of the year usually wins a prize as the best farmer in the state and Local Government Area.

In those days of cultural dignified system, anchored on the norms and values when traditional titles were for men, nobody was given an Ozo title without owning a number of barns, especially, that of yam, which is regarded as king of crops in Igbo land.

The yam barns are arranged in ascending order in a single line of about 50 to 60 tubers of yams depending on the size. The big ones are usually meant for eating and entertaining visitors. In fact, in some Igbo communities, it is abomination for an Ozo title holder to eat outside his palace or in public places because it was assumed that he is wealthy and can afford whatever he wants to eat in his house.

It is therefore the strength of your barn that determined a man’s status in the community. Those who could not afford a large barn of yam were regarded as lazy people. It is also the extent of your farming that influenced and determines the number of wives one marries.

A successful farmer is regarded as a god and can feed as many wives and children as possible.

21

thursday, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

The scene of the clash

Two communities in Edo State have drawn daggers over a piece of land that is in dispute.

They both lay claims to the land, which is full of mineral deposits.

Cajetan Mmuta, reports from BENIN

F

or man’s survival in life and living, war often times is inevitable and struggle is indeed the name. It is no wonder, therefore, the expression that life is war and there is no peace without sweat, tears and blood.

This further entails also the reason there is always class war between higher animals and lesser ones in the battle for dominance, influence and control.

This ugly but obvious trend arguably is more often visited with much resistance by the oppressed against the oppressor. That is presently the tale of woes for two sister communities of Okpella-Ogute in Etsako East Local Government Area and Uneme-Erhurun in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, both in Edo State. The communities had for decades lived together until last week when what nature has decorated people of both communities with, as source of wealth and treasure for their development, joy and happiness suddenly brought them to the path of sorrow and tears. Now, the people are locked in mutual suspicion and fear of uncertainty as youths and elders of the two communities engaged

Their gift, their curse themselves in a bloody fight.

When the dust later died down, the residents were left at the crossroads following the death of one person, several injured and five persons declared missing.

One of the missing victims hails from Okpella-Ogute while the other four are from Uneme-Erhurun community respectively. Operatives of the state anti-riot squad from the state command were drafted to the troubled areas to avert further break down of law and order. In the heat of the mayhem, several motorcycles were burnt while cars and houses were also damaged, forcing residents of Uneme-Erhunru community and others to flee.

Aside the armed policemen, there were also soldiers drafted to man security at the boundary harbouring the two communities.

New Telegraph’s visit to the troubled communities revealed the presence of more than five security patrol vehicles stationed at strategic locations with stern looking armed security personnel on guard within and outside the areas.

Also, the Uneme-Erhunru Community Secondary School was badly damaged by irate youths from her neighbouring community during the attack.

At the centre of the avoidable feud is the controversy over ownership of a piece of land lying about 13 kilometres into the forest from Uneme-Erhunru.

The said land has huge deposits of gold, limestone and other minerals that have become the attraction of many prospecting companies in the country. How-

I personally stopped it not to prospect anything because I am the appropriate authority to deal with such issues

ever, a portion of the rich land was alleged to have been recently allocated to a firm, reputed for cement production by the traditional ruler of Okpella Kingdom, HRM Alhaji Yesufu Dirisu, the Okuokpellabe of Okpella. The contention therefore is that the monarch allegedly made such allocation without the prior knowledge of people of Uneme-Erhurun in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, who have for years, shared things in common with his community. The traditional ruler of Okpella community in an interview claimed that his neighbours (people of Uneme-Erhurun) were tenants in the land and that the controversial piece of land belongs to his people in Etsako-East and not Akoko-Edo Local Government council. According to him, there was a report by a commission set up in 1981 by the state government to look into the disputed land which gave them the portion.

He disclosed that the people of Uneme-Erhuru had disputed the claim by his community, pointing out that the committee exceeded its terms of reference and that government white paper on the report did not give the land to Okpella people as being claimed.

At Uneme-Erhunru, journalists on tour to the troubled spots were escorted by a truck load of armed policemen deployed from Auchi Area Command in Etsako West council area.

Speaking on the ugly incident, the Okwokpellabe said on phone that he was out of town but attributed the immediate cause of the crisis to the recent felling and sawing of wood in the disputed

land. He pointed out that Okpella community did not only have issues with Erhurun but also with Ogute community. According to the monarch, the wood they were bringing into his domain was cut by unidentified person from Okpella but disclosed that Erhurun people attacked the person and in the process prevented people from carrying the logs of wood out of the community on the premise that the land belongs to people of Erhurun community. He also claimed that the report on the said land showed that it belongs to Okpella not Erhurun, and that Okpella shares boundary with Dangbala community and that Okpella people gave the land where Erhuhun is presently occupying as tenants. The traditional ruler also explained that one person is missing from Okpella. “We are still searching for that person,” he said.

On his part, the traditional head of Central Uneme clan, HRH Oba Moses Omoarelogie Braimah, blamed the provocation that pitched the two communities to the deliberate ploy by some forces from Okpella community to harass and intimidate him and his subjects. Oba Omoarelogie Braimah explained that, “What happened was that the Okwokpelabe invited the company to go and prospect minerals, which is in our area in Uneme land in Akoko Edo Local Government Area. I personally stopped it not to prospect anything because I am the appropriate authority to deal with such issues.

This led to my series of protest letters sent to the state Governor, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

22 South-South FOCUS

thursday, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Giving a helping hand to the needy Dominic Adewole ASABA

I

f the dictum which says, “Givers never lack” and “Generosity turns what we have into enough” are true perceptions about life, then the Friday Osanebi Foundation (FOF) must be on the footpath to greatness and limitless possibilities. That is by splashing scholarship awards on 100 deserving students of Delta North Senatorial axis of Delta State.

Although, the empowerment programmes of the foundation, sponsored by its originator, the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, include youth empowerment, women affairs and community development, upliftment of the less privileged like widows, orphans and disabled, and academic / scholarship awards, the initiator never lost sight of his lowly beginning in life and the onus to give back to the society.

In the past five years, Osanebi has empowered many youths in his constituency with starter-packs after their vocational studies, doled out tricycles, popularly called Keke Napep, and motor cars to over 50 youths and built bridges of peace and unity among the towns and villages in Ndokwa nation.

For this reason, he was nicknamed by his fans as The Empowerment Master and in another quarter, he is being addressed as Mr. Simplicity.

His goodwill and conviction in raising giants and empowering the society assumed a new dimension on Saturday, March 5, in Asaba, when he rolled out the 2016 Scholarship Awards for 60 undergraduates, from among the 300 applicants that competed for the endowment,

and 40 post primary education students.

The 60 undergraduates from across the tertiary institutions in Nigeria, but mainly of Delta North origin, were tested and proven, according to the Secretary of the Foundation, Mr. Obinne Agbanashi, after a keenly contested examination before the 40 others were co-opted via the executive fiat of the founder.

New Telegraph gathered that 30, out of the 40 post primary education pupils, who are students of the Fundamental Secondary School, Utagba-Ugbo at Kwale in Ndowa West Local Government Area of the state, got their automatic inclusion when Osanebi was a Guest of Honour at the reunion of the old students’ association of the school, while 10 others made the list, having excelled as top best students of the school over the years.

The Deputy Speaker, who dispatched the 100 beneficiaries with a matching order, thus, “Go and come back with

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

DSS, the police and other relevant agencies. In fact, this brought a stop to the company’s activities.”

He stated that, “On the 11th of February, one of our brothers, a registered timber contractor duly registered in Akoko Edo was attacked.

Each time the Okwokpelabe wants to foment trouble, he uses his vigilante people to come and terrorise us. He is claiming that this is his land but it is not true.”

According to him: “He cannot come from Etsako East local Government Area to own a land in Akoko Edo. He took the vigilante boys to where our kinsman was sawing his wood in my own area. The vigilante people seized the saw with which our brother was working with and took it to the Okegbelagbe. His vigilante boys also saw one of our hunters in the bush and took his gun and his motor saw to the palace of Okegbelagbe. When I protested, they had to return the gun but refused to release the motor saw engine. But after serious protest, he released the motor saw engine but warned that he should not go there again to fell trees; that even where I am staying today belongs to him. Meanwhile, this is a place where my great

testimonies”, having splashed a cheque of N100,000 on each of them and N150,000 each on the first and second runner up in the competition, warned the mammoth crowd of well-wishers that besieged the venue of the award to make a distinction between politics and his personal agenda for the poor and the less privileged.

He said: “Politics should be differentiated from my corporate social responsibility.

This scholarship awards for instance, have nothing to with politics. It is purely an empowerment programme.”

Supported by the Commissioner, representing Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality on the Board of the Delta State Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Comrade Nnamdi Ezechi, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Commissioner in the Bureau for Special Duties, Chika Ossai and a former council boss, now an aide to the incumbent Governor, Ike Aniche, who came to catch a glimpse of the open handedness,

the Deputy Speaker, who said he was unperturbed that the scholarship project has gulped over N10 million, urged the beneficiaries to shun cultism, kidnapping, robbery, forgery of results and other nefarious tendencies during the course of studies, warning them to ‘remember the son of whom they are.’

Obviously overwhelmed by the show of love and the magnanimity, the DESOPADEC chief, Ezechi, who described Osanebi as his mentor, said the gesture was a challenge to all other political appointees and elected officers in the state.

“I am overwhelmed with joy.

This is a man (Osanebi) who rose from a humble background and now he is being led by God. One good turn deserves another.

The beneficiaries must work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. What is happening today is a challenge to the rest us on the corridor of power”, the oil chief said.

Corroborating him, Ossai, who prayed earnestly for

Osanebi, said the 100 beneficiaries have become the envy of the state and pride to their parents, urging the beneficiaries to respect the donor’s intention.

While Aniche lambasted those who are billionaires but lack the political will to help the poor and the less privileged and commended Osanebi’s large heart, the National Secretary of Ndokwa Youths (Worldwide), Idi-Presley Ifeanyichukwu, who said he has done his research before concluding that it was only Osanebi that has single-handedly sponsored 100 students in the history of the creation of Delta State.

Idi-Presley’s research spurred Obinne, FOF Secretary, and the Chief Press Officer, Oyinbosochukwu Nwanbueze, who, in their separate remarks, made bold to say “We don’t give scholarships to undergraduates and go to sleep. We follow up through monitoring mechanism to see that the beneficiaries are coping favourable with their studies.

Participants at the ceremony

Their gift, their curse

grandfather lived and died. It is over Alh. Dirisu 300 years that we settled here. He is from Agenebode and we have no connection with them at all. Since the colonial era was abolished, Erhurun-Uneme has been on its own.

We don’t do anything with them. We have nothing in common.”

He added further that, “Last Sunday, 21st of February, they came with two tippers. They went to the bush to confront our kinsman, the same man they collected his motor saw last time.

This time around, they went to collect all his wood. But when they were returning back, our youths blocked the road that they should not carry the wood. The vigilante people from Etsako sent by the Okwokpelagbe, went to reinforce. Most of our people were in the church. Before you knew it, they started setting our houses on fire, destroying cars and motor cycles.”

The traditional ruler pointed out that, “The beginning of this crisis was when I wrote a petition that that land belongs to Erhurun-Uneme; that I am the only person that has the authority to give instruction on what to do with it. So, I said that any company coming here to excavate any mineral, whether BUA or Dangote, they should come and register with me. Then, I will carry the registration to Igarra where our local

government headquarter is.”

“Four of our kinsmen are missing since that attack.”

He however listed those missing to include Oladimi Ojo, Alasa Yusuf, Olurifemi Onifaye, Okereke Saliu.

Speaking more on the disputed land, he said, “We have minerals in that land. The police invited us on February 2. When we got there, they said we should be peaceful, that land case is never the responsibility of the police but that any of us who felt cheated, should go to court. And I told them I am ready to go to court.

In 1981, we had a dispute in this land which led to a commission of Inquiry. The white paper released by that commission blamed the Okpella people to have entered our land, even the forest officer who gave them permit was dismissed from service.”

He added that, “I want the government to come and give us a boundary so that everybody will know his area.

Since he jumped from Etsako East to come to Akoko Edo to drag our land, it means he does not know his boundary. So, I want the government to come and demarcate the boundaries so that he will know.” Also, a community leader Prince Joel Itemoagbor who corroborated the position of the monarch said the people of his community were being intimidated.

23

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features WaterAid advocates safe, private toilets for girls

Health

Interview Wrong practices in food production fuel cancers

24 25

Tackling child malnutrition More than half of the children in five northern states of Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, and Zamfara suffer severe effects of malnutrition, reports APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

E

xperts from Federal and State Governments, development partners, civil society and academia are calling for action to address the root causes of child malnutrition in five norther states of the federation.

The call for action is expected to tackle malnutrition in Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe and Zamfara states.

Their call came on the heels of a report highlighting the high rate of child malnutrition in northern Nigeria.

This came to the fore at a twoday meeting in Abuja where some experts discussed the results of research on activities carried out by the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) programme in the states of Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Malnutrition is the condition that develops when the body is deprived of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. Malnutrition occurs in people who are either undernourished or overnourished.

According to medical experts, malnourished children experience developmental delays, weight-loss and illness as a result of inadequate intake of protein, calories and other nutrients.

The short-term implications of malnutrition eventually give way to long-term complications,

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

A healthcare worker treating a malnurished child

such as growth and cognitive delays.

As a result of malnutrition, 58 per cent of children under five in these states suffer from stunting, meaning their physical and mental development have been impaired.

An estimated 370,000 children with severe acute malnutrition in these states will require lifesaving treatment this year. Without such treatment, some 70,000 of those children are likely to die.

While treatment for severe malnutrition remains essential and has been the focus of State Governments’ activities, the participants at the WINNN meeting said increased attention should be paid to prevention, which is critical to addressing the problem in the long term.

Research presented at the meeting confirmed that many mothers do not understand the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and that even giving water to a baby under six months old can lead to illnesses and malnutrition.

The WINNN group of experts recommended increasing activities to prevent malnutrition such as: *encouraging women to attend health facilities for antenatal and postnatal care where they can be given guidance on how to best feed their children, especially the most vulnerable children under two years old.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole

*Husbands, families and community members, including traditional and religious leaders, all have a role to play, the experts agreed, and should be informed about how best to encourage and support women to breastfeed exclusively and to feed children under two years old appropriately. *Communities should be educated about problems associated with harmful traditional feeding practices that can reduce an infant’s growth and development, and messages on good feeding practices should be carried on the radio, the experts agreed. *The experts also recommended that preventing malnutrition should be a matter addressed

Many mothers do not understand the importance of exclusive breastfeeding

www.youtube.com

at a wider level than present, involving coordination with ministries of health; agriculture; women’s affairs and social development; and water resources. *They also called for greater training and deployment of health workers.

Applauding the increase in State and Federal Governments’ and partners’ commitment to resolving the problem of child malnutrition over the past several years, as well as the more than US$47.9 million investment by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in the WINNN programme since its inception in 2011, the participants at the meeting highlighted the need for all stakeholders to invest further. *They called on all levels of government to provide greater leadership, better coordination and increased transparent funding to scale up the lessons learned from the WINNN program, providing sustained action to improve the nutrition, health and future prospects of women, adolescent girls and children in northern Nigeria.

The WINNN prog ram, implemented by the Nigerian Government with support from UNICEF, Save the Children and Action Against Hunger, is funded by DFID and works in three local government Areas (LGAs) in each of the five states.

24

Health \ features

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CLWCF boss wants National Cancer Registry Medical Appolonia Adeyemi

T

he Founder of Children Living with Cancer Foundation (CLWCF), Dr. Nneka Nwobbi has called for commitment in the establishment of a National Cancer Registry in the country.

According to Nwobbi, having the registry is the only way to effectively address childhood cancer, which is a challenge in the country.

Without a National Cancer Registry, it will be difficult to generate authentic data on both childhood cancers as well as other cancers affecting the adult community, she stressed.

Nwobbi’s assertion was unveiled recently in Lagos during “The Bald Challenge Funfare” to mark the International Childhood Cancer Week, held on February 20.

The programme attracted hundreds of children who participated in the fanfare at the Muri Okunola Park at Victoria Island., Lagos. There was a life band which played music to which participating children danced, while having fun.

The kids similarly played various games including watching video and listening to presentations on cancer preventions. Over 20 schools participated in the programme which also featured many artists.

Flora Onwudiwe

T

he Director/ Clinic Research Coordinator at the Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Bindiya Chugam has urged Nigerians to do regular cancer screening so as to prevent cancer.

Chugam made the call recently when 100 women in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State were screened for free cancer test at the Senator Oluremi Tinubu hall in Eti osa Local Government Area Victoria Island Lagos.

The programme which was organised

by Lakeshore Cancer Centre in partnership with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) with support from Iru Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Victoria Lagos.

According to Chugam, “there is very poor awareness about cancer and the people need to know the signs and symptoms of cancer; we need to teach them how to prevent

According to the founder of CLWCF, “what we are using now is American or Caribbean statistics but we need Nigerian statistics and from our discussion in Abuja recently, all the Cancer Registries in Nigeria including the zonal ones are all going to be grouped together.”

Efforts are on to ensure that the various zonal cancer registries work together and “they are working on it to see what can be done about childhood cancer in Nigeria.”

Without genuine data, Dr. Nwobbi she noted that it will be difficult to effectively address childhood cancers in the country.

While lamenting the lack of working data to plan and tackle cancers in the country, Nwobbi said, “We don’t have a very It will be strong data base in Nigeria difficult to and we don’t have the data that we need. effectively However, to address the address challenge, she stressed that data is already being childhood collated from zonal levels. cancers “I am sure in the next one or two years we will be able to come out and say this is what (childhood cancer) is like in Nigeria and it will be authentic,” she added.

Speaking further, she urged the new Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to identify and admit that the nation has problem with regards to cancer. “Once we have that on ground then we have experts who can do things that will work,” Nwobbi

said.

“Once the government admits that there is a problem.

Nwobbi reasoned, “That is where cancer registry comes in. If we don’t even have data what are we fighting?. We

need to know how many of our kids are dying of cancer.

How many are coming down with cancer and how many are getting cured? At what age are they coming down with the disease (presenting with cancer)? What are the different kinds of cancers they are coming down with?”

All these are the things we need to tackle, she added, saying, “By the time we tackle them we will now be able to put support system and treatment system centers on ground.”

Explaining the significance of the theme, “The Bald Challenge” Nwobbi said having seen kids lose their hair to cancer treatment, the idea is to make the bald head resulting from cancer treatment popular as a way to prevent stigma for kids battling cancers.

WaterAid advocates safe, private toilets for girls

O

ne in three schoolgirls around the world do not have access to safe, private toilets at school, increasing the likelihood that girls will drop out at puberty.

In a statement WaterAid issued to mark the International Women’s Day on Tuesday, the organisation stated that this development could entrench the cycle of poverty among girls.

The International Women’s Day is commemorated globally on March 8.

Women and girls, who make up more than half

the world’s population, are often more deeply impacted than men and boys by a lack of access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

They are also often more affected by poverty, inequality, lack of access to health care and by global economic crises.

Globally, some 1.2 billion women and girls still live without adequate sanitation and 330 million women and girls still live without access to clean CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

100 Eti-Osa women benefit from free cancer screening it and the best way to prevent cancer is to do regular screenings.

“So, what we are doing right now is an example of a cancer screening programme.

When they (participants) come in they do early screening and it will determine early detection,” she concluded.

Chugam said Lakeshore Cancer Centre goes to communities screen including breast and cervical cancer screenings. Besides, “we do presentations and we have done a few of them.

In his remarks, the Head, Public Affairs Unit at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mrs. Dorothy Bassey said that the funding for the screening exercise came from the pockets of the DPR staff and assured the community of their continuous support in preventing cancer and

creating awareness.

“Even after the present staff disengages from DPR, we hope that it would be a continuous partnership with Lakeshore Cancer Centre,” she added.

Mrs. Bassey said, “cancer has no age barriers, no religious barriers and geographical barriers. It affects everybody both male and female and with lakeshore guiding us we hope to reach out to as many people as possible,” adding, “Early detection is a key in conquering cancer.”

“We do have corporate social activities in our office and one of it is what we can do to impact on the immediate community where we operate. This is what we preach to oil companies.

So, we should be leading by example.”

Recalling the planning stage of the project , “ We said to ourselves

what can we do as a staff of the department? What can we do to impact on our immediate community? We look around and we found out that there are a lot of women who live around here.

We asked how can we find a way to reach out to them?“ On the staff commitment for the project, she said, “, The less privileged people do not have the opportunities and we felt we should reach

Nwogu

out to them. Everybody participated in one form or the other in educating the women. We distributed flyers; we went round and made sure that everybody contributed something and we handed the money to the Lakeshore Cancer Centre.

The one day screening exercise, she said, “We would be interested to know what is going on. Hopefully we would continue mentoring and supporting with financies and counseling because we have a medical team working with us and they are involved in counseling .

“The key thing is early detection. That is the message we are taking across the society. This is the first time they are adopting the social responsibility on cancer. This is the first time we are reaching out to the grass roots to the masses.”

Facts

Complexity of human body ou could remove a Y large part of your internal organs and survive.

The human body may appear fragile but it’s possible to survive even with the removal of the stomach, the spleen, 75 per cent of the liver, 80 per cent of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area.

About 75% human waste is water While we might typically think that urine is the liquid part of human waste products, the truth is that what we consider solid waste is actually mostly water as well. You should be thankful that most waste is fairly water-filled, as drier harder stools are what cause constipation and are much harder and sometimes painful to pass.

Earwax necessary for good health While many people find earwax to be disgusting, it is actually a very important part of your ear’s defense system. It protects the delicate inner ear from bacteria, fungus, dirt and even insects. It also cleans and lubricates the ear canal.

Smallest cell is male sperm While you can’t see skin cells or muscle cells, the ovum is typically large enough to be seen with the naked eye with a diameter of about a millimeter. The sperm cell, on the other hand, is tiny, consisting of little more than nucleus.

Teeth start growing before birth While few babies are born with teeth in place, the teeth that will eventually push through the gums of young children are formed long before the child even leaves the womb. At nine to 12 weeks the fetus starts to form the teeth buds that will turn into baby teeth.

Fetus acquires fingerprints at three months When only a small fraction of the way through its development, a fetus will have already developed one of the most unique human traits: fingerprints.

At only six to 13 weeks of development, the whorls of what will be fingerprints have already developed.

Oddly enough, those fingerprints will not change throughout the person’s life and will be one of the last things to disappear after death.

Health \ Interview

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

25

‘Wrong practices in food production fuel cancers’ Prof. Ifeoma Okoye is a radiologist at the University of Nigeria College of Medicine, and at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. The president of International Cancer Week in Nigeria, in this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, discusses the challenge cancer poses in Nigeria and measures to prevent the disease

How will you assess childhood cancer in Nigeria?

I would say that it is not so much the incidence as much as the ignorance about it. People do not know. I give you an example: I’m a Sunday school teacher, I saw one child with swollen jaw and I was surprised he was just sitting in the church. Of couse, he was under tension and probably it was very painful. So, I came across to him and said what is going on? I found the brother and mother and on interaction with them, I found they absolutely had no idea what it was. They said that they thought that it was a boil; I knew that he had what we call Burkings Lymphoma by just by looking at him and what it was already doing to his dentition and this is a completely treatable cancer. So, I made a referral for them to the hospital.

Fortunately for them they were able to get him into remission and he did very well. So that is actually the critical thing; the critical thing is to increase awareness which Children Living with Cancer Foundation (CLWCF) is trying to do so that when parents see abnormal lumps in their children and they should know the signs and the symptoms and bring them because these cancers with children are mostly treatable.

What are the symptoms?

Well, any abnormal mass anywhere, even when its indolent; it’s just growing and then it becomes painful. You don’t wait till then.

Our advice to the entire population including children is that when you have anything that is a growing lump anywhere, wherever you find it, go and see a doctor. Let him look at it. Don’t assume it is going to go and sometimes, something has been there for a long and suddenly it becomes painful.

That is a sign that something is changing. So even if you had gone earlier to see the doctor and he looked at it and feels it’s nothing, if it continues to be there and becomes painful you should go back.

Prof. Okoye

Why is cancer still a challenge?

Well the major reason of cancer still being a big challenge, particularly in Nigeria is late detection. The awareness is very low, and then the acceptance that it is even a disease. Do you know cancer belongs to a group of diseases called non communicable diseases (NCDs) of which hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases are and yet if you get a diagnosis of cancer people start paying you condolence visits but if you get a diagnosis on hypertension somebody will ask the doctor: so what do I do?

And he will follow it. But somebody with a diagnosis on cancer will go to faith based organisation for prayer; go to babalowo (a traditional medicine); and do just about anything but the right thing because they feel there is no hope.

Now why is it that people have this perception that with cancer there is no hope? The reason for that is because generally if you look around anybody that have been diagnosed of cancer die.

Why they are dying is the next question, they are dying because they have come late. People are coming late and they are dying as a subsequent of that because it’s rather a bit late to do anything but try to make them comfortable and extend their lives. Instead of achieving cure if you come early.

So, people are observing that and they are afraid of cancer and they have no knowledge. So it’s a vicious circle. We need to cut that vicious circle.

That’s why we are carrying out a campaign called Crush Late Cancer Nigeria. Last year we went pink. We got the entire go pink.

Avoid sweetened drinks

What was going pink all about?

It was about increasing the ability for our people to understand that cancer is curable and preventable.

Even on cervical cancer, 26 women are dying of cervical cancer every day in Nigeria; yet nobody needs to die. These are totally avoidable deaths because there is vaccine for cervical cancer that can be given between the ages of nine to 26 in both sexes.

Apart from cervical cancer, this virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with penal and oral cancers. So, all these are avoidable cancers by vaccination.

What is the role of lifestyle modification on cancer?

Lifestyle modifications impacts cancers and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Lifestyle modification includes increasing the amount of vegetables you eat, reducing the fat, reducing processed foods, cutting down on foods with a lot of preservatives, cutting down on usage of food enhancers, especially those that have monosodium glutamate and avoiding sweetened drinks, especially all those that have been sweetened with aspartame. All these are carcinogenic and we have a lot of that.

Could you highlight the impact of wrong food practices?

We need to also teach Nigerians how not to use wrong practices in food production. For, instance I hear they use carbide to ripen fruits; they are using formalin to process hides and skin, which is also known among Hauses as ‘candar’ and among the Yorubas as ‘pomo’. Similarly, they are using dye to redden palm oil. Also, they are using insecticides to spray insect-eating beans so as to prevent insects from attacking the beans.

People are cutting corners all over the place - in fish production and in poultry production they are giving them a lot anti biotics and steroids. So, we need to improve knowledge; we need to get people to understand that there are certain things they are doing which is making people to become more prevalent to cancer.

Then, we need to cut down on obesity. We eat a lot of high density-nutrient poor foods. Our carbohydrates are very good local food; Nigerian food is very good because it has high fiber. which is the benefits reduce colonic cancer. But we still need to reduce the load we are taking; we are taking too much volume of rice, and too much volume of swallow and all that. Cut it down; and increase your fruits and vegetables intake.

Reduce frying oil because people fry and we re-use the oil. So, if we do that then we exercise. The place where you don’t want to carry fat is in your belle because that’s where the dangerous fat. Yet, you see that most Nigerian men are pregnant. So, we need to make then understand that big tummy is not a statuesque; it’s not a sign of affluence. That spare tyre is dangerous. You can have a cardiac attack just from the fact that you have that. It’s a pre disposing factor, obesity is a high pre dispose factor.

So what about smoking? Some people tell us that we don’t smoke that much in Nigeria. That is not true. Current statistics is showing that a lot of our young people and even older ones are smoking a lot.

Then alcohol abuse, we abuse alcohol a lot very much. We need to go back and start drinking water. Our bodies are made up of about 80 per cent water.

So we need to hydrate ourselves. Look at, we are sweating here; we are losing a lot of fluid.

Our body is telling us that we are thirsty. We should go and give it more fluid because that is the response we think we are supposed to give the body. So, we need to hydrate more.

Furthermore, we should teach our children to take less of these sugary coloured drinks; we don’t even know their contents, but what do we do?

Our children are always having one packet of one sugary drink or the other. Help them to eat natural products, natural foods, and drink water instead of soft drinks that has a lot of sugar.

These are some of the things we need to do.

26

Health \ News

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Water not necessary in exclusive breastfeeding’

N L-R Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria and Daryl Gehlig, Category Director(Dairy), Promasidor South Africa at the event

WaterAid advocates safe, private toilets for girls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

drinking water.

The overwhelming majority of these women and girls live in the developing world. One-third of schools globally and more than half of schools in the world’s Least Developed Countries do not have access to adequate sanitation, according to UNICEF monitoring.

Dirty water, poor sanitation and poor hygiene including lack of handwashing facilities with soap is primarily a women’s issue, impacting women and girls’ health, safety and right to education more than men, and needs addressing at the

highest levels.

While we must celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and acknowledge their many significant contributions to society, the global theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Pledge for Parity’ highlights that we must also remain keenly aware that progress has slowed or has remained minimal in many places across the world, including in Nigeria. This deceleration in progress continues to keep the gender gap wide open and urgent action is needed to accelerate gender parity.

Reacting, Nigeria

Country Representative of WaterAid, Dr. Michael Ojo said, “when we celebrate how much women have achieved, it is also important to remember that one in three women and girls still do not have the simple dignity of a safe, private place to relieve themselves, and to care for themselves during their periods. As long as this is the case, these women and girls will find their health, well-being and education compromised. The world’s leaders promised to eradicate extreme poverty and leave no one behind in the new United Nations’ Global Goals on Sustainable Development.

utritionists and paediatricians Ngozi Ibeziako, who stated that parents have affirmed that water drink- should understand that 80 per cent of ing is not necessary for babies breast milk is water. She also appealed in their first six months when they are to health workers to assist in informing undergoing exclusive breastfeeding. women on the benefits of breastfeeding The experts, which included Profes- while also advocating for baby-friendly hospitals and work places. sor (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Delivering the lead paper earlier, Prof.

Dr, Ngozi Ibeziako, President of the Pae- Nnam averred that (exclusive breastdiatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), feeding is a complete nutritional source Mrs. Stella Umunna, a retired Deputy for infants for the first six months of life Director/ Head of Nursing at Iyi-Enu because breast milk contains all the esMission Hospital in Anambra State and sential nutrients, bio-active compounds Dr. Patrick Eze, former National Presi- and anti-infective factors needed by the dent, National Association of Nigeria infant for the first six months of life.

Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), made Her words, “Human milk contains the declaration at a one-day symposium water, fat, proteins, carbohydrates, organised by Promasidor Nigeria Lim- minerals, vitamins, some hormones, ited in Tuesday in Enugu. enzymes, growth factors, The theme of the symessential fatty acids and Exclusive posium was ‘The Nutrition immunological factors that play vital roles for Wisdom of Infant Feeding breastfeeding adequate development Choices”.

They also encouraged that and growth of the infant.” is a complete women should be supported According to her, the nutritional source nutrients contained in by their husbands, mothersin-laws, government and the breast milk are adequate for infants society in general to excluin quantity and quality sively breastfeed their babies to promote optimal growth in the first six months and to apply and development of infants. She exwisdom in introducing alternatives af- plained that composition of breast milk terwards. has been designed by nature to provide While harping on the need for mas- all the nutrient needs of the infant, sive enlightenment campaigns for make for easy digestion and assimilawomen and their husbands on the im- tion by infants. portance of breastfeeding, Mrs. Stella In his welcome address, Mr. Kachi Umunna said, “they should be made to Onubogu, Commercial Director, Prounderstand that water is not necessary masidor Nigeria said the company prowhen a child is being exclusively breast- duces quality and affordable nutritional fed in the first six months. products that are good for all categories Her position was supported by Dr, of people.

Cashew: The wonder plant C

ashews, known scientifically as Anacardium occidentale, belong to the same family as the mango and pistachio nut. Native to Brazil, cashews are crescentshaped nuts with a sweet flavour and a plethora of uses in the kitchen. Considered third in consumption among all the tree nuts in the world, they are great when mixed with raisins, dried cranberries, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, and other nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, to make a fantastic homemade trail mix.

The cashew tree is native to coastal areas of Brazil. In the 16th century, Portuguese explorers took cashew trees from this South American country and introduced them into other tropical regions such as India and some African countries, where they are now also cultivated. The cashew tree has always been a prized resource owing to its precious wood, cashew balm and cashew apple, but the cashew nut itself did not gain popularity until the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the leading commercial producers of cashews are India, Brazil, Mozambique, Tanzania and Nigeria.

Cashews are the number one crop in the world (after almonds), cultivated in more than 30 countries. They require a hot, humid climate to proliferate, which is why India, Brazil, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nigeria are the largest raw cashew producers.

The first lesson you gain from the cashew tree is patience. Cashew plants don’t begin to bear

Nature Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

nuts for three to five years, and then another eight to 10 weeks is needed to develop them to full maturity. They can produce for as long as 60 to 100 years after that.

A great mineral source, cashews contain 31 per cent of the daily recommended value for copper, along with 23 per cent for manganese, 20 per cent for magnesium and 17 per cent for phosphorus, as well as 12 per cent of the daily recommended value for vitamin K. Studies show that magnesium helps diminish the frequency of migraines, improve cognitive ability, and also lowers blood pressure, which can prevent heart attacks. Copper contains antioxidants that render free radicals harmless. This protects against heart disease and cancer. Enzyme components like tyrosinase convert to the pigment melanin, which provides not just our skin and hair colour, but protects our skin from UV damage. Magnesium works with copper to provide bone strength, and with melanin and elastin to provide joint flexibility, giving the nerves just the right tension.

Another ingredient in cashews is proanthocyanidins, which contain flavanols that inhibit the ability of cancer cells to divide and multiply, reducing incidences of colon cancer. Cashews do not contain cholesterol, and so is a perfect fruit for those

suffering from high Cholesterol. All but a small amount of the fat in cashews is the good kind - oleic acid - found also in olive oil. It’s the high- or lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol conversation that explains what “good fat = HDL; bad fat = LDL” actually means. It’s just another way of saying it makes a difference what fats you eat.

That’s because HDL cholesterol travels through your body, picking up bad bits of LDL cholesterol along the way, leaving it off at the liver, which breaks it down and gets rid of it. t o b e concl u d e d n e x t w e e k

Cashews PHOTO imgur.com

Flavonoids in fruits, vegetables fight weight gain Eating lots of fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoid molecules might help adults minimise weight gain as they age, a recent study suggests.

Most plants contain dif ferent flavonoids in varying concentrations. Some scientists believe these naturally occurring compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could help explain some of the health benefits associated with diets rich in fruits and vegetables.

“We found that increased intake of fruits like apples, berries and grapes was associated with less weight gain and these are high sources of some types of flavonoids,” said lead study author Monica Bertoia of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, United States (U.S).

Not all types of flavonoids, however, were linked to reduced weight gain once researchers accounted for how much fiber people ate, Bertoia added.

27

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry Removing trade barriers for real sector devt

Business What's news ExxonMobil, Chevron in assets dilemma over $95bn exploration cuts p.28

Stanbic, CSL, 8 others execute N130bn deals in two months p.28

eWorld Telecoms: Taming porting breaches

29 31

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE January 2016.............................9.6% December 2015........................9.6% November 2015........................9.4%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at Feb 25)

(Interbank as at Feb 25)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N450 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N370

l Foreign Reserves – $27.807bn as at 25/2/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

L-R: Executive Director, Micro Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Toyin Adeniji; Acting Managing Director/ CEO, Waheed Olagunju; Managing Director, VSL Consulting Limited, Ubadigbo Okonkwo and Divisional Head, SME South, BoI, Abdulganiyu Mohammed, after the signing of MoU with facilitators of BoI’s Youth Entrepreneurs scheme, in Lagos.

Reprieve underway on N30bn interconnect debt, says Shittu ARDUOUS JOB The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

The inactive status of majority of CDMA and fixed line networks makes debt recovery difficult

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Kunle Azeez

I

ndications have emerged that the Federal Government may soon take concrete measures towards resolving the rising interconnectivity debts among players in the nation’s telecoms industry.

Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, said on the sidelines of his official visits to some telecoms companies in Lagos last Monday that government is currently looking into how the issues would be resolved “very soon.”

According to analysts, the estimated N30 billion interconnectivity debts in the industry are capable of threatening the stability of Africa’s largest telecoms market, if government does not effectively manage the consequences of not settling the debts.

Termination or interconnec-

tion rates are the charges, which one telecommunications operator charges to another for terminating calls on its network.

According to findings, various operators have failed to settle their interconnect payment for calls initiated on their networks and terminating on competitors’ networks, a development that has increased the interconnectivity debt profile in the country.

From less than N10 billion in the last few years, interconnectivity debt profile has increased to N30 billion, as telecoms firms – big and small players - grapple with rising capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (Opex) in the telecoms industry.

MTN Nigeria is being owed the lion share of the interconnect debt, to the tune of N13.6 billion, representing about 40 per cent of the total debt.

However, MTN, with about 63 million subscribers and as such, often receive more terminations on its network, has incurred more unsettled interconnect rates from other players.

“The issue of the rising profile of interconnectivity debt is something we need to discuss in the industry. Otherwise, it may pose questions around sustainability of the industry,” MTN’s General Manager,

N13.6 billion Being the interconnect debt owed MTN Nigeria by other telecoms firm

Regulatory Affairs, Oyeronke Oyetunde, lamented.

The collapse of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators, which owed bigger players such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat, has further made it difficult for the debt recovery.

Till date, most of the CDMA/ fixed line networks in the sector, owing to their collapse and inactivity, are neither in active operation.

Already, a total of 14 licensed telecoms operators have been declared inactive by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

The Commission has also stopped including the monthly data of the affected telecoms firms, numbering 14, in the monthly industry status report.

The defunct companies, currently in inactive status categorisation by the regulator include state-owned wireline - Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) and its mobile arm M-Tel until its recent take-over by NATCOM Consortium in 2015.

Other CDMA networks, which had gone moribund, include Starcomms, Reliance Telecoms (operating as Zoom), Intercellular Nigeria, MTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28

business |NEWS

DISCOVERY Total annual discovered volumes averaged over 35 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) between 2009 and 2012 Adeola Yusuf

E

xxonMobil and Chevron are faced with assets’ haunt and expansion quandary over the $95 billion deep water exploration cutbacks, New Telegraph has gathered.

Just like ExxonMobil and Chevron, other international oil companies (IOCs), which have been in survival mode,

Reprieve underway on N30bn interconnect debt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

First Communications, Disc Communications, WiTel, O’Net (Odua Telecom), Rainbownet, Monarch Communications, XS Broadband, Webcom and IPNX. Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has said that government will look into the issue “to see how the issue of the debt may be resolved” in the interest of industry stability.

Speaking on the debt in the industry, a legal practitioner, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, said: “The increasing free minutes without commensurate returns are the main cause of the accumulating interconnects debts in Nigeria.”

Ekpenyong, who specialises in commercial law, noted that despite the growth in alternative disputes mechanisms, many mobile operators still enter into interconnection agreements without inserting dispute resolution or arbitration clauses in their agreements.

“Once a claim arises out of or in connection with such Interconnection Agreement, especially recovery of interconnect debts, the creditor telecom operator is bound to be at a loss as to how to recover its outstanding debts,” he added.

In 2012, the NCC okayed new guidelines for disconnecting telcos that default in meeting their interconnect payment obligations, as part of new measures to ensure sustainable development in the nation’s telecoms sector.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ExxonMobil, Chevron in assets dilemma over $95bn exploration cuts have witnessed quarterly losses, dividends cut and budgets slash to weather the storm caused by oil price rout.

ExxonMobil Corporation has said that it would continue to cut spending as long as crude prices remain low, but the world’s largest publicly-traded oil company added it may look at potential acquisitions in a bid to offset a dip in production.

Using a Wood Mackenzie analysis of investments cut by IOCs, the Rig zone reported that investment in exploration grew at a dizzying pace for over a decade, but falling returns – even at $80/bbl planning prices – caused many to question

the role of exploration in their business.

“Spend on exploration and appraisal (E&A), outside of the shale plays, tripled between 2005 and 2014 to a peak of $95 billion,” the report read.

Protecting cash flow is a top priority, so, why continue to spend on exploration?

The primary longterm organic growth engine of the upstream industry now looks like a dispensable luxury.

During that time, the number of E&A wells drilled actually fell. The entire industry was subject to spiralling cost escalation throughout this period, reflecting the rise in oil prices. What changed in exploration was not

only the cost base, but also the nature of the wells.

“Fewer cheap wells were drilled onshore (excluding US Shales), while more wells were drilled in expensive deep waters.

Over the decade, explorers moved to ever-deeper waters and targeted more deeply buried and complex reservoirs. These increasingly challenging wells required newer drilling rigs with greater capabilities – which came at a cost.

“To secure a newbuild rig, oil companies had to sign multi-year contracts, typically at day rates of $600,000 or more, triple the average day rate in early 2005.

The wells took longer to drill (because of the

greater depth), pushing up total well cost. And, of course, these higher drilling costs not only applied to exploration, but also to any potential development of the discoveries,” the report said.

Exploration spend was buoyed by higher oil prices, but was also success-driven. The years 2009 to 2012 were outstanding for finding giant fields off West Africa, East Africa, Brazil and elsewhere, and successful exploration companies were the darlings of the stock market.

Total annual discovered volumes averaged over 35 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) during these years.

The last three years

have been much less prolific. Once drilling activity shifted from exploration to appraisal in the two mega-regions of Brazil and East Africa, total discovered volumes fell away to average less than half the volumes of the previous four years – despite continuing high levels of spend.

That said, the technical risks remained largely unchanged, even with the increasing complexity. Across the decade, a little more than one in three wells found hydrocarbons.

More worrying than the fall in overall volumes is that proportionally fewer discoveries were considered commercially viable.

L-R: Managing Director, CAP Plc., Mrs. Omolara Elemide; Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architect (NIA), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Ladipo Lewis; President, Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Ms. Titi Ogufere and Marketing Manager, CAP Plc, Mr. Dominic Oladeji, after a special briefing of professional Bodies on the 2016 Dulux Colour of the Year (Monarch Gold), in Lagos.

DOMINANCE Ten stockbrokers are responsible for 68.15 per cent of the total value of transactions year-to-date Chris Ugwu

T

en leading stockbroking firms including Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, Rencap Securities Limited and seven others, traded 24.78 billion shares worth N129.67 billion between the first two months of this year.

Available statistics obtained

by New Telegraph showed that the 10 stockbrokers were responsible for 68.15 per cent of the total value between 04/01/2016 and 29/02/2016.

Also, the brokers are responsible for 67.68 per cent of the total volume during the period under review.

Further checks revealed that Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited dominated with 12.3 per cent or N24.748 billion exchanged in 2.238 billion shares.

Stanbic, CSL, 8 others execute N130bn deals in two months CSL Stockbrokers Limited followed with N24.452 billion or 12.1 per cent exchanged in 2.259 billion shares.

FBN Securities Limited accounted for N17.920 billion or 8.89 per cent invested in 907.710 million shares.

Rencap Securities Limited traded N15.511 billion or 7.70 per cent recorded in 1.034 billion shares, while EFCP Securities Limited accounted for N12.953 billion or 6.64 per cent in 752.871 million shares.

Vetiva Capital Management Limited traded N9.114 billion or 4.52 per cent, while Global Asset Management Nigeria Limited staked shares worth N7.012 billion or 3.48 per cent exchanged in 7.237 million shares.

Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited traded N6.226 billion or 3.091 per cent, while Africa Alliance Stockbrokers Limited exchanged N6.056 billion or 3 per cent.

Meristem Stockbrokers Lim-

ited trailed with N5.673 billion or 2.8 per cent.

In a bid to stimulate demand and engender competition in the stock broking community, the management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had in September 2011, introduced the ranking of the brokers by transaction value and volume.

Market analysts have identified volume of transactions as a major challenge facing stockbroking firms in Nigeria.

According to them, there are a few stockbrokers working with these foreign institutions who collectively control the major volumes traded in the market.

Market watchers believe that the dominance of these brokers appears to be the reasons why they are dictating the tune in the Nigerian market for now. Consequently, anytime they start buying, the bulls return and when they stop buy-

ing and take their profits, the bears take over again. This is one of the reasons for the back and forth movements in the stock market so far.

The dominance has also made some firms inactive, thereby leading them to commit market infractions. This might not be unconnected with the management of the Exchange’s intention to get tough with any dealing member firm that is not active for six consecutive months, by revoking their operating licenses.

The NSE had blamed most of market infractions being committed at the stock market on low capitalised brokers.

The Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, speaking at a forum, said there was need to place a high barrier to entry, adding that the minimum requirement would increase professionalism and make the market to become globally competitive.

33

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mom&Parenting

Parenting MOTHER’S LOVE… NO CHARGE

Mom’s Alert Helicopter, tiger parenting and the girl child

34 34

My mother’s love, my honour This week is women’s week. Both the mother’s and International Women’s Day worldwide are marked. Mothers and women are honoured by children, relatives, colleagues and friends. OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI captures the mood of the celebrations

P

arents love for their children have no boundaries. It is therefore necessary for the children to appreciate their parents especially their mothers because they gave all they could for no charge. It is a general knowledge that mothers and daughters don’t get along too well. But at some point later in their lives and depending on circumstances, daughters appreciate their mothers. Here are testimonies of mothers appreciating their mothers.

I appreciate my mother more after having a babyEnitan Olaleye- (a human rights activist) My mother and I have never been friends. I had wanted her to be my friend. I remember asking her if she would be when I was a teenager but I was rebuffed. My mother is a Freudian, and told me that mothers and daughters are not friends. She could not be my friend by definition: she was my mother.

My mother was not this kind of mother. By the time I was sixteen I had told her I hated her thousands of times, and truly felt that I meant it. I could not understand her because she was so private and

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Women celebrating their day

foreign to me. She seemed guarded, defensive and told me very little about herself. My mother was a stranger.

Strangely, now that I am a mother, I find myself asking my sevenmonth-old daughter, repeatedly, “Who’s my best friend?” expecting that somehow she will answer, “Me!” I’ve done this within earshot of both my husband and my mother, to be told by both of them, repeatedly, that she is not my friend; I am her mother. It seems strange though.

As with all of the new feelings that come with new motherhood, one that feels especially novel and suddenly strong is my connection to my daughter. We sleep during the same hours; we spend all of our time together; when she is hungry my breasts automatically fill with milk. If she is not my friend, I wonder, who is?

Strangenly, my mother began to be my friend shortly after I gave birth. It was gradual: after days of folding my daughter’s tiny laundry, helping me change and rock her to sleep, bundling her up and taking her for strolls, watching her look at herself in the mirror, admiring each expression she made, we began to talk.

I feel a new kind of compassion for her that often makes me sad.

Because my mother is a Freudian, there are, of course, worries to be had. Nothing is that easy. We don’t want to pressure my daughter too much: she cannot be the sole reason we get along. I like to think that it is less because of who my daughter is, and more because I am now a mother, that my relationship with my own mother has changed for the better.

I appreciate my mom after

19 years-Veronica Olamigoke (single mother) You hear it over and over, mostly from mothers speaking to their anxious daughters who have just had their own children. A mother and daughter’s bond is the most precious thing. I have friends who tell their moms everything and eagerly listen to and heed their advice. I feel awkward when people look at me in awe when I tell them I didn’t have to lie to my mom about going out to a bar because she trusts I can decide for myself where to go and what to do.

We spent a good part of 18 years of my life fighting and condemning each other. When we weren’t doing that, we were ignoring each other for the sake of peace and serenity.

I always thought our tension grew from the fact we were so different and could never see eye-to-eye. But, as I’ve grown up, appreciated the sacrifices my mother has made for me and had to make some of my own, I finally realize the reason we don’t get along is because we’re so similar.

Let’s face it: If you had to be friends with yourself, you would probably suffer. But staying away in a boarding school and having to make an intended effort to keep in touch with my mom, I’ve learned to appreciate the absence of a bond was what actually defined our bond.

I remember when I had to worry about saving money, picking bills and buying gifts for friends, I’ve come to appreciate and understand the opportunities my mother afforded me by having to give up so much for my sake.

As a single mom who always had to struggle to make ends meet,

my mother didn’t want the same life for me. She wanted me to be able to compete for opportunities on the same level with other rich school kids. She took out loans to send me to private school, where I worked to get into my dream university.

I thank the universe, in the form of my mother, every day for the things she gave me and helped me to accomplish.

Instead of worldly advice and motherly affection, my mother gave me something as important and even more tangible: She gave me opportunity, support and the knowledge that I am not defined by my place in society, but can move up in it.

I never appreciated my motherFunmilayo Adeleke (student) Have you ever heard the saying, “nobody will ever love you like your mother?”

Well, I had heard it before but I never really thought anything of it until it was too late. The saying is so very true! I lost my mother four years ago unexpectedly and it actually took this tragedy in my life to make me realize that there is absolutely no one on this earth that will love you like your mother. I only wish I had been a little less self centered and more loving while she was here. If I can just influence one person to take my advice on this matter, I will feel like I’m doing my mother some justice because she deserves it!

Meanwhile, two days ago, March 8, precisely, was Women’s International Day. Women worldwide were celebrated. For most women, it was a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The United State Consulate, Public Affairs Section organised a symposium to celebrate women tagged Women History Month with a theme, “women in leadership and good governance.” While the United Nations celebrated it with a theme “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” In his speech, the consul General, John Bray at the programme advised that women to bond and form coalitions. “It is time for women to form coalitions to become “godmothers” for women political aspirants. Lacking connections and clout, women find it harder to raise money for political campaigns. Thus, women often enter public life through alternative routes such as charities and women’s organizations or by filling a seat vacated by their husband. I hope that you will be creative and find ways, perhaps through social media, to have your voice heard and amplified to such an extent that you can become a viable candidate in future elections,” he said.

The American President in a statement released by the White House, “During Women’s History Month, we remember the trailblazers of the past, including the women who are not recorded in our history books and we honour their legacies by carrying forward the valuable lessons learned from the powerful examples they set,” it said.

In like manner, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General said, “Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future,” he said.

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Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOM’S ALERT

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

Parents must be available to provide leadership to their children

with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Helicopter, tiger parenting

Parents as regulatory body to rights and the girl child of the Nigerian child (2)

I

guess that is why there is the Police Force, but we still employ the services of untrained men, christened vigilante; I guess that is why we have ministry of education, under whose very nose the public school system has collapsed at all levels and who are today nothing but tax collector from private schools. You see, the list of abandonment is endless. When parents live in a nation like ours, they must become the regulatory bodies for the enforcement of the rights of the child as they have become same in respect of other areas of their social and economic lives, some of which we outlined above. Parents as regulatory bodies must identity their vision, their mission and set of values, which will provide a credible template for providing leadership for their children.

If parents leave their children to a media in nation without a vision, they raise children, who have no walls over their spirit. If parents leave their children to a school system, which they cannot vouch for, they will have themselves to blame for it. Many are parents who register their children in schools because of the proximity of the schools to their residence.

I believe that the proximity of a school to parents’ residence should never be a deciding factor. The deciding factor in all things as we discussed last week is the best interest of the child.

I think for us to effectively play the role of a regulatory body as parents we must understand that the word parent is an acronym where letter P stands for pay full

attention to the child. It simply means parents must be available to provide leadership to their children in thoughts, in words and indeed. Alphabet A represents, Act together in love, which is a call to the custodians of the life of the child to be united in all matters, including those that concern the children. R stands for Ready to be real and lead with your life.

E stands for Engage in empowerment, which also means mentoring. Mentoring, I believe answers to time and wisdom.

Letter N stand for Never say Never. It is called the rule against Naivety. It says parents must make conscious efforts to protect the child from abuse. They cannot afford to be naïve or gullible about the state of affairs of the times. Letter T means Turn to God. The admonition here is that parents must be conscious of the fact that it takes the grace and the help of God to raise the child right. Therefore they must may conscious effort to submit to God’s tenets in raising their children.

S stands for sent to preserve humanity.

Parenting is a calling to preserve the family and by so doing preserving humanity.

The family is said to be the foundation of the society and the peace of society is determined by the peace of the family.

Therefore, the focus of modelling as discussed under alphabet R, which means ready to be real and mentoring, discussed under alphabet E, should be moulding, which I will call management: the capacity to recognise the child’s uniqueness and teach him to promote it for the good of himself and humanity.

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

MOTHER’S LOVE… NO CHARGE Everything about mum is a gift as natural resources All she gives reflect free will in her heart of great source Like love of the Christ followers believing in Jesus For all steps from mum reflect no payment of cash Free her way just as God’s blessing for all in plus No doubt, No panic, No pay, her stress, all at no cost.

Bed riding to prepare our coming, no charge Nine month of moving with her pot-belly, no charge Stressed and cry of birthday, no pay! No charge Breastfeeding with world most nourished milk, no charge Even the dead night as wakeful for her, no charge Nurturing in all sphere for the world to grow, no charge Mothers love just the real for all, not fake Mothers love for all till the end time, never fade Crystal and clear, no one can match my mum’s faith Like duck love to the young, incomparable in taste Every point of motherhood is love that sees no faint Mama, no one can be like the skirt world queen.

Love in the air no one knows the source, ask my mother Aromatic feeling take the stage of our state, ask my mother Surprising! Dad can’t stop laughing from bedroom to veranda If the secret of his action seems doubtful, ask my mother Table full, tummy strong as rock stone, all by mother Everybody in mood of come and join, the magic still

from mother Feminine is of stress, mothers suffers in distress Like the world of early Egypt slaves of no reward All they do is to serve the pharaohs empire to retire Believing in its reward for their unborn generation We’ll work for our kids unborn not to burn they cried For the benefit of today’s independent they ride and tried.

Hey! Pain in blood all through the feminine world Truth must be reveal in broad light to be told First ever controversy to man is that one called gold Just as she work and walk to satisfy all in her abode Unrest all day to bring joy in abundance to our world She will says, I will rather go hungry for my home to feed Mothers should be giving accolade for job well done In her world we witness neither hunger nor pain Her world we received care when she hide her tears From mum, we get away from dad’s cane chase Pampering to nurture but still preaches good faith From mother! Everything made simple with ease Let’s celebrate mothers as idols next to God Truth must be reveal, mums can’t be neglected Every day for mum… her love is world best No cash paid, no salary structure, no arrears No commission as reward for mothers’ love I cried as mums work for pain and reap no gain Mothers love… No cash, more cry, no gain Stressed and cry of birthday, no pay!

Mums paid in full everything as regards the kids’ world Mothers love! World best love… no charge!

I

t all appears some daredevils N100m for each student which they are out to kill, steal and to later reduced to N20m. Again we destroy the destiny of young were relieved to hear the girls have girls in the country. A week hard- been released and returned safe ly passes-by without news of a and sound. girl child being raped, abused, But what I find a bit worrisome molested, or abducted. It appears in the case involving Ese and Paage doesn’t even matter as two tience is that the girls appeared to be ‘comfortable’ in their new year olds have fallen victims.

While we still weep for the Chibok environment. Info coming from girls who almost two years after are some quarters had it that Ese said yet to be found, some irresponsible she was ‘happy’. Or why would persons are beginning to see girl she breakdown in the AIG’s office abduction as a venture they could and make allegations of threats explore for their own selfish gains. to her life by her parents when Sometime last year Ese Oruru, they attempted to send her back a 13 year old girl was abducted to Bayelsa? Patience Paul before from her mother’s shop in Bay- her abduction, according to her elsa State and taken all the way to brother allegedly showed signs of Kano by a young man who was at interest in Islam. She was said to the time based in Bayelsa. He prob- have come home from school in a ably wanted her for a wife and de- veil on some occasions, and even cided to take her away from where gave out the information that led the culture and religion would to her abduction. make that impossible to a differI have wondered what these girls ent location were thinking, and where culture what on earth could and religion have been their mowould help tives, if they truly him achieve aided in their own his selfish abduction? What do desire. He althey understood as A week hardly ‘happiness’– runmost did, only that as always ning away from parpasses-by without the long arm of ents who constantly the law will alscolded them, and news of a girl child ways catch up finding succor in the being raped with evil doers. arm of a lover who cannot even take Questions have been care of them? Could asked and isit be they got tired of sues raised as the hard work and to how possible it was that a girl discipline required to be in school could have been taken all the way and they preferred to become ‘marto Kano form Bayelsa so easily, and ried Muslim women’ who would the talk of ‘charm’ came it. Some not have to go to school? Could it have also wondered how come she be their parents failed in some way? was still kept in Kano after the If you are wondering what heliEmir had allegedly instructed that copter and tiger has got t do with she be returned to her parents - parenting or with all of these, I will more questions than there are explain. I picked up Vangard Newsanswers. Thankfully the girl has paper of Thursday 3rd March, and been released and reunited with the HOD of Early Childhood Care her family but with five months and Education of AOCOED, Dr. pregnancy, her life and that of her Simeon Fawowa at a Parents’ and family will never be the same.

Lecturers meeting recently, called Just as we heaved a sigh of re- on parents to shun ‘Helicopter and lief at the news of Ese’s release, Tiger Parenting.’ He said parents we heard of another 14 year old no longer pay full attention to their girl, Patience Paul, a primary 6 wards, all they do is - the fathers pupil who hails from Benue State pay the children’s school fees and who was abducted in Sokoto State the next thing is to hop on helicopthe same day as Ese. Her family ter in the guise of making money in the effort to get her back was without spending quality time with informed that she had been con- the children. Most mothers, he said verted to Islam. A family member have become tigers in the home by disclosed that in their search for constantly abusing or issues threats Patience, they found other teen- to their children, especially the feage girls who most likely have male ones when they bring issues been abducted, converted to Islam of relationships and other matand kept away from their families. ters to them. Could this faulty way Days after, we got the cheery news of parenting be encouraging our that Patience has been released daughters to find love and comfort in the arms of total strangers? and reunited with her family.

Also in the news was the story We must commend affected parof gunmen who attacked a school ents, security agencies, civil sociin Lagos and abducted three fe- ety groups and the affected school male students. The incident oc- management for their unrelenting curred while the students were efforts to rescue the girls. That says having evening classes. The ab- that there is still hope for young ductors initially demanded for Nigerian girls.

35

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

The rescued girls on the premises of BMJS

Abducted schoolgirls from Chibok

Schoolgirls’ kidnap: A wake up call S

takeholders, especially parents are becoming more apprehensive and worried over the challenge of insecurity in the school system, raising fear about the safety of students in Nigerian schools.

In fact, the abduction of the over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, almost two years ago by the Boko Haram insurgents and yet to be rescued, and the recent kidnapping and rescuing of three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos, are better imagined than experienced.

Abduction and raping of schoolchildren, according to stakeholders, have in the last few months raised the question on what the government is doing at federal and state levels to beef

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Following the security threat confronting the country, especially with the abduction of schoolchildren, state governments have risen to the challenge of providing adequate security in their schools to forestall abduction of students, report New Telegraph’s Correspondents up security in schools to protect students and teachers, and ensure the institutions are safe for teaching and learning.

Investigations have shown that most states are rising to the security challenges, particularly that of schools to ensure the security and safety of the students.

In Abuja schools, for instance, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello, has directed that all the boundaries of public schools be identified and appropriately fenced.

Bello, who frowned at the manner in which some schools were left porous, without perimeter fencing with large population of students and pupils despite the security challenge the nation faces, directed that site plans should be drawn and documented for proper identification of the boundaries of each school and to check encroachment.

Acting on the briefing from the management of the FCT Education Secretariat, led by its Acting Secretary, Mrs. Naomi Biki, the minister warned that the security of lives and property in public

Provision of security is everybody’s job as government cannot do it alone

schools should be adequately safeguarded to ensure that capital investments put into the system offered maximum benefit to the people.

Bello assured stakeholders that the FCT Administration would accord priority attention to the proper and regular feeding of students, adequate water supply, cleanliness of the environment and security of all schools in the territory.

He told our correspondent that the perimeter fencing was an additional measure to the security facilities which had been deployed to safeguard the city as a whole.

However, as part of efforts at ensuring the safety in schools, the Kaduna State government has raised security committees in all the 12 educational zones of the state.

It said the measure was taken as part of efforts to beef up security in schools, following the recent abduction of three female students in Ikorodu.

According to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Ad-

amu, government has raised a Central State Committee on Security in which the Department of State Services (DSS) and police are represented.

He said the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and School Based Management Committees had been sensitised to the need to be more vigilant, while local vigilance groups from the communities were drafted to keep watch on the schools.

The commissioner added that security personnel were recently recruited for boarding schools.

He said: “Some of them were recruited on permanent basis to boost their morale and efficiency as well as security in our schools.’’

Adamu also called on parents and members of the community to ensure that schools and students are secured.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, expressed concern over insecurity in the state.

He said the situation called for urgent and proactive action to protect the schools from the nefarious activities of hoodlums.

While bemoaning, the Lagos schoolgirls’ abduction, Iwuoha said that something should be done to forestall such occurrence in the state.

Though there is yet no deliberate step taken in that direction by government, most private schools CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

36

FEATURES

States beef up security in schools CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

in the state with boarding system, investigation showed, are well secured with private security outfits and high perimeter fences.

But in Delta State, government in the last three years has put in place several security measures, aimed at protecting schoolchildren from being kidnapped or initiated into cultism.

Although some of the measures instituted by the former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan are no longer in force owing to dwindling economic fortune of the state, others are still vibrant, while plans have been concluded by the present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to introduce new security measures for schools.

Some of the measures put in place by government include Education Marshal, initiated under Uduaghan’s administration, codenamed Edumashal, saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the activities of primary and secondary schools.

Their job includes arrest of children of school age who roam the streets and those who engage in hawking during school hours in view of the state free education policy.

Before the scrapping of the outfit, which fined parents of such students up to N50,000 through mobile court by Okowa’s administration, the fear of the Edumashal was the beginning of wisdom in the state.

The other is the school shuttle buses, which transport students to and from schools free in effort to ensure their security.

Faced by the wave of kidnapping in the country, the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has assured the people the issue of security had never been left out in all affairs of his administration.

According to him, every necessary arrangement is being put in place to ensure that the students are well protected.

The governor, who spoke through his Director, Bureau of Communication, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo, the state capital, noted that there was adequate security in the state.

He said: “Whether for schools or other places, communal vigilance is much better and the government has left no stone unturned in this regard.

About two months ago, government gave nod to the communal idea of protecting schools, not only on security matters, but also for the overall wellbeing of the schools and the pupils.”

Following the escalation of insurgence which led to the occupation of many local government areas in Yobe State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, anxiety has continued to grip parents who are now withdrawing their wards from schools.

They blamed the absence of security personnel in most of the public schools to safeguard their wards while in the schools for their action.

The parents are worried especially with the previous attacks on secondary schools in the state which led to the death of several students.

A visit by New Telegraph to some schools in some local government areas and Damaturu, the state capital, however, showed that there were no security personnel in the schools. The schools were left unprotected while academic activities were going on.

Worried about the safety of their children amid rumours that Boko Haram might attack Gujba, Potiskum Local Government most secondary

President Buhari

and primary schools had been temporarily closed.

The Education Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Lami, recalled that government had to close the schools a day after bomb blasts in some schools.

He said that was done to allow government carry out some construction works and educate the parents and students on precautionary measures to secure the schools.

Some parents in Damaturu claimed to have stopped their children from attending school because of insecurity.

According to them, most of the schools have no perimeter fence and presence of security personnel.

In one of the schools visited in Yobe, there were security personnel at the gate and other strategic locations, screening visitors coming in and going out of the school.

According to the Plateau State Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Schools, Mr. Joseph Maigari, said adequate security arrangements had been put in place by government to ensure adequate security in all the public and private schools.

According to him, government is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that security of life of students across the state.

He noted that the priority of Governor Simon Lalong’s administration was to ensure the security of lives of all citizens.

The governor, according to him, has directed that all schools should be fenced and provided with security personnel, as well as the use of vigilance groups to provide security.

The commissioner cited Barkin Ladi Local Government Area where the police and soldiers provide secu-

IG, Arase

rity for schools.

Maigari said government was intensifying efforts to ensure the safety of every schoolchild.

New Telegraph investigation also showed that men of the Special Task Force, known as Operation Save Haven, maintain security in public and private schools.

Also in Ondo State, government has made arrangements to synergise with security agencies to prevent attacks on both public and private institutions.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade and the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said security had been beefed up around public and private schools. They added that such security measures were not restricted to only government-owned primary and secondary schools, but also private and public universities.

Armed robbers had earlier invaded some secondary schools and carted away computer sets, while those who attacked secondary schools in Idanre and Okitipupa not only stole computers and laptops, but also killed a security guard attached to the school.

In Niger State, government said it already had plans to meet with security agencies with a view to beefing up security and fortifying public and private schools.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, told New Telegraph that pending the meeting, parents and heads of schools should provide security around their schools and children.

He said: “If principals or heads of schools are suspicious of any person or movement around their schools,

Suspects arrested for the Lagos schoolgirls’ abduction

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

they should report immediately to the right authorities.

Vatsa said that security agencies, especially the police, should be more vigilant in securing the state and schools.

In Edo State schools, Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration has taken far-reaching measures aimed at repositioning the education sector and guaranteeing the safety of students, pupils and their teachers as well as the equipment.

A visit to some of the newly constructed and rehabilitated schools indicated that they are fixed with bullet proof doors, while the schools are properly fenced with security posts.

Apart from this, government is partnering with the police and the schools’ host communities to ensure the protection of the students and members of staff.

According to the Education Commissioner, Mr. Gideon Obakhan, what government has done specifically is to involve communities and ensure that the schools are protected in terms of fencing.

He said the state was working closely with the police, while night and day guards had been hired for the schools.

In Oyo State schools, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said security was intact in both public and private schools.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that government employed night and day guards to secure the schools, while Man ‘O’ War Cadets were employed to monitor and control movements of students during school hours.

This accounts for the relatively safe and secure environment of the state in the last five years. He disclosed that the Ministry of Education recently suspended the traditional morning assembly activities in all public and private primary and secondary schools.

For Ogun State, it is the same story as government has intensified surveillance patrols and security around public and private schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, disclosed that government had already contacted all public schools and proprietors of private schools on the need to be security conscious.

Speaking on the heels of last week’s abduction of three students in Ikorodu, the commissioner said the state had mobilised security operatives across all platforms to ward off any threat posed by criminals around schools.

In Ekiti State, which does not run boarding system in its public schools, the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jide Egunjobi, said despite the fact that there was no challenge in terms of security around schools; the police were doing their best to adequately secure the schools.

According to him, security is possible only when individuals across communities partner security agencies to monitor situations and take proactive steps to ensure safety.

Egunjobi, however, urged authorities of the various schools to support government in its determination to provide adequate security in schools. According to him, provision of security is everybody’s job as government cannot do it alone.

BUSINESS | Money Line

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

37

MPC member seeks naira devaluation COUNSEL

work alongside a planned rise in government borrowing.

According to minutes from the 12-member MPC January meeting posted on the apex bank’s website yesterday, Dr Salami, said the naira was 10-per cent over-valued and voted to move the exchange rate band to plus or minus five per cent from 220.

Salami said his proposal gained no support at the meeting and that the CBN was focused on exchange rate stability at the expense of inflation.

“The absence of an ex-

Local currency over valued by 10% Tony Chukwunyem

A

member of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Dr Adedoyin Salami, has said the naira should be devalued and allowed to trade within a band.

He said that the fixed exchange rate would not

change rate management policy has diminished Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for international capital flows,” he said.

Other MPC members expressed concerns that tight liquidity in the currency market could threaten economic growth this year as businesses struggle to get dollars for imports.

They all voted to keep benchmark interest rate at 11 per cent in January.

The CBN last year pegged its exchange rate to curb speculative demand for the dollar and conserve

its dwindling foreign reserves after it restricted access to hard currency for imports of certain items, frustrating businesses.

Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) called on Nigeria to lift the curbs imposed by the central bank in 2015 and let the naira reflect “market forces” more closely, as the restrictions had significantly affected the private sector.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected calls by the IMF to lift foreign exchange curbs and allow a more

Sterling Bank’s parenting workshop holds Saturday

T

he third edition of Parenting Workshop organized by Sterling Bank Plc in collaboration with Caleb Group of Schools under the Bank’s One Education Initiative, will hold on Saturday, March 12, 2016.

According to the lender, the purpose of the workshop is to aid parents and guardians in dealing with topical issues that affect the upbringing and training of their wards in the 21st century vis-à-vis the practical day-to-day realities of life in Nigeria.

The workshop with the theme, “Picking the Right

School for Your Child” is aimed at guiding and educating parents and guardians on what to look out for in selecting appropriate schools for their children.

To do justice to the theme of the workshop, the Bank in conjunction with Caleb Group of Schools has assembled seasoned technocrats within and outside the education sector. They include Dr. Abimbola Ogundere, Mrs. Risikat Balogun, Dr. Funmi Oboye, Mrs. Adebimpe Delano, Mr. Taiwo Akinlami and Mr. Abiodun Oladipupo The Bank’s Group

Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, in a statement, described the Parenting Series as a family growth and education initiative designed to support parents’ desire to optimize the potentials and talents of their children.

He stated that the continued sponsorship of the workshop with the support of Caleb Group of Schools was informed by the overwhelming turn-out of parents who attended the first edition, adding that the Bank will continue to invest in initiatives that add value to the lives of people in line with its purpose.

Atilola said: “The level of attendance by the parents at the first and second editions of the workshop exceeded our projection.

The workshop was well attended by parents with their children. This shows the value parents place on the workshop and the need to bring up their children in a worthy manner.”

He therefore assured that the Bank would continue to invest in initiatives aimed at supporting the education sector, adding that the private sector must come in and invest in the sector to provide quality education for “our children.”

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9.6 11 10.77 US$39.02 US$27,881,288,439

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Jan, 2016 24/01/2016 Mar 2015 9/3/2016 8/3/2016

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM

Price 105.93 115.80 112.65 120.69 112.50 104.02 86.96 100.93

1.13 3.30 3.93 5.89 8.01 9.87 14.37 18.36

NIBOR

Rate (%) 5.0487 7.6966 8.9165 10.7573

Bid Yield 9.43 10.23 11.45 11.45 11.75 11.79 11.91 12.02

Change (%) 0.26 ▲ -0.35 ▼ -0.49 ▼ -0.34 ▼

Change (%) -0.09 ▼ -0.10 ▼ 0.13 ▲ -0.02 ▼ -0.05 ▼ -0.02 ▼ -0.04 ▼ -0.06 ▼

Price 106.08 116.10 112.95 120.99 112.80 104.32 87.26 101.23

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 9.29 10.13 11.36 11.39 11.69 11.74 11.86 11.98

Change (%) -0.09 ▼ -0.10 ▼ t0.13 ▲ -0.02 ▼ -0.05 ▼ -0.02 ▼ -0.04 ▼ -0.06 ▼

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1287 5.1318 5.5325 7.6503 7.8412 8.5204

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Spot($/N)

FX

Offer 198.51

Change (%) 0.16 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.09 ▲ 0.01 ▲ -0.22 ▼ -0.10 ▼

Money Market

Change (%) -0.41 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

MasterCard, UN partner to advance women financial inclusion Chris Ugwu

A

s part of broader Inter national Women’s Day activities, MasterCard and UN Women have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to drive financial inclusion of women and advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

The first initiative in this relationship is the launch of a pilot in Nigeria, which aims to provide half a million Nigerian women with ID cards enabled with electronic payments functionality.

This is just as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) held a ceremony to commemorate International Women’s Day and to advocate for gender equality to discuss how to help women realize their dreams.

T

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 5.44 5.52 0.32 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 4.71 9-Jun-16 5.69 5.77 0.32 ▲ 8-Sep-16 7.65 7.40 7.68 0.22 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 5.17 7.95 0.22 ▲ 2-Mar-17 8.51 9.29 0.42 ▲ 8.26 8.99 0.42 ▲ Bid 198.41

all 12 committee members warned that spending should not increase after the loss of vital oil revenues to curb inflation and enhance debt ratios.

The naira - pegged at N197 - trades some 40 per cent below the official rate on the black market versus the dollar. The economy grew by 2.8 per cent last year, its slowest for decades.

MasterCard Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa, Omokehinde Ojomuyide, who addressed journalists on the development said: “Our partnership with UN Women is the result of a shared vision of a world where women are empowered to achieve their true potential.

“Lack of identity is a critical barrier for women seeking to do something as simple as vote, own property or open an account to receive or send money. Together, we can make a real difference in these women’s lives.”

According to the World Bank, only 47 per cent of women worldwide have access to formal financial services, compared to 51 per cent of men. In Africa, this number increases to more than 70 per cent of women.

Lender eyes top three position

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

flexible rate for the naira currency, backing the central bank’s actions.

The tight controls have forced domestic lenders to delay hard currency loan, trade repayments to foreign banks and increased the risk of default, bankers say.

Nigeria wants to borrow up to $5 billion to fund its 2016 budget deficit but the minutes showed that

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔ -0.04 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

he Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, John Aboh, has disclosed that the immediate objective of the Board is to ensure Ecobank Nigeria becomes one of the top three banks in the country in the next few years.

Speaking at the Board of Directors’ Dinner in honour of new and immediate past directors of Ecobank Nigeria in Lagos, Aboh re-iterated that the bank was putting in place various initiatives and strategies to realize the set objective.

According to the Ecobank Chairman, the bank’s desire is predicated

on its current growth trajectory reflected on its key financial indexes within the Ecobank Group results for the last quarter of 2015.

He said, the board has a clear and specific mandate to ensure Ecobank Nigeria moves from its present number six position in total assets to top three bank in assets and profitability in the country and “everyone is working assiduously towards the realization of this goal. I make bold to say that with the current management, human resources and strategies in place, we will surely achieve our goal in the next few years.”

DMO to raise N100 bn in bonds

T

he Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday announced that it plans to raise N100 billion in local currency denominated bonds with maturities ranging between 5 and 20 years on March 16.

The DMO said it will raise N40 billion at par in

the local bond maturing in 2036, N40 billion of the paper maturing in 2026 and N20 billion of the debt maturing in 2020.

The 2026 and 2020 maturing notes are reopenings of previously issued paper, while the 2036 maturing note is a fresh issue.

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

9-Mar-16

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 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 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 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 (₦’bn)

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 22-Jan-16 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 531.93 605.31 719.99 95.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,112.28

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,389.89

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.44 1.13 1.38 1.48 2.22 3.30 3.62 3.93 5.89 8.01 9.87 12.72 13.20 13.70 14.37 18.36

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

7.41 9.43 9.50 9.59 9.88 10.23 11.01 11.45 11.45 11.75 11.79 12.17 12.19 12.21 11.91 12.02

7.07 9.29 9.38 9.47 9.81 10.13 10.90 11.36 11.39 11.69 11.74 12.13 12.15 12.16 11.86 11.98

102.38 105.93 100.43 99.68 101.57 115.80 88.25 112.65 120.69 112.50 104.02 118.00 101.88 75.55 86.96 100.93

102.53 106.08 100.58 99.83 101.72 116.10 88.55 112.95 120.99 112.80 104.32 118.30 102.18 75.85 87.26 101.23

6067.277269

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.50

03-Apr-17

0.52

2.94

10.94

103.12

30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.31 0.31 1.11 0.83 1.81 1.41 1.42 1.60 1.61 1.79 2.01 3.70 2.07 4.72 4.81 2.85 2.87 3.97 3.66 3.69 4.03 6.46 3.78

4.46 3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00 2.02 1.98 4.35 1.30 3.76 3.76 1.00 1.52 3.67 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

10.79 9.81 10.24 14.45 12.93 10.52 10.53 13.47 13.21 10.72 11.82 13.16 14.17 13.04 15.50 13.89 11.14 12.21 14.76 12.14 13.56 13.51 14.37

100.88 101.63 99.73 99.42 101.62 104.32 104.34 101.35 101.03 107.45 106.18 103.78 100.98 101.53 98.30 101.29 108.93 108.58 104.56 112.16 110.47 114.13 107.03

29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

0.56 0.63 0.75 1.11 1.32 1.56 1.01 1.08 1.50 1.50 2.56 1.36 1.69 1.81 2.41 4.68 3.18 5.70 5.81 6.18 4.35 8.56 8.56 9.64

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 5.27 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.14 1.00 3.90 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

9.09 9.60 9.54 16.20 15.85 11.99 11.03 12.37 15.96 10.61 11.18 14.74 15.79 13.00 14.42 12.74 13.95 13.84 12.70 15.63 14.53 13.07 13.07 13.08

102.06 102.74 104.52 100.24 100.68 101.38 107.20 103.47 102.55 107.18 106.10 101.09 103.08 104.57 101.04 108.59 103.73 101.51 115.01 103.20 104.39 116.27 100.89 109.37

10-Oct-20

2.61

3.37

13.40

102.80

Agency Bonds Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.50

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.55

Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.30 2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 27.25 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68 13.87 80.00 22.72 87.50 5.00 4.03 4.04 14.37 4.39 4.53 27.10 3.00 7.68

453.00 467.99

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

NAHCO FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r} *FCMB NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 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 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15 20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

13.00 14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.25 15.50 14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.46 4.50 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.80 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.94

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

539.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

556.99

Sukuk BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

10-Oct-13

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

14.75

9.77

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

9.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

10.04

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.93

1.00

8.93

102.20

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.15

1.00

10.47

102.00

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 25.47 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

8.20

7.91

94.25

95.35

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.31

5.83

97.46

98.47

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

8.35

8.15

89.31

90.34

101.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,405.13

Corporate Eurobonds B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

373.41

19-May-16

7.33

1.90

100.00

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

9.38

9.38

97.31

97.31

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

19.45

18.21

78.67

80.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

9.47

92.00

92.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.96

9.96

90.25

90.25

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

14.51

13.76

85.64

87.35

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

14.73 13.79 15.32

14.73 13.40 15.32

79.00 83.01 73.25

79.00 84.29 73.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

08-Nov-18

9.47

3,523.41 3,051.35 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Commercial Papers Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

7.23

04-May-16

56

6.03

11.46

11.27

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

2.77

29-Jul-16

142

6.18

13.18

12.54

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.00

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

Description 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 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 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

NA

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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 22-Jan-16 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 531.93 605.31 719.99 95.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92

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 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.44 1.13 1.38 1.48 2.22 3.30 3.62 3.93 5.89 8.01 9.87 12.72 13.20 13.70 14.37 18.36

7.41 9.43 9.50 9.59 9.88 10.23 11.01 11.45 11.45 11.75 11.79 12.17 12.19 12.21 11.91 12.02

7.07 9.29 9.38 9.47 9.81 10.13 10.90 11.36 11.39 11.69 11.74 12.13 12.15 12.16 11.86 11.98

102.38 105.93 100.43 99.68 101.57 115.80 88.25 112.65 120.69 112.50 104.02 118.00 101.88 75.55 86.96 100.93

102.53 106.08 100.58 99.83 101.72 116.10 88.55 112.95 120.99 112.80 104.32 118.30 102.18 75.85 87.26 101.23

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

39

Stock market recovers with N45bn gain TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,112.28

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,389.89

6067.277269

#

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.50

03-Apr-17

0.52

2.94

10.94

103.12

Agency Bonds

Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.50

REPRIEVE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

Fresh demand lifts stocks by 0.51%

BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

he Nigerian stock market yesterday returned to bullish trend, as stocks appreciated across the board with a gain of N45 billion.

At the close of business, 27 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE gainers emerged as against 12

losers. The NSE ASI and market capitalisation recovered 0.51 per 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 cent even as the NSE Pre15.50each IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 mium Index and NSE 30 Index 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO0.60 31-DEC-2017 rose by per cent and 0.45 per 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 cent 14.00respectively NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 .

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 In the same vein, every sec14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 tored gauge closed in the green 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 – NSE Banking Index, NSE Con14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 sumer Goods Index and NSE In13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 dustrial Index increased by 0.67 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 per15.00 cent, 0.55 per cent and 0.40 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 OYO 16-FEB-2022 per16.50 cent respectively.

16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 Market watchers believe some 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 investors considered the market 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022 oversold and its current level

attractive for re-entering the market.

30-Jun-11 14.00 Consequently , the twin 30-Jun-09 15.50 mar19-Apr-10 10.00 ket indicators, the All-Share 30-Jun-10 13.75 31-Dec-10by Index rose 130.314.00basis 30-Sep-11 14.00 points or04-Oct-11 0.51 per cent 14.00 from 09-Dec-11 14.50 25,755.01index points the pre12-Dec-13 14.00 14-Feb-12 15.50 vious day to close at 25,885.31, 02-Oct-12 15.50 22-Nov-12 14.50 while the market capitalisa12-Dec-12 14.75 tion appreciated

by N45 billion 27-Nov-13 13.50 31-Dec-13 or 0.51 per cent from15.00 N8.859 31-Dec-13 14.50 06-Jan-14 15.00 trillion to N8.904 trillion.

09-Dec-14 15.50 17-Feb-15 Further analysis 16.50 of the 27-Feb-15 16.50 day’s trading showed that 30-Mar-15 17.50 Oan01-Apr-15 17.00 do Plc topped the day’s gain27-May-15 17.00 ers’ table with 10.17 per cent to

1.55 close at N4.44 per share, while Tiger Branded Goods Plc fol1.30 0.31 lowed with30-Jun-16 9.66 per cent to 2.05 30-Jun-16 0.31 57.00 19-Apr-17 1.11 close at N2.27 per share.

FCMB 16.45 30-Jun-17 0.83 25.00gained 7.89 31-Dec-17 1.81 Plc per cent to close 27.25 30-Sep-18 1.41 at4.9182 kobo per share. 1.42 04-Oct-18 10.98 09-Dec-18 On the flip side, Beta1.60 Glass 8.14 12-Dec-18 1.61 21.68 14-Feb-19 Nigeria Plc and May & 1.79 Baker 13.87 02-Oct-19 2.01 80.00 led the 22-Nov-19 3.70with Plc losers’ chart 22.72 12-Dec-19 2.07 a87.50 drop of five per cent4.72each 27-Nov-20 5.00 31-Dec-20 4.81 to4.03close at N47.50 kobo 31-Dec-20 and 95 2.85 4.04 06-Jan-21 2.87 per share respectively , while 14.37 09-Dec-21 3.97 4.39 16-Feb-22 3.66 Nigerian German Chemical 4.53 27-Feb-22 3.69 Plc per cent to4.03close 27.10 shed 4.89 30-Mar-22 3.00 31-Mar-22 6.46 at7.68N4.67 per27-May-22 share.

3.78 453.00 On the activity chart, the 467.99

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

SEC warns public against ponzi scheme in Edo Corporate Bonds

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

NAHCO FSDH

***LCRM

UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER#

T

banking sub-sector dominated in volume terms with 86.8 4.46 10.79 100.88 million shares worth N303.5 3.48 9.81 101.63 1.00 10.24 99.73 million in 1,128 deals.

The sub 5.71 14.45 99.42 3.21 12.93 enhanced 101.62 sector was by the 1.00 10.52 104.32 activities10.53 in the shares 1.00 104.34 of Fi3.82 13.47 delity Bank Plc and 101.35 UBA Plc. 3.56 13.21 101.03 1.00 10.72 107.45 Other financial services sub 2.02 11.82 106.18 1.98 13.16 103.78 sector also of financial services 4.35 14.17 100.98 sector boosted by the101.53 activities 1.30 13.04 3.76 15.50 98.30 on the shares of FCMB Plc, 3.76 13.89 101.29 1.00 11.14 108.93 trailed with 50.6 million units, 1.52 12.21 108.58 3.67 14.76 million in 104.56 worth N65.6 447 deals.

1.00 12.14 112.16 investors exchanged 2.52 In all,13.56 110.47 1.79 114.13 a total of13.51 214.9 million shares, 3.04 14.37 107.03 worth N1.3 billion in 3,327 deals.

Computer Warehouse Group issues profit warning

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 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 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15 20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

#

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.46 4.50 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.80 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.94

C

0.56 0.63 0.75 1.11 1.32 1.56 1.01 1.08 1.50 1.50 2.56 1.36 1.69 1.81 2.41 4.68 3.18 5.70 5.81 6.18 4.35 8.56 8.56 9.64

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 5.27 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.14 1.00 3.90 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

9.09

102.06

($’mm)

Nigerian Breweries is 2015 most compliant listed firm Prices & Yields

N

28-Jan-21 8.20 7.91 94.25 95.35 igerian 6.75 Breweries500.00 12-Jul-13 5.13 12-Jul-18 6.31 5.83 97.46 98.47 Plc has been named500.00 12-Jul-13 6.38 12-Jul-23 8.35 8.15 89.31 90.34 the winner of the500.00 1,500.00 Nigerian Stock Exchange 1,405.13 (NSE) CEO’s Distinguished the exchange in a particular Chief Executive Officer of Award for Compliance in year. the Exchange, Mr. Oscar 19-May-11 7.50 373.41 19-May-16 7.33 1.90 100.00 101.00 A statement from the Ex2015.

Onyema, congratulated the 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 9.38 9.38 97.31 97.31 09-May-13 6.88known as 300.00change,02-May-18 19.45 Brew- 18.21company 78.67 on its strict 80.50 comThe award also said Nigerian 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 9.47 9.47 92.00 92.00 the22-Apr-14 Most Complaint Listed500.00eries again to the rules90.25 and reg6.25 22-Apr-19 demonstrated 9.96 9.96 pliance 90.25 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 14.51 13.76 85.64 87.35 its recognition for the imFirm award is given by ulations of the Exchange.

07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 14.73 14.73 79.00 79.00 9.25 24-Jun-21 13.79 83.01 the company 84.29 the24-Jun-14 NSE to a company that400.00portance of corporate gov- 13.40 He said rep23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 15.32 15.32 73.25 73.25 demonstrates the highest250.00ernance14-Aug-21 in 2015 to clinch the 11.76resents84.88a sterling 86.63 example 14-Aug-14 8.75 12.23 3,523.41 degree of compliance with coveted award. of compliance to corporate 3,051.35 the rules and regulations While presenting the governance in the country.

Risk Outstandingaward Value Valuation Yieldhad earlier won regarding disclosure obligato the management The firm DTM Issue Date Yield @ Issue (%) Maturity Date Discount Rate (%) Premium (%) tions of listed companies to(₦’bn)of Nigerian Breweries, the (%) the award in 2012.

07-Oct-11

#

Commercial Papers

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

102.74 leaders9.60in the provision of 9.54 104.52 100.24to the VSAT 16.20 as a service 15.85 100.68 banking 11.99sector.

101.38 11.03 107.20 Also, bad debt write-offs 12.37 103.47 a significant102.55 amount omputer Warehouse from foreign exchange loss- due to 15.96 10.61 107.18 Group Plc (CWG) has es principally driven by sig- of income from the 11.18 reversal106.10 14.74 101.09 issued profit warning nificant exchange rate vola- previous year as a103.08 result of 15.79 13.00 104.57 in respect of its financial tility, which had been largely the cancellation of earlier 14.42 101.04 year ended 31 December 2015. stable within a narrow band agreed12.74 contracts, for 108.59which 13.95 103.73 The group said in a state- but suddenly plummeted cancellation penalties are 13.84 101.51 12.70 secured, 115.01 ment to the Nigerian Stock and remained uncertain yet to be account15.63 103.20 Exchange (NSE) that follow- from the first quarter of ed also14.53 for the loss104.39 in finan13.07 116.27 ing the preliminary review 2015, following the signifi- cials. 13.07 100.89 of the Group’s Management cant drop in oil prices.

The13.08 firm said: 109.37 “In addi539.77 Accounts, CWG expects to556.99 The firm also noted that tion, the Group expects to incur a number of signifi- inventory write-off follow- report an operational loss cant one-off charges that ing technology and business stemming from a combina10-Oct-13 14.75 9.77 10-Oct-20 2.61 3.37 13.40 102.80 will contribute to an over-9.77 model changes, which made tion of a reduction in marall loss for the financial year10.04some previous investments gins in her erstwhile trasuch as the investments in ditional reseller business, ended 31 December 2015.

11-Feb-13 11-Feb-18 1.93 1.00 and inability 8.93 102.20 MPLS network According to 10.20 a statement12.00 VSAT and to transfer in10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 10.47 102.00 signed by the Group’s Chief24.95 obsolete01-Feb-21 led to lower3.15 margin. 1.00 creased cost of doing busiFinancial Officer, Obianuju25.47 It recalled that that CWG ness to customers due to Ejeh, the company suffered already existing contracts.”

Outstanding was Value a pioneer and one of the Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price

he Securities &UBAExchange ager, Avenues to Wealth Lim*LA CASERA Commission (SEC) yester- ited’s office premises was on *CHELLARAMS *DANA day said its attention had 2013 sealed off by the SEC, after *FCMB been drawn to a ponzi several months of complaints by NAHCOscheme HOTELS PLC floated and operated*TRANSCORP

by Fantassubscriber to the fund. *FCMB tic EsanBet Nigeria UBA Limited in It took a combined team of FIDELITY Benin, Edo State and its envi*TRANSCORP HOTELS PLCboth plain and uniformed police STANBIC IBTC rons. officers from both the commisSTANBIC IBTC *NMRC In a statement obtained from sion and the Oduduwa Police TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE the SEC website, the apex regu- Command Headquarters in TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION lator said Fantastic EsanBet Ni- Ikeja, to seal off the fund manSukuk Limited is not registered ager’s office, which was located geria BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 within the serene Olufunmilola by the Commission TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE to perform TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION any function in the capital mar- Okikolu Street, off Toyin Street ket and its operations/activities Ikeja, Lagos.

Supranational Bond 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P in the capital marketIFCare thereFormer Assistant Director, 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P *AfDB fore illegal.

Enforcement and Compliance, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE “InMARKET view of the above, SEC and leader of the enforceTOTAL CAPITALISATION the general public is hereby ment team, Mr. Description Benard Ebe, Rating/Agency Issuer warned that any person sub- said the commission had been FGN Eurobonds scribing to any of its products inundated with series of comJAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P from investors or dealing with it in any capi- plaints of fraud 6.75 BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P scheme, tal market related business is in the fund manager’s BB-/Fitch; JUL 12, 2023 doing so at his/her own risk,” noting that to 6.38 guide against BB-/S&P TOTAL noted.

OUTSTANDING VALUE SEC other people falling victim, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION In a renewed effort aimed at the commission had to move Corporate Eurobonds sanitising the Nigerian capital swiftly.

7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I He said that for entity to market, the SEC hasACCESS asked ille7.25 any JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P BANK PLC 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P managers and FIDELITY BANK PLC gal fund sundry engage in any manner of fund 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC perpetrators of indiscipline management, such organisa6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC and malfeasance in FIRST theBANK capital tion must as duty and process 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P PLC 9.25/6M USDits LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P to seek for ACCESS BANK PLC II markets worthier of law, register operations 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD endeavour.

The regulator firmwith the commission, insisting, 8.75 AUG 14, 2021 B-/S&P ECOBANK NIG. LTD TOTAL OUTSTANDING ly beliefs that VALUE illegal entities “Anything short of that would TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION (Ponzi schemes) help to erode amount to illegal operations and confidence in the market. Issuer which is another form of a Ponzi Description Rating/Agency An alleged illegal fund man- Scheme.” #{r}

13.00 14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.25 15.50 14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

7.23

04-May-16

56

6.03

11.46

2.77

29-Jul-16

142

6.18

13.18

11.27 12.54

9-Mar-16

10.00

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 **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) investment advice.

Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” (%) and on an Bid “ASYield AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance DTM We attempt to ensure the Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) TenorWe do not guarantee Rate (%) NIBOR 8 5.24 liability for the results of any 4.99 or fitness for a particular purpose of any of 17-Mar-16 the Information, neither do we accept action taken on the 5.25 basis of the Information.

OBB 4.71 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 15 24-Mar-16 4.88 22 31-Mar-16 5.03 29 7-Apr-16 5.07 36 14-Apr-16 5.22 43 21-Apr-16 4.98 50 28-Apr-16 5.19 57 5-May-16 5.08 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 71 19-May-16 5.17 78 26-May-16 5.14 85 2-Jun-16 13.05 16-AUG-2016 5.27 92 9-Jun-16 5.69 ^15.10 27-APR-20175.87 99 16-Jun-16 106 23-Jun-16 9.85 27-JUL-2017 5.64 113 30-Jun-16 5.70 9.35 31-AUG-2017 6.53 127 14-Jul-16 10.70 30-MAY-2018 6.70 134 21-Jul-16 141 28-Jul-16 ^16.00 29-JUN-20196.79 148 4-Aug-16 7.31 7.00 23-OCT-2019 7.53 155 11-Aug-16 162 18-Aug-16 ^15.54 13-FEB-20207.29 NA NA 176 1-Sep-16 ^16.39 27-JAN-20227.39 183 8-Sep-16 7.65 ^14.20 14-MAR-20247.65 197 22-Sep-16 211 6-Oct-16 ^12.50 22-JAN-20267.29 218 13-Oct-16 15.00 28-NOV-2028 7.37 225 20-Oct-16 7.66 12.49 22-MAY-2029 7.60 239 3-Nov-16 267 1-Dec-16 8.50 20-NOV-2029 7.50 281 15-Dec-16 ^10.00 23-JUL-20307.64 302 5-Jan-17 7.84 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 316 19-Jan-17 7.81 330 2-Feb-17 7.90 344 16-Feb-17 8.10 358 2-Mar-17 8.51 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the TTM

4.63 4.78 4.82 4.97 4.73 4.94 4.83 Issue 4.92Date 4.89 5.02 16-Aug-13 5.44 27-Apr-12 5.62 5.39 27-Jul-07 5.45 31-Aug-07 6.28 30-May-08 6.45 6.54 29-Jun-12 7.06 23-Oct-09 7.28 7.04 13-Feb-15 7.14 27-Jan-12 7.40 14-Mar-14 7.40 7.04 22-Jan-16 7.12 28-Nov-08 7.41 22-May-09 7.35 7.25 20-Nov-09 7.39 23-Jul-10 7.59 18-Jul-14 7.56 7.65 7.85 8.26

FGN Bonds

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issue Date

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 5.0487 7.6966 8.9165 10.7573

O/N Tenor Call 1M TTM 3M (Yrs) 6M

Outstanding Value Maturity Date (₦’bn) NITTY Tenor 581.39 1M 480.13 2M 3M 20.00 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 5.1287 27-Apr-17 5.1318 5.5325 27-Jul-17 7.6503 31-Aug-17 7.8412 30-May-18 8.5204

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 NIFEX 531.93 13-Feb-20 Current Price ($/N) 605.31 27-Jan-22 BID($/N) 199.0000 719.99 14-Mar-24 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 95.84 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34

5.17

REPO Rate (%) 5.08 5.67 Bid6.50 Yield 7.25

(%)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M Yield Offer 6M (%) 1Y

0.44 7.41 7.07 NOTE: 1.13 9.43 9.29 :Benchmarks 1.38 9.50 9.38 * :Amortising Bond 1.48 9.59 9.47 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 2.22 Management Corporation 9.88 9.81 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 3.30 10.23 10.13 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 3.62 11.01 10.90 IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables 3.93 11.45 Management 11.36 NAHCO: Nigerian 5.89 Aviation Handling 11.45 Company 11.39 O/N: Overnight 8.01 11.75 11.69 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West 9.87Africa Portland Cement 11.79 Company11.74 12.72 12.17 12.13 13.20 12.19 12.15 13.70 12.21 12.16 14.37 11.91 11.86 18.36 12.02 11.98

6,112.28

198.41 199.17 199.28 199.33 199.98 200.96 Bid Price 204.15 212.74

102.38 105.93

198.51 199.69 199.82 Price199.91 200.73 201.96 Offer Price 205.89 216.23

102.53 106.08

NA :Not Applicable 100.43 100.58 ^ : Market Prices 99.68 99.83 # : Floating Rate Bond 101.57 101.72 ***: Deferred coupon bonds DTM: Days-To-Maturity 115.80 116.10 TTM: Term-To-Maturity 88.25 under review 88.55 ‡ : Bond rating †: Bond rating 112.65expired 112.95 N/A :Not 120.69 Available 120.99 {r} :Issuer in receivership 112.50 NGC: Nigeria-German Company112.80 UBA: United Bank for Africa 104.02 104.32

118.00 101.88 75.55 86.96 100.93

118.30 102.18 75.85 87.26 101.23

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

6067.277269

6,389.89 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR

Bonds

#

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds Nil

4.89 5.04 5.09 5.25 5.01 5.23 5.12 Coupon 5.22 (%) 5.19 5.33 13.05 5.77 15.10 5.96 5.73 9.85 5.80 9.35 6.68 10.70 6.87 6.97 16.00 7.53 7.00 7.78 7.53 15.54 7.66 16.39 7.95 14.20 7.98 7.61 12.50 7.71 15.00 8.04 12.49 7.99 7.94 8.50 8.11 10.00 8.38 12.1493 8.37 8.51 8.77 9.29

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE

<3 3<5 >5 Market

03-Apr-12

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn)

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

1,006.03 1,540.54 1,600.41 4,146.98

17.25

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Volume

Weighting by Mkt Value

883.23 1,325.30 1,667.49 3,876.02

22.79 34.19 43.02 100.00 30-Jun-11

24.26 37.15 38.59 100.00 14.00

30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12

15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50

1.50

03-Apr-17

1.50

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Bucket Weighting

1.55 0.23

0.52 Implied Yield

0.34 0.43 1.30 1.00

12.27 28.34 59.38 100.00 30-Jun-16

11.00 11.62 11.98 11.76 0.31

2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 27.25 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68 13.87

30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19

0.31 1.11 0.83 1.81 1.41 1.42 1.60 1.61 1.79 2.01

2.94 Implied Portfolio Price

138.9761 153.8120 119.5635 135.6975 4.46

3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00 2.02

10.94 INDEX

1,264.36 1,333.46 1,441.46 1,292.19 10.79

9.81 10.24 14.45 12.93 10.52 10.53 13.47 13.21 10.72 11.82

103.12 YTD Return (%)

14.1275 31.6902 43.1418 22.4615 100.88

101.63 99.73 99.42 101.62 104.32 104.34 101.35 101.03 107.45 106.18

40

NEWS | south-west

Ondo lawmakers reverses speaker, deputy's impeachment Babatope Okeowo Akure

E

ighteen lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday sheathed their swords over their resolve to sack the Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Alhaji Fatai Olotu barely 24 hours after they moved against the officers.

The lawmakers said the move to sack the two officers had been shelved following the intervention of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who pleaded on behalf of the embattled Speaker and her deputy

even as some members said the issues that led to the impeachment were yet to be resolved.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olamide George, who addressed a press conference at the Cocoa Conference Hall located at the governor's office, said the 'status quo ante' on the leadership of the Assembly as at March 7 still remains.

Akindele and her deputy, Olotu were late Tuesday's night removed by some members of the Assembly. A source in the Assembly alleged that the exercise was carried out by 18 of the 26 legislators that

constituted the Assembly.

The Assembly has 21 People's Democratic Party (PDP) members while the rival All Progressive Congress (APC) has five. 14 members of the PDP and four of the five members signed the impeachment notice.

The impeachment was said to have been carried out around 10.30pm at the residence of one of the aggrieved lawmakers. The letter containing the signature of the 18 aggrived lawmakers was scanned and sent to journalists at about 11.00pm.

However, the lawmakers had elected Hon. Iroju Ogundeji from Odigbo Lo-

cal Government as Speaker and Hon. Ayo Arowele from Owo local government as deputy speaker.

Although, no reasons was given, a source in the Assembly said that the lawmakers impeached the principal officers because they had failed to protect their interest before the executive as they had alleged that they had become Mimiko’s rubber stamp.

According to him, the Speaker could not do anything as the lawmakers were being owed three months salaries, no official cars for the lawmakers and some of them have no quarters.

"I will talk to you later.

The speaker has been impeached. But I can't give you the whole gist. We will talk tomorrow", he said.

The lawmakers that signed Hon. Jumoke Akindele’s impeachment included Arowele Ayodeji - Hon Iroju Ogundeji, Olusola Oluyede. Akindiose Olusoji, Akintimehin I Tuyi and Akinruntan Abayomi Others included Fajolu Abimbola, Hon. Araoyinbo Olugbenga, Olusegun Ajimotokin, Jamiu Suleiman Maito, Felemu Olusegun, Coker Adeniyi Malachi, Towase O Kuti, Kazeem M O S -Obadiah Vincent, Ade Adeniyi, Olamide George and Mukaila Musa.

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Odogwu Ezekobe, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja …yesterday

Senate investigates invasion of Ekiti Assembly by DSS Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate, yesterday, directed its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly allegedly by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The resolution was made following a motion brought to the floor of the Chamber for consideration

by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), which she entitled “the invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly by armed men of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday March 4, 2016.”

Presenting the motion before her colleagues, Olujimi told the chamber that over 10 armed DSS operatives invaded the state legislative chamber and held the lawmakers hostage,

while shooting sporadically into the air.

She said that the shooting caused panic among members and staff of the assembly complex as they scampered for their safety.

The Senate Deputy Minority Whip also noted that at the end of the commotion caused by the DSS invasion, four members of the House of Assembly could not be found, with news filtering later that one of the state legislators, Hon. Afolabi Akanni, the member representing Efon Constituency, was abducted and taken to Abuja.

She regrettably recalled how Akwa Ibom State Government House was earlier invaded by the same DSS without any formal explanation as to the reason for the invasion.

Olujimi pointed out that the action of the security operatives was outside the scope of their mandate, insisting that the National Assembly as the highest

law-making body in the country must intervene in the matter.

She further maintained that the action was not only unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful, but was a calculated plot to harass, intimidate and embarrass the people and government of Ekiti State.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who seconded the motion, urged the Senate to do something drastic about the development in order not to condone the breaking of the laws that gave the legislature powers to operate.

He reminded the Chamber that Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, which was passed in 1953 and still subsisting up till date, clearly stipulated the powers of the legislative houses at all levels.

Contributing, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, condemned the invasion, saying that even though it happened to the opposi-

tion party, the action was wrong and dangerous to the survival of the democracy.

“This motion is coming at a critical time; this motion is coming when this Senate is supposed to stand out to be Senate. We should clearly stand by truth and the truth is that in a democracy there are three arms of government: the legislature, the judiciary and the executive.

“The rights and privileges of each arm of government are clearly defined and that of the National Assembly as specified in the rights and privileges Act. So, what happened was wrong and we need to say it like that.”

change OF NAME

Denipere

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Erena Igbana now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Denipere Anita Parke. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and the general public should please take note.

thursday, march 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NASU’s protest paralyses activities in UI Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASUU), University of Ibadan branch, yesterday protested non-payment of deductions and unpaid agreed allowance by the school authorities.

The action which threw the academic community into some pandemonium led to suspension of all activities lined up for the 2015/2016 matriculation exercise as the new students were chased out of the venue by then protesting staff.

Early in the morning, the union leaders had mobilized their members and shut all entrance gates into the university, thereby disrupting all academic and vehicular activities in the institution.

While the orientation programme was ongoing for the new students at the university’s International Conference Centre, the unions stormed the venue and switched off the power supply to the hall, thus prompting the students to scamper for safety. Many of the chairs were upturned as the students struggled to get out, leading to some of them getting injured.

Speaking on the protest, the SSANU Chairman, Wale Akinremi, criticized the administrative style of the university management, saying it was not democratic in the handling of their demands.

1.7%

The annual population growth rate of Nepal in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

Workers to resist Aregbesola’s plan to sack 1,000 Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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ealth workers of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital complex (LAUTECH) yesterday uncovered plan by the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola-led administration to lay off over 1,000 members of staff in the hospital, threatening to resist such moves.

The workers, who staged a walk protest round the hospital premises at the early hours of the day to register their displeasure, described the development as callous and inhuman, saying they uncovered the retrenchment plan through a government gazette, dat-

ed January 14, 2016, where government's position was published.

They said: "Some of the reasons for the planned sack as listed in the gazette include over-staffing, overrecruitment, over stay of residency programme by resident doctors."

Addressing newsmen after the protest that grounded hospital activities to a halt, the hospital’s chairman of the Senior Staff Association, Mr Afolabi Abiodun said, "government did not follow the recommendations of the committee set up for forensic auditing.

"Any attempt by the state government to implement the mass sack would be met with stiffer action," he stressed.

News|SOTUH-EAST

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Imo workers’ to get 70% of January salary

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

I

mo State government and the Labour Joint committee in the state have agreed to pay workers in the state 70 per cent of their January salary across board, with the remaining 30 per cent of the overhead cost for the month reserved for pension payment.

This was disclosed to newsmen by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Imo State chapter chairman, Comrade Austin Chalakpu, during a press briefing in Owerri.

The labour leader stated that the 70 per cent of the gross revenue for the month of January stood at a a little over N3.373 billion.

Given the verified wage bill of salary and pension for the month, which stood at N5.3 billion, the committee said it was saddled with a differential of about N1.9 billion.

Consequently, the committee said with the sum of over N3.373 billion for the payment of salary and pension due, it decided to

deploy only 70 per cent of the sum to the payment of salary across board.

Chilakpu pointed out that labour did not review workers salary downward, but only did the needful with the resources available while hoping to pay up the balance when the state’s revenue improves. He stated that

labour has mobilized and would be fully be involved in the payment of salaries to forestall cases of ghost workers getting salaries.

The state NLC chairman also revealed that labour has set up a committee of financial experts to fast track the issue of salary payment and improve on the financial state of

E

The governor expressed his administration’s support to partner with the company in the re-positioning process of the education sector in the state. He added that his promise to the electorate, especially in the area of technical and vocational education for skill acquisition and manpower development was sacrosanct.

Ugwuanyi who appreciated members of the delegation for the bold initiative to partner with the government to promote education, equally used the opportunity to invite them and their associates to the forthcoming Enugu International Investment Summit in April, where the state

will showcase its numerous business potentials to the world.

Earlier in his address, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Kuhnrich, informed the governor that they were in Enugu to partner with the state government to provide technical and training services to schools.

He expressed delight over the commitment of the state government towards the training of students, adding that the company has the operational background to develop technical and vocational schools in the state through knowledge transfer, training and other support-based services.

IPOB disowns Ohanaeze over US black congress caucus visit Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

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head of the purported visit of the US Black Congress caucus to the South-East, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned that the apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, would not be allowed to hijack the event, saying it has not been part of the agitation.

IPOB in a statement made available to newsmen, said it received with

committee was an adhoc committee and did not have the right to borrow money but only has the authority to apply 70 per cent of its share to the payment of salaries and pensions.

Emeh emphasised that with the strategy being put in place by the 18-man committee, comprising

L-R: Divisional Head, Large Scale Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Joseph Babatunde; Igwe Ben Nwoji Onyiaka of Onono community; Chairman, Anambra West Local Government Council, Mr Simeon Okonkwo and Acting Managing Director/CEO Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, at the inauguration of the bank’s funded 24kw Mini Grid Pilot Project at OnonoAnam, in Anambra West Council.

Enugu partners German firm on education nugu State Government has restated its readiness to make the education sector the focus point of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration’s development agenda.

The governor stated at the Government House, Enugu, while receiving a delegation of the International Training and Support (ITS), a German Technical and Production Training Company, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Heinz-Joachim Kuhnrich.

The team was in Enugu on a feasibility study, on how to provide technical and vocational education training services in partnership with the Enugu State Government.

the government regarding revenue generation.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Matters, Mr. Ikenna Emeh, pointed out that the payment of salary was not fixed but a function of what was available.

He stressed that the

consternation the plan

by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to present its leaders as the elders and custodians of the agitation during the visit of the US Congressmen and warned them to steer clear.

In the statement signed by its spokesmen, Mr. Emma Nmezu and Clifford Iroanya, IPOB, said it has credible leaders who would speak for or represent them during the event and anytime.

The statement read in part: “It has come to the notice of IPOB that some selfish individuals who

deliberately misconstrue our genuine intentions towards the realisation of Biafra are busy parading themselves as elders or custodians of our present agitation.

“Once again, we have been reliably informed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo have once again hijacked the proposed visit of US Congressmen to Biafraland thereby positioning themselves as the mouthpiece of IPOB which is blatantly false. We have not mandated this group called Ohaneze to represent IPOB in any capacity."

Biafra: APGA absolves Umeh of complicity

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

T

he All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday absolved its former national chair man and candidate in the Anambra Central senatorial election, Chief Victor Umeh, of any complicity in the allegation by the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) that he is a supporter of the agitation for the Biafra nation by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a statement issued by its Deputy National Secretary, Chief Jerry Obasi, in Abakaliki, the party described the allegation as false which did not represent Umeh’s true political character and status.

The statement said: "Our attention has been drawn to the sensitive and vexed accusations of sponsorship of the (IPOB)and MASSOB".

"The campaign programs of our party for the Anambra Central senatorial district where our candidate Chief Victor

Umeh never showed that there was a time the name or acronym IPOB or MASSOB was mentioned as it was never contained in our party's constitution or manifesto".

"Our candidate for the election, Chief Sir Victor Umeh is not and was never a chauvinist, jingoist or an ethnic bigot as even in his dress sense he has always represented a true Nigerian".

"Chief Umeh is merely a committed and true believer of the advancement of the course of his people".

"His love for his people cannot in any way translate into IPOB, MASSOB or any secessionist tendency".

"Chief Umeh's vision hitherto is to become a Senator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria whereas the aspirations of the two other groups are in conflict with such".

We pray that the election to represent the people of Anambra Central be determined by the wishes and will of its people. We are saddened and pained by the suffering of our candidate Chief Victor Umeh and call for restraint and caution on the side of the DSS."

41

labour and government, would meet up with their obligation of paying the workers their full emoluments.

He claimed that the revenue of the state has increased by 15 per cent in the last month as the IGR of the state rose from N215 million to N400million in the last month.

27 IPOB members ask court to quash criminal charge Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

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wenty-seven members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday asked a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Enugu, to quash a criminal charge brought against them by the Nigeria Police.

The accused persons through their lead counsel, Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye, told the court that the police have not shown diligence in prosecuting the matter.

It was gathered that the accused persons were holding a prayer procession on February 9, 2016, for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, when they were arrested and charged to court by the police.

The pro-Biafra activists, who had earlier been arraigned and granted bail by the presiding Magistrate, Paulson Egbo, re-appeared in court yesterday for the continuation of the hearing.

However, the matter could not go on as the prosecutor, D.I Ogbu, informed the court that he was yet to obtain the consent of the Attorney General of Enugu State.

Consequently, Ugwuonye, the counsel to the accused persons, prayed the court to discharge his clients.

He told the court that: "I had come here to defend the accused persons but surprisingly, they are not ready to prosecute them."

He equally prayed the court for an order that the personal effects of the accused persons be released.

However, in a counter argument, the prosecutor told the court that the defendants' counsel was not supposed to make such application even when one of the accused persons was not in court.

He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him obtain the AG's consent.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, cautioned the accused persons not to toy with the bail granted them by the court, warning that should any of them not appear in court at the next sitting, he may revoke their bail.

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News|SOUTH-SOUTH

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gunmen abduct magistrate, shoot police orderly Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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unmen yesterday kidnapped the wife of the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Hassana Garuba.

Hassana, a top ranking magistrate of the state judiciary, was abducted by heavily armed men along the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja expressway, near Benin, the Edo State capital.

Husband of the kidnapped woman and former speaker of the House

Delta council petitions EFCC, lawmakers over fraud Dominic Adewole ASABA

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ouncilors of Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged misappropriation of the council’s funds by its Chairperson, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah.

A copy of the petition was also forwarded to the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya and other members of the assembly.

The petition equally contained a resolution on the motion that was moved and seconded by members to suspend the council chairperson, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Briefing journalists on the issue yesterday, 12 out of the 15 councilors of the council, led by the Leader of the House, Hon. Olisa Matthew Uzorka, said all entreaties to the chairperson to present the income and expenditure of the council since November 2014, had proved abortive.

Uzorka said the council chairman also breached the agreement reached with the elders and leaders of the party on the matter.

He said: “We took reasonable steps before now to checkmate her unholy financial dealings before we resolved to petition the EFCC and forwarded her suspension letter that was signed by 12 councilors to the state’s House of Assembly.”

Corroborating the leader, the councilor representing Ward 15 in the area, Cynthia Oputa, said Chukwurah’s suspension was ratified on March 14, 2016.

Oputa, who displayed a copy of the petition, accused the suspended council boss of test running the process of the council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) since she assumed office on October 26, 2014.

She said: “This is a new year. She has been running the council without a budget, whereas the Delta State Local Government Law in Section 57 (8), stipulated that she has to render to the legislature all financial dealings of the council on monthly or quarterly basis.”

of Assembly, Zakawanu Garuba, presided over the affairs of the House during the 18-month stint of ex-Governor Oserheimen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and during the first term of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Hassana was said to be on her way to work at the Ehor Magistrate’s Court in Uhunmwonde council area of the state when the armed men swooped on her, taking her to an unknown destination.

A riot police orderly attached to her was shot in the process. He was said to

have resisted the attempt by the kidnappers to attack his boss.

New Telegraph gathered that the incident occurred between 9.30am and 10am at Obadan village near the popular Ogbemudia Farm, about 20 minutes’ drive to Benin City, along the dual carriageway that was still under construction before being abandoned.

The gun wielding abductors were said to have first descended on unsuspecting commuters along the route and in the process took the magistrate away and some other persons whose identities are yet to

be ascertained.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abiodun Osifo, when contacted, confirmed the incident, saying a team has been detailed to take care of the situation.

He said operatives of the command have been deployed to comb the bush close to the scene of the abduction, assuring the people that efforts were being made to rescue her.

According to him, “So much is being done to rescue her. Our men have been deployed to comb the bush near the area and we are very hopeful that she will

be liberated soon.”

Our correspondent gathered that the victim's husband and family members have been contacted over the situation, but that no contact had been established between the victim’s family and the kidnappers.

Also yesterday, the injured police orderly was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, as at yesterday had directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, to ensure that the magistrate is rescued promptly.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel (middle); Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Dr Glory Edet (right) and others, during the inspection of food and agricultural products exhibited by women to commemorate Year 2016 International Women's Day celebration at Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo… yesterday

196.94m

The total number of connected lines of Nigeria in April 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

€71.3m

The estimated transfer value of Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

47,500

The total area (in sq. km) of water of Kazakhstan.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Women’s Day: Emmanuel Wike: Opposition, media over-blowing Int’l urges women empowerment kidnapping cases in Rivers A

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday said opposition political parties and the media were over blowing cases of abduction in the state.

The governor said despite supporting the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to tackle cult-related violence in some communities in the state, the opposition continued to claim that victims of cultrelated violence were their members because they want to gain political mileage.

Wike, who spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday when he received the new Managing Director of Total E and P Nigerian Limited, Mr. Nicholas Terraz, said kidnapping was a national issue.

He said: "We are doing everything in partnership with the security agencies to resolve all cult-related security challenges in some communities in the state.

"Kidnapping is a national issue, but the reportage on the situation in Rivers State

is over-blown. What we have in Rivers State is cult-related violence, which the government and the security agencies are resolving.

"Those who beheaded members of a family in Omoku have been arrested and they are cultists.

"If there is any casualty during such cult-related violence, a particular political party would claim the victim as its member. I wonder why a political party would, because of politics, claim that cultists are its mem-

bers? "We are committed to protecting lives and property across the state. We are building a friendly environment for investors to come and invest in the state," the governor added.

The Managing Director of Total E and P, Nicholas Terraz, had assured the governor of the company’s readiness to maintain its development strides in her host communities, and noted that the company has invested approximately $10 billion in the country.

Oil communities back Kachikwu on NNPC’s unbundling Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

F

ollowing the decision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), leaders of oil and gas producing communities in

the Niger Delta, yesterday lauded the minister’s initiative, saying that it would ensure efficiency, profitability and transparency in the corporation.

The leaders, who spoke in Warri, Delta State, through the Niger Delta Oil Communities Agenda (NIDOCA) in a statement

issued by Emmanuel Akpovoka, secretary-general and Clement Komboye, director of publicity, also slammed those opposed to the unbundling of the corporation, adding that they were shocked at the attitude of some individuals and groups openly rejecting the unbundling of the

organisation.

They said: “We must educate those opposing the unbundling of NNPC properly that it is no longer business as usual in NNPC, where over the years; NNPC was the ATM machine of few to the detriment of Nigerians and the country."

kwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has advocated the need for women empowerment to enable them grow the economy and boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The governor made the advocacy at this year's International Women's Day celebration held at Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo. He observed that greater percentage of women are involved in the socioeconomic growth of the society and described the theme of the celebration, ‘Pledge for parity,’ as apt considering the present level of awareness by the female folk, who he said have made their mark in their political and economic pursuits.

Emmanuel said: "In societies where women rights and empowerment remain a work in progress, great progress has been made. In Bangladesh, a strictly Islamic country, Sheik Hasina, was voted the Prime Minister,

Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America and its close neighbour, Argentina, has had women presidents, Britain and Germany, two of the world’s most industrialised nations, had and is still being led by women. The United States appears to be in cusp of electing the first woman president in Senator Hilary Clinton.

"In the corporate world, we have had such great amazons as Carly Fiorina, who once led Hewlett Packard and was recently a candidate for the President of the United States on the Republican Party platform. We also have Indra Nooyi, who is the chief executive of Pepsi Cola and numerous other high achievers.

“Surely, the efforts of pioneer agitators for women’s rights such as the Venerable Susan B. Anthony, who started this movement when she convened the first ever Women’s Right Conference at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 has not been in vain," the governor said.

NORTH | news

thursday, march 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he Kwara State Government yesterday directed state and local government workers, as well as pensioners that are yet to provide their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for the ongoing staff verification to do so within seven days or risk non-payment of their salaries.

The directive followed a report by Committee on Personnel Database Development looking into the data base of government workers in the state that of the 82, 642 workers so far verified by the committee, only 49, 579 have valid BVN, while 124 were

Ahmed to Kwara workers: No BVN, no salary discovered to have fake BVN. Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed is chairman of the committee.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who is also the Alternate Chairman to the Committee, also disclosed that the first level verification so far revealed there were 324 individuals who were linked to 659 multiple accounts.

The governor, therefore, during a meeting of the committee ordered non-payment of salaries, although he said the gov-

ernment has no intention of withholding any worker's salary without justification.

Ahmed, who said the affected workers and pensioners will still be credited with their salaries and pensions, but will not be able to access the money until they obtain BVN. The governor, according to a Government House statement, explained that the unique bank numbers were necessary for preliminary verification of workers and pensioners on the

state and local government councils’ payroll.

He, however, noted that at this stage of the verification, those without valid BVN would not yet be designated as ghost workers.

The statement signed

by Dr. Muideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant on Media, quoted the governor as explaining that the motive behind the Personnel Database System, to give the government an accurate picture of those on the state and local government councils' payroll.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Sen. Isa Galaudu; Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alh. Dr. Ibrahim Coomassie; Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Chairman, National Executive Council (NEC) ACF, Alh. Musa Liman Kwande, during a couirtesy visit to Saraki in Abuja, yesterday.

MAKURDI

A

n American-based company, Averson is to invest several million US Dollars on the processing of agricultural products in Benue State, it was learnt.

The Director, Innovation and Technical Service of the company, Dr. Philip Yakubu disclosed this when he led other officials of the firm to pay a visit on Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House, Makurdi.

Philip Nyam Abuja

F

ollowing the protracted crisis in the Kogi State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to take over legislative activities of the parliament in accordance with section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The House, which took this decision after adopting the recommendations of the 10-member committee set up to investigate the alleged illegal removal of the Speaker of Kogi State of Assembly, Hon. Jimoh

Tambuwal inaugurates committees on education Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

S

okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has inaugurated three committees that will oversee the implementation of the school feeding programme and the state of emergency on education sector.

Piqued by the level of rot in the state’s education system, the governor declared a state of emergency in the sector, as part of his administration’s rescue mission to fix the ailing system.

The third committee, tagged: “The State of Emergency Council,” according to its terms of reference, is expected to supervise the other committees so as to ensure proper implementation of the policy.

Quoting the governor, his Media Aide, Mallam Imam Imam, in a statement, said that the committees have important roles to play in view of his administration’s the policy thrust which is to revamp the education sector.

According to him, the success and or otherwise of his administration should be gauged by what it would be able to achieve in the sector.

"To say the least, the story of the state’s education sector is that of dilapidated school structures, shortage of schools and inadequate classrooms, dearth of teaching and learning materials, low teachers’ morale and poor education management, as well as the lukewarm attitude of communities to education," the governor said.

28.68m

The total number of subscribers of Airtel Nigeria as at March 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Labour shuts down Taraba as workers embark on strike rganised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday shut down Taraba State as workers in the state embarked on a three-day warning strike to protest what they described as the insensitivity of the state government to their plight.

The NLC and the TUC called for the three-day warning strike to commence from yesterday to end midnight Friday.

The workers shut down all state ministries and agencies to enforce compliance.

The unions demand that thestategovernmentaddress the 'abnormalities' ranging from underpayments of salaries, omission of genuine

workers from salary vouchers and illegal deductions from workers' salaries.

Other issues raised by the protesting workers include the removal of approved allowances, non-circularisation of salaries of local government workers, non-payment of primary school teachers' salaries, among others.

“We have problem of salary right from October to February; we have a lot of discrepancies in our salaries," the state NLC Chairman, Peter Gambo, told New Telegraph.

He lamented that; “There are some workers that were underpaid, there are some that were omitted on the pay roll.

“We want the state government to urgently look into those issues and solve them," Gambo added.

rocking the State House of Assembly and that he had, several times, reiterated his readiness to work harmoniously with the State House of Assembly.”

According to the committee, the governor said “he has not tried to influence the decision of the House as he was new in office and does not have any prior relationship with the members of the State House of Assembly other than to work for the good of the entire state in line with his oath of office.

“That there have always been crises in the State House of Assembly, even before he assumed office.

“That there is lopsidedness in the distribution of power between the major tribes in the state – the governor and the speaker are co-incidentally from the same local government area.

“That he was deliberately misled by Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal, who willingly accepted to resign his position as speaker and have names of his possible successor and other principal officers of the House only for him to incite his group to renege on the promise in his desperate bid to cling unto power in the heat of the crises at the State House of Assembly.”

Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

US firm to invest in Benue to boost agriculture Cephas Iorhemen

43

Yakubu, who is also an indigene of the state, but based in the United States, said the company, which has a track record of competence in processing of primary products was motivated by the enabling environment created by the Ortom’s administration that encourages local and foreign investment in the state.

He explained that the firm was at the stage of carrying out feasibility studies on a number of crops such as soya beans, mangoes, oranges, yams

and rice, among others, with a view to harnessing them and encouraging farmers to embark on massive production as there would be a huge market for them.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, NEZAM Group of Companies, Mr. Terna Hemba, noted that their visit to the state was a follow-up to the Governor Ortom's visit to the US to seek partnership with them.

On his part, the Director, Global Projects, Mr. Peter Zandrasta, promised

that they would work with farmers in the state to secure agricultural products and process them effectively for the benefit of the entire state and the country.

Addressing the investors from the United States, the governor said the proposed investment by the foreign company was in line with his administration's development blueprint, tagged: "Our Collective Vision For a New Benue," even as he said the partnership would go a long way in boosting the state’s economy.

Reps take over Kogi Assembly

Momoh, also directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to seal off the House of Assembly complex until further notice.

The fact-finding committee, led by deputy chief whip, Hon. Pally Iriase, had, in its recommendations, stated that: “In view of the fact that Kogi State House of Assembly cannot perform its legislative functions due to the intractable crises and the volatile security situation in the state, the National Assembly should invoke the powers

conferred on it by section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take over the legislative functions of the State House of Assembly pending the restoration of normalcy in the Assembly.”

In unanimously adopting the recommendations, the House urged that “members of Kogi State House of Assembly should endeavour to quickly and amicably resolve any misunderstanding within them, do the needful to restore normalcy and report readiness to quickly as-

sume legislative functions to the National Assembly.”

The committee disclosed that during its fact-finding mission to the state, it met with the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the embattled speaker, Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal and his group, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Dantata Dangiwa.

It noted that “the governor maintained that he has no hand in the crises

O

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WORLD \ NEWS

NEWS

FG probes additional 11,000 ghost workers on pay roll Anule Emmanuel ABUJA

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inister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has disclosed that the Federal Government is investigating additional 11,000 workers to authenticate their status.

The Federal Government recently uncovered 23,000 ghost workers on its pay roll platform which saved government about N2.29 billion monthly.

The Finance minister who briefed State House correspondents after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meet-

ing said that the council approved continuous audit process, particularly on the payroll.

She said it will also be extended to other areas of government’s expenditure to block all fraudulent practices.

“In the budget speech, the President said that we would introduce a continuous audit process, particularly of payroll, and already that work has resulted in the elimination of about 23,000 fraudulent recipients of federal salary and more work is still ongoing.

“We felt that the continuous audit work should not just be limited to payroll, there is actu-

ally need to strengthen internal audit across government and to that extent, the World Bank had in 2010 started an initiative to try and introduce real-space internal audit in Nigeria, but it wasn’t successful,” she added.

Adeosun also disclosed that the World Bank has indicated its readiness to support Nigeria in the initiative, adding that it would take about six months to get the required legislation through.

She explained that as a measure for moving forward, there will soon be an interim report on the audit process.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Switzerland reopens Consulate-General’s Office in Lagos, after 55 years

T

he Swiss Gover nment late Tuesday inaugurated its new Consulate-General’s Office in Lagos, 55 years after it was closed.

Switzerland’s Federal Counsellor and Head of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, said before declaring the office officially opened, that it was currently his government’s second Consulate-General’s Office in Sub-Saharan Africa. ``The opening of this second ConsulateGeneral of Switzerland

in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Cape Town, marks a very special day for us. ``Switzerland is officially returning to the place where its long-standing friendship with Nigeria started 55 years ago: the exciting city of Lagos! ``Ever since the opening of our embassy, Nigeria has been at the heart of our foreign policy on Africa,’’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria has not lost her importance in his country’s foreign policy. Burkhalter also said that the economic significance

of Nigeria could not be ``overstated’’, adding that it was ``one of the main reasons’’ that the Consulate-General had been reopened. The Swiss government official said that Swiss businesses and people attached much importance to Nigeria, especially Lagos. ``As the biggest economy in the continent, Nigeria not only plays a major role in shaping developments in Africa, this position also enables Nigeria to contribute to economic growth worldwide. `

New LCDAs continuation of Aregbesola’s confusion, says PDP l APC hails governor Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

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sun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the newly created Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) as a “continuation of confusion Governor Rauf Aregbesola had introduced into governance of the state since coming on

board”.

The party in a statement issued in Osogbo by Prince its spokesperson, Diran Odeyemi, described Aregbesola as a confusionist without good vision for the people of the state.

The statement reads in part: “It is not hidden Mr. Aregbesola is controversy personified and infusing such clumsiness into the governance of the state that Osun, once a pride among states in the country is now a laughing

stock among others, will forever be counted against the governor.

“Why must Osun copy Lagos notes for everything? This same Ogbeni Aregbesola introduced and renamed Osun state to State of Osun, wasted scarce resources of the state to plant flowers from Asejire to Owena, cruise around in helicopter because Fasola has one, created series of ‘Os’ from ‘O Yes- to O No’, what a funny and confused Governor.

Saraki tasks zones to contribute to GDP Chukwu David ABUJA

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resident of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, yesterday said that all geopolitical zones in the country must contribute equitably to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in order to ensure national stability.

Saraki made the appeal when the Chairman

of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), former InspectorGeneral of Police, Dr. Ibrahim Coomassie, visited him at the National Assembly with other executive members of the Forum.

The Senate president said the only way for the North to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation’s GDP and the diversification of the

economy was for its leaders to methodically focus on mining and agriculture.

He said, “My appeal is that in all countries that have gone through similar economic challenges like ours, recovery does not happen overnight. There will be initial pain but eventually the future will be bright. It is this journey that we should have embarked upon many years ago. We cannot run away from it.

Dogara advocates financial autonomy for assemblies, LGs Philip Nyam ABUJA

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peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said that the cornering of funds meant for local government councils by states is stifling the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

Dogara spoke when he received chairman and members of conference of state legislators in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

The speaker maintained that the intention of the framers of the 1999 constitution was to have strong local councils where dividend of democracy will be delivered to the people.

According to him, if that had happened, even University Professors and Federal lawmakers may run for elections to become local government chairmen.

He opined that democracy is not just election and that it is nothing if it does

not deliver on its promises to the people but lamented that since 1999, Nigeria’s democracy has not been able to do so.

This, he said, was because some elections in the past have produced even enemies of democracy in Nigeria.

“Democracy must be able to deliver value to the people and as long as it does not deliver, we can’t say we are practising democracy but mere nominal one or just the practice of it.

North Korea’s state media showed a picture of Kim JongUn inspecting the purported nuclear warhead.

Kim Jong-Un: North Korea has miniaturised nuclear warheads

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orth Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said his country has successfully miniaturised a thermonuclear warhead, as Pyongyang yesterday continued to talk up its nuclear strike capabilities amid rising military tensions on the Korean peninsula.

While the North has boasted of mastering miniaturisation before, this is the first time Kim has directly claimed the breakthrough that experts see as a game-changing step towards a credible North Korean nuclear threat to the US mainland.

His comments came a day after the North’s powerful National Defence Commission threatened preemptive nuclear attacks on South Korea and the US mainland, as Seoul and Washington kicked off large-scale joint military exercises. Military tensions have surged in the region since the North carried out its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month.

The UN Security Council responded by imposing tough new sanctions last week, which Pyongyang has condemned and labelled as part of a US-led

conspiracy to bring down Kim’s regime by force.

“The nuclear warheads have been standardised to be fit for ballistic missiles by miniaturising them,” Kim noted during a visit with nuclear technicians that was reported by state media yesterday.

“This can be called a true nuclear deterrent,” he was quoted as saying. Kim also stressed that the miniaturised warheads were “thermonuclear” devices, echoing the North’s claim that the nuclear test it conducted in January was of a more powerful hydrogen bomb.

Queen not anti-EU, says Palace

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uckingham Palace complained yesterday to Britain’s press watchdog about a tabloid story claiming Queen Elizabeth II wants the U.K. to leave the European Union.

Under the headline “Queen Backs Brexit” a British EU exit. The Sun quoted anonymous sources as saying the monarch had told thenDeputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in 2011 that the EU was heading in the wrong direction. The story said the queen “left no room for

doubt about her passionate feelings over Europe.”

The palace said it had written to the Independent Press Standards Organization to complain that the story had breached a prohibition in the Editors’ Code of Practice against “inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.”

The queen is prohibited from taking sides in political debates and rarely makes her

personal views public.

Even the blandest statements can cause a flutter, as when the queen told well-wishers before Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum that people should think “very carefully about the future” before voting.

Some interpreted that as a call for Scots to stay in Britain. British politicians are immersed in a heated debate about Britain’s place in Europe ahead of a June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the 28-nation European Union.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Sport Eagles striker, Chisom Chikatara

Home-based Eagles battle to impress coaches

Ready to challenge foreign-based

Emmanuel Tobi

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he battle for places in the final squad that will face Egypt in the forthcoming AFCON 2017 qualifiers is getting fiercer among the homebased Super Eagles players in camp as they are working hard to impress the coaches.

A camp source said the players were battling to outdo one another in a bid to make the final cut as the team awaits the arrival of foreign-based players.

Those selected from this camp will move to the match venue in Kaduna on March 20 to be joined by the 21 foreignbased pros invited for the qualifiers by coach Samson Siasia.

The source said that: “The players fought to impress the coaching crew and their attitude to training is so good.

“They are conscious of the fact that the foreign-based players are also coming to fight for shirts but with what they have displayed so far, the home-based players are ready to challenge their counterparts abroad.”

Meanwhile, the Eagles scored two quick goals to defeat the country’s Olympic side 2-0 in a test game played in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Eagles are preparing for the March 25 and 29 matches against Egypt, while the Nigeria U-23 team is also getting set to battle Rio Olympics hosts Brazil in a friendly on March 24.

FC IfeanyiUbah forward Bright Onyedikachi opened scoring for the Eagles with a dipping shot, before Godwin Obaje doubled the tally.

Did you know?

Ighali targets eight Olympic tickets

That Thursday’s Europa League game between Liverpool and Manchester United is the first European showdown between the two England’s biggest clubs.

International Sport Man United critics living in the past -Van Gaal

46 47

NIG V EGY.... 15 days to go

Rufai, Nwosu back Siasia, Eagles Call for total focus

Adekunle Salami

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wo former internationals, Peter Rufai and Henry Nwosu, have thrown their weight behind Super Eagles caretaker coach Samson Siasia to excel in the crucial assignment handed to him by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Rufai told our correspondent that he had absolute confidence in the ability of Siasia and the players to do well for Nigeria against Egypt.

He said: “Siasia is a tested coach and he knows what to do at a point like this. I am also aware that our players are currently doing well all over Europe, so there should be no fear about the forthcoming games.

“The Egyptians are also aware we have quality. Playing here first is an advantage because a win will put them under severe pressure. I believe Siasia and the boys can do it but I expect the players to be alert all through the matches both here and in Egypt.”

Nwosu also stated that it was

Nwosu

Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile

Rufai

crucial for the Eagles coach to ensure the players were well-focused on the assignment before them.

“In the preparatory time and during the matches, the players must avoid loss of concentra-

tion. I am sure Samson is good enough to get us the ticket but the players must work hard to get the victory.

“I have a strong feeling we are going to beat Egypt. Any match that Nigerians look forward

to with apprehension are the ones we win easily, “Nwosu noted.

The back-to-back African Nations Cup 2017 qualifiers between Nigeria and Egypt take place on March 25th in Kaduna and March 29 in Alexandria, Egypt.

WADA: Sharapova had four-month notice

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The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Sharapova

aria Sharapova had fourmonth notice before meldonium was added to the banned substance list in January, the World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed.

The five-time Grand Slam winner shocked the world of sport on Monday when she announced she had failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.

Sharapova revealed she had been taking meldonium legally for 10 years to deal with an irregular heartbeat and a history of diabetes in her family.

She claimed she was unaware the drug - which Latvian manufacturers say should be taken for four to six weeks - had been put on WADA’s banned list.

However, WADA chief Sir Craig

Reedie confirmed the new list of prohibited substances was issued four months before it came into force.

“We researched this drug and then put it on a monitoring system for a year and then we put it on the list as from January 2016,” Reedie said on Sky Sports News HQ. “The new list is distributed on the first of September last year, so athletes have four months to understand it and that it comes into effect on the first of January.”

Dick Pound, WADA’s independent commission chairman and former chief, said Sharapova’s positive test is a major blow for tennis and is in disbelief over the 28-year-old’s claims of innocence.

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SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ighali targets eight Olympic tickets

Grace Adewara

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resident of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Ighali, is aiming at having eight wrestlers represent the country at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, later in the year.

Ighali stated that the wrestlers had been working hard to excel at the African Olympic qualifiers which is scheduled to take place between April 1 and 5 in Algiers, Algeria.

“We have potential in the sport and we are optimistic of having a very good outing at the qualifiers. I am confident because the current form of the wrestlers is good enough to have about eight

of them at the games,” Igali said.

Recently, Nigerian wrestlers won 19 medals including three gold medals at the African championship in Egypt and Ighali said it was a great outing for the country.

“What we did was to make all of them compete in categories higher than their class and they still won 10 medals. You can imagine if they had participated in their real class, they would have won easily.

“The African championship was a good preparation for us for the qualifiers. We are going to continue with the hard work to excel in Algiers,” Ighali, an Olympic Games gold medalist said.

Nigerian wrestler Ronke Adekuoroye (right)

Nwakali relishes Arsenal five-year deal

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igerian youngster Kelechi Nwakali has confirmed the signing of a five-year deal with Arsenal, describing it as a dream come true.

The 17-year-old midfielder is among the most sought-after young players in the world after his appearances at FIFA Under-17 World Cup, but it appears the North London club have won the race for his signature.

Nwakali was reportedly also chased by the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham United, following his head-turning displays at the tournament in Chile.

But Nwakali has revealed he has always wanted to play for the Gunners.

“I just came back from London, I have signed a five-year contract with Arsenal,” Nwakali told allnigeriasoccer.com.

Arsenal will reportedly pay in excess of £2m ($2.8m) for the player, who won the Golden Ball in Chile. It is said, too, that Arsenal have beaten the likes of Sporting Lisbon, Olympiakos and Udinese to the player’s signature.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger previously admitted he was keen to sign the player, describing him as a “top” talent. “There are of course work permit issues, medical issues, but it is progressing well,” the French boss said.

“We identified him

Chiejine: No permanent shirt in Super Falcons S

[Nwakali] after he won player of the tournament [at the under-17 World Cup], he is a top player, we will see if we can manage to get it over the line.”

uper Falcons Assistant coach, Ann Chiejine, has declared unequivocally that there will be no automatic jerseys in the team. Chiejine stated that the team was shaping up with all home -based players already in camp while the foreign -based players were still being expected.

She told thenff.com: “They are responding to training.

Despite the fact that we just started full training on Monday, I am very sure that within a little time, they will be able to get there.

“Despite the fact that the league season is not on, I am happy about the response of the players to the training programme. The way they are putting everything they have into the training sessions, I feel with time they will be able to get to where we want them to be.”

The former Falcons’ number one said that there was still more than enough time before the team’s qualifying matches

Nwakali

Musa named player of the week in Russia Ajibade Olusesan

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uper Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has been named the Russian player of the week following his stellar showing in his side, CSKA Moscow’s 1-0 win over Spartak Moscow on Sunday.

The striker scored the only goal of the game to give his side the maximum points against their city rivals.

That was his fifth strike against the club since he moved to Russia from VVV Venlo about four seasons ago.

In an award organised by championat. com, the Nigerian star saw off contest from Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny) and Stanislav Kritsyuk (FC Krasnodar) who finished second and third respectively.

Musa has been a subject of intense transfer

speculations with English Premier League leaders Leicester as the front runners for his signature. Arsenal and Manchester United are

said to be interested too but the Nigeria skipper has also revealed his preference for a move to the Emirates Stadium instead.

Nwakali

to work with the team.

“We have about a month before the first match in the qualification series and with all that we are teaching them right now, they’ll be able to cope before that time.”

“We spoke with the Head Coach and we all agreed to make it an open contest. It’s a new set of technical crew. No permanent jersey for anybody.

You’ll have to come and fight for a jersey,” she said.

Roma reject Barcelona’s bid for Abdullahi

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Musa (Right)

talian side, AS Roma have rejected a bid in the region of $10m from Barcelona for Nigerian youngster, Nura Abdullahi.

The 18 year old impressed Barcelona scouts in the UEFA Youth League this season and a move to the European champions seems inevitable.

It was earlier speculated that Barcelona cooled their interest after an inflammation was discovered in his heart.

Italian publication, Corrierre dello Sport however has reported that the Rome- based side have rejected moves by the Nou Camp outfit to sign the forward.

Abdullahi is on loan at Roma from Serie B side, Spezia.

Roma are looking to make the deal permanent following a string of impressive performances by the teen star for the AS Roma B Team.

Abdullahi

SPORT

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Muyiwa Daniel Column md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

Minister Dalung’s reforms!

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resident Muhammadu Buhari in a swift move at reducing the hefty luggage in the Federal Service bureaucracy decided to merge the ministries and thus arrived the Youth and Sports Ministry which seems to make a lot of sense as the bedrock of sports is in the investment on the youths all over the world.

The country had at a time had that combination and even extended to that of the ministry of Social Development, youth and sports under PMB’s first time thirty years back as military ruler with airforce officer/combatant pilot-Air commodore Bayo Lawal, as minister.

That was the period when the country’s sports national teams flew the C-130.

I recall flying in 1983 to the 1994 USA World Cup qualifiers against Cameroun in a game the Eagles had to experience a harrowing three days extension for match date at the behest of the Cameroonians whose control tower made the plane almost lunge into the mountains until those flying officers with late Nigeria Football Association chairman, then Group Captain Tony Ikhazoboh-in the cockpit got the better of the flight plan and overflew the danger.

In Yaounde, Embassy’s defence attaché-another airforce officer-group captain Emmanuel Adeleye, took charge the psyche of the delegation until matchday where the ‘Indomitable Lions’ won 1-0 after goalkeeper, Aloy Agu had lost three teeth. On return, Lawal was determined to put in place a reform for sports, youth to merge with social development in an outright move to spread the base of getting the youth more involved with sports and thus reduce the growing stress.

It didn’t last as Lawal was replaced by another Airforce officer, Emeka Omeruah who in the history of the country was the only one to run the Sports Ministry thrice apart from the NFA Chairmanship.

However from the administration of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida through interim-Ernest Shonekan to Sanni Abacha-the Sports Ministry existed only on the books as the National Sports Commission was resuscitated and its “Executive Chairman became Ministerial equivalent as it was of Cabinet rank.

The country had Chiefs Alex Akinyele, Sola Rhodes, Sylvanus Akinwunmi occupying the office without a compliment of an existing governing Board as dictated by Decree 10 of 1971 as amended in 1973 that brought the Commission headed then

by Chief Anthony Enahoro. The Ministry soon returned with Chief Jim Nwobodo as Minister before giving way to Omeruah when General Abdusalami Abubakar served out the “term” of Abacha.

With return to civilian rule in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo held a record of a Minister per year in that office beginning with Damishi Sango, Mark Aku, Steven Ibn Akiga and then Colonel Musa Mohammed. After OBJ, President Umar Yar ‘Aduah had his fair share with Professor Taoheed Adedoja as Minister before Tennis Federation boss Sani Ndanusa annexed the office with that of Nigeria Olympic Committee Presidency.

Minister Solomon Dalung has returned from the trip to Rio in company with the NSC Director General Alhassan Yakmut and NOC Secretary-general, Tunde Popoola. Dalung would have seen the prestigious treatment of Popoola within the Olympic fraternity and the thinking now is going to the games as NOC boss-a thinking began by Nwobodo at Atlanta ’96.

Meanwhile, within the spirit of PMB’s change mantra, Dalung should have stayed in office long enough to realize that sport has not been treated within the dictates of the Decree and the extant Clause 642 of the 1999 Constitution which places sports on the Consolidated list.

The Minister had gotten in the fray of the NFF headed by a ‘confused’ Amaju Pinnick who has lost ‘confidence’ in the Nigerian coaches and kites are being flown on the return of Bonfere Jo as a test for the murky waters while Samson Siasia is left with the Pharaoh’s banana peel beginning with the call-up of 45 players just three weeks to the tie where a firm selection should be in place.

Whatever it is, Dalung needs to convey a summit of the 36 states, the FCT and the 774 Local Governments to determine the REAL status of sports governance.

That is the reform with this CHANGE. Period!

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heo Walcott has revealed Arsenal’s players held a meeting ahead of Tuesday’s FA Cup victory over Hull City aimed at improving their results after a disappointing spell.

The Gunners recently slipped to defeats against Barcelona, Manchester United and Swansea and drew 2-2 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane as their chances of winning the Premier League title and progressing in the Champions League took a significant blow.

Walcott says the meeting was held without Arsene Wenger’s knowledge and was led by experienced players Petr Cech, Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky as an attempt to get the club’s season back on track.

“We are not going to lie - we know as a unit it

Arsenal in crisis meeting before Hull clash –Walcott has been tough and we all had a good chat amongst us behind closed doors, without even any of coaches or the manager knowing about anything,” he told reporters.

“I think it is important that as a team [to know] we have got it in us. We just have to produce it more often.

“You had a sense of the Tottenham game especially, when you go down to ten men in a big game like that, the belief and the character was there.

“The never-give-up spirit was there as well. In the derby matches, they could be the matches that turn your season and we may have turned the corner maybe.

Man United critics living in the past, says Van Gaal

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anchester United boss Louis van Gaal says those who criticise their demotion to the Europa League from the Champions League are “living in the past”.

United, who play Liverpool in the last 16 on Thursday, are in Europe’s second-tier competition for only the second time in the past 20 seasons.

“It was another time.

You live in the past,” said

Van Gaal

47

Van Gaal of United’s regular recent appearances in the Champions League knockout stages.

“It happens in football.

It’s normal.”

Manchester United have won three European Cups - most recently in 2008 - while Liverpool have lifted the trophy on five occasions.

Former captain Rio Ferdinand said the club should be “embarrassed,” while ex-striker Michael Owen claimed they had gone backwards under Van Gaal.

But the United boss insists it is inevitable that the two clubs’ fortunes change after a period at the top of the European game.

“It’s not normal that one team dominates for 20 years in a row as champions,” he added.

“You are talking about Manchester United and Liverpool, and we are happy to play in the Europa League, but City, Chelsea and Arsenal are still in the Champions League,” he said.

Theo Walcott (left)

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obin van Persie’s Netherlands career appears all but over after national team coach Danny Blind left him out of his provisional squad for the upcoming international friendlies against France and England as he looks to build a team for the 2018 World Cup. The Fenerbahce striker is Oranje’s alltime leading goalscorer with 50 goals in 101 appearances and is one of only eight players with more than 100 caps.

However, Blind now prefers the likes of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Luuk de Jong and the uncapped Vincent Janssen, having already

Van Persie out of Dutch squad snubbed Van Persie for the 3-2 win over Wales back in November 2015.

Other notable absentees include Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij (injured) and Nigel de Jong.

Blind’s 28-man squad includes high-profile names such as Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, while Manchester United duo Memphis Depay and Daley Blind have both made the cut, too.

Netherlands host France on March 25, before taking on England four days later.

Van Persie

Most valuable club: Guangzhou Evergrande overtake Madrid, Man Utd

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.35 billion dollars, that’s the market value for Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande after it finished the first transaction in China’s National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) on Tuesday, surpassing Real Madrid’s 3.26 billion dollars and Manchester United’s 2.35 billion dollars.

The Evergrande’s transaction per share values at 55 yuan (8.5 dollars), selling 36,000 shares for 1.98 million yuan (300,000 dollars) in the club’s first trade after being listed on November, 2015 in China’s NEEQ. In this price, Evergrande’s market value amounts to 21.8 billion yuan (3.35 billion dollars) in a total of 396.73 million shares.

Before the Asian champion club’s public transaction, the most valuable listed club is English Premier League’s Manchester United, which is listed in NYSE. According to the price of 14.31 dollars per

share when US markets closed on Monday, Manchester United’s valuation was 2.35 billion dollars.

Extending the value rankings to all clubs (including non-listed clubs), La Liga’s Real Madrid’s worth is estimated at 3.26 billion dollars according to Forbes’ list of the most valuable football clubs in 2015. Another La Liga giant FC Barcelona is valued at 3.16 billion dollars.

But in revenue, Evergrande is not in the same calibre with the European top clubs. Evergrande’s average earning in the last three years is 400 million yuan (61 million dollars), much less than Manchester United’s 400 million dollars in the same period.

Evergrande has won five Chinese Super League titles in a row since China’s real estate tycoon bought the club in 2010, adding two Asian Champions League crowns to its trophy collection as well.

On Marble

The other person’s farm would always appear to have the more fertile land for the man, who allows laziness to accompany him to his own farm.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie Politics of the US dollar

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016

The Oshiomhole-Melaye distraction

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hen Senator Enyinna Abaribe, representing Aba in Abia State, brought a motion to the red chamber seeking a deliberate policy to encourage, and if possible, enforce the patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods, his eyes were on what was being pushed out from Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State and indeed the South-East region, which was not getting the commensurate attention from Nigeria’s elite consumers.

Abaribe’s worry rightly caught the attention of the senators as speaker after speaker, who contributed to the motion, adduced reasons why made-inNigeria goods should get more attention from Nigerians than foreign goods.

The neglected Aba traders had, in an apparent move to get the attention of the political elite, organised and staged what it termed Made-in-Aba Trade Fair in Abuja.

But Abaribe’s good intention got slightly derailed when the Kogi-born controversial Senator, Dino Melaye, while contributing to the debate, tried to humour it by lamenting that some Nigerians even in their quest for foreign things now prefer imported wives as against “made-in-Nigeria” women.

His view would have been taken humorously as he probably intended it until he went and mentioned Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as one of those who would rather go for imported women as wives rather than Nigerians.

The Melaye input undoubtedly fitted into the debate, but it changed the narration as the loquacious Edo governor is not the type who would allow such a hard jab on him go un-replied. Oshiomhole is known for verbal outburst, so for a fight to be taken right into his own parlour and not expect a hit back would be like throwing stone on a chained crazy dog and expect it not to bark.

An old saying among the Igbos that, Ogbu mma adighi ekwe ka mma ga ya n’azu, (the man who uses the machete freely on people would not allow another, bearing machete, behind him) came to the fore last week when Oshiomhole fired from all cylinders, using more abusive words than envisaged on the loudmouthed Melaye.

Although Melaye’s example was apt to his narration, many felt it was disrespectful to a sitting governor, from the same political family, especially when it is a purely personal family matter. But equal number of others felt that the attack was good since it was directed at a man who had always let himself loose on other Nigerians not minding the consequences. A clear case of what goes round coming round for Oshiomhole.

A former aide to Oshiomhole, John Mayaki, in a statement in defence of his former boss, said: “Melaye veered off the radar on the issue of made-inNigeria products, which, for me, cannot and should not include made-in-Nigeria women, if the intention of the initiator of the motion is not to be misconstrued.

Iara Oshiomhole (the governor’s foreign wife) is doing well for Nigeria and Edo people and does not deserve the categorisation Melaye attempted to taint her with.

Political Musings IKE ABONYI igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only)

Oshiomhole

Melaye

Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.

And I know as a fact that taking a risk in business has two way benefits, if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise Abaribe

“Mrs. Oshiomhole’s ‘We Care Trust’, her pet project, whose goal is to care for the welfare of children, provides education for the girl-child, vocational training for the youths and empowerment for women has just empowered about 36 individuals across the 18 local government areas of Edo State. She had envisioned a society where, though challenging, resources are equitably and sustainably managed for the benefit of all particularly in a manner that the poor and needy can thrive and succeed.

“I want to call on Nigerians, including my friend, Dino Melaye, to encourage Mrs. Oshiomhole to do more for the Nigerian child than the confusion he attempted to make between made-in-

much was heard of Abaribe’s motion, which is extremely germane, especially at this time that the nation’s humiliated currency is underscoring the importance of looking at our consumption pattern.

Political and economic watchers expect the Senate to go further than mere motion to seek appropriate legislations that could help and encourage hard working Nigerians promoting made-in-Nigeria goods smile home for their efforts.

The message, which Melaye tried to underscore in bringing in the made-inNigeria wife aspect, is ostensibly to show the gravity of Nigeria’s abandonment of indigenously made wares but he probably lost it when he mentioned Oshiomhole, thereby taking a battle to the front of an armed soldier.

If President Muhammadu Buhari is being stubborn in ignoring views of experts in devaluing the battered naira, he is indirectly urging Nigerians to change their lifestyles and begin to face the reality of cutting their coat according to their clothes.

When the Chinese closed their gates to the world for 30 years, looking inward, heaven did not fall. Today, we all are seeing the result as they have taken the global economy headlong and dictating the pace. Something drastic must be done to discourage our ostentatious living and love for foreign items, which are all sign of inferiority complex.

My prayer is that the Senate should not allow the Melaye, Oshiomhole matrimonial fight distract it from the very important aspect of the motion, as it would go a long way in tackling our domestic economic challenges.

For my Aba brothers and other local manufacturers out there, may I leave you with this encouraging entrepreneurial word from Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group that “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming. And I know as a fact that taking a risk in business has two way benefits, if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.”

God bless Nigeria.

Nigeria product and made-in-Nigeria women”, he said.

Another Oshiomhole’s aide called Melaye an irresponsible man who could not manage a home. Some said he has diarrhea of the mouth. “he cannot even maintain a decent matrimonial home, mend your way with ex-wife and concubines”, one said of Melaye.

After the insults, they still went further to ask Melaye to apologise to Oshiomhole. But what they got from the controversial senator is more abuse.

Melaye said: “I cannot pretend to be who I’m not; cannot start doing things I’m not used to; too late, senator or no senator, Omo Naija proper. When am ready, una go see my made in Nigeria wife.”

As the narration changed to altercation on purely matrimonial issues, not

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