New telegraph thursday, november 12, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Kachikwu: Why FG has not paid N413bn oil subsidy }4 Senate seeks suspension of TSA over N25bn ‘fraud’ Study links belly fat with Chukwu David premature death }7 Abuja

he Senate yesterday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) and the Ministry of Finance to suspend further payment into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to allow it investigate an alleged fraud amounting to N25 billion.

It resolved that suspension of payment into the TSA would ensure that no further money was taken by the company in the event that the allegations were found to be true.

According to the Senate, the suspension of payment into the TSA is to ensure that no further money was defrauded by the company handling the scheme, “REMITA” in the events that

the allegations against it are found to be true. The Senate took the decision after considering a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 631

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Alake: Nigerians will beg Buhari to seek second term }40

Gbadebo

Dogara to Nigerians: Reject APC if we fail to deliver }6

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Dogara

N150

I'll take corruption fight to next level, says Magu }10

Magu

as Ekweremadu presides:

Lawan, supporters shun Senate plenary lPro-Lawan lawmakers vow never to sit under PDP fashola gets tripple portfolio as Buhari allocates posts to ministers

Babatunde Fashola

}2 }2

Power, Works & Housing

Transportation

Rotimi Amaechi

Kemi Adeosun

Audu Ogbeh

Ogbonnaya Onu

Lai Mohammed

Kayode Fayemi

Chris Ngige

Mansur M. Dan-Ali

Aisha J. Alhassan

Abdulrahman Dambazau

Amina J Mohammed

Mohammed M. Bello

Ibe Kachikwu

Abubakar Malami

Udoma Udo Udoma

Solomon Dalong

Suleiman Adamu

Adebayo Shittu

Usani Uguru

Adamu Adamu

Isaac Adewole

Geoffrey Onyeama

Okechukwu E. Enelamah

Defence

Youths and Sports

Women Affairs

Water Resources

Finance

Interior

Communications

Agriculture

Environment

Niger Delta

Science and Technology

FCT

Education

Information

State for Petroleum

Health

Solid Minerals

Justice

Foreign Affairs

Labour and Employment

Budget and Nat. Planning

Industry Trade & Investment

News

ThurSDAY, november 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lawan, supporters shun Senate plenary Chukwu David Abuja

he crisis in the Senate over the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Senate president and deputy president respectively worsened yesterday as some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers boycotted plenary to protest the presiding of the session by Ekweremadu. Ekweremadu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator, was elected deputy Senate president during the inaugural sitting of the Senate in June to the chagrin of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari. Yesterday was the first time Ekweremadu would preside over plenary since his election as Senate deputy president on June 9, 2015, as Saraki was at the State House to witness the inauguration of ministers. The APC senators, who are members of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF) that opposed the Saraki presidency and supported his rival, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said they would not subject themselves to the leadership of Ekweremadu whenever Saraki was not around. On sighting that Ekweremadu was the presiding officer yesterday, the SUF senators walked out of the chambers while others who were about to enter turned back. Some of the senators who walked out on sighting that it was Ekweremadu that was presiding included Lawan, Oluremi Tinubu, Kabir Marafa and George Akume. Saraki took over from Ekweremadu midway into plenary. The Secretary to the SUF, Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North), in a statement, decried Ekweremadu's presiding over plenary in a legislature dominated by the APC. It said the conspiracy against the ruling party in the Senate had been executed. Describing the situation as a sad development, the APC senators called on party members and leaders to denounce the act. In the hand-written statement circulated to reporters and entitled, "The conspiracy against the APC finally consummated," Hunkuyi said they would, henceforth, cease from attending any sitting presided over by the PDP. The statement read: "We notice with joy, the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by Mr.

President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, today, the 11th of November, 2015. "In equal stance, we notice with grave sadness, the handover of the hallowed chamber of the Senate today to the opposition party, the PDP, by the Senate President to Ike Ekweremadu as PDP helmsman to preside over the majority membership of the APC-led chamber. "It is a very sad development that must be denounced by all well-

meaning APC members and leaders alike. "With this, to show our protest as APC senators of the 8th Senate, we wish to announce that we shall cease to attend any sitting presided over by the PDP in an APC majority chamber of the 8th Senate." But in a swift reaction to Hunkuyi's statement, Senate spokesman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said there was no division in the Senate. He stressed that the nation had many challenging

problems, which senators should help to tackle rather than engaging in egoistic political imbroglio. Abdullahi urged Nigerians to disregard any purported conspiracy in the Senate and support it in its agenda to actualise the change agenda of the APC. He said: "The Senate wishes to state categorically that there is no conspiracy of any nature among distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The consumma-

tion of a conspiracy is in the figment of the imagination of those behind the news release and should be disregarded by Nigerians. "The Senate wishes to reiterate its total commitment to providing robust legislative actions to support the change agenda of Mr. President as he strives to move Nigeria to new heights. The bi-partisan stance of the Senate has not and will not be an impediment. "The distinguished senators are happy with

the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council and look forward to having harmonious, rancour-free, but inclusive and participatory relationship that has at its heart the welfare of Nigerians. "Finally, as we await the unveiling of the policy directions of Mr. President through the members of his executive council, the Senate is, indeed, poised to work harder and better to support the emergence of a changed Nigeria of our collective dream."

The new ministers

Ocholi James

Bawa Bwari

Osagie Ehanire

Heineken Lokpobiri

Ibrahim Usman Jibril

Khadija Bukar Abba

Baba S. Mustapha

Aisha Abubakar

Anthony Anwuka

Zainab S. Ahmed

Hadi Sirika

Cladius O. Daramola

State for Labour

State for Power

State for Solid Minerals

State for Trade, Industry and Investment

State for Health

State for Education

State for Agriculture

State for Budget

State, Environment

State for Aviation

State for Foreign Affairs

State, Niger Delta

Fashola, Amaechi, Ngige, Fayemi, Ogbeh, Dambazau, others get portfolios

lWhy I took my time forming cabinet, by Buhari lPDP, Tinubu set agenda for ministers Anule Emmanuel and Onyekachi Eze Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday swore in members of his cabinet after which he allocated portfolios to them. The 36 ministers, who were recently confirmed by the Senate, took their oath of office in groups of four before the president. The president, while presiding over the ceremony, allocated portfolios to the ministers and formally confirmed that he would supervise the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as its substantive minister. He announced 24 ministers to head the 24 ministries that came out of the restructuring of the ministries while 12 others were named ministers of state. In the distribution of positions, former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) got the enlarged Ministry of Power, Works and Housing while his former counterpart in Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, emerged Min-

ister of Transport. Others are Abubakar Malami (Attorney General and Minister of Justice), Suleiman Adamu (Minister of State for Environment), Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs), Adamu Adamu (Education), Anthony Onwuka (Minister of State for Education), Folakemi Adeosun (Finance) and Abdurahaman Dambazau (Interior). Also, Okechukwu Eyinna Enelamah is Minister of Trade and Industry; Aisha Abubakar, Minister of State for Trade and Industry; Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Muhammadu Musa Bello, Minister of Federal Capital Territory(FCT); Udo Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning and Zainab Shamuna Ahmed, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Audu Ogbe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and Ehanire Osagie, Minister of State for Health.

Other cabinet members are Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs; Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications; Lai Mohammad, Minister of Information; Ibrahim Jubril, Minister of State for Environment; Adamu Suleiman, Minister of Water Resources; Solomon Dalong, Minister of Youth and Sports; Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals and Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. The remaining cabinet members are Claudius Omoyele Daramola (Minister of State, Niger Delta), Hajia Khadija Bukar Aba (Minister of State, Foreign Affairs), Hadi Sirika (Minister of State for Aviation, Abubakar Bwari (Minister of State for Solid Minerals), Ogbonaya Onu (Minister of Science and Technology), Mustapha Shehuri (Minister of State for Power), Usani Usani Uguru (Minister of State for Niger Delta) and Amina Mohammed (Minister of Environment. The president, in his speech, said he was careful not to toe the lines of his predecessors who

placed the right people in the wrong portfolios. According to him, what is critical is for him to appoint persons with the needed skills and character that would contribute positively to the growth of the country. "I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country,” he said. He added that his administration would work towards improving the lives of Nigerians. The president said: "We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. "And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country. "Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the vice-president and I have

been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited. We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.” He said with yesterday’s ceremony, the country had reached another milestone in the evolution of the new government, which Nigerians voted into office in the March 28, 2015 general elections. He said he consulted widely before making the appointment. "I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides. "With the inauguration of ministers, our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas. "We intend to pursue policies that will generate massive employment CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, november 12, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari (sixth right), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (seventh right) and the new ministers, shortly after their inauguration in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Ministers pledge to hit the ground running

lFashola, Amaechi, Ogbeh, Fayemi, Ngige, Adamu, others assume office Yekeen Nurudeen, Abdulwahab Isa and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he 36 ministers yesterday resumed at their duty posts shortly after their inauguration, with a pledge to deliver on the change agenda of President Muhammadu

Buhari. The ministers at their various ministries promised to hit the ground running. Former governor of Lagos State and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), promised to understudy the problems that are man-made and systemic in the ministry. Fashola, who in the

company of the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, met with the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Louis Edozien, and the directors, said his focus was on how to bring together processes and activities of all the ministries put under his supervision for effective service delivery. Fashola said: “We are

here to work with you, in solving problems on ground as quickly as possible. We want to know if some of those problems are man-made or systemic. "We want information on what has been done, what remained to be done, and what are the future plans, we want to continue from there.” He told the management staff that Nigerians

Senate seeks suspension of TSA over N25bn ‘fraud’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

over the alleged payment of N25 billion as commission in one day to REMITA, being one per cent of monies transferred into TSA. While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for introducing the policy, the Senate wondered if the present administration, with its anti-corruption policy, would allow a company to rip off the nation. It, therefore, directed its Committee on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Account to carry out a holistic investigation to probe the matter and report back in two weeks. While moving the motion, Melaye said the Federal Government, on September 15, mopped up N2.5 trillion through the e-collection agent “REMITA”. He said REMITA charged one per cent of any amount it remitted to the TSA, which amounted to N25 billion made by the company on September 15 alone. Melaye said the appointment of REMITA as an agent for the operation of the TSA was a contravention of section 162(1), which mandated only the CBN to handle government revenue.

He added that REMITA contravened the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2007, which forbids any institution, which is not incorporated as a bank to carry out banking businesses. He said the contravention of the BOFIA Act attracts a prison term of 10 years or a fine of N2 million. Some of the senators who contributed to the motion said a third party like REMITA was not needed to ensure compliance with the TSA policy let alone a company that should be paid in billions. They said if the investigation were concluded and some people were found culpable, they should be brought to book. Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who was visibly worried by the allegation, expressed disbelief that a company could have been paid that much just to transfer money to the CBN. He said no matter the platform utilised, the amount was too much and as such must be investigated. “Let us take this seriously and I hope that after investigation, if it is true that somebody is involved in this, then he is a saboteur trying to do things like

it was done in the past,” he stated. Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, however, added that the amount had even risen to over N60 billion since September 15 when the transfer of N2.5 trillion was done. He said more money had been paid to the TSA through REMITA and the company had taken its one per cent commission. He urged senators to go beyond party lines to handle such issues bordering on corruption and ripping off the nation’s economy. “Somebody made this decision and we must ask; who gave this order; who is that person in this country that is so powerful to direct Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to pay money into a private account? “We should not cover anybody in this investigation, no matter how highly placed. “We are hearing that the money has gone up to N60 billion; one company is taking N60 billion of our money,” he said. The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Ibn Na’Allah, stressed that no more should the nation allow any company to hide under the role of consultancy to charge

outrageously for services rendered. Other contributors noted that some people were making effort to derail the All Progressives Congressled government and such people must not be spared. However, some of the over 19 senators who contributed to the motion urged the Senate not to conclude yet until the committee was done with its investigations. Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) warned that the Senate should be mindful of pursuing the case, urging that proper investigations must be done first. Senate President Bukola Saraki, who took over from his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, midway into plenary, said that the motion was very important. He charged the committee to ensure that it carried out intensive investigation into the matter and submit its report within two weeks. The Senate thereafter went into an executive session from where it adjourned plenary to November 17 to allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators attend the party’s rebranding launch, holding today in Abuja.

are anxiously waiting for result, especially improvement in power supply nationwide. Also, Shehuri requested for a detailed ministerial briefing documents to serve as a guide for proper take off. The Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, pledged to complete all ongoing rail projects around the country and extend rail lines to all parts of the country. Amaechi made the pledge during his first day in office as minister. He promised to ensure a smooth working relationship with the Minister of State for Aviation for the development of the sector as well as meeting the expectations of Nigerians. The minister also urged the staff to always play by rule. He added: “I belief in principles of discharging my duties. “We are interested in completing all ongoing rail projects around the country because we don’t want to disappoint Nigerians. “It is important that we realise that we have a mandate to deliver on our promises and there is competition among the ministers to deliver and we don’t want to take last.” Amaechi also emphasised on the issue of corruption, warning that anybody that would work with him must not approach him for money. In his speech, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said that it was an era of new thinking for the actualisation of the change agenda of the Federal Government. Sirika added that the era of talking tough without acting was over, stressing that whatever was said was what would be done. He assured that Buhari’s administration would deliver on its promises, adding that the gov-

ernment was aware of the high hope and expectation of Nigerians. Sirika, however, pledged to ensure a harmonious working relationship with the Minister of Transportation to achieve results in the implementation of policies and programmes. At the Ministry of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, along with the Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Hon. Abubakar Bwari, held a meeting with the top officials of the ministry. Fayemi said the government is poised to reposition the ministry as a major contributor to the economic growth of the country, adding that no stone would be left unturned in the bid to achieve the set goals. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, said the ministry under his watch will focus on massive food production and tackling problem of malnutrition in the country. He said: "We import milk into this country to a tune of $1.3 billion a year. Some of it not very good. Why can’t we produce milk if Uganda and Kenya are doing it? Thirty-seven per cent of children in the country are malnourished which means in another 20 years, we will have a generation of idiots and dwarfs because, shortage of protein in the head just means all that is there is just saw dust." Ogbe said the ministry has to earn foreign exchange to replace oil, saying that the demand for food in the world was high. At the Ministry of Education, members of staff went on jubilation when the newly appointed Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, made a brief appearance at the ministry. Adamu was ushered into his office at 3:25p.m. where prayers were ofCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

News

ThurSDAY, november 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kachikwu: Why FG has not paid N413bn oil subsidy Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday justified the delay in the payment of N413 billion oil subsidy promised marketers two weeks ago. The minister, who addressed the heads of parastatals and directors of the ministry in Abuja after assuming office, stated that the payment has not been effected because the approval of the National Assembly is needed. He, however, gave the assurance that the payment processes will be perfected in a matter of a week. Kachikwu said: “The money was approved by the president. It has not reached them physically because there is a process that our constitution requires in terms of approving those set of (extra-budgetary) expenditures. “The president is taking time to write the Assembly to appraise them of need to do this. Do we want to pay, yes! Have we provided for the money, yes! Do we need approval

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from outside the executive to recommend that, yes! It is going through a process.” The minister, however, stated that there is enough fuel supply. He said: "As of today, we have product both onshore and offshore that will last about 22/23 days. The number of trucks that has been moved around the country is in excess of 4,000 trucks as against the normal 2500 utilisation. "Product is not the issue, what is the issue is the usual panic buying by Nigerians." Speaking on the expectations of President Muhammadu Buhari from the ministers, he said: "The president is concerned about change in the perception about the ministry and other key substantial deliverables including cutting cost, growing income streams and helping the federation stabilise." To the heads of parastatals, he said: “I will imagine that in the first couple of months we would let the Managing Directors of various parastatals work with us to understand what the agenda for this administration is. Quickly, we will also sit down and see whether they are in a capacity to deliver those results. I am not saying I am going to change people but we will absolutely require you to show an ability to deliver the sort of change mantra that we are looking for.”

Kachikwu also revealed that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) issue would be revisited. Kachiwkwu said the ministry would focus on boosting revenue generation through the discovery of more oil and gas in the country. He said that part of his mission was to cut costs, block leakages while promoting transparency and accountability in the business of the ministry. He said it was important for all stakeholders

in the ministry to devise new ways of doing things, given the vantage position of the ministry as a major source of revenue to the federation. According to him, it is necessary to think of new ways of doing business, given the dwindling nature of revenues accrued to the nation. “Our policy direction is to find more money, find more oil, find more gas, monetise them and put money in the hands of the government.

“We have dwindling resources and yet the whole nation depends on this ministry to provide the resources. “So we must be able to put on the cap on how do we cut cost; how do we improve on earnings; how do we make Federation Account to improve? “How do we put controls that are essential to avoid leakages; how do we develop new income strings? “How do we develop new investments to help

the federation stabilise; those are very key and that is where we are heading to.” Kachikwu, who also doubles as the Group Managing Director of NNPC, noted that the proposed work in the ministry would change the way and manner things were done in the past. He said it was important for the leadership of the ministry in all areas to key into the change mantra of the present administration.

Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc., Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo (left) and Senate President Bukola Saraki, during Nnamdi’s visit to the Senate president in Abuja…yesterday.

Why I took my time forming cabinet, by Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

for millions of our youth. "We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption,” he stated. Buhari promised that his administration would work hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity. "We are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner. "The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items, as well as solid minerals," he added. Buhari also assured Nigerians that with a cabinet now in place, the

war against Boko Haram would be reinvigorated just like the fight against other criminality. He urged the ministers to do their utmost to justify the confidence placed in them not only by their conduct, but also by their performance in office. After the swearing-in, the president presided over the inaugural meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that lasted for about two hours. Briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Information said the council only reviewed the outcome of last week's presidential retreat held for the new ministers. Reactions were, however, swift in coming over the distribution of portfolios to the ministers as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Labour Party disagreed over equitable distribution of portfolios among the geopolitical

zones. While the National Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Mai Mala Bunu, stated that the portfolios were equitably distributed, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Abdukadir Abdusalam, said they were lopsided. According to Abdusalam, the distributions of the portfolios has deepened the marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical by Buhari. But Bunu faulted his claim, saying the APC wants the ministers, being agents of change, to start on a clean slate. However, the PDP charged the ministers to settle down and focus on the economy. But it added that the portfolios assigned to the ministers did not inspire confidence that there is any change in the offing. PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said that the present administration had so far

played heavily on dramatizing routine procedures and processes, which was even glaring in the prolonged swearing-in of the ministers. It said with the inauguration of the ministers, the APC administration should fully resolve the issues on the actual position of the nation’s economy and the direction it is heading. On his part, former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, urged the ministers to embrace hard work to enable the APC fulfill its promise of change to Nigerians. “The challenges before you are enormous. People's expectations are very high and expectedly so. The people's hope is hinged on the change our party promised. You are now the foot soldiers of that change. You have to be creative, proactive and bold. You are men and women of talent and experience of the moment and are lucky

to be chosen. After the luck comes work. It is a new dawn for our country. Virtually every facet of our national life needs urgent attention,” he said in a statement from his media office. Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on his part, hailed the appointment of his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, as Minister of Solid Minerals. He urged him to use his position for the commercial exploitation of the abundant solid mineral resources in the state. The governor said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, that Buhari must have considered the need for commercial exploitation of the solid minerals in Ekiti State before arriving at the choice of Fayemi as Solid Minerals Minister.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH ThurSDAY, november 12, 2015

Etisalat sells pre-registered SIM cards –Investigation lWe adhere to registration rules –Telecommunication firm Kunle Azeez

ontrary to regulatory provision, Etisalat Nigeria may have been indulging in the sales of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to Nigerians. New Telegraph investigation revealed that agents working for Etisalat are flooding Lagos streets and major market clusters, luring subscribers to pick up the SIM cards for free. The Etisalat agents were sited yesterday at Ojota Motor parks, Ikeja Computer Village, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Marina, Lagos Island, Obalende and Ojodu Berger areas of Lagos frantically convincing passers-by to pick the SIM cards. Our correspondent approached the sales agents and made necessary findings regarding the new ‘promo’. According to one of the agents, identified simply as Banjo, who spoke with our correspondent, Etisalat is offering its prospective customers two offers. “In this campaign, we have two offers. In the first one, we are giving customer a free ‘master SIM card’ which you will register and you will load N1000 airtime on it. “In addition to the ‘master’ SIM card you register, we now give you 10 additional SIM cards, which you don’t need to register because they are already registered. So, you can give the 10 SIMs to your friends and relatives so that all of you can be making calls at reduced rated. “In the second offer, you only need to load N5,000 airtime on that ‘master’ SIM card and then you are given a pack of Etisalat SIM cards containing 50 SIM cards. You also don’t need to go and register these 50 additional SIMs because they have been registered,” he said. On why registration is not needed, a co-agent, who gave his name simply as Uche, said: “They have been made active and you only need to give the SIM cards out and as you put in your phones, they are already working.” Etisalat currently has in excess of 23 million subscribers on its network and aggressively taking measures to sell more SIM cards to boost its subscriber base. The fourth largest telecoms company in the country has, alongside other operators, incurred fine from telecoms regulator in the past over offences related to pre-registered SIM sales.

“What Etisalat is doing is totally against the laid down rules by the regulator as this borders of national security,” says a businessman and a subscriber, Mr. Adewumi Abiodun. “I think this is what NCC is fighting against.” Another subscriber, Titi Jones, said: “If this is true of Etisalat, I think what the current development means is that those that are now using the additional 10 SIM cards and 50 SIM cards in either of the two offers by Etisalat agents would be anonymous and this is not good for our country.” President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, says “it is illegal in Nigeria today for any operator to activate SIM cards, whose holders have not been dully registered.” According to him, “Most of the times, it is the agents of the telecoms companies’ consultants that pre-register such SIM cards because they are paid per the number of SIM cards sold. But where this kind of violation happens, it is the principal that will still be liable.” When contacted, Etisalat denied knowledge of the pre-registered SIMs offers by its agents. “Our agents across all channels are duly trained on the guidelines of subscriber registrations and do not sell pre-registered SIM cards or offer customers master SIM card with additional SIMs,” Etisalat said in an emailed response sent to New Telegraph yesterday. It explained further: “At Etisalat, we understand the security implications for the sale of preregistered SIMs; and as a responsible organisation, we have made every effort to ensure the rules are strictly adhered to. “We have supervisors in charge of SIM registration who regularly carry out checks at the points of registration to ensure all agents follow laid down guidelines. “Our policy is to withdraw our SIM registration device from any agent found wanting and immediately hand such an agent over to the appropriate security agency.” While denying running such a promo, Etisalat said it will not engage in activities that contravenes laiddown rules. The telco company also noted that it had “implemented and complied with the NCC regulation which states that any registered SIM card that is not used within 48 hours be deacti-

vated.” The development is coming as MTN battles to settle a $5.2 billion (N1.04 trillion) fine imposed on it by NCC for failing to deactivate 5.1 million pre-registered SIMs on its network. The MTN penalty is based on a charge of N200,000 ($1,005) for each unregistered customer and the heavy sanction has thrown the South African

telecoms firm off balance. According to the NCC, the SIM registration is aimed at assisting security agencies in resolving crimes and by extension to enhance the security of the state and facilitating the collation of data by the commission about phone usage in Nigeria. The exercise also aims to enable operators to have a predictable profile about

the users in their networks as well as enabling the commission to effectively implement other value added services such as the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) among others. When contacted, Head, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement at NCC, Mr. Efosa Idehen, said he was not aware of the development. He promised that the

commission would investigate the matter. “This is news to me. I am not yet aware of this development and none of my men has brought it to my notice. However, I am out of office now but by tomorrow (today), I will ask my team to investigate this matter and will also contact Etisalat in order to validate this issue,” he told New Telegraph.

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase (left) and Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, during Arase’s visit to the governor in Sokoto...yesterday.

Ministers pledge to hit the ground running CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

fered both in Christianity and Islamic ways. The minister, however, said he came to inspect the office noting that he would resume fully on Tuesday, November 17. Also, Alhaji Mohammed Bello took over at the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The FCT Minister promised to build on his predecessors’ achievements. The minister called for dedication from the staff to fast track the development of the FCT, saying “FCT is the nearest to public. So, its success or failure can easily be seen.” At the Ministry of Finance, the minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, resumed about 3:30p.m. and met with directors and top officers of the ministry. Adeosun promised to conduct the ministry's affairs transparently in line with the change mantra. At the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed called for cooperation from stakeholders to reposition the ministry. She, however, promised to leverage resources both in and outside the country

to make a considerable impact in the sector. “The change agenda has come to stay and we are ready to make all the difference. “One commitment that we can make is to build on the successes of this ministry and ensure that the teams that we will work with will take the ministry to another level and that level is what the country is waiting for. “It cannot be business as usual and I hope that the ministry will give us the support that we need,” she said. Also speaking, the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, explained that there was a time line given to them by President Buhari to deliver the needed change in the sector. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called for the collaboration of stakeholders to enable the ministry achieve the agenda of President Buhari on health. Adewole made the call when he addressed newsmen shortly after he assumed duty with the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja yesterday.

The minister, who held brief meeting with the directors, said a number of restructuring would be carried out for the present administration to achieve its target on health. Ehanire, on his part, said the aim of the present administration was to deliver health care services from the grassroots level to the federal. Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has said that the communications sector is a springboard for industrial and administrative revolution. Shittu spoke during his maiden meeting with the management staff of the ministry in Abuja. According to him, God has blessed Nigeria with a large population that if explored in a fair manner communications can become the cash cow of the nation in place of petroleum. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, and his state counterpart, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, reported at the ministry’s headquarters in Area 1, Garki about 4:10p.m. They pledged to hit the

ground running and bring their wealth of private sector experience to bear in the discharge of their mandate. Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has assured Nigerians of the readiness of the ministry to tackle the menace of unemployment in the country. The minister gave the assurance while addressing management and staff of the ministry on his assumption of duty. He said: “We will be at the forefront of the battle to stop the scourge of unemployment in the country. We must as a people put on our thinking caps so that we can chart the way forward for employment generation. “We are the catalysts, the change agent of the change era. If we block leakages in our system, the country will be better because resources will be made available for economic growth of the nation.” In his remarks, the Minister of State in the ministry, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), said that the management and staff of the ministry should work in partnership.

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THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Only 50% generated power gets to consumers –Nnaji Chukwu David Abuja

ormer Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, yesterday told the Senate adhoc committee on power that the nation was still experiencing epileptic electricity supply because the regulatory agencies had failed to carry out necessary enforcement and discipline. Nnaji, who supervised the deregulation of the power sector and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), lamented that despite huge resources channeled into the sector in the past years, Nigerians were still not enjoying adequate electricity supply. He regretted that about half of the power being generated by the various generating companies was actually getting to the consumers as a result of poor transmission, which according to him, was as a result of inefficiency of the regulatory agency. He noted that since government didn’t produce power any more, only 5, 500 out of the 12, 000 megawatts installed capacity was getting to the consumers. The former minister said that the gas being delivered for power gen-

eration was a fraction of the installed capacity which would not affect the quantity meant for export through the Liquefied Natural Gas. He said: “Even when you have installed capacity of 12,000 mega watts, you cannot release the same amount of mega watts to the end users. Nigeria can generate 7,000 megawatts and make it available for consumption should there be no constraint in transmission where we have inefficiency in distribution. “Out of the amount of

power that is distributed to transmission companies only about 50 per cent of it gets to the consumers. It is an incredible inefficiency in the power system that must be cured.” Nnaji expressed optimism that the new Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, being “an excellent administrator and manager”, would effectively discharge the functions of managing the ministries assigned to him without affecting the power sector.

His words, “I know that Fashola is an excellent administrator and manager. I can imagine what Lagos State used to be like before he became governor and what it is now. It comes with dedication and that is what we need in this country. “It is a very large area to cover but the ministry of power is no longer what it used to be when I was a minister because the entire generation is out. It is no longer going to be the manager of power generation, except supervise.

Abuja

he leadership of the House of Representatives, yesterday, announced that it will not reverse the appointment of committee chairmen and deputies sworn in last Monday by Speaker Yakubu Dogara. Deputy Chairman of the House committee on Media and Public Affairs,

Former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olushegun Osoba, with the Chief Executive Officer, Cement, Lafarge Africa Plc, Adepeju Adebajo, during the final Lafarge National Literacy Competition , in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI.

Hon. Jonathan Gaza, who made this position known at a press briefing, insisted that the composition of committee leadership will not be tampered with. He said: “With regards to the drama in the House, I find it amusing. As far as I am concerned, there was none. If at the various caucuses, maybe something like that happened. For that, I do not know. ‘’Committees have been inaugurated and we have started work. We have

gone far in passing that threshold. As for the rejection of committees by some aggrieved members, that is old news.” He disclosed that the leadership of the House has resolved the face-off between the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and the House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila over the composition of the standing committees. Gaza revealed that the resolution of the protracted face off

Reps ask IGP to build, renovate barracks Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives, yesterday, urged the Ministry of Interior and the Inspector General of Police to renovate existing barracks and build new ones with maintenance guidelines for police officers. The House also mandated its committee on Police Affairs to monitor the development and report back to the House quarterly for further legislative action.

not supervising the power plant.” He urged Fashola to encourage more gas production to support the power plant and to also supervise the distribution companies so that Nigerians would enjoy the dividends of the deregulation of the power sector.

‘EFCC couldn’t prove case against CCT boss’

No going back on committee leadership, says Reps Philip Nyam

“He is no longer going to be the manager of distribution; he just manages the transmission network. It is a very different terrain. So, I believe he should have capacity to do the assignment. “He should concentrate on transmission because that is the major constraint. Gas production and transmission. “He doesn’t control gas production but he must liaise very well with the ministry of petroleum and presidency to ensure that gas is available for all of the power plants and even though he is

These resolutions by the House followed a motion brought by Hon. Saleh Hassan (PDP, Benue) entitled “urgent need to renovate police barracks across the country”. In adopting the motion, the House directed the IGP to design modalities with well-meaning investors and build barracks to provide cheaper, safer and comfortable accommodation for members of the Force. Leading debate on the motion, the lawmaker

said, “These barracks, which were built many years ago have without continuous renovation, improvements or repair of facilities, dilapidated with open and stinking gutters, broken sewage, damaged roofs, and cracked walls amongst others. “Yet men and woman of the Nigerian Police Force who are charged with the nation’s security and maintenance of law and order live in them with their family members”.

came following a Tuesday meeting between Dogara and Gbajabiamila, where both leaders agreed to sheath their swords and work to churn out legislations for the benefit of the Nigerian people. According to him, “Dogara and Gbajabiamila had a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) and I believe that they were able to reach an amicable resolution and everything is okay. They are ready to

give Nigerians the direction that they want.” It would be recalled that the face-off assumed a fresh dimension on Tuesday as there were moves by scores of All Progressives Congress ( APC) members of the lower legislative chamber to oust the House Leader from office. The plot, it was learnt, was not unconnected with the decision by Gbajabiamila and scores of his APC loyalists group to boycott the inauguration of the 96 special and House standing committees held on Monday, this week.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did not put the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Mr. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar on trial over an allegation of N10m bribery because the evidence against him was not weighty and not sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution. In official documents obtained by PRNigeria, the anti-graft body claimed that the facts as they were against the CCT Chairman raised just mere suspicious which in law, cannot take the place of proof. It states that: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.” In a memorandum forwarded to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on March 5, 2015, the EFCC, however confirmed that one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a Personal Assistant to the CCT boss admitted receiving N1.8m in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo, standing trial at the tribunal. The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the graft.

BVN will change spending habit by 2016 –Chams

ir Ademola Aladekomo, Group Managing Director, Chams Plc., yesterday, said that by 2016, many Nigerians would change the way they transfer and use money because of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) project. Aladekomo said this at the 3rd International Conference on Science and Technology at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu. He said, this was because the BVN project had achieved over 20 million authentic and full proof

of records of banking customers. According to Aladekomo, the BVN will give Nigeria a higher confidence in its fight against corruption and fraud, as economic frauds can be easily tracked and curbed due to access to customers’ databases. He said the BVN project would build a big capacity for the security agencies like the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security (DSS). Aladekomo added that it would be useful for the

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), police and the judiciary. “The security agencies can access the databases, track the trend and make logical conclusions regarding any suspicious activity. “Recent research data on e-fraud in Nigeria by the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) indicates that Banks lost a total of N159 billion to electronic fraud between 2000 and first quarter of 2013.”

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday officially reacted to the decision to field former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the 2015 election. It also said the statement credited to the Chairman, PDP National Conference Organising Committee, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was his personal opinion. Some chieftains of the party has attributed PDP loss of the presidential election to the breach of the party's zoning prin-

2015: No apology for fielding Jonathan — PDP

ciple, which saw Jonathan, from South-South adopted as presidential candidate. But PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, explained that the decision to field Jonathan in the 2015 presidential race was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Council (NEC) and the party's national caucus. He also said the PDP constitution allows a sitting president the op-

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national

portunity to exercise his personal right to run for a second term if he so desires. On whether the party now regrets its action, Metuh replied: "How can you regret a decision taken where everyone was there, the NWC, NEC and the national caucus? What are we talking about? Everybody was conscious of the decision. Nobody was coerced into supporting the position." He, however, said this was not the time for buck

passing or blame game as the party was repositioning for the 2019 general elections. "What we should do is to join hands to reposition PDP based on the report of the Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu to reclaim the party's lost glory. This is what is expected of us all at this time," Metuh advised. He said Dokpesi cannot speak for the PDP because he is not a member of the national executive of the party.

We’ll bounce back — Bode George Wale Elegbede

ormer Deputy National Chairman (South West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has predicted that the party will bounce back from its defeat at the 2015 general elections. He stated that the PDP was only given a bloody nose, not a knock-out. Speaking yesterday as guest speaker during the Minerva Philosophical Association lecture held in Lagos with the theme ‘Leadership, Change and National Continuity’, the PDP chieftain noted

BABALOLA

UBAH

I, formerly known and addressed as Obieshi Ifeoma Cintamaris now wish to be known and addressed as Ubah Chinelo Mary. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

UDEH

I, formerly known and addressed as Chinenye Nneamaka Madu now wish to be known and addressed as Chinenye Nneamaka Udeh. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

AKINGBADE

3,600 PDP members join APC in Lokoja Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

s the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to lose its membership, no fewer than 3,600 members of the party, joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lokoja yesterday. The defectors, who were led by former member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mustapha Allah-Dey and one time chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Mallam Surajudeen Yusuf, were drawn from the 10 wards of the local government area. Receiving the defectors, leader of the APC in Lokoja/Kogi Local Gover nments Area, Hon. Jubril Umar Buba, promised the party's continuous fairness to all it members. He said the PDP has continued to lose its membership, because it lacks internal democracy and can no longer sell it deceitful dummy to the people of the state.

Study links belly fat with premature death Appolonia Adeyemi

an belly fat be a problem even for people who are not overweight? A new research has confirmed that excess weight around the belly increases the risk of premature death even for people that are considered normal weight. The research published online on November 10, in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, which builds up in the spaces between and around the viscera -internal organs like your stomach and intestines is considered to be the most harmful form of fat in the

body, medical experts said. "Belly fat is bad fat," said Dr. Paul Poirier, from the Institute of Cardiology at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, and the author of an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal. Similarly, Eric Jacobs, PhD, a researcher at the American Cancer Society, said in recent years, scientists have uncovered links between belly fat and cancers of the colon, esophagus, and pancreas. Furthermore, an endocrinology specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, Michael D. Jensen, M.D, said regardless of your overall weight, having a large amount of belly fat in-

creases your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and sleep apnea. The November 2012 Harvard Women’s Health Watch examines the connection between abdominal fat and heart health and found extra body fat increases the risk for conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. “The fat around the belly is particularly metabolically active, meaning that it produces a number of factors that increase the risks for heart disease,” explained Dr. Paula Johnson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Okorie tasks INEC chair on electronic voting, internal cleansing Temitope Ogunbanke

he National Chairman and presidential candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has charged the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to embark on internal cleansing to rid the commission of

corruption. Speaking to New Telegraph, Okorie said Election Tribunal pronouncements against the victory of those declared by electoral officials as winners of 2015 general elections, showed that some of the commission officials were biased during the last general elections. The UPP boss also implored Yakubu to work to-

wards using electronic voting system in subsequent elections, adding that it should make it a priority of his administration. His words: “The INEC boss must embark on internal cleansing of the commission. The yardstick to measure corrupt officers would be to use previous tribunal pronouncement of elections conducted by the commission.

that the opposition party will steadily engage the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in constructive criticism. George, who urged his fellow party men to wake up to the reality that a new government is in the saddle of leadership in the country, stated that the task before them (PDP) is to know how to redefine and re-articulate their engagement of the new team. He said: “There can’t be just one party in the system. The PDP will surely rebound through constructive criticism."

change of name

I formerly known and address as Akinsola Mojisola Janet now wish to be known and addressed as Babalola Mojisola Janet. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

L-R: Prof. Stanley Orobator; wife of the Author, Hellen Solomon; Author, Mr. Solomon Uwaifo: Chairman of the occasion, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah: Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo and Mr. Franklin Ogbemi, during a public presentation of two books in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

I, formerly known and addressed as Ogbe Njeh Cecilia now wish to be known and addressed as Akingbade Njeh Cecilia. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

Confirmation Of Name

I hereby confirm for the information of the General Public that I known and called PRINCE NDU MADUNAGU am also known called and addressed as MR CORNELIUS NDUBEZE MADUNAGU. The following bodies please take note: First Bank, Diamond Bank, Access Bank, Anglican Communion, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship Int. etc.

OBIDIKE

KINGS: I formerly known as Odiale Emokhare Sule, now wish to be known and addressed as Charles Odiale Kings. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Akor

I, formerly known and addressed as Agbo Michael Akor now wish to be known and addressed as Agbo Michael. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

ADENIJI

I, formerly known and addressed as Adejobi Oluseyi Morufat, now to be known and addressed as Adeniji Oluseyi Morufat Abisola. All former documents remain valid. Public, note.

MATHIAS

I, formerly known and addressed as Sunny Joy now wish to be known and addressed as Blessing Mathias. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

COLLINS

I, formerly known and addressed as Ukah Oka Samson now wish to be known and addressed as Collins Chike Samson. All former documents remain valid.U.S Embassy,First Bank and general Public take note.

BENIN

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr Ikouwem Brownson Essien now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Ikouwem Brownson Benin. All former documents remain valid. FBN Holdings Plc, W.A.E.C, Tyndale Residence Ltd and general public take note.

AIMUFUA

I formerly known as Miss Taibat Iyabo Aremu Ganiyu, now wish to be known and addressed as Alhaja Taibat Iyabo Aremu Aimufua. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Kofi

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Eniaman Oyinpreye Ayotekeyo now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Kofi Berrill Asanakpo. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

OKUNAWO

I, formerly known and addressed as Akerewusi Ayotobi Oluwatoyin Temitayo.now wish to be known and addressed as Okunawo Ayotobi Temitayo. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WATERCOURSE MISSION INTERNATIONAL The general public is hereby notified that the above named mission has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under PART C of the Company and Allied matters Act No 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Ayor Owoyemi. 2. Qlayinka Owoyemi (MRS). 3. Wole Dada. 4. Ayor Fifo Oluwadebi AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote, advance and propagate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To disseminate and preserve Christian values all over the world. 3. To entrench the development of practical Christianity. 4. To provide charitable support Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro ‘Armed vandals forced me to lift stolen oil’

The suspects

Taiwo Jimoh

driver, Azeez Sulieman, has told the police some gunwielding hoodlums, hired by oil pipeline vandals, beat him severely and forced him to load stolen petroleum product in his truck. Sulieman was one of the suspected vandals arrested by the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism. The tanker driver and 11 others were apprehended at Ijegun in Alimosho Local Government

Area of Lagos State yesterday. Suleiman said was he was beaten by the hoodlums, when he refused to cooperate with them. He said: “I am a truck driver. My friend called me to come to Ijegun that there was ‘loading’ job for me. On getting there, I saw some armed men around and my friend assured me that they were security men guarding them. “After parking my truck, I saw a boat loaded with bags filled with petroleum product. Some people started carrying the bags out of the boat. They emptied the bags’ contents into my truck.

“Immediately I saw this, I started protesting, but some of the hoodlums who were at the loading bay descended on me and started beating me. “My friend, who brought me into the job, was helpless and he could not stop them. I was arrested when I was about leaving the area.” Another suspect, Jide Falayo, said he was paid N3,000 daily by one Baba Ope to transport bags of the petroleum product from the area to Isolo. He said: “I took the job because I could not secure a better job. I just started this job and it

Two held for attempt to kill LG chair Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

olice said yesterday they had foiled an attempt on the life of the Chairman of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, Mr Daniel Angyu. The state Commissioner of Police, Shaba Alkali, made this known while parading the two suspected assassins before journalists in Jalingo, the state capital. Alkali told journalists that the crisis in Wukari was caused

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

IG, Arase

by two groups, all from one family, but divided along party lines – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him, the group loyal to APC was celebrating the tribunal judgement which nullified the election of Darius Ishaku as governor and ordered the swearing-in of Aisha Alhas-

san of the APC as governor. This, he added, led to the crisis in the area. The commissioner explained that he received reliable information that one of the groups perfected plans to assassinate the chairman of the local government and he quickly sent police to guard his house. He added that they arrested one Bitrus Henry and Christopher Danladi when they jumped into the chairman’s house to carry out their mission. Alkali warned those sponsoring youths to kill innocent people to leave the state. He vowed to unravel the sponsors of the recent crisis in Wukari and charge them to court to serve as deterrent to others. The 28-year-old Henry told journalists he went to the chairman’s house to apologise for their wrong doing and not to kill him.

was my boss who owns the bus I am driving. I was employed last month. I was arrested with 28 bags and each contains over 1,000 litres of petroleum product. I was assured by my boss that I was not going to be arrested by any security agency. I am shocked.” But the task force Commander, Mr. Valentine Olumese, said the suspects were arrested following a tip-off about their activities. He disclosed that 42,800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), loaded in two trucks and a Nissan bus were recovered

from them by the operatives during the raid on the community. Olumese reiterated the commitment of the task force in eradicating pipeline vandalism across the country. The commander added that those arrested would send a signal to others still in the business. He said: “The community where the pipeline vandals operate has witnessed several explosions in the past which have resulted into countless loss of lives of the vandals and innocent residents of the area.”

Soldiers, NSCDC officials sack Ogun quarries Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ive quarry workers were injured yesterday when a team of soldiers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) invaded some quarrying sites in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. The soldiers and civil defence men, fully armed, were said to have shut down the operations of five quarry companies in the local government on Tuesday afternoon over alleged failure of the operators to pay tenement rates and sundry fees. It was learnt that the security operatives also drove away the workers and warned them not to return in their own interest. But yesterday, sources said, the soldiers subjected some workers, who defied their order not to report for work, to corporal punishment.

The military men, who stormed the quarry sites in an Operation MESA patrol van marked NA 875 O12, allegedly forced the quarry workers to frog-jump, leaving some of them injured. The state Chairman, Society of Quarry and Mining Operators, Mr Sola Aikulola, confirmed the incident. Aikulola, however, accused the state ministries of Environment, Commerce and Industry, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among other governmental agencies, of forcibly disrupting mining operations in the state. According to him, the agencies have been using security personnel to harass and intimidate their members in the course of collecting illegal fees and tenement rate from them. Aikulola contended that despite three different court orders which forbade the governmental agencies from enforcing collection of tenement rates and charges, the state officials had been adamant.

Metro

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Girl, 16, needs N420,000 to hear again Akintunde Ogundijo

he parents of 16-year-old Helen Ayebo have appealed to Nigerians to help them raise N420,000 for hearing aid gadgets, so that the girl could go to proceed to higher institution. The girl’s father, Mr Rotimi Ayebo, said Helen had already secured admission to Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State, to study Business Administration. Ayebo said that it was at the polytechnic that he was told that Helen wouldn’t be able to cope with higher institution without the help of a hearing aid. He said: “When she was in secondary school, it was easier. All we needed to do was to buy her text books and she copied whatever her teachers wrote on the board. Once its exam period, she would read up her text books and notes. But now, lecturers would be dictating. She desperately needs this hearing aid. I’m just an ordinary farmer. We took her to hospital; they said the hearing aid will

‘Kano records 240 sodomy, child sexual abuse cases’ Muhammad Kabir

Helen

cost N420,000.” Helen was not born deaf. Her problem started three years ago, when she was 13. Her father said that nobody knew the cause of the deafness. The family has, however, made frantic efforts to ensure that the girl starts hearing again. “We took her to different hospitals and churches to find solution to this disorder. We visited hospitals in Lagos, Ondo and Osun states. None of them could diagnose the cause of her sudden deafness. Most of the doctors advised us to get hearing aid for both

ears. It was in Lagos that we were told the aid will cost N420,000. We don’t have such amount of money. We can’t afford the hearing aid,” Ayebo said. The man explained that he knew something was wrong with his daughter three years ago after he repeatedly called her and she did not respond. He said: “I noticed that she did not respond whenever I called her name. I took her to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for a test. Unfortunately, I learnt that the machine was not available and we were referred to Ondo State Trauma Centre. I had been assisting her in some activities which are not supposed to be. She can’t interact with people effectively.” Helen was an active member of her class during her secondary school days in Day Star International School, Ore, Ondo State. “Recently, she got admission into Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. I had no choice than to struggle to pay for her registration fee, house rent and other fees with the little money I could raise from my farm produce. I can’t, however, afford N420,000 for hearing aid,” Ayebo added. Those who want to help can pay into UBA account number 1014728618 with account name of Sakin Adesomoju. Ayebo can also be reached on 08135179212 or 08027359608

NURTW deploys 5,000 members to control traffic

Kano

olice Officers Wives’ Association has disclosed that 240 cases of child sexual abuse and sodomy were recorded in Kano State from January till date. The state Chairperson of the association, Mrs Saliha Katsina, who disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said the state was facing serious challenge of child abuse. She said in 2014 alone, the police recorded 174 cases of child sexual abuse, but instead of declining, from January till date, the state had recorded 240 cases. The surge in child sexual abuse, according to her, is alarming and calls for serious action. Katsina expressed worry that many of the 240 sexually abused children had been infected by HIV and other diseases. She urged Ganduje to allow his spouse to join the crusade to tackle child abuse. Responding, the governor the new law stipulated life sentence for culprits of child abuse. He charged the police to display competence while filing charges against culprits so that they would not get any chance to escape justice.

Ganduje

Some of the NURTW members

Muritala Ayinla

he National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has deployed about 5,000 members to complement the efforts of the traffic management agencies in Lagos State. The state NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, who disclosed this on the telephone, said the deployment of members of the union’s task force on the roads across the state was to express its support for the enforcement of traffic law. Agbede said the drivers and conductors had been warned to stop picking and dropping passengers on the roads. The chairman added that the recalcitrant drivers would be seriously dealt with, in addition to penalty imposed by the law enforcement agencies. He said: “We have deployed them across the state to enforce ‘no picking and dropping of passengers’ at undesignated bus stops. “The decision was reached after a meeting the transport stakeholders held with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on security and gridlock. This is one of the ways we intend to support the government in

ensuring the free flow of traffic in Lagos. “We are in support of the governor that is why we want to, on our part, enforce the law and ensure that none of our members violates the traffic law.” When our correspondent visited Iyana-Ipaja area yesterday, about 60 union members, wearing yellow apron with the inscription NURTW Task Force, were controlling traffic.

City Briefs Kanu Heart Foundation holds concerts, awards Camillus Nnaji

he management of Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) said it would mark this year’s World’s Day of Kindness with awards and concerts. Coordinator of the foundation, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, who said this in Lagos, disclosed that the event tagged: “Touch a Heart with Kindness,” is a day to show kindness to the less privileged and indigent persons in the society. He said: “In KHF, we say touch a heart with kindness, we want every person that has a heart with milk of kindness to purchase his ticket and come to the venue - Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday November 13, 2015 starting from 7pm to 10pm.” Abia said the day would be colourful for all invited guests as there would be stage performances by famous artistes and comedians. The coordinator said there would be exhibitions of works of art and dance drama, while face of charity ambassador awards would be given to those who had shown kindness not only to KHF patients but the society in general. According to him, tickets for this event may be purchased personally or in groups at Insignia Restaurant, 13, Kasamu Ekemodo Street off Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island and at KHF office at Ikeja, Lagos.

NANTS lifts displaced persons Ebere Ameh

oy radiated the faces of inhabitants of the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp when the women wing of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) visited them with two truckloads of goodies. The traders chose to identify with the displaced persons to mark the Teachers Day. Unfortunately the inhabitants were mourning an elderly member of the camp who died the previous night. In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the camp, Alhaji Usman Adamu, said that they were all in a bad mood because of the death of the elderly man. He said: “We are sorry to keep you waiting. It is because of the tragedy that befell us. We lost him over the night and we had to go and bury him this morning. We appreciate you for all these goods you brought to us. It will go a long way in ameliorating our suffering in this camp.” The Chairperson of the association, Mrs Ruth Agbo, said that they chose the new Kuchingoro because it was the least visited camp in the FCT.

Teenage schoolboy drowns in market pool Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

15-year-old schoolboy identified simply as Tony reportedly got drowned in a pool at International Market, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, where he went to swim with his schoolmates. It took the combined effort of divers and security guards in the market to recover the body of the boy yesterday, three days after he got drowned. Tony, a JSS 3 student, lived with his foster parent at 19 Nwoji Avenue, off Ogbaga Road, Abakaliki. He was said to have left his school in company with other students who were

asked to go home for not paying school fees. It was on their way home that the students went to the market to swim in the pool which was constructed by the company handling the market project. The disappearance of the boy shortly after jumping into the pool made his mates to alert security guards in the area who contacted the police. The foster parent, Mrs Silvia Ede, explained that she was informed of the tragedy by one of her relatives. She said the deceased had no reason to leave school at the time he did as she had provided him with all the necessary requirements.

10 News

Tambuwal canvasses state police Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

okoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said Nigeria should decentralise its police force and allow the emergence of the state police for adequate provision of security to the. teeming population, Tambuwal stated this when he received the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on a courtesy visit. Tambuwal said even though some governors in the North have in the past kicked against state police, present realities on ground indicate that the model is the best way to go. He said several states in the federation now have various security outfits whose functions overlap with that of the police. He said while serving as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2011 to May this year, the legislature had supported the move, even though the exercise has not seen the light of the day. "I believe it is time we reopen the debate considering the huge security challenges confronting the federation and how local expertise, if properly deployed, can be of great help to securing our communities," Tambuwal added.

INC suspends president over alleged gross misconduct Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

The leadership crisis in the apex Ijaw sociocultural group, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, took a different dimension yesterday with the suspension of its President, Boma Obuoforibo for alleged gross misconduct. He was suspended after a seven-man investigative panel set up by the congress to look into allegation of fraudulent misconduct turned up a report, which was ratified by the national representative council, NRC, a legislative arm of INC. The panel had recommended that the eastern zone should produce the next President to complete the tenure of the current National Executive Council, “to pacify the zone and also douse tension within the INC”.

NATIONAL Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, formally assumed office at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday, with a vow to take the anti-graft war to the next level. A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Magu, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to take over from Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as head of the foremost

thursday, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’ll take corruption fight to next level — Magu anti-corruption agency in the country, made the commitment during the official handover/take over ceremony yesterday. Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), also charged staff of the Commission on the need to imbibe the culture of discipline, warning that the Commission under his watch will not tolerate abuse of office under any guise. The statement quoted

Magu, who is a pioneer operative of the EFCC as saying: “I want to state our resolve not to falter on the well-established tradition of patriotism, dedication, courage and fearlessness, and we will take this responsibility with utmost seriousness that it deserves.” He pledged to “ginger up the anti-corruption campaign”, even as he noted that:“There is the need to make sure that whatever

is gotten for common use did not end up in private pockets,” stressing that fighting corruption to a standstill will make the country attractive to foreign investors. “ According to the statement: “I am ready and willing to work with everybody without any primordial concerns. “While we will intensify on our work out there, we will also keep an eye internally, and will not

tolerate indiscipline nor condone abuse of office or acts of corruption.” On his part, Lamorde was quoted to have charged staff of the agency to be patriotic and desist from mudslinging. “As a human beings, you have the right to disagree with someone, but if you disagree with your leader, approach him yourself, instead of going out there to grumble. “He needs all the support and encouragement he can get, and he should not be distracted with unnecessary write-ups,” he said. The handover ceremony was witnessed by the Secretary to the Commission, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo, as well as directors and heads of units of the EFCC.

Army returns 100 cows, 92 sheep in Niger Dan Atori MINNA 1… Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (seated), discussing with the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume while presiding over Senate plenary in Abuja…yesterday.

Nigerian researchers develop urine test for malaria Obinna Odoh Abuja

cientists working in Nigeria have developed a new test for malaria using urine which they hope will become mainstream soon in compliance with national guidelines to test before treatment for malaria. The Urine Malaria Test (UMT), developed by Fyodor Biotechnologies, doesn’t require use of blood invasion unlike existing rapid diagnostic test for malaria. Speaking at the launch of UMT in Abuja, Dr

Victoria Enwemadu, Fyodor’s global head of projects, told New Telegraph that “There are some challenges with adopting the national malaria testing guideline mainstream because of the invasiveness of trying to get blood for testing. Now, we have made it easier by just using urine to test for malaria.” The UMT includes a strip that is dipped into urine sample for 25 minutes to give results which can be read as positive, negative or valid, when compared against a control. It is based on recom-

binant antibody technology which searches for malaria parasite in urine sample, and the strip indicates its presence or not, according to Dr Eddy Agbo, chairman of Fyodor. “There should be no guesswork by any health provider as to whether a patient has malaria or not,” he added. “We have a game changer in our hands.” UMT has taken seven years in the making, and involved Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland and University of Nigeria, Nsukka in discovery, clinical develop-

ment and analysis. Partners include the National Malaria Elimination Programme, who recruited more than 2,000 people to take part in clinical trials for the test. It is considered the “first full-scale clinical trial for a medical product ever undertaken in Nigeria,” stated Agbo. Dr Bridget Okoeguale, Director of Public Health at the Federal Health Ministry, said FMOH would consider working with its Roll Back Malaria partners to push UMT as a do-it-yourself malaria test that does not require bleeding or pricking.

LASG: Economist’s article, handiwork of fifth columnists Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday lampooned the UK-based magazine, Economist, over the article published on the competency of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to govern the state as the Nigeria’s largest city. The state government, which accused the Economist of bias and subjectivity, said that the issues were ill-conceived as the

content of the article was reckless and slanderous. The government queried the magazine for challenging Ambode's approach to a transparent and non-aggressive traffic law enforcement in the state, wondering why the magazine could descend to such "uncharitable report". Reacting on behalf of the State Government, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the

government deemed it fit to write a rebuttal to the article titled “Paralysed: Why Nigeria’s largest city is even less navigable than usual”, as it contained series of bias judgment in it. Ayorinde wondered why the article, published just about the time the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode read the riot act to traffic offenders on the readiness of his government to carry

out comprehensive enforcement effort on traffic management, was latched onto by traditional and social media. Attributing the 'slanderous article' to the handiwork of fifth columnists, he said the article failed to take into account the bigger picture of an emerging reform policy, designed to address the larger concerns in the management of security, traffic and the environment.

he Nigerian Army has returned 100 cows and 92 sheep it recovered from rustlers camp in Bagabaga village located within Alawa forest, Rafi Local Government in Niger State. The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations (ADAPR) 31 Artillery Brigade, of the Nigerian Army, Captain Njideka Agwu, disclosed this to journalists in Minna yesterday. Agwu explained that during the operation led by the Brigade Task Force Commander, Lt Col. Dzarma Zirkushu on Saturday, it successfully dislodged the rustlers and recovered 100 cows and 92 sheep. Other items recovered included 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 19 cartridges of double barrel, one locally made revolver pistol, one empty AK-47 magazine, three handsets and a motorcycle. She said the army authorities had handed over the livestock to the Chairman of the local government council, in the presence of the DSS officer in charge of the council, Mr Barnabas Idzi; the representative of the Nigerian Police, Mr. Lawal Yinusa and District Head Alawa,Alhaji Shehu Adamu Gajere.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015

Public Service

I didn’t make fortune out of politics – Akinjide

12, 13

Tribunal

Mistakes cost APGA Abia governorship seat – Ufomba

Interview

Akinlude: APC unfair to Saraki

Politics Governor Samuel Ortom is keen about the recovery of looted funds in Benue State. In this interview, he speaks about the probe of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, and efforts to bring looters to book. CEPHAS IORHEMEN reports

What is your reaction to the High Court judgement which dismissed the two suits filed by former Governor Gabriel Suswam challenging the probe of his administration? Well, I want to thank God. Like I keep saying, those two panels were not meant to witch-hunt anyone, and of course, everybody in the state knows that I am a Christian; I am not a witch. So, I cannot be seen as witch-hunting anyone. All that I had wanted is that I am a democratically elected governor and my allegiance is to the people. The people of Benue State want to know what happened to their funds. The money that accrued to the state through the sale of Benue State government shares in BCC amounting to N8.3 billion; what went wrong with it because we could not find where it was expended, whether it was in compliance with the laws of the land as stipulated in the budget. We want to know what happened to the money that came to Benue State through SURE-P, Excess Crude Account, the sale of shares from Julius Berger, and several other means within the eight years because the amount of debt that we inherited is alarming. For the first time, we have witnessed this. So, all we are saying is for people to go out there and verify and exonerate themselves. So, we have provided a platform for people to go there and exonerate themselves if they are not culpable, but if you are, what we are saying is that you must repent; you must make restitution by returning such monies. So that is all.

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Looters must make restitution – Ortom

vided a platform especially for those who operated the past government to come in and exonerate themselves. We believe in the rule of law and we cannot just come out and accuse people that look, you took this much, you took that much; we are saying come and exonerate yourself. The allegations are there, after that if we want to prosecute, the process can be done.

Ortom

The second panel is set up to verify government’s assets. How can you have a government and you don’t know government’s assets in Lagos, Kaduna and Benue State itself. How would people be just buying off government property including part of government house property? It is unthinkable that a government under my watch will just fold its hands and watch. So, I am happy and I appreciate God. I have always said that I have confidence in the judiciary because it will do the right thing. And for me as a government, I want to say that I have covenanted with the people and God that I will rule with the fear of God and issues of transparency, equity, fairness, justice, accountability, discipline, and integrity. These are things that I value so much and I will ensure that they are part of what we are doing. And of course where there is need to forgive, we are ready but in forgiving, somebody must be there to ask for forgiveness not to try and overstretch and paint the government black. Intrigues and insinuations from

past government to try to paint us black and so on, it’s not founded anywhere. And trying to use the issue of bailout to blackmail me is not right.

My primary objective of setting up these panels is to recover these looted funds

What is happening to the bailout fund? We have set up committees made up of our own officials and that of various unions that are connected with this bailout. So, we are transparent about it and no single kobo is going to be used for any other means. All that we have been trying to do is to ensure that money gets into the hands of those people that are genuinely entitled to get this money and that is what we are doing. So, the panel is merely fact-finding We did not set the commission to arrest people and try them; we set the commission to one, verify what happened to our resources. We said income and expenditure; what came in. Fact finding: what came in and what went out; how it went, whether it was right or wrong. I have said it, we have pro-

There are insinuations that Senator George Akume is instigating you to probe Suswam? When you talk to me like that, I am 55 years for God’s sake and I have held leadership positions at all levels; local government chairman, national auditor of a party, minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and now governor. I am educated. Please for God’s sake when you talk about that, it’s like you are insulting my integrity. I sold my manifesto to the people of Benue State and they elected me. I am telling you that it is the people of Benue State who told me to find out what went wrong with their resources. If you were here during the stakeholders’ meeting which I held, what did the people say? The people came out unanimously including those in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and said that I should go ahead and verify where their money is and they are concerned and anyone who has taken this money should bring it back. So, Akume has not told me to probe anyone; it is the people of Benue State including PDP members who asked me to find out about their resources. So, I am not out to witch-hunt. You know, the major thing for me is to recover the looted funds. Once I do that then there are agencies that can handle issues of prosecution and all that. But for me, my primary objective of setting up these panels is to recover these looted funds so that we can take that and use it for the development purposes for the state which is why I was elected. If some looted funds are recovered, will the probe be stopped? No. I have always said that Samuel Ortom believes in the rule of law and due process and so I will ensure that the law takes its course. I am not interested in that, I believe in the rule of law and due process.

Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

I didn’t make fortune out

Akinjide

Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) has seen it all in Nigerian politics as a lawyer, legislator and minister with about 60 years active experience. In the First Republic, he served as Federal Minister of Education and as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in the Second Republic. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, the member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bares his mind on his role in Nigerian politics from 1950s till date How did you venture into politics? I was brought up by my parents but I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. It was a very pleasant life in those days. We

were using British money; things were very cheap and life was very great. We were under the British protectorate. I developed interest in politics right from my youth. My grandparents and parents were into politics and I too went into politics. I started politics when I came back from England. I was 24 years old when I came back from England and Nigeria was still under the British protectorate at that time. I started my legal practice in Nigeria after I came back from England and since I knew we will get our independence, I started preparing myself as a young man to take part in politics. Why politics and not law? Politics was very great at that time. The West African Pilot Newspapers owned by Nnamdi Azikwe (Zik), Daily Service, Tribune, Defender, Spokesman and Radio Nigeria, etc. were very powerful organs. So, it was a very great moment at that time. I wrote for some newspapers at that time. I wrote for Sunday Times, the equivalent of Daily Times at that time. I also wrote for West African Pilot. My column in West African Pilot was known as ‘Hotspot.’ I later became lawyer for West African Pilot after JIC Taylor, who was the newspaper’s lawyer, became a Judge of the High Court. Who were your contemporaries in the parliament then?

The philosophy of Britain at that time was that if you want to lose Nigeria, educate the North

When I was in parliament, Shagari, Ogunbiyi, Afolabi, Alhaji Aare, Abass, Monguno, were also in the parliament. It was great in those days because there was no money in politics; money was not part of our life that time. What was critical was getting independence for Nigeria from the British. When I was in England, I used to go to political and council meetings of Labour Party, Conservative Party and Communist Party to learn. I also used to go to House of Commons and House of Laws to listen to debates. So, I brought all the experience I gained in England to Nigeria to help me develop my own attitude and philosophy. So, my experience in England was part of what motivated me to take active part in politics. How do you feel been a member of parliament at 24 years? The sky was not the limit; it was very enjoyable. I enjoyed it because educated people were not very many at that time. When I became member of the parliament I was in my 20s and it was very enjoyable. I was very young in age, not experienced but I learnt from people who were older than me and more matured in politics. Okotie-Eboh was very powerful in parliament then. Monguno and Maitama Sule were also in parliament. Politics was very great in those days. I was in parliament before independence, at the time of independence and post-inde-

pendence. As a member of the parliament, what role did you play in Nigeria’s independence? I was General Secretary of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) for Western Nigeria. There was no Mid-West at that time and Western Nigeria started from Yaba to Asaba. The position of the General Secretary was very important and a powerful office at that time. As at the time of independence, what were your expectations as a young man in leadership position? At that time, I was General Secretary of the NCNC for Western Nigeria and naturally I have to play an important role. Once a country got independence, it became a sovereign state and member of the United Nations. That is something we have never experienced in life. But one thing that was upsetting on the Independence Day was that the niece of Queen Elizabeth was sent to give us independence paper at the ceremony. The Queen didn’t come; her husband and none of her children came. We discussed the incident among ourselves in the parliament. We were not happy because we thought that somebody more matured should have been sent to us and not a young niece of the Queen. But there was nothing we could do about it because the Secretary-

Politics | Interview 13

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015

of politics – Akinjide General of the Government, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Governor-General of Nigeria at that time were British. We were under Britain and they dictated what they wanted for us.

vance. I went to St. Peter’s School Aremo in Ibadan where there were British boys and girls in the school. So, educationally, the British separated the North from the South.

Prior to independence, while some Yoruba pitched their tent with Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group, you were a leader of NCNC led by Chief Nnamdi Azikwe... Many Yoruba were in Action Group and NCNC at that time. Chief Awolowo, who was the leader of Action Group had supporters among the Igbo and the North. Zik’s NCNC was also in alliance with the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) led by Aminu Kano, which was based in the North. So, don’t look at political party solely in terms of tribe at that time. All the political parties at that time tried to spread. Even for us, when our party was doing our rally in Ibadan, Tafawa Balewa came to campaign for us and it was great. So, the fact that the leader of a party came from a tribe does not make it an ethnic party.

In that context, don’t you think the British should have handed over to a Southerner and not Northerner? The decision of the British to hand over to the North was deliberate. In fact, the policy of the British was that that power should be handed over to the North to lead the country for economic and political reasons. But things have changed now as both Northerners and Southerners are now leading the country. So, things have changed completely and the British policy has not really worked; it worked for some time but it is not working again.

Can you share your experience as Minister of Education in the First Republic? It was very great. The University of Ibadan and University of Lagos - two universities owned by Federal Government at that time, were under me. At that time, University of Ife belonged to the Western Region while the University of Nigeria, Nsukka belonged to the Eastern Region. As a Minister of Education, I was fair to everybody in terms of scholarship; there was no question of being sectional. And where there was no education material in the North, I went to Tafawa Balewa’s cabinet to get financial grant to improve education in the region. But there is still a wide gap between the North and South in terms of education? That is true and it was deliberate by the British. North was not educated at all; they were left much more behind in education. In fact, when I was Minister of Education, I went to the federal cabinet and I got approval for partial grant. I went to Kaduna to give a cheque to Saudauna and the Northern Minister of Education. So, we gave them financial grant to improve their education because the North was more backward in education than the South and we did a lot to improve education in the North. That has changed today as we now have lots of secondary schools, teachers’ training colleges and universities in the North. Why do you think the British deliberately made the North to be backward in education? The philosophy of Britain at that time was that if you want to lose Nigeria, educate the North. They didn’t educate the North at all. Although some Northerners attended University of Ibadan, but originally the North was educationally left behind. That was the policy of the British. But in the South, we were very much ad-

Where were you the day the 1966 coup took place? I was in Lagos. I woke up in the morning and discovered that a coup had taken place. I have been in Federal Government twice and on the two occasions, we experienced military coups. How did you feel about the coup? I felt very unhappy because there was no need for it at all. That coup caused a lot of bitterness in the country. The 1966 coup was very bad; it was unnecessary and I hope we will never have anything like that again.

the Federation. How did you feel about the appointment? I felt excited and delighted. It is the best office in government, which I will love to have; I got it and I was very happy. I enjoyed my tenure as Attorney-General. I represented Nigeria at the Law of the Sea Convention, which is the biggest convention sponsored by the United Nations. I signed the convention and the final act on behalf of Nigeria and it is now part of our law. It is one of those contributions to history, which those of us who took part must be very proud.

Politics is one of the finest moments in my life and I also enjoyed being in legal practice immensely

Between 1966 and 1979 the military was at the helm of affairs. What were you doing within the period you were not in government? I was in Nigeria. We were detained after the coup but we were released later. I travelled abroad and later came back to continue my legal practice.

Like what happened in the First Republic, the Second Republic was also disrupted by a military coup. How do you feel being sent packing second term as a minister? It was very bad. There was no need for it at all. Shagari was pleasant; he is from the North, a Muslim and Fulani and the people who overthrew him and the person who took over from him is also from the North; a Muslim and Fulani. There was no need for the coup at all; it was totally unnecessary. You have been in politics for about 60 years but you have not pitched your tent with the ruling party in South-West like the Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now All Progressives Congress (APC). Why? When we were in government, we were the dominant party in the South-West. When Ladoke Akintola was in government as Premier of Western Region, we were in the same party. So, it is not true that all the time I have always been in the other party other than the

What is your prison experience like? I felt bad because it was unnecessary. It caused a lot of bitterness; people were not happy because there was no need for the coup and there was no need for detaining anybody. What specific role did you play during the 1979 elections? I was the Legal Adviser of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) during the 1979 elections and I was involved in the 12 2/3 saga. I also handled the case of Shehu Shagari against Obafemi Awolowo both at the tribunal and in the Supreme Court. So, I played a very important role during the election. How did you bring about the 12 2/3 idea? It was in the constitution and the Electoral Act. It is just interpreting the law; it was a legal problem, not political problem. That is what I went to argue at the Election Tribunal and also argued in the Supreme Court and we won in the two courts. Was that what earned you the position of Attorney-General of the Federation in Shagari’s government? It is not for me to say that; it is Shagari who can say that. But I became the Attorney-General of

How was your relationship with Awolowo after the 12 2/3 saga? Excellent; he was a lawyer and I am a lawyer. He was much older than me in age, politics and governance, and he was very good man. What I did in court was a legal problem; it was not a political problem. I did not write the judgement; the tribunal of three wrote the judgement and seven judges in the Supreme Court confirmed it by six to one. So, I was doing my job as a lawyer and the judges did their job as judges.

party that ruled the West. That is not true at all. When the military was at the helms of affairs, I was invited to come and become Commissioner for Finance in Ibadan; it was even announced in the media, but I declined. And General Adeyinka Adebayo also invited me to serve in his government. Dr. Banjo and a Bishop from Ekiti took me to him and he also offered me to come to his cabinet, but I also declined. I was invited to join a cabinet in Ibadan on two occasions and I declined. Why did you decline? I declined because I didn’t want to be in government at that time. I wanted to remain in legal practice which I enjoyed immensely. So you enjoyed legal practice more than politics? I enjoyed both very well. I won’t put one above the other because the two are very good. What are your low moments in politics? None; I won’t say my detention was low moment because there was no politics as at the time I was detained. That was not a low moment at all because I always enjoy my time in politics. Being in politics is one of the finest moments in my life and I also enjoyed being in legal practice immensely. What about your high moments in politics? There are so many high moments. When I was NCNC General Secretary in the West and when I was Federal Minister of Education and Attorney-General of the Federation. I enjoyed those moments immensely. One of the greatest powers you can hold in any country is to be in the government of that country. Do you have any happiest moment in politics? Yes, I did. I enjoyed when I hold political offices; either in the political party or in government. What about sad moments? I can’t regard any moment as sad moment at all. We were detained after the coup by the military. If they had confidence in themselves, they won’t detain anybody. But when they are afraid of people, they detained them. Do you have any regrets in politics? Not at all, I enjoyed it. It is one of the finest moments in my life. Would you say politics has made you richer or poorer? I will not say I am rich or poor but I have always enjoyed politics. I practise law in Nigeria, Gambia and England. I am a member of the English Bar and I have also been in the International Law Commission of the UN in Geneva and also at the Hague, for Nigeria and Cameroon’s case for many years. So, I have enjoyed my political life very much and I have enjoyed my legal life also extremely well. If you were not a legal practitioner, do you think you would have gone far in politics? Certainly, but if you combine law with politics, it is a very good marriage. I enjoyed both together. If I have not been a lawyer, I will still have survived in politics but

Akinjide

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Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mistakes cost APGA Abia governorship seat – Ufomba Chief Reagan Ufomba was nominated as Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last elections, but later had his nomination turned down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favour of Dr. Alex Otti. He speaks with FELIX NWANERI, on his legal battle and the recent judgement of the state governorship election petition tribunal How far have you gone with the case you filed against your party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), over the rejection of your candidature by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the April governorship election? What happened was that we filed a pre-election matter and we were very certain that we are going to win that suit but along the line, a tribunal was set up and we had 21 days to file our petition and by then we were expecting judgement. So, we joined the tribunal in anticipation that we would win and when we win, the judgement becomes a good instrument. Unfortunately, the High Court judge erred by saying that she had no jurisdiction on the matter. So, we decided to withdraw from the tribunal for us to pursue our appeal because it is a pre-election matter as staying put at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal would have amounted to abuse of court process. But unfortunately, different interpretations were given to the action. Some said that the case was struck out by the tribunal, but the truth of the matter is that we withdrew and the judges at the tribunal commended us for professional conduct and not wasting the time of the court. Are you still going to pursue the matter now that the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has delivered judgement in favour of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Yes, I should, because I instituted the matter out of principle and I strongly believe that we must start from within if we must sanitise the process. Let us have people whose interest is to cleanse the mess in the society. There must be due process and rule of law, and if you feel that due process and rule of law is not being followed, you have the right to go to court and challenge it. That is why people like us are missing late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who would go to court to challenge every little thing that government had done wrongly. My case is not about sitting in government house, Umuahia; it is about ensuring that we have a fair and just society. But if by chance, we find ourselves in government, which is secondary, thanks be to God. What was your reaction when you heard about the tribunal’s judgement? I issued a very terse press state-

ment in which I said that it was not a matter of what the PDP did better but a case of what APGA failed to do, and there were so many them. What were those things APGA failed to do that cost it the election? I recall saying in an interview a day after the election that there were so many things that were not technically done right. There was no experience in what we did. In 2011, I approached the tribunal and just almost the same thing that was canvassed then were raised by the array of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who defended APGA and Otti. And like they say: Too many cooks spoil the soup. The number of SANs I saw defending one man in that case was unfortunate. Most of these senior lawyers were everywhere; from Abia to Akwa Ibom and Rivers, among others, but Otti needed someone who would pay attention to details. I don’t want to sound selfish, but if I take you back to the nomination process, you will find out where APGA started to make mistakes. The issue of power shift was fundamental to the governorship election in Abia State in the last election. There was an agitation that there hasn’t been a governor from the Ngwa clan since the creation of the state and it was an opportunity for someone whose ethnic identity was not in doubt to emerge under APGA’s platform. Second, the people of Abia State wanted real change, they wanted a departure from the PDP, Theodore Orji and their cleavages. But when there were questions about people who jumped from one platform to another and then into APGA, which was the preferred alternative in the state, I cannot but pity some gullible people in the state, who did not feel objective and to give honour to those who deserve it for their contributions to building APGA in Abia. If anyone does not give me honour for APGA in Abia State, that person will take the hottest part of hell. There is no way you can say that APGA is the party to beat in Abia at the moment without looking at history. When I joined the party, there was no APGA in the state. I built the party from the scratch in the state and if all the big names have now found it as an alternative platform to contest elections, they should give credit to those who made the party what it is. So, what happened to APGA in the

Ufomba

election was that those who seized the party’s platform did not ask questions, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do, there was no obeisance and the law is simple: He who must go to equity must go with clean hands. If we had taken cognizance of all these, definitely, we would have beaten PDP to a stupor in Abia State.

Those who seized the party’s platform did not ask questions, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do

ing seeds, some fell on thongs, others on stones and few on a very fertile soil. This means that whatever we intend to do in life, we must build on a fertile soil and the only fertile soil I know about in politics and governance is truth and justice.

Looking at what happened at the Abia tribunal and a few other states, do you share the view that election petitions should be looked at on merit and not necessarily technicalities? I believe that Otti’s case was looked at on merit. When you talk about merit, you are talking about exhausting all the legal processes, which involves calling of witnesses, tendering of exhibits and others. That was different from what happened in 2011. When you don’t cross your Ts, the trial judge can strike out your case on technical ground but when you have the opportunity to argue your case, tender your exhibits and call your witnesses, I think your case has been heard on merit.

Don’t you believe that the governor should be encouraged rather than distracted by the litigations against the backdrop that he has ensured a break from the past? The court matter is not a distraction because the moment you have an unjust society, you would be building on rubbles. What I don’t encourage as a person is violence. Once you protest decently and go to court, which is allowed and the judges give you the opportunity to argue your case, win or lose, you remain friends and brothers. An aggrieved man cannot contribute positively to the development of any society. My case is presently at the Court of Appeal and I intend taking it up to the Supreme Court if I fail to get a judgement at the appellate court. I will not allow anyone to write my history for me, and I will tell you that it is even dangerous to do what is being canvassed. The moment you say that you are no longer interested in pursuing the matter, the same people who are making the call, will turn round to say that you have been settled. So, I remain my own man, allowing my conscience to determine what I do. Sincerely speaking, I don’t know how I will lose the case and I believe that was why the High Court judge said she had no jurisdiction on the matter. There is no way I will lose because I was validly nominated as the governorship candidate of APGA but INEC rejected it against the letters of Sections 30 and 33 of the Electoral Act and in violation of Sections 12 and 16 of APGA constitution.

The petitioner and your party have vowed to appeal the judgement, but some people are of the view that it is time the gladiators sheath their swords. What is your take on that? I believe so much in God and the Bible and I have read about the parable of the sower. While he was sow-

Does it mean that you will start afresh to challenge the election of Governor Ikpeazu by the time you get judgement at the Supreme Court? Let me win first. What I have always told people is that I am an APGA person from Ngwa land. So, let me win first.

What do you make of the tribunal’s position that the petitioner and your party failed to prove their claim that the election was marred by irregularities? The Electoral Act is such that you must take a position on the stand point that you are approaching the tribunal. If you claim that an election was marred by irregularities, you must call for a cancellation. If it is that you won, you must prove it arithmetically. In my case in 2011, my lawyer said that there was no election known to law in Abia, but again came to say that the election was marred by irregularities. So, the judge saw these as approbating and reprobating. I think the same mistake was made and that is where experience would have made a difference.

Politics | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015

Akinlude: APC unfair to Saraki

Chief Willy Akinlude, a former local government chairman and pioneer publicity secretary of Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaks on the travails of Senate President Bukola Saraki and efforts to revive the PDP. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

ing. Also, I think they are being selective in their fight against corruption. Let us see a prominent APC man being probed because corruption is not limited to the PDP. As a matter of fact, most of those parading themselves as progressives today are ones strong members of the PDP. The searchlight is now against the PDP but no APC man is currently being investigated.

What is your assessment about the state of nation? We are still awaiting the official take-off of the cabinet because Mr. President has been acting as a national administrator; he has been dictating this or that, consulting his friends over issues of the nation and all those are not the official way of running a nation like Nigeria. The constitution is very clear on how to administer the nation at the executive end. The state of the nation is that we are still waiting for the APC at the national level; we want to see what they want to do. But we have been seeing this selective witch hunting in the supposed fight against corruption. But a moral question could be raised that President Muhammadu Buhari has only spent six months against your party’s 16 years in power? Yes, we were in power for 16 years but we had different president during those years. But I don’t think Nigerians are ready to give him the luxury of such a time because it is expected that he knew what he was going to do before becoming president of Nigeria. He should have started something under three months. What we had so far was body language and they said that gave us light for a while. But I can tell you that even the light is no more there again. See, it was Goodluck Jonathan that did all those investments and worked on the power sector; it was only that people were sabotaging his administration. Are you saying that APC does not have a plan? If they have plans, Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see them

What is the problem with Lagos PDP? PDP actually improved on its performance in Lagos and we have never had it so good in the state. We had some House of Representatives seats and same for the state assembly, so we have improved. But I think we should bring the right people to manage the affairs of the party. Akinlude

unfold those plans. I know they must have plans anyways. Personally, I am a businessman and I want the economy to improve so that my business can grow. So, all of us are waiting for them. The APC should be very sincere with what they are doing and know that this is our country. If they see people in other parties they should inculcate them into their vision. President Buhari should run an inclusive government because some people around him right now can’t move the country forward. He should make his appointments a national call for all deserving Nigerians regardless of where they come from and what party they belong. How can the PDP be reformed? The PDP will be strong again because these people in power are not together. The configuration of the APC is what is giving the party headache now. If you look at the appointment they made, it was lopsided and they are not happy within themselves. That was one of the reasons why Bukola Saraki is in trouble now. Definitely, they are going to fumble with the way they are going and that will be PDP’s gain. The way I see things, President Buhari has shown that he is not a politician. What he should have done immediately after the election was to rally everyone together and chart a united course for the party. Their prob-

lems are enormous.

The party hierarchy has been unfair to him... a Senate President was pushed into the dock. It’s so painful and degrading

What is your take on tribunal rulings that nullified election of some PDP governors? The rulings are suspicious. Why would they take tribunals to Abuja? How come only those tribunals moved to Abuja that decided to overturn elections? Why should they take Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba tribunals to Abuja? But they should remember that when Adams Oshiomhole won in Edo, former President Jonathan congratulated him, ditto for Rauf Aregbesola in Osun, Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo. Jonathan wasn’t supporting his party in such manner but the current president seems to be excited with what is happening. But it shouldn’t be so. This is democracy. What is your take on the fight against corruption of the present administration? What we are seeing seems to be the opposite of what they are saying. How can you pick Timipre Sylva as your governorship candidate in Bayelsa? This is a man that has corruption issues hanging on his neck. They might think they wanted to use the ticket to repay him for antagonising Jonathan, but Nigerians and Bayelsans are not blind. And the same goes for Kogi with Abubakar Audu. They have serious moral questions and people in those states are watch-

1979 election didn’t affect my relationship with Awolowo – Akinjide C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

I have made up mind to be in politics and to also practice law and now I combine both together. Why do you see politics and law as a good marriage? Because they are like husband and wife. If you go to the House of Common, you will see that many of the Members of Parliament are lawyers; if you go to America, the same thing. Law and politics have the same thing in common. If you are in law and go into politics, you will enjoy it. If you are to choose, which one

do you enjoyed most between politics and law? Both are excellent; I love them very much. But you will prefer one to the other... No, I will like others to make judgement on that. But I love both very well. What do you want to be remembered for? Patriotic, a lover of the family, a lover of Nigeria and somebody who will be very grateful to the country that has done so much for me and also grateful to my children; many of whom are university graduates in busi-

ness, law and other things. So, I am extremely grateful for what God has done for me and I will ever be grateful to Nigeria for what Nigeria has done for me. What has Nigeria done for you? For making me successful in politics, holding political positions and making me to be successful in legal profession. Did you really make fortune from politics? No, I didn’t. I didn’t go to politics for money. I went into politics to serve the country and that was exactly what I did. Despite servicing the country, you

went to prison... If you are in politics in a developing country, you must expect that. It is normal; it is part of the service, which you enjoy. Is any of your children in politics or law? Virtually all of them show interest in politics. They may not hold political offices but they show interest in politics. My daughter, Jumoke, served at the federal level during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and she was also a minister in Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. I have about 10, plus or minus, in Law.

But the party is presently divided along Olatunji Shelle and Kamal Olorunoje factions? The party is not divided. They just returned from the Abuja and we don’t know what their outcome is like yet but I know all efforts are in place to restructure the party and make it stronger again. Lagos PDP will bounce back very soon. What is your take on the crisis in the National Assembly? That is exactly what I was saying about the magnitude of misunderstanding among them. How can you go back in time and say Saraki committed an offence 12 years ago and you decided to bring it up now simply because the man defied all odds to become a popular Senate President. Some people in the same party have ongoing corruption issues but you close your eyes to that. I think they should go back to the drawing board and use political solution to these issues. The fact still remains that, can Saraki ever agree or see eye to eye with some people in the APC with what they have done to him and the way they treated him shabbily and humiliated him? The party hierarchy has been unfair to him. For the first time in the history of this country, a Senate President was pushed into the dock. It’s so painful and degrading. They have a lot of problem within themselves and it might affect governance in the country. How would the Patriots in Lagos PDP reinvent the party in the state? When Jimi Agbaje was produced as the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, the Patriots were happy and we worked assiduously for the party. But we felt the party did not handle the political situation of the election very well. It was Musiliu Obanikoro and Agbaje that handled the election with some few people. But the Patriots are committed to ensure that the PDP is made one in the state. Chief Bode George has been able to manage the affairs of the party for more than 16 years and I think that is enough. He should now allow other young elements with dynamic ideas to come on board. He should be a very big patron in the party. There is no cold war in the party but just some political differences.

THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Biafra: Understanding the agitation (1) Jones Onwuasoanya

he Biafran struggle is as old as the Nigerian struggle. Long before the actualization of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the Igbos whose sons formed the fulcrum of the nationalistic struggle had seen and expressed fears over the oligarchic ambitions and historical desperation to subjugate, intimidate and marginalize the Igbos by those with whom we share the Nigerian patrimony. The seed for the persecution of the Igbo race was planted by the British colonialists. The foremost African nationalist and first indigenous GovernorGeneral of an independent Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe in his speech at the meeting of the Igbo State Assembly(ISA) which held in Aba, in present day Abia State on Saturday, June 25, 1949, lamented the social, economic and political persecution which the Igbo had been subjected to. In his words; “Socially, the British Press has not been sparing in describing us as ‘the most hated in Nigeria’. In this unholy crusade, the Daily Mirror, The Times, The Economist, News Review and the Daily Mail have been in the forefront. In the Nigerian Press, you are living witnesses of what has happened in the last eighteen months, when Lagos, Zaria and Calabar sections of the Nigerian Press were virtually encouraged to provoke us to tendentious propaganda. It is needless for me to tell you that today, both in England and in West Africa, the expression ‘Ibo’ has become a word of opprobrium. Politically, you have seen with your own eyes how four million people were disenfranchized by the British, for decades, because of our alleged backwardness. We have never been represented on the Executive Council, and not one Igbo town has had the franchise, despite the fact that our native political institutions are essentially democratic—in fact, more democratic than any other nation in Africa, in

spite of our extreme individualism. Economically, we have laboured under onerous taxation measures, without receiving sufficient social amenities to justify them. We have been taxed without representation, and our contributions in taxes have been used to develop other areas, Out of proportion to the incidence of taxation in those areas. It would seem that we are becoming a victim of economic annihilation through a gradual but studied process.” (Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik: A Selection from the Speeches of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor-General of the Federation of Nigeria formerly President of the Nigerian Senate formerly Premier of the Eastern Region of Nigeria (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1961). • 1886-1960). Some people with whom I have shared this speech with argued that the Igbo race should have pulled out from the Nigerian entity even before independence since there have been clear evidences that they had always suffered persecution and marginalization even before the Nigerian independence was actualized. This is where my unique thought about the Biafran struggle comes in; I do not believe that the Biafran agitation is all about secession. The Igbos should be the last group of people to secede from Nigeria because they have as much stakes as other ethnic nationalities in the Nigerian State, and some people understandably argue that we even have more stakes than the others, hence, if there are people who must secede from Nigeria, then, it should be any group of people who feel that the Igbos will not enjoy equal share with other parts of the country. The Biafran agitation is the agitation for equity, for real unity and for genuine brotherliness among all component parts of the country. The Biafrans, are those who are being wrongly treated and mindlessly marginalized in a country they jointly own. What the

Biafran agitators from the time of Nnamdi Azikiwe to the generalissimo himself, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu till now that we have Chief Ralph Uwazurike of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB)and the newer Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the target in my own analysis has always been to draw the attention of the authorities to the marginalization being suffered by the Igbo people and to seek ways to stop them. In the famous Aburi Speech delivered by the Head of State of the Biafran nation, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, he was unambiguous about his real ambitions for the Nigerian nation. Secession was a last resort and in no way a first option. Even in the heat of the war, on May 30th 1969, in a brief ceremony organized to formally hand over some mercenaries who were captured by Biafran troops as they assisted the Nigerian forces in their fight against Biafrans in return for oil gifts from the Nigerian government, President Ojukwu reiterated the futility of the civil war and called for a roundtable discussion between the two brother nations. His only insistence was on the Aburi Accord. What were the fundamental contents of the Aburi Accord? The kernel of the Aburi Accord is that Nigeria should adopt a Confederal system of government, whereby the central government will remain, while component units will manage their affairs and develop at their own pace, and at the same time contribute to the general development and growth of the entire nation through making stipulated contributions to the central government from whatever they produce. This accord remains valid forty six years after it was penned and signed and remains the most veritable solution to Nigeria’s numerous political, religious and economic crises. •Onwuasoanya wrote in from Owerri

What next, 100 years after amalgamation? Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

he proclamation of Nigeria’s amalgamation on January 1, 1914 by Lord Frederick Lugard and the British imperialists was aimed at bringing together the entire Northern and Southern Nigeria as one single entity, administration and country. By the Lugard’s document of amalgamation, any of the geo-political ethnic Nationalities was free to secede after 100 years of Nigeria’s existence. The interpretation of this provision as contained in the amalgamation treaty is that the imposed unity of purpose simply expired on January 1, 2014. So, what next? In this write-up, I intend to be economical with historical and political details in the fundamental interest of the subject matter. Prior to the said amalgamation, the British oligarchy had already conquered the Sokoto caliphate in 1902. This caliphate was founded by Shehu Usman Dan Fodio (1754-1814). And, between 1902-1906, the same colonialist had also embarked on the military conquest of Oyo and Ijebu territories while the Benin kingdom was sacked and colonized in 1897. The British also had imposed treaties on various communities of the Niger Delta with effect from the 1880’s. The British conquest was extended to all the nooks and crannies of present day Nigeria. At the initial stages, it appeared that the amalgamation was on a smooth-ride until the establishment of the Legislative Council which brought together

Representatives from all over the country. It is however imperative to note that the Lagos and Calabar Representatives were duly elected. In 1951, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the acclaimed golden voice of Africa, was reported to have said in a speech to the Northern House of Assembly, Kaduna, that, “the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruders. We do not want them and they are not welcome here in the North. The Nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and aspiration. We here in the North, take it that Nigerian unity is not for us”. After the alleged maltreatment of the Northern Legislators in Lagos in 1953 on the Independence motion tabled and moved by Chief Anthony Enahoro of blessed memory, late Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto and Leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) was quoted as saying: “the mistake of 1914 has come to light. Lord Lugard and the amalgamation were far from popular among us at the time. We should set-up our own. We should seize to have any more to do with the Southern people. We should take our own way”. The Sarduana of Sokoto and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, could not be blamed for their aggressive approaches towards the amalgamation which was already in defect. In the East, there was the Aba women’s riot of 1929 which also took place simultaneously in the provinces

of Owerri and Calabar. It was a massive revolt staged by women against the proposed imposition of taxes on them, the draconian and oppressive administration of the Warrant Chiefs who were appointed by the British imperialist to govern the Eastern people of Nigeria, for and on behalf of the British crown. On the attainment of Nigeria’s Independence in 1960 and her Republican status in 1963, the British left behind a country of religious intolerance, the obnoxious activities of the neo-political class, intra and inter class struggles, visible hatred amongst the Ethnic Nationalities, serial military coups and counter coups and other negative factors which were competent to break-up the amalgamation. For instance, the January 15, 1966 was a clear index. It finally led to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967 by Lt. Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was then the Military Governor of the Eastern region. A brutal war commenced between the General Yakubu Gowon led Federal Government against Biafra. It ended on January 15, 1970. After the centenary celebration of 100 years amalgamation by Nigerians, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) said in its communiqué that the 1914 amalgamation of ethnic nations which was foisted on Nigerians by Britain had since expired and that they would initiate the process of re-negotiating its existence with the other ethnic nationalities in the Country. The Yoruba of the South West have threatened also on several occasions that they may secede if the rec-

ommendations of the National conference that will give true federalism and fiscal policy to the component states of the federation are not implemented. The threat was also re-echoed when Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped by the Fulani herdsmen, last month. In view of the consistent negative pronouncements of the various ethnic nations who have been amalgamated into one Nigeria, it would appear that majority of the component units are no longer comfortable with the arrangement of 1914. Consequently, I wish to suggest therefore that for the amalgamation to continue, the Presidency must be rotated to include all the six geo-political zones. It is also my concerted opinion that when the South East is allowed to produce the President in 2019, the Biafran question and serial agitations by the Igbo may become a historical past. The North East and North Central should be accorded the same opportunity to produce a president each to govern the Nigerian Sovereign State. Alternatively, Nigerians should resolve to run a confederation that will weaken and neutralize the powers of the central Government while the powers of the component unit of the states would have been strengthened. I also suggest that the 1914 amalgamation should be re-negotiated by all stake holders inorder to ascertain its continuation or discontinuation. •Wilkie wrote via pmikky1950@yahoo.com

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMber 12, 2015

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Disturbing tales from the National Assembly

he bitter fight for leadership in both chambers of the National Assembly (Senate and the House of Representatives), has resumed. And the current phase of the squabble, which is over composition of committees, refocuses attention on the wailing need for the 8th Assembly to reinvent itself to render quality legislation for hard-pressed citizens so that the change mantra of the administration can be sustained. This explains popular bewilderment that when the economy is battered by a combination of hostile forces, including plummeting price of crude, over-fascination with their unrealistic emoluments and membership of juicy or lucrative committees should make legislators to vibrate unduly as they are doing. Because of vaulting selfishness, they forgot the urgent need to tread responsibly, especially the need to fast- track the evolution of credible institutions that the country so desperately requires to guarantee the welfare of citizens. By shunning the inauguration of 96 standing committees in the House of Representatives, some have demonstrated that they are more interested in bellyaching ad infinitum over the composition of so-called juicy committees in the house. Bickering over committee membership between members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), struck an obscene crescendo with some legislators threatening to resign from the committees that were inaugurated in Abuja last week. A faction within the ruling APC, yet

to come to terms with the emergence of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House, consciously stoked the crisis by shunning the inauguration ceremony. The endless squabbling over perks for legislators, rather than the quality of debate in the house or responsiveness to the aspiration of citizens , most regrettably, portrays the legislators as citizens who are not interested in robust and purposeful legislating which the country needs most in this bad patch of both its life and that of disillusioned compatriots. Their action portrays them as only interested in their personal welfare or as willing tools in the morbid appetite for vendetta. How can the welfare of ordinary Nigerians be their primary responsibility or concern when our over-pampered legislators only become galvanized into action when their self-interest is threatened as is so clearly the case here? By ceaselessly fawning over their scandalous emoluments and squabbling ad infinitum over inclusion in so-called juicy committees, the legislators compromise their altruism. We can not imagine worse public relations disasters than whining over composition of committees when the country’s economy is on its knees. As we speak, the insurgency which fundamentally challenged the authority of the state in especially the North-Eastern axis is enough encouragement that should have inspired the legislators to refocus their attention and keep them worrying. Even as Pres Muhammadu Buhari has handed the military a December deadline to trounce

the criminals, the reality on the ground, including a damning assessment of the country’s intelligence capacity vis a vis that of the insurgents by a retired general, supports the conclusion that much work remains to be done for this optimism not to be exaggerated. Although the possibility of the video as another propaganda stunt for the insurgents can not be dismissed, many citizens went crestfallen last week when they saw a video posted by the insurgents on Youtube, showing an alleged major being beheaded. Similarly, demonstrations by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and the Indigenlous People of Biafra (IPOB), might no have spread across states in the South-East and South-South if legislators had been alive to their responsibilities.. The protesters were demanding the unconditional release of the Director of pirate ‘Radio Biafra’, Mr Nnamdi Kalu who was arrested

Honourable members should be worried about the consequences of their actions on Nigerians

by the Police. Instead of noble ventures like revisiting the constitution amendment process to expunge outdated provisions like the vexatious requirement for Police permit for community gatherings, the conduct of legislators poignantly betrays their actual motivation in governance. If legislators had approached their mandate with seriousness, such outdated laws which invariably provoke tension might have been weeded from the constitution. And the unnecessary tension the police action has generated might have been averted. Honourable members should be worried about the consequences of their actions on Nigerians, instead of echoing the minds of their mentors. They should remember that former president, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo once dismissed them as lawmakers who are bent on sucking the country dry, instead of providing responsible, robust and proactive deliberations. By shamelessly resuming the squabble over perks, the message the fortune-seekers in the National Assembly are sending is that Obasanjo was right in his damning assessment. Nigerians did not bargain for this market place movement that has befallen them at a time, the only news they want to hear is about how clean the new broom has swept the environment. A new government has been in place since May 29. Six months later, instead of legislation lawmakers are busy thinking about composition of committees. It does not speak well of their love for the people who voted them in. Change must begin from the House.

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Goodluck Jonathan in Jos with the president calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) presiden-

tial candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to call his supporters to orCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Front row: L-R: European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker; Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu; former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy; Mali's President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; French President, Francois Hollande; Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel; Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, at a solidarity march against terrorism in Paris...yesterday. PHOTO: ReuTeRs

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Feb 14: APC blows hot

lDSS' story on hacking senseless, says Lai Mohammed Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday faulted the re-

port of the Department of State Services (DSS) that it planned to inflate its membership data as well as hack into the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC's

voters register across the country. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

South South Focus

News

Flood as their sorrow

Oil money for orphans

South East Focus Bearing Kanu’s burden

The protesters

The South East is in trouble. The Independent People of Biafra(IPOB), a group, committed to the severance of the East from Nigeria has been restless in the past one month, with protest all over the major cities in the East. Governors and political leaders are shivering over the exhumation of an old problem, as our CORRESPONDENTS report.

GEOFFREY EKENNA coordinaTor goeekenna@yahoo.co.uk

ochas Okoroccha, the governor of Imo State is worried. He has in the past few weeks, exchanged barbs with the members of the IPOB and its senior brother, the Movement for the Actulisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. Okorocha is worried about the mode of operations of the two groups and their ‘unsual request from the Nigerian State’. He is convening a meeting this weekend to find a solution to what has become an embarrasment to him and other governors of the regionthe large flow of youths on to the streets in protests over the detention of a leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu by the Directorate for State Security, DSS. Okorocha will be inviting stakeholders from the region to stem the tide. His decision for that meeting is following the swelling ranks of pro-Biafra protesters and the unsettling implications of the continued agitations. Okorocha will meet with other governors in the South-East, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, and other stakeholders in the geo-political zone to talk and agree on

how to check the activities of pro-Biafra groups in the region. According to a statement signed by Sam Onwuemeodo, the spokesman to the governor, the meeting is expected to take place in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Already the governor is making all the necessary contacts to ensure that all those expected to be at the meeting, would be in attendance, the statement added. Okorocha had earlier, taken exception to violent pro-Biafra protests in some of the SouthEast states and few other neighbouring states. Okorocha had dissociated governors and leaders in the South-East states from the MASSOB protest describing the whole exercise as embarrassing, disturbing and a counter-productive distraction. According to the Governor, the pro-Biafra protests could not be in the interest of the South-East people but is rather sending wrong signals to the rest of Nigerians. He said it has become increasingly necessary for the governors in the zone, Ohanaeze leaders and other stakeholders in the area to meet and decide how to

redress the development. “It is also expected however, that at the end of the Owerri meeting, the governors and other leaders will take a common position and will also invite the leaders of the proBiafra groups for a meeting, to let them know the socioeconomic and political implications of their activities including their demand for sovereignty in a united Nigeria”, Onwuemeodo said. According Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha is of the view that governors and leaders in the Southeast, could no longer sit and watch the situation degenerating and also noted that the Ndigbo cannot afford to create another monster of its own like Boko Haram. But while Okorocha is seeking solution to the problem, it appears not to be abetting. Since the arrest and detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by DSS, there have been protests and calls for all Biafran formations across the entire SouthEast region. But as the news of his arrest by the DSS on the October 17, 2015 broke, all the major cities in the South-East were

shutdown following protests and demonstrations that trailed the arrest. The detained Kanu is the leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), a breakaway faction from the Movement For Actualization Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB). In its continuous struggle to effect the immediate release of Kanu, over 80, 000 members of the group, mainly from Anambra and Delta states, last Sunday, staged a one million man march in Enugu. The pro-Biafra activists stormed the Coal city of Enugu at about 7:30 am and marched through the major streets chanting anti Federal Government slogans and protesting the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader. Some of them said that they would not relent in their agitations for the actualization of Biafra. They were however, peaceful as motorists were allowed to ply without any confrontation. Some of the residents in Enugu, who were going to different Churches within New Haven, Okpara Avenue, Abakaliki-Enugu road and other places for Sunday worship, joined the crowd in the protest march holding their Bibles and Chanting “ANYI AMAKWE “ Meaning “We will not Agree” Briefing journalists after the protest ,the National Director of Information of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, whose members were part of the struggle, said that the continued detention of Kanu would worsen the already fragile security situation in Nigeria. According to Madu, the factional MASSOB, IPOB and other genuine groups are now ready to unleash the potency of non violence which include civil disobedience, civil unrest, non cooperation, civil/ massive boycott as was done during the emancipation struggle of Ghandi of India and Martin Luther King jnr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the leader of Ohanaeze Youth Council, had condemned the agitation for Biafra and described it as treason. MASSOB challenged him to prove his leadership of Ohanaeze youths by leading a public demonstration against Biafra. “That’s a way of showing loyalty and respect to Nigeria not talking on the pages of newsCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 SouthEastFocus

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Saint Michael’s road, where dead phones resurrect Victor Mba

Aba

ba, popularly known as Enyimba City, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State also known as “Japan of Africa” is gradually repositioning itself to take the state, South East geopolitical and indeed the entire country to a technological super highway. The city, no doubt, has a lot of budding technicians and technologists, who are capable of launching the country into technological fast lane. Saint Michael’s road, one of the shortest roads in the commercial city is adjudged the busiest. If you are a visitor to the town, once you get to St. Michael, you are bound to ask many questions as a result of the volume of human traffic and quantum of business activities going on the road. The road, from number one to the end, on both sides, apart from the Anglican Cathedral, what you see are young men in their thousands engaging in repair of mobile phones. They also sell phones of different brands and accessories. These young men occupy all the stores in every of the building along St. Michael’s road and those that cannot afford to pay for stores make do with tables and chairs along the road, almost making it im-

A section of Saint Michael’s road

possible for both human and vehicular traffic to access the ever busy road. These young men, mostly school leavers, make brisk business through repair of mobile phones and smile to their banks at the end of each day. The popularity of this road spreads to neighbouring states like Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Bayelsa and Cross River states. There is the general belief that apart from making dead phones come to “life”, any mobile phone’s fault that is not detected and rectified there no matter the brand name must be sent back to its manufacturer. Mobile phones users from these states storm St. Mi-

CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 1 9

papers. “The Ohanaeze youth leader has shown that he’s a Biafran saboteur. MASSOB will treat him as such. “Factional MASSOB is in full support of the ongoing massive demonstration against the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by DSS. Our factional members are part of the ground breaking protests and will continue with IPOB till our demand of Nnamdi Kanu’s release is achieved. For the sake of Biafra, love for our father land and the spirit of brotherhood, MASSOB shall continue to identify with genuine and selfless Biafra agitation as showcased with Nnamdi Kanu. “Factional MASSOB warned the Federal Government to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu now on or before Wednesday or face severe action that will bring Nigeria to her knees. Ndigbo and south-south are wiser, united and hungry for Biafra now. Only some few disgruntled elements and Abuja errand boys from the eastern region are always against Biafra. “Biafra shall hold Igbo governors, National Assembly members, traditional rulers and Opinion leaders heavily responsible if anything happens to Nnamdi Kanu” He said He noted that the protests which begun from Awka, the Anambra State Capital, last Saturday, Enugu on Sunday would extend to Okigwe in Imo State, on Monday, Ebonyi State on Tuesday,

chael’s road with dysfunctional phones and smile home after repairs by these technicians. What baffles a visitor is that these young technicians have no machines. What you see on their small tables are computer and screw drivers of various shapes and sizes. Also, the dexterity at which they dismantle phones and effect the necessary repairs without formal training still remains a wonder. A customer, Henry Duke, from Akwa-Ibom, who spoke to New Telegraph, said he is a graduate of Fine and Applied Art but had resorted to collecting faulty phones and bringing them to St. Michael’s for repairs. He said he started the business of phone repairs

after he came to St. Michael’s road and saw the feat these technicians performed. According to Duke, after each trip to St. Michael’s road with faulty phones and after repairs, he smiles to his bank, adding that he is now self employed. Another young school leaver from Imo State, Miss Anthonia Obasi, also said her uncle sent to her an expensive Samsung Mobile phone from abroad which could not be powered or operated. “I have taken the phone to many phone repairers in Imo State but had no positive result.” She said that she was surprised to see that at St. Michael’s, the phone is now in perfect condition. One Enyinnaya Okoh was full of praises for the young technicians at St. Michael’s road, saying that apart from fabricating mobile phone spare parts, they repair phones no matter the fault and make it work as new ones. The testimonies regarding the feat of these technicians are endless. At St. Michael’s road, business starts as early as 7am in the morning and ends late at night. One of the technicians, Monday Osuchukwu, a young graduate revealed that 24 hours is not enough for them considering the volume of business transactions. He said he graduated in Electrical and electronics and had stayed in the house without employment. “A friend introduced me to St. Michael’s road, where I took up phone repairs. Now, I am not only self employed but an employer of

Opening old wounds Umuahia ,the Abia State Capital on Wednesday, Owerri on Thursday. It was learnt that residents of Enugu, both indigene and non-Indigene did not participate in the protest as the state government disassociated itself from the ongoing South-East protest. To some people, the present protests did not come as a surprise. The group had given indication of protesting the continued incarceration of Kanu. Last weekend, the group defied the order of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, and marched through the streets of Awka, the Anambra State capital and Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. In their protest in Aba on Saturday, the had warned residents of the city that protest would continue on Monday on a larger scale; that they should therefore stay indoors as no market will open. Surprisingly, in spite of the swashbuckling of the security agencies, the group mobilized in an unprecedented solidarity march on Monday in the city of Aba with about a million members from neighbouring states participating. They virtually shut down commercial activities in the city as in deference to the stay at home order all markets in the city did not open for business. Whatever the group did on Saturday was a child’s play

Kanu

in comparison with the Monday’s march, which is the reason the state government dismissed it as an attempt by the opposition to cause a breach of the peace. The statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, in reaction to the development even lauded the maturity of the residents of Aba in resisting the call for mass protest. They carried placards demanding the immediate release of Kanu, and for freedom for the Biafran enclave. They also chant-

labour because now I have four apprentices”. According to Osuchukwu: “Fortune has smiled on me. I can now fend for myself and carter for my siblings. I no longer look for employment.” Osuchukwu also said he can dismantle any phone, find out the fault and effect repairs. He was emphatic when he said that with little training abroad, he can assemble mobile phones and even add more functions to phones. Peter Okoye, another technician at St. Michael’s road, said the will is there but the way is not in sight, adding that what they needed was government and private sector participation to sponsor some of them to some mobile phone manufacturing countries in China to understudy and perfect the technical aspect of phone manufacturing. He noted that over the years, government at various levels had paid lip service to technological breakthrough by not doing what they ought to do. Said he:“We the technicians at St. Michael’s road are ready tools for the manufacturers of mobile phones that are made in Nigeria. We have studied those made in other countries. We are better placed to manufacture phones, fit for the tropic”. He concluded that unless assistance from both government and the private sector is extended to them, the technological breakthrough will continue remain a mirage.

ed solidarity songs, “Ihenile zuroke n’ala Biafra,” interpreted “Biafra is sufficient in everything.” While calling for caution in the pro Biafran agitation and the demand for the release of the Radio Biafra mouthpiece, Isiguzoro, admitted that the agitation arose out of years of accumulated injustice to the south east zone. Isiguzoro observed that the agitation would not be necessary if the zone had been fairly treated even down to the recent appointments by President Mohammadu Buhari in which he could not hide his disdain for the zone. He drew attention to the deplorable state of roads in the zone as unarguably the zone with the worst road infrastructure and the most marginalized in the Nigerian federation. The Ohanaeze Youth leader also pointed to the absence of industries and employment opportunities for youths of the zone and called on President Buhari to address the issues in the interest of peace and equity. He maintained that violent agitation will aggravate the situation and called for peaceful dialogue as the reasonable approach to the agitation. “To the extent that we are not satisfied in the happenings in the polity, particularly as it affects our region, it remains imperative that we submit our yearnings with a voice of reason the fact that the unified and continuous existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity cannot be compromised on any score. “The hyperactive agitators and proponents of secession perhaps have not sat down to count the cost of a divided nation which will be borne by the Igbo nation particularly and our youths whose future and strenuously built investments stand at risk,” Isiguzoro said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

South South Focus Flood as their sorrow

It is a problem that happened in 2012. They received palliatives. But this year, some parts of Edo State are crying out to the government for help. Why? The old problem is back. They have been chased out of their homes by flood. CAJETAN MMUTA, in Benin, reports

hen in 2012, flood from hell sacked residents of three local government areas of Etsako Central, Etsako West and Esan South East local government councils of Edo State, it was as if the end had finally come for the people of the state. Hundreds of residents of the endangered communities were forced to desert their ancestral homes as flood from overflowed River Niger wreaked havoc in the areas. No doubt, billions of naira worth of crops stocked in farmland, domestic animals and valuable properties were destroyed and swept away in the process. The disaster unleashed its ugly marks on the unsuspecting communities. Indeed, it had its worst and ugly tales on the two agrarian Etsako and Esan councils and their people in the north and central senatorial districts of the state respectively. The Adams Oshiomhole-led government, no doubt, stepped up proactive measures to tackle the threatening problem with the provision of relief materials, resettlement camps, drugs and other essentials to nip in the bud possible outbreak of cholera and malnutrition epidemic. Areas mostly affected by the flood included communities of Udaba, Ekperi, Usugbenu, Anegbette, Imiegba, Agenebode and several others of Ilushin, Oria, Onogholo,Oria and Ugboha communities in Esan South East Council of the state. Again, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) put in their skills, expertise and needed urgent assistance to cushion the impact of the flood surge with mounted appeals to other states where the flood had serious effect to find ways to assist the respective communities in their domains even as the communities expressed deep worry about the possibility of deteriorating health and epidemic within their localities. Some of the victims who spoke on the incident with newsmen disclosed that the calamity was the first of its kind in the history of their communities and the people

An area affected by flood

in the affected areas. But like an abiku in circuit of going and coming, leaving its victim with dangerous nightmares and a holocaust of endless crises, the people Etsako Central have worse experiences this year. The villages of Osumegbe, Ofukpo, Udaba, Anegbette, Oghomeri in Ekperi community are presently in the throes of another rage of flood, following the recent opening of a dam by the government of the Republic of Cameroun. Indeed, the people before the coming of the APCled government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had suffered untold social and economic setback in development indices with the worst and deplorable state of roads. The 33 kilometres Ekperi-AnegbetteUdaba road miraculously constructed during the first term of the Oshiomhole’s government had eased off their aged long stress and brought relief to them. Good things of life were like a mirage before now but at a time they are expected to settle for the realities of life and living with the new road network which presently boosts transportation system, social status and appreciable economic boom with movement of agricultural products of the localities to the urban areas, they are again being haunted by a seeming un-

avoidable calamity caused by Nigeria’s neighbouring country of Cameroun. A visit to the villages few days ago revealed a great deal of vestiges of destructions and unquantifiable loss in valuable properties, agricultural products and domestic animals. The state government, through the Ministry of Environment had earlier this year appealed to the communities within the areas likely to be affected by the strange flood disaster in the state on receipt of a warning by Cameroun to open its filled dam, to relocate to safer and upland areas to avoid the surge that has never left anyone with a smile rather endless pains. The residents have resorted to canoe to paddle into their homes as the houses were submerged with flood. Sadly, the people could hardly go out nor come in at will as is the case in life normal situations in most rustic communities. They are now strangers in their own land as lives have completely been threatened. At the moment, famine is looming large as this year’s harvest eluded them as the ravaging flood prevented farmers from harvesting the agricultural crops in the farms. Some of the residents were compelled to harvest their crops prematurely as the flood swept through the farmlands, residential buildings,

We went outside to other place to sleep and they gave us one room to live in

markets and worship centres. Pitiable as the people embrace the horrendous calamity, residents hardly visit each other as the flood prevented such traditional acts that characterize the people while one is strangely seen half naked with all clothes and shoes in their hands while waddling past the flood to a safe land before they could wear their attire to go to wherever they wish and same applies when they return back to their ugly fate from each trip on daily basis. One of the victims worst hit by the disaster, Mrs. Veronica Egbadu, a widow with four children, who narrated her ugly plight, lamented the huge losses of her properties to the flood which swooped on her and family with inexplicable strangeness. She said since the incident occurred, she had depended on mere handouts from neighbours and sympathizers to cater for her children. Egbadu, whose house was submerged to an eight feet level, disclosed that when the flood came, it surged with reckless abandon, taking everything on sight off its way, including household materials she could quickly save to a corner of her house. She said: “It was early in the morning that we saw the flood. We had gone to bed in the night and were woken up in the morning by the flood after it had taken over everywhere and we started packing our things. The flood as it carried us, me and my four children; we did not know that it would overwhelm us like that. We were looking at it as it came with speed. We started running and carried some of our things outside; within a little time, it overwhelmed us that we could not sleep nor prepare our meals. We went outside to other place to sleep and they gave us one room to live in. We were there managing. We put a big table and placed some of the things that will not spoil easily on top it. The flood started going down after four days after which we returned back but we are still watching the flood to see if it will go down. We have been washing all the rooms that were over-flooded during the period.” She added that the flood destroyed food stuff and drinking water, as well as other valuables in and outside the house. Mr. James Aruaye, a 24 yearold and an indigene of Udaba village, had described the situation as pitiable and called for an urgent need for the state and Federal Governments’ aid for the villages and communities affected by the flood. He said: “The flood has destroyed peoples’ farm crops like cassava, yams CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

22 SouthSouthFocus

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oil money for orphans Dominic Adewole ASABA

e could have laundered the money. He has the opportunity to lavish it on trivialities. But he decided to feed the less privileged and assuage the thirst of orphans. He must have chosen the better path. This was what those who witnessed the donation by the Commissioner, representing Okpe, Ethiope West and Sapele Local Government Areas on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Hon. Jonathan Amitaye, did were contemplating upon when he splashed gifts worth millions of naira on an orphanage home in Sapele. The gesture by the oil chief has now become patronizing across the state and has been adjudged in many quarters as one of the favourable and commendable steps to take by those at the corridor of power in Nigeria. With a feeling nostalgia for the less privileged, the New Telegraph gathered, the DESOPADEC Chief, Amitaye presenting gifts to the orphanage who barely three months in office, mustered resources in cash and kind last week, headed for Davis the gift items in an ecstatic mood, reBuwa Orphanage Home in Sapele, called that she had been in the busithe headquarters of Sapele Local ness of taking care of less privileged persons for the past 43 years. She exGovernment Area. pressed happiness over the donation, Within a twinkle of an eye, the motherless babies’ home was and in return, showered God’s abunpacked full with items, ranging dant blessing on the donor. from bags of rice, garri, beans, galWhile she called on other well meanlons of groundnut and palm oil, caring Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of Amitaye, and urged Governor tons of indomie noodles, toiletries, soaps, toothbrushes and paste. Ifeanyi Okowa to come to the aid of the The highly elated proprietress children in orphanage homes across of the Orphanage Home, Madam the state, following the footsteps of his Monica Davis Buwa, who received predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan,

with songs of praises, she prayed God to bless the donor and all men and women of goodwill. With a smile, Amitaye, who said besides that less privileged persons constitute a pivotal part of his social responsibility scheme, it was part of his covenant with God to make the less privileged persons in the society have a sense of belonging during his political elevation. He said: “I feel and care for them because they are part of the society and to let them know that I hold them in high esteem. I need their

Flood as their sorrow C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

and rice” even as he said that no help has come from anybody since the incident occurred. Also, Mr. David Inefape, 50 years and son of Udaba village head, admitted that the flood had destroyed large cassava farms and other crops, lamenting that “the people are suffering now” while some of the residents fled to far communities for safety. He said life has become unbearable such that most of the victims find it difficult to relocate to upland areas because their present habitations is their ancestral homes and as such, there is no money to buy plots of land in order to relocate to new areas they can call their own. He expressed the readiness of the people to relocate to safer areas but with the strong support of the state government. On his part, Dick Audu, who hails from Nabuya community, said: “We have suffered many things just like the 2012 flood disaster; we lost all the cassava and rice in the farm this year. About five houses here were eliminated by the flood and we don’t know how the government will see to that.

Another area affected by flood

The member Representing Etsako Central Constituency in the state house of assembly, Mr. Damian Lawani, in reaction, expressed strong concern over the likely outbreak of cholera and other related water borne diseases following the ugly incidence of the flood. The lawmaker who toured the affected communities, said there was an urgent need for the National Emergency Man-

agement Agency, (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency to deploy health workers and drugs to the area to save the people from the deplorable state of imminent danger. He noted that sources of drinking water had been polluted as faeces emanating from underground pit flows freely. According to him, the situation required a proactive approach by all stakeholders in ensuring that relief ma-

prayers to succeed. We are doing this out of our widow’s might. The governor cares, the Speaker cares, the state cares about them.” The DESOPADEC Chief, who maintained that the donor’s intention must be respected as regards the gifts and made it categorically clear that he was appointed into office by God who used Okowa to locate him to serve humanity, and as such attract more glory of Him (God), assured the orphans of his continued financial, moral, spiritual and resourceful support.

terials are urgently deplored to the areas. The lawmaker pointed out that, “We have held meeting with the governor to ensure that something urgent is done. We have collated statistics to assist the number of persons affected. “One of the problem that affect them mostly is health wise because when it happened, you see children swimming on the water with water borne diseases. Where water is passing is a burial ground and we experienced a lot of that in 2012. So, there is tendency of having some kind of infection. We have directed the council to move in to minimize it any outbreak. It is a major challenge.” In his reaction, the Acting Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Charles Eshiesimua, who conducted newsmen round the affected areas, said the council had embarked on the distribution of drugs to victims of the affected communities and called on the government to come to the aid of the victims. He said: “The affected communities are expecting so much from government and having visited, it is even something the state government alone cannot take care of. It calls for a comprehensive approach from the state, federal and local government. What we are asking for is how the government can help us.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Health Features

Ebola survivor’s baby delivery defies medical claims – First Consultants

NSAIDs linked to heart attack, stroke

Health Features

Health News

Health

FDA limits sugar consumption over health concern

Cutting pneumonia deaths

Pneumonia is the second leading cause of infant mortality after malaria in Nigeria. Exclusive breastfeeding and complete routine immunisation to boost the immunity of children, as well as the protection of the elderly, will reduce unnecessary deaths from this infection, writes CHIDIEBERE EJIKE

xclusive breastfeeding of babies in their first six months of life has been identified as one of measure to prevent pneumonia infections in children under five years. Pneumonia is a common and deadly illness in Nigeria. It is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs in the lungs known as alveoli. This is most commonly caused by infections. Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause the infection. Affected persons may experience cough, run a fever, and have hard time breathing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that pneumonia affects approximately 450 million people globally per year, (about seven per cent of the population) and results in about four million deaths. Although, globally pneumonia is a leading cause of death in children under-five, in Nigeria, it is the second leading cause of infant mortality after malaria. According to a Consultant Pediatrics, Dr. Jerome Elusiyan, children are particularly affected by pneumonia because their immune system is not strong enough to fight the infection. Elusiyan who is the National Secretary of the Pediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN), said pneumonia is common in children because “immunity in children is not well developed. It takes time for kid’s immunity to be developed.” He gave exclusive breast feeding of babies as one factor that can boost the immune systems of the babies and reduce the risk of pneumonia infections. “One thing that helps to reduce pneumonia infections in children is exclusive breastfeeding because once children have good nutrition and they are well nourished, their likelihood of coming down with severe pneumonia that will kill them is very minimal. The paediatrics said nutrition has a lot to do with immunity. When children are malnourished their ability to cope with infections diminishes but when moth-

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

Pneumonia infection occurs when the lungs are exposed to pathogens

PHOTO: www.medicalnewstoday.com

ers exclusively breastfeed, their babies are well nourished and it strengthens their immunity.” However he decried the low rate of exclusive breast feeding in Nigeria which the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates to be 17 per cent. “We are still advocating and encouraging mothers to breastfeed their babies well. Mothers are expected to give their babies’ breast milk alone without water for the first six months after their birth. This will reduce the burden of pneumonia in children.” Dr. Elusiyan further said that some vaccines have been introduced by the government to curb pneumonia infections in children, adding that there is an improvement in measles vaccination because measles predispose children to pneumonia. He said: “Some vaccines have been introduced to reduce pneumonia infections in children. These vaccines include Pentavalent and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) which are to be given to babies within the routine immunisation before they become one year old. Although, both vaccines protect children against pneumonia, its introduction has not been fully achieved in all the states of the federation.

When children are malnourished their ability to cope with infections diminishes

According to medical experts, when the pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines are fully rolled out, Nigeria’s child mortality rate is expected to drop by an estimated 17 percent, preventing some 30 000 child deaths every year. Role of measles One of the conditions that predispose children to pneumonia infection is measles. When children have measles, their immunity is suppressed and many of them may come down with pneumonia. Elusiyan said what is being done in Nigeria area is to improve measles vaccination and in the last few years, “we have fewer cases of measles. In my centre at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), IleIfe, Osun State, I have not seen a case of measles in the last three years. This strategy of tackling measles has reduced the burden of pneumonia infections as well.” He also lamented that most mothers do not patronise health facilities on time as they rather self-medicate by buying drugs over-the-counter for their children. “It is very sad that most mothers do not patronise health facilities on time. When their

child is sick, they buy drugs overthe-counter and sometimes they buy wrong drugs. By the time they get to the hospital, it is already very late”, he said. Protection of elderly Speaking in similar vein, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo, a Family Physician, said apart from children whose immunity is not fully formed, in the elderly, immunity is low and thereby exposing them to pneumonia. He said it is important to prevent exposure to cold especially through exposure to airconditioners, drinking of cold water. “At times, children are fond of putting ice cubes in their mouth and grinding it like sweets; in the rainy season, elderly people should learn to wear sweater and avoid cold weather. He added that any suspected case should be reported promptly to hospitals. On whether youths are immune to pneumonia, Arigbabuwo said no age group is completely immune to pneumonia. “Anyone who exposes himself unduly to cold weather in temperate regions like Scotland may come down with pneumonia. Highlighting other conditions that can predispose people to pneumonia, he said, “If you lie on bed for too long, patients who suffered road traffic accidents, patients that suffer stroke, patients nursing wound warranting lying on bed for too long, among others. Similarly, Arigbabuwo advised Nigerians to endeavor to have family physicians that is close to their place of residence. In addition, he said everybody should subscribe to health insurance. Those at risk Those who are at risk of getting pneumonia include: those who have had stroke, those who have problems swallowing, or are bedridden; infants from birth to age five and individuals age have 65 or older; people with weakened immune systems; people living with HIV, AIDS, those suffering asthma, diabetes, heart failure or cancer; people who engage in drug abuse and those that consume excessive alcohol or smoke tobacco. Some symptoms of pneumonia are chest pain, shaking chills, fever, dry cough, wheezing, muscles ache, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, and rapid heartbeat. More severe signs may include blue-tinged skin, decreased thirst, convulsions, persistent vomiting, extremes of temperature, or a decreased level of consciousness.

Health Features

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Ebola survivor’s baby delivery defies medical claims’ Appolonia Adeyemi

he only female doctor who survived the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, Dr. Ada Igonoh of the First Consultant Medical Centre (FCMC) was recently delivered of a new baby girl, debunking medical claims

that conception and pregnancy after surviving Ebola attack is difficult Chief Medical Director of the FCMC, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri who confirmed the feat in Lagos recently, described safe delivery of the baby by his medical staff, as a devine intervention.

He said ongoing research has shown that conception and the carrying of pregnancy to term after surviving Ebola attack, is difficult, adding that research is ongoing to give medical explanation to why it is difficult for an Ebola survivor to conceive. Meanwhile, the

NSAIDs linked to heart attack, stroke Oluwatosin Omoniyi

he workout was awesome and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is hitting all those areas pushed to the limit. Many will treat muscle soreness with Ibuprofen, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) purchased over-the-counter (OTC) from any local store. Because we can buy OTC medications without a prescription, the typical thoughts are the drug is safe and without reason to worry ourselves further. The majority of households will have a bottle of Ibuprofen or other NSAID for pain relief and pop a few without thinking of any adverse health effects. Before reaching for that bottle of Ibuprofen, a recent update has been published by the United States (U.S) “Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Strengthens Warning of Heart Attack and Stroke Risk for NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).” What are you using for pain relief? Over the counter (OTC) and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are being heavily researched for their links to increased risk of heart attack and severe gastrointestinal complications. The feedback so far is not favorable for NSAID use and according to Clinical Medicine and Research, NSAIDs have been a significant contributor to cardiovascular events and caution needs to be taken by clinicians and doctors prescribing NSAIDs to their patients. If the Federal Drug Administration is beefing up the warning labels, we as consumers really need to pay attention to what we are popping for pain relief. It is also indicated those who suffer with hypertension or existing heart conditions are at greater risk and should consider other

Ibuprofen tablets

alternatives like acetaminophen, the familiar ingredient in Tylenol for pain relief. A nation-wide cohort study was conducted on patients with prior heart attack and suggested even short term use of NSAIDs placed the patient at increased risk of heart attack or death. Common Names for NSAIDs Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) bought over-thecounter (OTC) have been popular for years and excellent pain relief for sore muscles, tendonitis, sprains and strains, headaches and menstrual cramps. You could call NSAIDs an athlete’s best friend when it comes to pain relief but it appears the health risks are now outweighing the benefits. “Common OTC NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).” Some OTC cold medications also include NSAIDs according to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Another alarming statement by Judy Racoosin, M.D. of the FDA claims “there is no period of use shown to be without risk.” The positive about a strengthened warning for heart attack or stroke is consumer awareness and given the information deciding if nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen are right for you. Also advised was not to take two NSAIDs at the same time otherwise increasing the risks and always beginning with the lowest dose possible on the medication. The FDA is not saying to stop taking drugs like Ibuprofen, but they do want you to be aware of the recent findings to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The safest bet is to have a talk with your doctor about taking NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and at the very least consider other options for pain relief.

PHOTO: truththeory.com

FCMC c e l e b r at e d the safe delivery of Igonoh’s daughter in Lagos recently. The baby girl who weighed 9.1 pounds, which is a little above four kilogramme at birth, has also been certified free of Ebola. Igonoh gave birth to the baby girl at the Greater El-Monte Community Hospital, California in the United States (U.S). Ohiaeri said Igonoh traveled to California when the pregnancy was 28 weeks for medical care and monitoring, which he claimed became necessary in

view of her status as an Ebola survivor. Godwin Igonoh, husband to Ada Igonoh, said he has been in touch with his wife all through confirmed that his wife and the baby are fine. It will be recalled that Igonoh became infected with the EVD after being exposed to Mr. Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian American who on arrival at Lagos airport collapsed. He was subsequently rushed to the FCMC in Obalende where during medical care was found to be infected with the EVD.

Although, Sawyerr died, many staff of the FCMC including Igonoh became infected with Ebola. Igonoh and three other doctors survived the virus while a total of eight people in Nigeria, including Sawyer died of Ebola. More than 23,200 people in Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone have contracted Ebola since March, according to the World Health Org anisation (WHO), making this the biggest outbreak on record. More than 9,300 people have died.

L-R: Dr. Ohiaeri; Father of the new baby, Godwin Igonoh; and Dr. Akinniyi Fadipe of the First Consultant Medical Centre in Obalende at the media briefing to announce the birth of Baby Igonoh was announced recently in Lagos

Foundation provides free treatment for 40,000 less priviledged Musa Pam Jos

o fewer than 4000 people have benefitted from Tina Bawa Foundation free medical treatment, aimed at improving the wellbeing of the less privileged in Plateau State. The foundation further promised to continue in its strides to bridge the wide gap that exists between the rich and the poor to further promote peaceful co-existence as well as ideals that will alleviate poverty among the citizens. The founder of the NGO, Rev. Tina Godfrey Bawa said over 12 million is being spent yearly to ensure that the foundation’s annual free health care advocacy is organised to take care of various ailments that rural dwellers are suffering from. Speaking with journalists at Kwande Primary Health care Centre of Quanpan Local govern-

ment of Plateau State Rev. Bawa encouraged the people of Kwande community, especially the less privileged, to use the opportunity to improve on their health conditions. He noted that the foundation has succeeded in providing free medical treatment to over 4000 people including the aged, pregnant women as well as newly delivered babies. According to her the desire of the free offering the medical services is to assist the people who could afford to attend standard hospital for proper examination of their health status, saying “We are here on a medical mission to put smiles on the faces of sick people regardless of their religion or tribe “ She also said that she is moved by the plight of vulnerable people each time she visits the village during vacation and mandated her for free medical assistance and the presentation of 40 wheel chairs for the disabled and cloths for the

aged and children. “The NGO is building a hospital in Kwande town to offer medical services in the community. In the whole of Kwande town there is no single doctor who attends to the needs of the people. So, we are building a hospital in order to take care of the health needs of the community and over 12 million Naira was spent in getting drugs for the outreach as a result of support from friends overseas.” “The health care outreach is aimed at assisting the poor in the society who could neither afford to pay for treatment in hospitals nor for drugs as well as for other health services.” NT HEALTH gathered that about 50 medical personal from the country and United States of America are involved in the exercise, while the ministries provided free screening for diabetics, hypertension, eyes problems, Malaria, Typhoid Cancer and other illnesses.

Health News 25

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

FDA limits sugar consumption over health concern

he Food and Drug Administration is recommending a daily limit on the quantity of sugar consumed for the first time, in the wake of studies linking sweeteners to the nation’s biggest killers. Americans should limit added sugar to no more than 10 percent of daily calories, according to the proposed guidelines. For someone older than three years, that means eating no more than 12.5 teaspoons, or 50 grams, of it a day. That’s about the same amount of sugar found in a can of soda, but for most Americans, simply giving up sugary soft drinks won’t be enough to meet the recommendations. Sugar, honey, and highfructose corn syrup are found

in sodas, cookies and candy — but are also in many lowfat foods, yogurt, granola and wholegrain breads, as well as in ketchup, pasta sauce, canned fruit and prepared soups, salad dressings, and marinades. “There is a lot of hidden sugar in our food supply, and it’s not just in sweets,” said Dr. Frank Hu, a member of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard. For decades, fat was the primary dietary evil health experts targeted, with many suggesting it was the primary cause of the nation’s rising obesity levels. But the latest nutritional research shows sugar is a far greater enemy of public health, and

that some fats are even good for you. Currently, nutrition labels on food packaging reveal only the sugar in a product. The FDA wants to change the labels so consumers distinguish between the amount of naturally occurring sugar and the amount added sugar. “When you see a yogurt with pictures of blueberries and strawberries on the label — right now there could be a teeny tiny amount of real fruit in there and an awful lot of added sugar, or lots of fruit and dairy and little added sugar, and the consumer cannot distinguish between the two,” said Susan Mayne, the director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Sugar Nutrition at the FDA.

Safe, conducive society curb mental illness – Olugbile

Olugbile

iven the current trend in which many Nigerians come down with mental illness, a medical expert has called on the three tiers of government and relevant stakeholders to make the society conducive to the wellbeing of Nigerians so as to reduce the risk of illness among the populace. Also, psychiatrists have been charged to establish an internationally acceptable policy to handle cases of politicians who become ill in office. A Consultant Phychiatrist, Dr. OlufemiOlugbile who made the call recently, said the current rate at which many Nigerians are coming down with mental illness has become worrisome, making it imperative to ensure the general safety and happiness level of the general

populace in the society as a preventive strategy to reduce the incidence of mental illness. He spoke at the Annual Adeoye Lambo Lecture during the conference of Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria with the theme: Arts Politics and Mental Health“ which held at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Yaba recently. According the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is estimated that one in every seven Nigerian at some point in life should expect to have one experience of mental illness. “What people carry about is the tendency to illness not necessarily the illness itself,” said Olugbile. However, he noted that living in very stressful and difficult environment of course means that anybody who is likely to

Phamacists advocate effective pneumonia treatment Yemisi Adejoro

harmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is advocating increased production and distribution of essential life-saving Amoxicillin dispersible tablets and Zinc/ORS (oral rehydration solution ) for the treatment of childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhea. Also, the PSN in partnership with the PACFaH is calling for the training of health workers to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of childhood pneumonia and diarrheoea, using Amoxicillin DT and Zinc/ORS respectively. President of PSN , Olumide Akintayo said the vision of PSN-PACFAH is to see its advocacy work contribute to getting Government and relevant stakeholders work to stop deaths caused by treatable childhood killer diseases including pneumonia and diar-

rhea both of which have caused the death of over 400,000 children annually under the age of five years in Nigeria . Amoxicillin dispersible tablets and Zinc/ORS are the first line treatment for childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhea. PSN-PACFaH project is an innovative three years program on child and family health, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and coordinated by the Development Research and Project Center (DRPC) . Going by efforts to reduce unnecessary deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea, both the PSN-PACFaH are encouraging local health care providers and private sector actors to increase the production of needed medications that tackle these infections. According to Akintayo, the goals of the PSN-PACFaH include:

• advocating for the revision of the National Treatment Guidelines/Essential Medicines List to include Amoxicillin dispersible tablet, which has been adopted as the first line treatment for childhood pneumonia by 2016; • increasing buy-in/support for Zinc-ORS as the treatment for childhood diarrhoea; and • increasing capacity of indigenous civil society organisations to conduct advocacy and track budgetary allocation for the procurement of child health commodities. The eight goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) includes improving on child health and one of the main objectives was to reduce under-5 mortality rate in Nigeria. PACFaH is implemented through a coalition of seven indigenous civil society organisations (CSOs).

break downfor mental illness will breakdown and anybody who is likely to have illness will have illness.” On the modus operandi to handle politicians who become ill in offices, Olugbile said, “If people become ill in office, there must be clearly defined ways of professionally handling this without rancour and without political interference. “We have a few instances when people became ill in office and it was very badly handled and politicalised and trivialised to the disadvantage of the individuals themselves and the society at large and that must not happen. “So having a clear script from the body of psychiatrists can help to define the appropriate thing to do in line with international best practice.”

According to the consultant psychiatric, having psychiatric illness in the past should not be a major deterrent to aspire to political office in the country. According to him, people who had psychiatric illness have won Nobel prizes and done great thing in the society. The issue that is of most concern to people is the responsibility of behaviour in the political space. He therefore called for the establishment of strong institutions that discourages bad behaviour. “We also need to culturally re-programme our people from the grass root to behave ethically. It is not just going to happen by psalmonising,” adding that it is actually a behaviour modification programmme that psychiatrists need to participate in devising.

Akintayo re-elected PSN President Elizabeth Toyon

resident of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Olumide Akintayo has been re-elected as the President of the organisation for the second term. According to a statement issued by the PSN, Akintayo was re-elected president at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PSN, which held at the modern Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library on November 8, 2012. Akintayo pledged to consolidate the gains of the era of the living ancestors of the pharmaceutical genealogy in Nigeria. The keynote address at the conference titled, “Advancing Pharmacy through Strategic

Akintayo

Workforce Development in Practice Settings” was presented by Prof. Azuka Oparah, immediate past Secretary General of West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists.

Health News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group plans health promotion clubs for schools Waheed Issa

L-R: Chief Kemi Nelson; Nollywood Star, Audu Maikori and Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho, during the press conference on the #GIVINGTUESDAY IN NIGERIA, by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Coca-Cola partners NIFST over optimal nutrition

owards effecting solutions to the healthy living challenges facing the Nigerian society, Coca-Cola Nigeria has advocated for optimal nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life. The company made a case for the optimal nutrition during the foetus stage of children at the 39th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) which held at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri, Imo State. Themed, “Food Industrialisation: “A Pathway to Agribusiness Transformation,” the two-day event commenced with a session on “Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days and its Effects in the Development of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).” Speaking at the event’s flag-off, a Professor of Nutrition and Director of Academic Planning at the Am-

brose Alli University, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo identified the first 1,000 days of life as a unique window of opportunity to prevent NCDs. Prof. Onimawo explained that most NCDs such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and cancer originate from the first 1,000 days of life. He said that, “The NCDs experienced later in life are developed from the foetus stage. It is important to know that, as opposed to the notion that these non-infectious diseases are contracted from lifestyle choices or unhealthy eating habits, they actually set in at an early stage, within the first 1,000 days window period. After this period, we have little or no control over what happens.” Prof. Onimawo harped on the need to better educate expectant and nursing mothers to make informed decisions regarding nutri-

tional care in the first 1,000 days of their babies’ lives. Commenting on the event, the Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Emeka Mba restated Coca- Cola’s commitment to supporting dialogue with stakeholders on health and nutritional education. Mba said that, “Coca- Cola is actively supportive of over 280 physical activities and nutritional educational programs around the world. Through such engagements we are able to foster shared understanding and communication on health and nutritional issues. While commending Coca-Cola Nigeria for being a long standing partner and sponsor of its projects, the National President, NIFST, Dr. Chijioke Osuji also urged other corporate bodies to emulate the beverage giant.

fun-driven and educative Healthcare Club designed to fit into schools curricular activities, will debut soon across some schools in Lagos, Ogun States, among others in the federation and in West Africa as a whole. President of Engochiz Global Resources, Innocent C. Eneta and Founder of Healthcare Club, said the clubs would create awareness on health consciousness for children as well as fill gaps created by busy schedules of parents nowadays. Healthcare is expected to deliver a diverse platform of opportunities for students to gain awareness, develop relevant skill that promote the development of future healthcare Leaders by leveraging on connection with the vibrant healthcare communities, he added. Although, the programme started three months ago, Eneta said his organisation has reached out to some schools in Lagos and Ogun States. We are training children to have skill in healthcare and that is one of the ambitions of this club.” According to Eneta, the project is the outcome of a research and “we found that even in primary schools, a lot of pupils take marijuana and hard drugs which is not supposed to be so.

This is the more reason why we came up with this project.” Besides, after noting activities in the environment nowadays, he said the health condition of most children is not good enough and that is why “we are starting the Healthcare Club project in primary and secondary schools first, adding that the organisation would partner with relevant governments to make the project practicable.” Implementation of the programme in schools won’t take more than 30 minutes every week, Eneta added. Student willing to participate in activities of the club are expected to register with a token in line with practice in other social clubs. “As time goes on, the initial mandatory fee will be removed because of plans to get sponsorship from the Government to sustain the clubs. Eneta said, various schools have been visited to commence the exercise such as Royal Schools in Ogun State and some state owned schools was contacted which we’ve not gotten response from them. “One of the importance of this project is to create employment opportunities for the graduates. “Any of the graduates that wishes to be employed will be well trained.”

Malaria: Prevention and management (2) M Nature Power alaria is an infectious disease caused by single-celled Plasmodium protists including P. falci¬parum, -p vivax, P.malariae, and P. ovale. •An overwhelming acute infection, which frequently presents as seizures or coma (cerebral malaria), may kill a child directly and quickly. •Repeated malaria infections contribute to the development of severe anaemia, which substantially increases the risk of death. •Low birth weight - frequently the consequence of malaria infection in pregnant women - is the major risk factor for death in the first month of life. In addition, repeated malaria infections make young children more susceptible to other common childhood illnesses, such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections, and thus contribute indirectly to mortality. Symptoms •Chills and headache that come and go. •Fever that recurs every two or three days, each lasting from two to three hours. •High temperature •Muscular pains •Heavy perspiration

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo •Loss of appetite •Weakness, and pale skin Prevention 1.Avoid Mosquito attacks 2.Eat food rich in vitamin C 3.Keep the environment clean 4.Remove old cans, broken pots, etc from the surroundings. These items act as breeding places for mosquitoes. 5.The use of dried pawpaw leaves as an anti-malarial tea is very important. Dry some pawpaw leaves and grind to powder. Keep in brown paper bag or a glass bottle. Add one tablespoon of the powder to a cup of hot water and allow it to infuse for ten minutes before drinking. This prophylactic formula is a cheaper and more effective way to deal with the scourge of malaria as it deals with prevention rather than cure. In Africa, most cases of malaria are diagnosed on the basis of clini-

cal symptoms and treatment is presumptive, rather than based on laboratory confirmation. The main clinical symptoms of malaria fever and general weakness - are non-specific and Dry pawpaw leaves are good medications for malaria PHOTO: www.herbco.com may well be due to other common infections. African governments must look for Resistance to chloroquine - the home-made solutions to the spread of former treatment of choice - is now malaria rather than adopting foreign widespread in 80 percent of the 92 ¬made remedies which will only help to countries where malaria continues improve the economy of other nations to be a major killer, while resistance and impoverish Africans. to newer second and third-line Importation of mosquito nets to predrugs continues to grow. vent malaria is an example of foreign African solution to a local problem. In the first WHO guidelines stipulate that once a country’s resistance levplace, how many can afford it? Secondly, governments must els to a drug reach 15 percent, it who say that African mosquitoes canlook for homeshould start considering a policy not bite during the day when you are shift to a new drug. not lying down under your mosquito made solutions The parasites have become nets? Moreover, how many people in the to the spread of resistant to the drugs, and the creeks have beds anyway? Health is the Anopheles mosquitoes have begreatest asset of any nation. I believe malaria come resistant to insecticides. that home grown health systems and Efforts to produce a malaria remedies offer the best hope to improving and safeguarding the health of the vaccine have been extensive but Nation. unsuccessful.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Industry

ICT

EPA treaty: New face of neocolonialism

‘Collaboration critical to improved telecoms services’

Business What's news

Real estate: IFC, others to invest N110bn in Nigeria, others International Finance Corporation (IFC), Growthpoint and Investec Asset Management (AM) are joining forces to raise N110 billion ($500 million) to expand their new investments in Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and Ghana real estate sectors.

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Nigeria, biggest market for BA in Africa British mega carrier, British Airways, has described Nigeria as its biggest market for air transport business, adding that the airline is investing heavily on new airplanes in Africa and Middle East.

R-L: Executive Director, Retail Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Grama Narasimhan; Winner in the on-going New Sterling Bank Cash Reward Scheme, Mr. Umezinwa Philip Nonso and Mrs. Oluwatoyin David of Delloitte, at the presentation of N1 million prize money to Nonso in Lagos.

Customs’ revenue drops by N44bn in nine months

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded a revenue shortfall of N44 billion in the

first nine months of this year. A document obtained by New Telegraph revealed that the Service generated approximately N668.97 billion as revenue between January and September 2015 as against N713 billion generated within the same period 2014. The Federal Government has given the NCS a revenue target of N944 billion for this year. Between January and December 2014, the Service collected a total of N977.099 billion as revenue. A breakdown for the nine

INFLATION RATE September 2015.....................9.4% August 2015 ...........................9.3% June 2015.................................9.2%

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

PROSPECT The Service is expected to boost collections and fill the gap in the last three months of the year

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

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

months (January to September 2015) revealed that the Service, in January, realised N73.28 billion; February, N69.66; March, N78.94 billion; April, N71.46 billion; May N68.47 billion; June N76.47 billion; July N77.68 billion; August N78.28 billion; while September figure was

N944 billion Being the 2015 revenue target given to the Nigeria Customs Service by the Federal Government

N74.78 billion. The drop in revenue is, however, not a threat to realising the target as the management could still embark on more revenue drive to meet the mark. The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has, however, expressed optimism that the service would meet up with the 2015 revenue target of N944 billion assigned to it. Giving the assurance during a tour of strategic stakeholders of the service, Ali said that his CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Nov 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N235 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N345 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N252

l Foreign Reserves – $30.308bn as at 6/11/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Nov 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

News

INVESTMENT New joint venture to expand business in Africa Dayo Ayeyemi

nternational Finance Corporation (IFC), Growthpoint and Investec Asset Management (AM) are joining forces to raise N110 billion ($500 million) to expand their new investments in Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and Ghana real estate sectors. Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s biggest real-estate investment trust, agreed to a joint venture with Investec Asset Management to expand on the continent outside of its home market. It was learnt that Growthpoint will have a 50 per cent stake in the new vehicle and make an initial investment of $50 million, while the International Finance Corpora-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Real estate: IFC, others to invest N110bn in Nigeria, others tion, an arm of the World Bank, will contribute $40 million. The partners will seek to raise a further $410 million from institutional investors and will look at listing the business on a stock exchange in the next five to seven years. According to Chief Executive of Growthpoint Properties Limited, Mr. Norbert Sasse, plan is in top gear to join other South African firms in

the initiative into the rest of Africa. He explained that Growthpoint had taken a while to get its strategy together for Africa expansion. Sasse added that key to analysing the opportunity was the finding of right partners, which took the company about two years. He explained that the partnership was a 50-50 joint venture with Investec Asset Manage-

ment, which made the new initiative a compelling proposition. Sasse said: “We have also the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which has come as a partner. The critical part of the ingredient is finding the team, so, we were fortunate to find Thomas Reilly and his team to join us.” Reilly was the previous CEO of Sanlam’s Africa property fund busi-

ness. Sasse explained that the company’s African expansion model was built along the fund management model, contrary to the South African model where the company put 100 per cent of the capital. According to him, different model was adopted to get third party institutional funding with Investec. Reilly, who is the managing director of the new investment vehicle noted

that the company would start by focusing on the obvious suspects in the group’s expansion drive. “We had an initial target of 17 countries, but we will start with the obvious ones like Zambia and Botswana in Southern Africa, Kenya in East Africa, Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa,” said Reilly. He added that engaging local partners would also be part of Growthpoint’s strategy.

Customs’ revenue drops by N44bn in nine months CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 28

team would strive to meet the target, even while acknowledging time as a constraint. There is less than 60 days left in the 2015 fiscal year. He said: “The fact is that we are behind what we are supposed to realise, but we are hopeful that these ember months - October, November and December and I believe that by the time October return comes in, we will expect rise in what we have been able to gather. We are hopeful that November will bring some good tidings and also by December we should be able to round off to meet our target, which is N944 billion.” To block areas of leakages where revenues are frittered away due to act of corruption indulged by men and officers of the service, Ali warned of dire consequence for any officer caught indulging in such act. In addition to tackling corruption, he promised to end the era of static posting prevalent in the service, saying that a situation where an officer resisted postings or lobby to remain in one posting for over three years would no longer be tolerated With crude oil prices hovering around $40 per barrel, government is now depending on internally generated revenue by the NCS and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to meet its financial obligations.

L-R: Chairman, PRIMLAKS Group, Mr. H. K. Ram; Deputy Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Esther M. Amuta; Chairlady, PRIMLAKS Group, Mrs. H. K. Ram and Chairman, Venus Processing and Packaging Limited Otunba Christopher Tugbobo, at the Sympli stand at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA exhibition, in Lagos

Nigeria, biggest market for BA in Africa BREAKTHROUGH BA posted a revenue of about N30 billion, ranking as the highest revenue earner by any foreign airline Wole Shadare

ritish mega carrier, British Airways, has described Nigeria as its biggest market for air transport business, adding that the airline is investing heavily on new airplanes in Africa and Middle East. Two years ago, the British carrier posted a revenue of about N30 billion, ranking as the high revenue earner by any foreign airline on the lucrative London-Lagos-Abuja route. Head, Middle-East, Africa and Central Asia, sales, British Airways, Paolo de Renziz, in an interview with New Telegraph, said that in terms of in-

vestment, “we’ve been investing in the last eight years and we keep on investing in new planes in Africa and MiddleEast. “We are launching our B787900 on Abu-Dhabi-London route, we will be enhancing our products on Nigerian route. In January we are refurbishing our B747, Club World and World Traveller will be reconfigured and new inflight entertainment.” The airline chief stated that the airline had been growing capacity in the past eight years, describing the Nigerian market as “very important to us.” He said: “There is a lot of competition, especially in Dubai, which is the biggest in the last five years. We are familiar with competition, but we’ve been around for many years, we enjoy competition, we will compete very well, having been around for so long.” Speaking on the competition Medview is going to pose to already established

airlines, de Renzis said that the carrier welcomes the entrance of Nigeria’s flag carrier on the route, describing them as friends and competitors. He added that competition helps to put the airlines on their toes by thinking, reacting faster and thinking of the customers. “We just said to Medview ‘good luck and enjoy Gatwick and let the best man win.’ The world has changed, you can’t be thinking of killing competition, competition makes you better and the customers are better for it, but the best man win at the end,” he added. Just last week, Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Medview, disclosed that it had concluded plans to begin LagosLondon route on November 20, 2015. The disclosure was heartwarming, indicating that Nigerian airlines are ready to partake in the huge market share. The Lagos-London route is about the most lucrative route for any Nigerian airline

if they apply the right type of model, notwithstanding predatory attitude of mega carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and many other European airlines. Experts said that the U.KNigeria market is currently served on a daily basis by Arik, BA, and Virgin Atlantic. There is an on daily basis demand of an estimated 2,500 passengers a day between Nigeria and UK before looking at connection options and this has grown at an average annual rate of 9.2 per cent since 2010. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa as well as the most vibrant air transport market on the continent. It is hard to rationalise and justify why Nigerian airlines have such a small share of their own market. But the fact remains that Nigeria is a signatory to the Abuja Treaty of 2004 under which the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999, liberalising African skies, is legally-binding.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

BoI boosts cable manufacturing by 30,000 tonnes p.30

Industry

EPA treaty: New face of neo-colonialism tries had signed the EPA in 2014, Nigeria, Gambia and Mauritania were yet to sign the agreement. Malmstrom said that the EPA would contribute to President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing efforts at ending activities of Boko Haram, fight against corruption and infrastructure development. “The EPA has a major contribution to make to these broader challenges of physical and virtual infrastructure development. “But more immediately, the deal also includes a programme of development, cooperation funding for West Africa worth N1.4 trillion (6.5 billion euro). “The fund will help Nigerian companies to meet international health, safety and environmental standards that are vital for access to world markets,’’ she said. The EU official also said that the EPA would support the effort of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in streamlining its procedures at ensuring free movement across borders.

TRADE Deadlock trails Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) implementation

Taiwo Hassan

o doubt, controversy is already trailing the European Union (EU)’s Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) over its step to ensure unification of economic trade between Europeans and Africans. For the Europeans, the unification of a common market will be a juicy avenue for African markets as it will help to galvanise the continent’s market growth and development. The quest for the EU to take over the continent’s market through the EPA treaty may not be unconnected with the fear that the Asians, especially China and India, are already consolidating their market penetrations in the African markets with a lot of investments spreading into key sectors of the economy, such as oil and gas, energy, telecommunications, iron and steel, construction, banking and many more. History of EPA The Economic Partnership Agreement is a scheme created as a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). It is a response to the criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agreements offered by the EU. The EPA is a key element of the Cotonou agreement, the latest agreement in the history of ACP-EU Development Cooperation, which was supposed to take effect as of 2008, but as of March 2012, the negotiations were not yet completed. Due to the continuing WTO incompatibility of previous arrangements, EPA’s key feature is their reciprocity and their nondiscriminatory nature. EPA as neo-colonialism For Nigeria, the EPA has become an instrument that needs to be retooled because its present set up is not tended towards the development of the continent’s trade, but rather, it is another way of 21st century neo-colonialisation being projected by the EU to take over African markets. Many African countries, according to industry experts, were already coerced into signing the treaty, without the future consequence of the trade agreement. Speaking on the EPA, a former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, said that many African countries were looking forward to Nigeria to liberate the conti-

Buhari

nent from her trade inequalities with the world powers. His words: “Indeed all of us as Africans who are very interested to see Nigeria thrive and prosper cannot but convey our thanks that there exists in this sister country a decade-old organisation whose noble mission is to promote an enabling environment for industrial development, growth and prosperity of the society at large. “By pursuing its objectives, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) hopes that members would be helped to play their full part in creating wealth on which national economic prosperity and social progress depends.” Mbeki said that Nigeria had an obligation it cannot escape, the obligation to play an historic role in terms of helping to lead the continent to realise its dream, the dream of achieving its renaissance. He said that this relates not only to the Federal Government but also to such important organisations such as MAN, which contains and represents an important echelon in the corporate leadership of this country. He said: “Accordingly, the important work you do and your achievements in this regard are important to Africa as a whole as they constitute important examples, which other corporate institutions on our continent can emulate. “When we speak of an African renaissance we mean the birth of an Africa that would have overcome a century-long negative legacy we have inherited from the extended period covering the years of the violent export of Africans as slaves, the years of colonialism and neo-colonialism. “One tragic consequence of this legacy is the reality we live with everyday – the reality of

Malmstrom

Suffice it to mention here that EPA will be very beneficial to the Nigerian economy, if signed in its present form

millions of Africans living in poverty and in conditions of underdevelopment.” The former SA president stressed that as a strategic objective in terms of achieving Africa’s renaissance, “we have the urgent task to confront and defeat this painful reality, thus to eradicate this poverty and underdevelopment. “Of course, all of us know that there are other important and urgent challenges we face as a continent. One of these is the need to rid ourselves of the pernicious incidence of violent conflict in and between our countries.” He identified the other as the task to confront the continuing reality of the relative marginalisation of Africa in terms of the determination of global affairs, which include others in the world that still have the arrogance to arrogate to themselves the right to determine African future. His words: “In this regard, the only issue I would like to raise is the matter of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU, a matter which is of great concern throughout Africa. “As I understand it, all our regions which were involved in the negotiations with the EU on the EPAs have now signed these agreements. Nevertheless, the question remains – have the African concerns relating to the impact of these EPAs on our industrialisation processes been addressed?” EU’s EPA windfall Already, the EU said that Nigeria stands to benefit from its N1.4 trillion development funds for West Africa with the signing of the EPA. EU Commissioner for Trade, Ms. Cecilia Malmstrom, who stated this in Lagos recently, said that while 16 West African coun-

MAN’s position President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, however, said that the association and other manufacturing associations in the industry have made their position known to the Federal Government to halt the signing of the EPA because of the setback it will impact on the country’s manufacturing sector in future. Jacobs said that MAN had submitted a memo to the Federal Government on the EPA issue, adding that it was the reason the association had consistently opposed the endorsement of the EU-ECOWAS EPA as such cooperation was on unequal basis. “Suffice it to mention here that EPA will be very disadvantageous to the Nigerian economy, if signed in its present form, as it will not only retard and destroy the fledging industrialisation of Nigeria but will orchestrate serious social challenges as a result of job losses and worsen unemployment situation. “We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to tarry a while and very closely study the implications of the EPA. The association will be grateful for an opportunity to discuss this issue further,” Jacobs said. The MAN President noted that the implementation of the EPA with European Union would stifle the gradual recovery of the manufacturing sector. He said that there was need for more trade ties within West African region. Jacobs said that EPA may appear a good course in the document proposal, but will not be appropriate in Nigeria, as plans of industry players are constantly distorted by the interplay of macroeconomic variables such as inflation, exchange rate and interest rate variations.

Business | Industry

BAILOUT The Bank of Industry has rolled-out credit lifeline to cable sector operators Taiwo Hassan

etermined to boost the non-oil sector of the nation’s economy, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has given a credit facility to local manufacturing company- Coleman Wires and Cables Limited, to realise a production capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes, from an initial 2000 metric tonnes. According to BoI, the intervention fund will set a pace for local cable manufacturing companies to compete effectively at the global stage with their counterparts in the sector. Managing Director, BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, who made this disclosure during the official commissioning of Coleman Wires and Cables factory, Arepo 2, in Ogun state, said that BoI was willing to support any local company that is determined to expand its business operation with funds. Olaoluwa said that the global business environment had become a competitive place for major players, stressing that Nigerian business should not be left out in the competition. The managing director commended the company for its doggedness and confidence in Nigerian economy, lauding the indigenous cable manufacturing company for investing in the manufactur-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

BoI boosts cable manufacturing by 30,000 tonnes ing sector despite the harsh terrain. His words: “I want to express our congratulations to Coleman Wires and Cable to say BoI is very pleased to have been instrumental to making this factory a reality. “As a lender, we are happy when you give out a loan and the loan is well utilised for the purpose for which it was taken. We are very happy to see that the facility we have disbursed to this company has turned into a reality.” He added that the support of BoI to Coleman Wires and Cables was consistent with the development finance institution’s mission to transform the nation’s industrial sector, adding that the company has been able to shoot up its production capacity from 2000 metric tonnes to about 30,000 metric tonnes. He said: “We are very proud of the achievement of the company. From inception, the company started roughly with about 2000 metric tonnes of wires and cables and today I am very proud to announce that this company has grown from 2000 tonnes to over 30,000 tonnes of cable.” According to him, the cable company was able to achieve this feat by maintaining and producing high quality standards of cable acceptable in any part of the world.

“It is no accident that the company has become the largest producer of cables and wires not only in Nigeria but the entire West African region. This company is a very innovative one achieving great strides in their business operations over the years and has also improved on their activities and has also gained efficiency over the years,” he said. Olaoluwa continued: “Arepo 1is sitting on five hectares of land, while Arepo 2 is sitting on half of the size of Arepo 1 and producing the same capacity. This means that the com-

pany has gained 50 per cent efficiency in just a few years. I want to recommend Coleman Cables and Wires to other manufacturers in this country. I want to say that BoI has been there for you and we will continue to be there for you.” Earlier, the Managing Director, Coleman Wires and Cable, George Onafowokan, said that the commissioning of the factory was another milestone geared towards boosting local production of cables and wires to meet the ever-changing needs of Nigerian consumers. “Our viewpoint is to satisfy

local demand by also removing the import element. Arepo 2 is a continuous process of our innovation and commitment to the Nigerian market. With this expansion, we are telling the world that it is possible for Nigerian companies to succeed in engineering business and we are not stopping here,” he said. He, however, agreed that to achieve a capital expansion project was not an easy task in the country, admitting that with the support of the BoI, the company’s dream to be the largest producer of wires and cables has materialised.

Firm unveils 315ml can packs Taiwo Hassan

hi Limited has introduced a new Chi exotic 315ml fruit juice can pack into the Nigerian market as part of its efforts to consolidate its market penetration. The Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said that the new product was meant to make an instant impact in the Nigerian market. Roy stated this at the official launch of the new Chi exotic 315ml fruit juice can pack in Lagos. He added that his company had grown to become a leading market player in the country’s juice and fruit drinks market. He said that it was imperative that innovative ideas drive the production, packaging and marketing of its high quality products. According to him, Chi Limited’s new Chivita 100 per cent, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic 315ml fruit juice can pack is a reference point to how the brand has leveraged on consumer feedback to drive innovative and affordable packaging that suits their lifestyle. The new 315ml can pack, which is targeted at hip, trendy and on-the-go con-

sumers, is designed in a dynamic prismatic shape with an attractive cap that is well blended into the pack. With a price of N100, the 315ml can packs contains enough juice to satisfy individual consumption and offers competitive pricing as well as value for money. Its handy size allows consumers to take it along with them wherever they go and fits into the lifestyle of young upwardly mobile consumers. Deepanjan said: “The new and attractive 315ml can pack has a genuine consumer appeal and the feedback from the market has been fantastic. “At the cost of N100, we are confident that the affordability, accessibility and convenience of this trendy, handy and on-the-go can packs would ensure that our consumers continue to get the same refreshing taste and nourishment, wherever and whenever. “With its range of high quality fruit juices like Chivita100 per cent, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic in the 315ml can pack, the story can only get more interesting for a brand that truly places premium on consumer needs and satisfaction.”

Trade Fair Complex

FG okays $400m investment for Medical City Hospital Amadi Nnamdi, ABUJA

he Federal Government has endorsed the construction of an ultra-modern 300 bed hospital worth $400 million in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The joint venture project pioneered by a local health investor, Universal Medical Innovation (UMI), and its German partners will be sited at Giri district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Disclosing the development on behalf of Federal Government in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan Baba, reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government to partner and support the company towards the realisation of the project.

She said this while receiving the Board of Directors of the hospital led by Air Vice Marshal Salifu Atawodi (rtd). While commending the UMI delegation, she further stressed the need for local investors to collaborate with foreign investors so as to attract more joint ventures into Nigeria’s economy. “Local investors are supposed to be the leading light to foreign investors through joint venture partnership. “We have many of them (foreign investors) who want to partner with their Nigerian counterparts to invest in Nigeria,” she added. The NIPC boss has already set up a technical team to work with the company to actualise the project within the shortest time frame. Earlier, Atawodi disclosed that the company had acquired a 35.9 hectares of

land in Giri, Federal Capital Territory to build the 300 bed hospital that will cost $400 million. He further disclosed that the world class hospital to be known as Medical City would have state-of-the-art equipment, generate its own power, have hotel to cater for outbound patients, a helipad and other essential facilities that can be compared to any in the world. Atawodi added that the company would contribute 15 per cent of the total cost through bank assistance, while 85 per cent would be contributed by their foreign counterparts based in Germany. He explained that the siting of the hospital in Giri was due to its proximity to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as patients are expected to come from every part of the world to seek medical attention.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

ICT

Smile backs FG’s broadband target p.32 Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, at this year’s International Telecoms Union (ITU) Telecom World held in Budapest, Hungary, spoke with KUNLE AZEEZ on sundry issues relating to quality of service delivery in the nation’s telecoms sector, among others. Excerpts: What is the impact of Nigeria’s participation on the quality of service delivery on mobile networks in the country? Well, you know that telecoms sector is very dynamic and even as we speak, new technologies and new solutions are coming. We believe that at a forum like this, you are able to network and see manufacturers,equipment vendors and also regulators to discuss with them the methods they have used to address some kind of challenges we were having which you may also be having. The benefit of this kind of outing is that you are able to get first-hand international best practices, you don’t re-invent the wheel, you probably come in contact, during countries’ presentations, especially, what people have done that addressed,maybe, the same kind of challenges that you have. You need to understand that the challenges are about the same in all the developing countries and so, the challenges you have in Nigeria, for instance, may not be different from the challenges you have in any other developing country. Basically, those challenges are challenges such as power, challenges of infrastructure, and challenges of, maybe, the tax regime. You also probably have the challenges of multiple taxation in a number of other developing countries, especially in Africa, just as it is the case in Nigeria. So, when you listen to people on how they have been able to address certain challenges in telecom sector and ICT industry generally, then, of course, you take away some international best practices, which you can apply in your own environment, especially by modifying it to suite your peculiarity. Then, of course, you might also come in contact with manufacturers, who probably already have developed solutions that can address some of the challenges we are having. How will the attendance help the NCC in discharging its regulatory role? Well, the forum equips you as regulator to know about trends in the industry from global perspective. So, having been exposed to all those new solutions and interacted with the vendors, all you do as a regulator is mention to the operators, when they come with complaints, that there are solutions that are available. The point is that you also need to be knowledgeable in this industry so that you don’t have a situation where operators will come and tell you a different story. So, the point is that this kind of outing gives

igeria has become the first African country to head the World Radio Communications (WRC) Council an arm of the 150-year-old International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The individual, who brought this honour to Nigeria is Director Spectrum Administration at the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, Festus Daudu, an engineer. Daudu, in his inaugural

‘Collaboration critical to improved telecoms services’ with investors has been very impressive, especially after the Nigerian Night, which held on the second day of the conference, precisely on October 12. At the Nigerian Night, we showcased the giant strides that we have taken in the area of ICT as well as the potential, looking at our population and what has happened in the area of entertainment, education, agriculture and e-commerce among others. Indeed, investors have been coming to ask us questions to really know how they can go about bringing investment in those areas. Huwaei invited us to make a presentation, looking at the technology of the future, especially in the area of broadband and we believe that this has been engaging. Some investors from Hungary have also come to ask questions and they have been given the kind of information that they require and I think that will go along in helping them to take decision. By and large, I think it has been a worthwhile outing for us. It is just for us to leverage on the experience and then move on.

Ojobo

State governments need to remove bottlenecks hampering the deployment of ICT infrastructure

you the opportunity to really know what the current trends are and so, you are in a better position to really engage the service providers and be speaking eithero n the same level or at a higher level because, really, you need to be knowledgeable to be able to regulate a knowledge-based industry. ICT is a knowledge-based industry. Basically, outing such as this equips you with knowledge, skills and industry best practice experience to be able to apply technological solutions that other people have applied in some areas that addressed your own kind of challenges. It also enables you to network with other regulators and also allows you to showcase your own countries in terms of strides and potentials, and when people know the kind of challenges you are having, then investors, who have solutions to those problems will also approach you to want to come to your country to provide that solutions they have that will enable you address your peculiar problems. So, that is exactly the kind of things you take away from this kind of experience. What was the level of engagement with potential investors to mark them come to Nigeria to invest? The quality of engagement and discussions

In Nigeria, many factors impede quality of service. How is the regulator dealing with these issues? First of all, we believe that there are solutions that are coming now and you know some of the challenges that we are having in quality of service, as I said earlier, are challenges that are peculiar to the developing countries, especially in Africa. So, emerging challenges are power, vandalism and you also have a challenge where government at some level are looking at telecoms as cash-cow that they need t milk as much as possible. You find out that in developed countries, it is not so because telecoms is now an enabler, which continues to impact existing sectors and creating new ones such as - e-commerce - in the economy. So, I think there is need for a bit of understanding and government also needs to know it. Already, we have started engaging the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). Our Executive Vice Chairman made a presentation at the NGF, especially around the need for state governments to remove the bottlenecks hampering the deployment of ICT infrastructure in the states with a view to getting them to understand that, being an enabler, it will be more beneficial to have this infrastructure on ground that would help in generating revenue and creating jobs and also growing the middleclass in those states than having to tax operators heavily before investment. Now, unfriendly tax system is usually a disincentive to investment and so , if you have a friendly tax regime especially for investment, there will be actually no anxiety for investors and it will go a long way in creating jobs and also growing businesses. So, we believe that collaboration is key to improved quality of service. This is the direction we want the country to toe going forward.

Nigeria takes over as ITU’s Radio Council chair speech at the opening ceremony of the WRC 2015, at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, thanked the Almighty God as well as the Government and people of Nigeria for making it possible for him to be the first African to chair the WRC Council. The Chairman of the WRC further assured the gathering that he will do his utmost best

to fulfil the mandate given to him as he promised to be fair and impartial in his dealings. He stressed that the conference was one of the most important conferences of the Union which will be examining a large number of important and sensitive issues ranging from mobile broadband communications, broadband satellite systems to emergency communications,

disaster relief including issues relating to maritime and aeronautical communications, monitoring the environment and climate change, universal time and space among others. The conference, he said, will also deal with issues covering a wide frequency range and concerning a wide variety of radio communication services that the public relies on for such essential

services as health information, education, security and safety. Daudu stressed that decisions, which would be taken at the conference on Radio Regulations will be critical to the telecoms industry as well as promote connectivity which will directly affect the lives of citizens with important economic impacts on countries such as Nigeria.

Business | ICT

INCREASED ACCESS More Nigerians having access to high-speed Internet services Stories by Kunle Azeez

ncreased access to highspeed internet service being championed by the Federal Government continues to gain traction as Smile Communications deepens the deployment of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the country. Backing government’s target to extend broadband to more places across the country, Smile recently rolled out its broadband services in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Smile had earlier deployed its high-speed Internet services in major cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Smile backs FG’s broadband target Nigeria currently has 10 per cent broadband penetration and hopes to achieve 30 per cent penetration by 2018. Indeed, for most people in Edo State, the telecoms company said the wait for reliable internet access was over as they can now enjoy the benefits of having a true 4GLTE mobile network within their reach. Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Alero Ladipo, expressed delight that Smile was now available in Benin, a city of immense historical and strategic importance. She assured residents of Benin City and environs of her company’s commitment to providing the best customer experience on the network. “Our main objective in Smile is to ensure our customers have a memorable experience while

on the Internet. A customer must enjoy the simplicity of the service. We adapt quickly and innovate constantly, passing on the benefits to our customers through quality, simplicity and reliability,” Ladipo said. Ladipo further noted that Smile is renowned for innovative practices and had on a consistent basis provided high quality 4G LTE broadband Internet accesses that is quite affordable. According to her, the launch in Benin gave practical expres-

sion to Smile’s transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with high quality, easy to use and affordable communication services as well as enabling its customers to fully benefit from the Internet world. She explained that with the latest launch of Smile services, residents of Benin City would henceforth join other Nigerians in enjoying the most reliable and consistent online experience in Nigeria.

Ladipo noted that Smile’s entry into Benin City followed its earlier launch of services in such cities as Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. “The systematic roll out of its network services is in line with its strategic objective of making available to Nigerians super fast, mobile, reliable and affordable broadband Internet access. It also represents a considerable investment and reflects Smile’s confidence in – and commitment to – the country’s development,” she added.

New IT solutions to improve capital market operations

rogramos Software Group, an indigenous software company, has developed new twin software solutions aimed at strengthening capital market operations in Nigeria as well as strengthening its presence in the industry. The new solutions are CloudIntegra Back-Office Investment Software and CiFIXProOrders Management System (OMS) Stock Trading Terminal software. TheCiFIXPro EMS/OMS assumed an international status, having made a bullish return with Programos Software’s FIX Trading Community member partners, Fidel SoftechPvt, India outsourced to power the product. CiFIXProOMS exhibits features of connecting stock traders with the active stock exchange markets of any country over Financial Information eXchange (FIX) 5.0 Sp1lan-

guage interface, which allows booked, modified and cancelled orders of equity or debt instrument market boards get routed to the exchange FIX engines. CiFIXProOMS receives trade executions from the exchange along with related market data for market watch, analytics, news and automatic trade data processing to back-office with notification system to investors. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Programos, Mr. Amos Emmanuel, the company currently has operations in Nigeria and Ghana. He said that the CiFIXProOMS stock trading solution is made of Orders/Trades Manager, Risk ManagementSystem (RMS), Market Data Manager, OMS-EMS Communication Channel, and Back-End Management System that integrates seamlessly with the back-office CloudIntegraSoftware.

Vodacom Nigeria unveils fleet solution

n Information and Communication Technology solutions provider, Vodacom Nigeria, has launched its fleet management solution in Lagos. The company said the reliable, secure and effective solution was developed in partnership with Tracker South Africa. The solution, which comes in two packages, Live Track and TomTom, enables companies of any size to easily manage and control in real time, all the activity of their fleet of vehicles and machines and then create reports containing the most important information to optimise and guarantee the fleet security. For a flat monthly charge, Vodacom said companies could equip their fleet with a complete solution based on GSM and GPS technologies and access it at any time from any location through an Internet connection.

Benefits of the solution include real-time tracking and monitoring of fleets via a secure customer web portal, location detection of vehicles in need of assistance, instant emergency notification and speed violation. Others are alerts when vehicle enters or leaves a predefined or geo-fenced area and detailed trip reports specifying start and stop times, as well as start and end locations of a company’s entire fleet. The solution enables companies to optimise and control their material resources, leading to reductions in logistics costs, by controlling kilometers travelled, fuel consumption and maintenance costs. Speaking at the event, Senior Manager, Product Portfolio, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr.Abu Etu, said that one of the major benefits of the solution is Stolen Vehicle Recovery.

L-R: Judge, Etisalat Prize for Innovation, Mr. Otuyemi Otule; Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke; Winners, Etisalat Prize for Innovation 2015, Chijioke Ezegbo and Obi Brown and the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, during the Etisalat Prize for Innovation award ceremony held in Lagos.

NCC donates CBT centres to JAMB

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has built and donated four Computer Based Tests centres to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in order to augment facilities for smooth conduct of CBT. This was disclosed recently by Acting Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, when JAMB officials paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. The four centers are located in Kano, Niger, Bayelsa and Oyo states and all of them are equipped with computers, printers, Internet connectivity and other accessories. Danbatta told the JAMB of-

ficials led by its Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, that NCC does every of its activities and projects in line with international best practices and “we have a minimum standard that we maintain for all our projects and thereis no exception.” “Standards are necessary for projects to be appreciated,” Danbatta said, adding that NCC is intervening not only in the provision of CBT for JAMB “but also in the provision of equipment for tertiary institutions through Advance Digital AppreciationProgramme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).” ADAPTI is aimed at bridging digital divide in tertiary institutions through the pro-

vision of computers and other ICT facilities to equip the lecturers and other experts in order to improve their ICT skills. Earlier in his remarks, Ojerinde appreciated NCC’s gesture, saying that JAMB was also deploying its CBT centres in Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) facilities in Abuja, Kano and Oshodi, Lagos State. He said that this was in addition to the over 500CBT centres across the country. “These centres are now being used for registration by potential candidates for the next Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) instead of cybercafes,” Ojerinde submitted.

Glo, Vodafone partner on customer experience

lobacom Limited and Vodafone have entered into a new, non-equity partnership agreement that covers Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. Under the partner market agreement, Vodafone and Globacom will work together to boost significantly the experience of consumer and business customers, utilising a wide range of their world-beating mobile, voice and data products and unrivalled global experience. Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive, Mr. Stefano Gastaut, said Vodafone was delighted to welcome Globacom to the Vodafone Partner

Markets community, which currently spans 57 countries across six continents. “This strategic partnership with Globacom for Nigeria and the Republic of Benin will help deliver enhanced roaming benefits for Globacom’s consumer and multinational corporate customers, including countries where we have an ultra-fast 4G network. “Vodafone will gain from Globacom’s expertise and deep understanding of African markets.” Globacom’s Group Executive Director, Mrs. Bella Disu, said: “This partnership is unique and far-

reaching, giving corporate and individual subscribers on the Globacom network in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin an edge, particularly in voice and data services. “The partnership is inline with Globacom’s tradition of partnering with global leaders to avail consumers of the best telecommunications services.” Also commenting, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, said: “A large element of my role is to support British companies to invest and do business here in Nigeria. So, I’m delighted to be part of this ceremony.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Mom&Parenting

Meddling with children’s relationship Parenting is enough task, especially when the kids are tender. But when they became teenagers or roll into adulthood, parenting then should become more of mutual understanding between kids and parents. Experts say as much as they are not saying parents should bow down to their children, they should also have respect in dealing with them. Chinyere Onah writes

alima,12, had high hopes ofbecoming a medical doctor and having a happy family after school in the nearest future. But her dreams were cut short when her mother died leaving her and two younger brothers with their father. Unfortunately, when Halima’s father, Hassan, a petty trader couldn’t nurse the patience of taking care of Halima, married her off to a rich man who is 54 years old, immediately after her junior secondary school According to Halima, her father believed the dowry paid for her would be enough to cater for her younger siblings. She was heartbroken but agreed to the marriage because her husband-tobe promised to help her continue with her education. However, Halima became the fourth wife of the old man. Instead of continuing with her education, she ended, having three kids for the man. She looked shattered and withdrawn, shying away from even the briefest greetings of an unfamiliar face. “I am a 20-year-old mother of three and I have not seen the four walls of a school,” she lamented. Halima’s story is definitely not strange to many as it is a well known practice in the Northern part of Nigeria. A lot of people have had the misfortune of being in relationship the parents not approve of. Some parents even hide under the cloak of their children being too young to marry while manipulating and pulling strings to get them to whom they want them to be with. Keyrie Emmanuel, a mother said that she will not let her child be involved in any relationship until he has attained the age of 20 or graduated from the university. “But when he is in the university, he could search for girl friend or wife material. After all, my husband was my friend when I was in school, as such we are very

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

A child bride

photo: www.theguardian.com

free with each other.” Another mother, Bridget Okoh, said any child less than 20 is too tender to go into a relationship. “My son is 10 years old but if I hear that he is in a relationship with any one, I will beat him up then sit him down to talk to him. But the other issue is that some mothers do not understand. While I was growing up, I had more male friends than my fellow girls. Luckily, my parents were aware and encouraged them to even pay me visit. When you are friends with the opposite sex, you learn the way they see their counter-parts and know how to apply it when you have such situations at hand. For Christ sake, a boy at age 20 is old enough to bear any consequence that may arise from the relationship and I will want it to be based on mutual friends. The only thing left to do is to keep talking and advising him on what is right and at the same time not scare them,” Okoh advised. Sumbo Akanbi said not all parents like their children’s friendship or appreciate the nature of relationship they are involved in. “Sometimes, their disapproval will be valid, other times it will be irrational, but no matter what it will be difficult to tell the person you love heartily good

bye because of your parents decision,” she said. Another parent, Solomon Benson, a retired banker said that children were more disciplined in the past than they are now. “My children were sent to the boarding school at Sokoto when they were much younger. We never encouraged them staying at home so that they may grow up being independent. Even when they are on a date, they return as early as 5: 30pm because we lock the gate by six. I don’t think it is healthy for parents to interfere with their children’s relationship. All they can do is monitor and guard them accordingly,” he said. Samuel Arowojobe, a vulcanizer who hails from Ogun State said the actions to take if he finds out that his child is in a relationship is to warn him sternly. At least at 18 years, he will be respected as an adult but, will keep warning him about looking before he leaps. “I will tell him that anything that arises as a consequence, he is on his own.” Some religious precepts have also been set up to reduce or prevent pre-mature relationships. Dr. Chris Eyenobong, a self- employed business man said, his churchChrist True Gospel Mission

located at Salamatu Street, Ilasa, has taken it upon itself to flog men both young and old who have illicit female friends. Friends are permitted but not

A child-mother carrying her baby

beyond Christ like friendship. Even Christianity does not give room to that also. Eyenobong said “as long as one remains steadfast, nobody can derail his dream. Relationship is for life, if you rush into it, you will rush out of it.” Courtship is a three to six months period relationship between a young man and a lady. After that, they may be interviewed by their parents and then the decision to get married could be made. Eyenobong added that his perception of being matured is simply- when one is independent and ripe to know what is right and wrong. That Independence gives the person the opportunity to order how he wants to follow a particular decision and other issues that may come up in the future. He also pointed out that some people go into relationship because of material gains, forgetting that God favours whom He wants to favour. “Quality has a price attached to it. Its only worthless things that could be messed up and nothing happens. Anything not paid for does not have much value attached to it, he concluded.

photo:afriqtalk.wordpress.com

34 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Old-school lessons for modern-day children

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

The right way to praise children

Children playing

photo:newsofthesouth.com

enise Stirk , a contributing Editor with POPSUGAR Moms of www.circle of moms, an online organisation, is of the opinion that as the world evolves with trendy social lifestyle and advances in technology and modern life style, there are certain values that shouldn’t be left behind. Rather, they should be inculcated into kids so that as they grow, it becomes part of them already, even under strong external influences. I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up, there were a few things that I had to learn in order to function in society. Thanks to technology, kids today are not so hard-pressed to learn the simple things that we were told, but the truth is that the oldschool lessons actually do still apply (and certainly can’t hurt)! So brace yourself, because your mother was right, and check out a few old-school lessons we should all be teaching our modern-day kids. 1 How to call 911 I know calling 911 on cell phones is a little different from the days of yore, but it’s still a very good idea to teach your children the all-important number to call in case of an emergency, also how to do it from a landline, or even gasp from a pay phone! 2 The golden rule Remember the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What happened to it? With bullying running rampant in schools, young children today would benefit by using the Golden Rule as a basic moral compass for how to treat others. 3 Home phone number and address Don’t forget to teach your children the best phone number where Mom or Dad (or both) can be contacted as well as their home address. Kids do still get lost, and it would be a valuable tool for them to have. It will also give you an excuse to memorise your husband’s new phone number too. 4 How to tie shoe laces I’ll admit it: lace less shoes are pretty easy (and cute — thanks, TOMS). So it’s tempting to skimp on teaching your child how to tie their shoes, but this skill is not only important for self-care, it’s also good for fine motor skills and coordination. 5 Good Things Come to Those Who Wait Instant gratification fuels kids today, but grandma was right: good things come to those

who wait. Patience is learned and it is especially important when teaching about saving money. 6 How to handwrite a note E-mails, texts, and calls are nice ways to say thank you or hello, but nothing beats a handwritten note. Teach your child the art of writing a note and you’ll provide them with an important life skill. 7 Manners for everything Please and thank you should be a big part of your child’s speech, but other manners should not be forgotten either. Things like holding the door for others and saying excuse me when interrupting are also good to teach. 8 Phone etiquette Answering the phone with, “What’s up,” “Yo,” or even “Hey” was not even an option when I was growing up (because, you know, hay is for horses). Phones are so prominent in our culture, and teaching today’s kids how to answer them properly and politely is a must! 9 Eye contact Kids, especially the shy ones, are not big on eye contact, but this form of communication seems to be a lost art. Teaching young children to look others in the eye when they’re talking to them will go a long way in helping them to communicate with other people and will force them to put down the game or phone. 10 Just say no And I’m not just talking about drugs. Kids need to learn that it is perfectly OK to say no if they are not comfortable in a situation. I know what you’re thinking, “Mission accomplished! My toddler has no problem telling me no.” Touché, Mama, but as they get older and spend more time outside of your home, children need to be comfortable setting their own boundaries with others. 11 The Joy of a Paper Book Reading on a device is great, but kids are missing out on the joy of cuddling up and getting lost in a good book. By all means, still stock up the Kindle, but also hit up the library for some old-fashioned paperbacks too. 12 How to ride a bike You might have a hard time pulling them away from their video games, but it’s worth it! Riding a bike is one skill every child should learn.

veryone loves to be praised, even children. Just turn around and give the next person you see some praise - could be just for a good colour combination of his/ her outfit, and you see just how they break into a smile. Sometimes they say, “Oh really…?” You know that pretense to appear modest? I have often watched parents praise their children for practically everything they do, or don’t do (in some cases), particularly grandparents. A child does something he doesn’t even consider worthy of any special attention and there goes an outpouring of praise like he just won an Olympic gold medal. A close observation will reveal that even the child is surprised, but well, he goes ahead and soaks up all the praise, after all who wouldn’t love that. But is that right? Should we so lavishly shower praise our children like it is something they need in order to live? At what point should we instead offer constructive feedback when we know they have not measured up and need to put in more effort? Flashing a smile and giving a pat on the back almost all the time (even when we don’t mean it), makes it that any other person who tries to correct that child is perceived (especially by the child) as being hateful. I faced this challenge when my children were much younger and spent a lot of time with their grandma. Instilling discipline and putting firm boundaries were often misinterpreted as lack of, or not enough love. This piece tilted How to Praise Children I have adapted from jw.org. I found in it very useful ideas on how we can praise our children the right way: “Some people say that it is impossible to give your child too much praise. Others claim that constant praise will spoil your child and make him feel entitled, as if the world owed him something. Besides how much you praise your child, you also have to consider the kind of praise you offer. Which type will encourage your child? Which type might hinder him? How can you offer praise that will have the best outcome? Not all praise is equal. Consider the following. Too much praise can be harmful. Some parents dole out undeserved praise in an attempt to boost their children’s self-esteem. But young ones “are smart enough to see through the exaggeration and conclude that you do not really mean what you say,” warns Dr. David Walsh. “They know that they did not deserve [the praise] and may conclude that they cannot trust you.” Praise based on ability is better. Suppose your daughter has a

knack for drawing. Naturally, you want to praise her for this, which will motivate her to hone her skill even more. But there can be a drawback. Praise focused on talent alone could cause your child to think that the only skills worth pursuing are those that come easily. She may even shy away from new challenges, fearing that she will fail. ‘If something takes effort,’ she reasons, ‘I must not be cut out for it—so why try?’ Effort-based praise is best. Children who are praised for their hard work and perseverance rather than simply for their talents come to realize a vital truth—that acquiring skill requires patience and effort. Knowing that, “they put in the work needed to achieve the desired result,” says the book Letting Go With Love and Confidence. “Even when they come up short, they don’t view themselves as failures, but as learners.” What you can do Praise effort, not just talent. Telling your child, “I can see that you put a lot of thought into your drawing,” may do more good than saying, “You’re a natural artist.” Both statements offer praise, but the second one could unwittingly imply that inborn skills are the only ones your child will be good at. When you praise effort, you teach your child that ability can improve with practice. Your child might then take on new challenges more confidently. Help your child deal with failure. Even good people make mistakes, perhaps repeatedly. But after each misstep, they get up, learn from the experience, and move on. How can you help your child to cultivate that positive approach? Again, focus on effort. Consider an example: Suppose you often tell your daughter, “You’re a natural at math,” but then she fails a math test. She might conclude that she has lost her knack, so why try to improve? When you focus on effort, however, you foster resilience. You help your daughter to view a setback as just that, and not as a disaster. So rather than give up, she may try another approach or simply work harder. Give constructive criticism. When given in the right manner, negative feedback will help a child, not crush his spirit. Also, if you regularly give appropriate praise, likely your child will welcome feedback on how he can further improve. Then his achievements will become a source of satisfaction both to him and to you.” Please share your thoughts with me. Thank you! Follow me on twitter @GraceEssen,also follow my blog www.mum2mumafrica. com

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

L-R: General Manager, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Projects, Mr. Munir Abiola; Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara; Director, Planning, Research and Strategy, FAAN, Dr. Ibrahim Idris; Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura; Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma and General Manager, Land, Water and Survey, FAAN, Remi Aromiwura, during the inspection tour of Lafia Airport project by the FAAN management.

L-R: Mr. Augustus Sawyer; Oba of Onigbongbo, Oba Olatunji Yussuf; Hon. Folajimi Lai Mohammed and Executive Secretary, Local Community Development Association, Mr. Mustapha Abiola, during the constituency stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting, entitled: Towards a better Constituency Engagement, at Ikeja country club, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Founder, Africa Women in Leadership (AWLO), Global, Mr. Elsha Attai; Coordinator, Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Maureen Omeibe and Liason Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria, Mrs. Nene Olaoluwa, at a press conference on the forth-coming induction of AWLO in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Former Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Biyi Mabadeje; Country Manager, OLX, Lola Masha; Managing Director/CEO, CR Services, Jameelah Ayedun, and Chief Superintendent of Police, Charles Okafor, after OLXMomo press conference in Lagos.

L-R: Director General, National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Ladi Hamalai; Acting Head of Protocol, Musa Hussain and Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, during the presentation of the Interim Report of the Committee on Review of the Existing Law in Abuja.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Solicitor General to the Federation, Mr. Abba Yola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Linus Awute and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari met with some federal permanent secretaries in Abuja. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

L-R: Social Worker Partnership Policy Lead, Children and Families Across Border (CFAB), Mrs. Angela Wilson; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Principal Social Worker, CRAB, Mrs. Louise Murray; Vice-Consul, British Deputy High Commission, Mrs. Eno Agodo and Mr. Ralph Jones of London Foreign Office, at a two-day workshop for Lagos State Social Workers in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Special adviser to Ogun State Governor on Media, Mr Rotimi Durojaiye; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Ibikunle Onasanya; Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Adedayo Adeneye and Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yemisi Fadairo, during a meeting with Information Officers of Ogun State Ministry of Information and Strategy in Abeokute.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features Lagos’ rescue pill for technical, vocational education In the last five years, Lagos State government, through the LASTVEB, is refocusing youths’ attention to areas of greater opportunities to rejig the economy, writes KAYODE OLANREWAJU

ime and energy invested in the development of technical and vocational education and training by Lagos State Government in the past six years have started to yield results. From the low enrolment of 2,800 students in 2010 in the five Government Technical Colleges, located at Agidingbi, Ado-Soba, Epe, Ikotun and Ikorodu, following the apathy towards technical and vocational education, the enrolment has increased to over 8,500. Tracing this effort to the inauguration of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) in 2010, the Board’s Executive Secretary, Mr Olawumi Gasper, attributed the increase in enrolment to the huge investment by government to SAMSUNG Academy, Ikeja change the face of the colleges through “aggressive provision” of infrastrucWork Experience Scheme (TIWES), ture, equipment and facilities. which holds in every long vacation. Faced with the rising cases of unUnder the TIWES scheme, teachers employment in the country as well as and instructors in the technical collegpoor quality of artisans and technies are engaged in the six trades such cians, resulting in hiring of technias mechanical craft, refrigeration/aircians from neighbouring countries conditioning, electrical installation, such as Republic of Benin, Ghana instrumentation and automation caand Togo, the government swung tering and hotel management, as well as welding and fabrication. into action to reposition this critical This scheme, according to Gasper, sub-sector. On inauguration in 2010, LASTwas initiated to bridge the gap beVEB embarked on a seven-pronged aptween teachers’ knowledge and the proach to reinvigorate and strengthen ability to apply it in relevant trades. He said: “Teachers need exposure the technical education by undertaking massive rehabilitation and renovato modern technology and contemtion of the colleges. porary way of delivering the curTo make technical and vocational riculum.” education more attractive, the board The executive secretary added that has undertaken comprehensive apthe enrolment into the colleges had praisal of the sub-sector; training and been 120 per cent annually, while there re-training of teachers; refurbishment had been exponential improvement and acquisition of equipment and in learning outcome of the students, tools; introduction of industry curespecially their remarkable success ricula alongside the National Board in the National Business and Technifor Technical Education (NBTE) curcal Examinations Board (NABTEB) riculum. examinations. Apart from these, Gasper recalled As part of government’s vision to that the board fostered partnership provide high quality technical skills with the industry, the active driver to meet the rising infrastructure of the Technical and Vocational development, LASTVEB has in the Education (TVE); introduction of past five years focused on the need to international certification for sturedirect the youth to areas of greater opportunities in the economy. This is dents (City and Guild) examination; capacity building programmes for ardone through the deployment of TVE tisans, graduate vocational training to address youth restiveness and stem programme; and entrepreneurship unemployment. education, under the Growing Youth Gasper said so far, the board had Entrepreneurs for technical college concentrated efforts on how to upstudents; and the Teachers Industrial skill the artisans and expose them to recent developments, training and re-training of quality technical skills to address skill requirements in the low and middle level manpower sector. Gasper, who recalled that before the inauguration of LASTVEB, the techABIODUN BELLO nical colleges were managed by the FEATURES Editor ministry, said from the survey carried abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com out on the colleges on resumption, it was discovered that the curriculum © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company was no longer relevant to the needs of Limited the industry and private sector, while

Gasper

there was an urgent need to rehabilitate and renovated the structures to make them more attractive. Due to the rehabilitation of the colleges, the enrolment figure increased the following year from 2,800 to 6,250 students, while additional 52 teachers were recruited in 2013. In view of the increase and high demands for technical education, he said the state requires technical colleges or expand the existing ones, to address the shortage of space being currently witnessed in the system. To further enhance the sector, Gasper pointed out that through the Lagos Eko/World Bank Assisted Project, and private sector intervention in the colleges, four centres of excellence were established with two at Government Technical College, Agidingbi (Electronics, Automation/Mechatronics); one each at Ikotun and Ado-Soba for Electrical Power and Auto-Mechatronics, while that of Epe college, which is nearing completion, would house Construction Technology. The centres are being facilitated by Samsung Engineering Academy; FESTO Fact Centre; Lagos-Skipper Engineering Academy; Volkswagen Nigeria Limited; Julius Berger Plc; MTN Foundation for upgrading of facilities in plumbing, welding and fabrication and furniture works, among others, as well as NECA-ITF intervention. On the government’s achievements in the development of TEV, he said facilities in all the colleges had been refurbished in all the trades, while LASTVEB had also introduced dual certification which, according to him, provides ample employment opportunity to graduates of the colleges in the oil and gas sector. He said: “LASTVEB realises the need to strengthen institutional capacity in the five colleges to adopt flexible and blended (F&B) delivery approaches in technical and vocational skills development in the informal sector.

“Our colleges engage artisans in the informal sector to identify training needs and plan to meet those needs. Technical Action Groups comprising instructors, industry representatives’ relevant professionals and artisans in the informal economy of Lagos State are being established in each college to inform competency-based curriculum development for flexible skills programme delivery.” Towards this end, he listed some of the achievements of the board to include development of technical and vocational education for youth empowerment, job and wealth creation; creating of awareness among youths about the relevance of TVE, which has increased enrolment in the colleges; infused entrepreneurship education into the curricula of technical colleges to grow small-scale business owners; increase enrolment; and improved performance in national examinations, as the graduates of the colleges are now transiting into higher institutions for further education. Despite the achievements, Gasper said it was not yet Uhuru for the sector, because “there are still some challenges to be addressed”. According to him, though the interest of students in technical colleges and the shortage of accommodation space should be tackled headlong, while societal perception and apathy towards technical education should be removed. He added that discrimination against graduates of technical colleges in public service should also be addressed with improved funding as well as massive training of teachers. Setting agenda for the next five years, Gasper said he foresaw a situation in which TVE would be freed from government sole funding as more private sector interventions would come in; while more products of technical colleges would be employed by the private sector to drive the sector. Meanwhile, he sought the review of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act to accommodate technical education. Such review, according to him, has become imperative in view of the relevance of TVE as the most critical form of education that positions the youth to create job and wealth. The Lagos State modern apprenticeship training programme was introduced by LASTVEB to enhance knowledge-based economy and develop the youth into knowledgeable workers, who are flexible and logical to be the driving force for innovation and growth. The programme, which was launched in 2012, consists of the school leavers’ modern apprenticeship training programme; and industry-backed technical competency skill in partnership with the City and Guilds of London.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

How currency devaluation hurts import-dependent countries - Expert

WARNING Devaluation fuels capital flight Tony Chukwunyem

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a Lagosbased financial services firm, Henates and Associates, Mr. Henry Atenaga, stated this in an interview with the New Telegraph. According to him, although the IMF usually prescribes currency devaluation for developing countries facing economic challenges, the measure is of more benefit to nations with strong export base.

mid calls by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and some financial analysts for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to devalue the naira, a financial expert has said that currency devaluation often spells “economic suicide” for import-dependent countries like Nigeria.

He said, “If you have to be importing in order to produce, then whenever you devalue, the cost of those things that you produce will be higher. So devaluation is usually better for those countries that produce things for export . But given the Nigerian population that is growing, it will take a long time to export most of those things that we produce. For instance, it will

take a long time before we can export rice, because the demand is here. It is the same thing with palm kernel and other agricultural produce. So I think that to devalue will be suicidal especially now that we don’t earn so much. We should be managing; allocating better. That is why I appreciate what the CBN is doing.” He also argued that currency devaluation also

Fidelity Bank rewards customers at trade fair

s part of the its ongoing customer loyalty scheme, Fidelity Bank Plc. has rewarded its loyal customers with cash prizes at the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair. The bank said, 12 lucky beneficiaries - 6 FPSS account holders and 6 SWEETA account holders - each carted away N500, 000 Xtra income and N150, 000 school fees support respectively. The move is expected to help the lender boost sales of branded products at the fair. Speaking at the

Bank’s Special Day at the Trade Fair in Lagos yesterday, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, noted that the trade extravaganza has continued to attract local and foreign exhibitors over the years. He commended the Board and Members of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI) for the impressive effort since 1986 when the trade group took over the organization of the Fair. Okonkwo stated

that the fair provides an avenue for various trade groups to showcase their products and ideas as well as tap into the myriads of business opportunities that exist in Nigeria. In spite of the harsh business landscape amplified by economic and regulatory pressures arising from the devaluation of the naira, tight monetary stance, and implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Okonkwo said the firm has remained profitable. In its third quarter

(Q3) result for the period ended September 30, 2015, Fidelity Bank posted a rise of 11.0 percent and 1.8 percent in its gross earnings and profit respectively. “Our success story is anchored on improved service quality, innovative products and services tailored to meet the varying needs of our numerous customers”, He explained that the bank’s recent re-branding is a clear demonstration of its determination to exceed expectations in the delivery of excellent customer service.

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9.4 13 10.77 US$46.97 US$30,308,087,031

As at Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Sept, 2015 4/6/2015 Mar 2015 11/11/2015 5/11/2015

Source:CBN

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 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 103.29 107.48 106.75 113.12 103.59 68.00 87.77

1.50 3.67 4.30 6.26 8.38 14.74 18.73

NIBOR

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

Rate (%) 5.5017 13.8835 15.2279 16.9625

Bid Yield 12.63 13.34 13.41 13.23 13.46 15.59 14.00

Change (%) -0.17 ▼ -0.22 ▼ -0.48 ▼ -0.10 ▼

Change (%) -0.09▼ 0.05 ▲ -0.07▼ -0.05▼ -0.09▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.16▼

Price 103.44 107.78 107.05 113.42 103.89 68.30 88.07

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 12.52 13.24 13.32 13.16 13.41 15.52 13.95

Change (%) -0.09▼ 0.05 ▲ -0.07▼ -0.05▼ -0.09▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.16▼

NITTY

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 4.5408 7.0581 7.1468 10.1479 10.8662 11.5931

Change (%) -0.03 ▼ 0.26 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.32 ▲ 0.02 ▲ 0.14▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 6.86 6.99 0.36 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 5.25 28-Jan-16 7.11 7.25 0.36 ▲ 28-Apr-16 10.10 9.85 10.36 0.12 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 5.75 10.64 0.12 ▲ 20-Oct-16 10.21 9.96 11.05 0.02 ▲ 11.36 0.02 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 197.27

Offer 197.37

Change (%) -0.56 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.9700

Offer 199.0700

Change (%) 0.08 ▲ 0.00 ↔

Change (%) -0.02 ▼

CBN Clearing Rates of October 26, 2015 Spot($/N)

195.97

196.97

-0.02 ▼ Source: FMDQ

results in capital flight in countries that adopts the measure. He said, “When you currency is down, people will attempt to do capital flight. In fact, this is already taking place. For instance, a blue chip firm paid substantial interim dividends even though it has a weak liquidity position. What they were only trying to do was to please their foreign investors. Since the naira is weak, they want the books to look better. The strategy is you pay more and when it is converted, you have more naira there. That is how capital flight begins.” Mr. Atenaga argued that devaluation would hurt the economy because of Nigeria’s low manufacturing capacity. Mr. Atenaga faulted the statement by the former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, that the apex bank’s restrictive forex policy is hurting economic growth and that

the naira should be devalued to spur economic growth because this is what the country needs at this time. According to the financial expert, “Sanusi’s position is actually based on the fact that he anticipates that with devaluation people will be tempted to export which will ginger business activity here. That is his perception. He also believes that theoretically, devaluation will make people want to come here to invest because when they bring the hard currency it will have a lot of value in Nigeria. He has a strong point. But like I said, you must have a base to manufacture for exports for you to take advantage of any of those things so that the growth will really occur. If not what will happen is that you are going to start importing inflation. And you are not still in a position to produce to satisfy local needs.”

CBN to raise N119.9bn in treasury bills

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to raise N119.92 billion worth of local currency denominated treasury bills with maturities range of 3-month and 1-year on Nov. 18, the apex bank announced yesterday. The CBN said it will issue N32.43 billion worth in the 3-month paper, N22.82 billion in the 6-month paper and N64.67

billion in the 1-year bill, using the Dutch Auction System. Yields on the shortdated debt have plunged recently due to surging liquidity in the banking system. The 3-month bills closed at 2.62 percent at the secondary market on Tuesday, 6-month traded at 3.69 per cent while the 1-year closed at 4.46 per cent.

NEXIM Bank’s intervention in mining sector hits N7.17bn Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Nigeria Export- Import Bank (NEXIM ) has put its financial intervention in mining sector since inception till date at N 7.17 billion. The amount, according to the bank led to the creation of 4,302 direct jobs plus many indirect jobs, in addition to facilitating foreign exchange flow inflows. NEXIM Bank Managing Director/ CEO Roberts Ungwaga Orya confirmed the figures in Abuja when he received a team from the World Bank led by Dr. Francisco Igualada, Senior Mining Specialist, Energy & Extractives Unit, and Mr. Linus Adie Utsu of Mining Investments Consult that visited the Bank to share ideas on how to provide

structured intervention towards revamping and deepening Nigeria’s mining sector. A statement by NEXIM Head, Corporate Communications Chinedu Moghalu quoted Orya stating that, besides direct funding towards providing assistance to Nigerian miners, NEXIM had in 2013 supported the Miners Association to move from their inaccessible office in Jos, Plateau State and provided them with free office spaces and facilities at the Bank’s headquarters in Abuja. Espousing on solid minerals extraction, Orya stated that Nigeria is endowed with huge solid mineral deposits, with about 34 products identified in commercial quantities in different parts of Nigeria.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

11-Nov-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 371.93 605.31 679.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

5,816.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,293.48

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

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 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.76 1.46 1.71 1.80 2.55 3.63 3.95 4.26 6.21 8.34 13.05 13.53 14.03 14.70 18.68

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

4.25 7.02 7.40 7.51 8.38 9.42 10.15 10.16 10.42 10.26 11.84 12.01 12.20 11.32 11.98

4.06 6.91 7.31 7.42 8.32 9.33 10.05 10.08 10.36 10.21 11.80 11.97 12.15 11.27 11.94

106.53 111.02 103.85 103.03 105.22 119.80 89.94 118.19 126.76 121.69 120.75 103.15 75.42 90.62 101.18

106.68 111.17 104.00 103.18 105.37 120.10 90.24 118.49 127.06 121.99 121.05 103.45 75.72 90.92 101.48

5771.438936

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.80

03-Apr-17

0.77

2.94

7.20

107.37

Agency Bonds Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.80

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.93

Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.39

4.46

7.37

102.44

A/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.40

3.48

6.47

103.43

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.44

1.00

7.84

102.87

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

0.93

1.00

5.47

107.30

A-/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

31-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.14

1.00

8.89

109.71

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

27.25

30-Sep-18

1.73

1.00

8.42

108.65

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

4.91

04-Oct-18

1.74

1.00

8.44

108.69

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

1.72

2.21

9.62

107.35

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

1.72

4.78

12.19

102.62

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

24.44

14-Feb-19

1.91

1.00

8.62

111.58

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

13.87 80.00 23.75

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.34 4.03 2.30

2.02 1.00 1.00

10.14 11.25 9.08

110.60 110.31 111.34

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.12

10-Oct-20

2.84

3.37

12.09

106.06

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.04

1.03

11.69

106.73

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.14

2.39

13.06

107.04

‡ /Agusto

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.30

31-Dec-20

2.98

1.00

9.90

111.20

A-/GCR

*NASARAWA

15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.31

06-Jan-21

3.01

1.00

9.93

112.43

A-/Agusto

*BAUCHI

15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021

09-Dec-14

15.50

14.37

09-Dec-21

3.97

1.52

11.61

101.60

A-/Agusto

*OYO

16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022

17-Feb-15

16.50

7.68

16-Feb-22

3.81

3.67

13.64

107.85

Bbb-/Agusto

*BENUE

16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022

27-Feb-15

16.50

4.75

27-Feb-22

3.84

1.00

11.00

116.14

Bbb+/Agusto

*PLATEAU

17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022

30-Mar-15

17.50

27.10

30-Mar-22

4.03

2.52

12.69

104.30

A-/Agusto A-/GCR

KOGI *CROSS RIVER

17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

01-Apr-15

17.00

3.00

31-Mar-22

6.46

1.79

12.55

119.12

27-May-15

17.00

8.00

27-May-22

3.94

3.04

13.18

110.86

481.74 518.80

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds BBB-/Agusto

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.08

1.00

1.76

100.78

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.22

06-Jan-16

0.15

2.63

3.84

101.47

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

0.88

1.00

5.41

106.43

A-/Agusto Nil Nil Nil A/GCR

FSDH

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

25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10

14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17

0.95 1.08 1.44 1.65 1.89

1.34 1.00 6.31 1.08 2.38

5.85 5.96 13.15 8.41 9.98

107.67 110.28 104.23 112.20 105.05

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

***LCRM UBA

BBB-/GCR

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.12

1.88

7.06

112.29

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

4.50

09-Apr-18

1.41

3.15

9.85

107.78

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.18

09-Sep-18

1.58

1.00

8.25

113.89

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.60

09-Sep-18

1.58

1.00

8.25

111.04

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

2.89

1.00

9.78

110.35

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

1.80

18-Oct-18

1.69

5.27

12.64

104.43

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.32

17-Feb-19

1.77

6.11

13.58

106.46

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

Nil

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

#{r}

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.14

3.28

11.17

108.78

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.01

1.00

11.66

113.34

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.03

1.64

12.41

107.67

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.13

1.93

12.70

115.61

13-May-15

16.48

30.00

13-May-22

6.50

3.90

14.65

107.49

FIDELITY

16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

8.89

1.00

11.61

125.50

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

8.89

1.00

11.61

108.93

AAA/GCR

*NMRC

14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

29-Jul-15

14.90

7.98

29-Jul-30

9.92

1.00

11.87

116.60

BBB/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

507.06

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

551.02

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.25

1.00

7.51

105.45

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.47

1.00

10.51

102.02

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 25.87

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.23

6.97

97.94

99.03

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.87

5.43

98.18

99.25

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.56

7.37

93.19

94.24

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,446.53

Corporate Eurobonds B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.48

101.00

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

8.20

98.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

15.89

14.72

82.09

84.17

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.81

95.25

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

8.73

92.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

11.52

10.83

92.15

94.03

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

13.60 12.44 12.34

13.60 11.90 12.34

81.25 87.50 82.00

81.25 89.49 82.00

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,300.01

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 15 22 29 36 43 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 26-Nov-15 3-Dec-15 10-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 24-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16

Bid Discount (%) 1.43 1.18 0.79 1.22 1.12 1.80 1.62 2.54

Offer Discount (%) 1.18 0.93 0.54 0.97 0.87 1.55 1.37 2.29

Bid Yield (%) 1.43 1.18 0.79 1.22 1.12 1.81 1.62 2.55

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 0.9517 12.7190 14.4483 16.2312

Rate (%)

OBB

0.63

O/N

1.00

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 2.93 8.20

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.34 199.30 200.34 201.15 202.34 207.82

198.44 199.61 200.66 201.54 202.85 208.50

Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.39

4.46

7.37

102.44

A/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.40

3.48

6.47

103.43

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.44

1.00

7.84

102.87

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

0.93

1.00

5.47

107.30

A-/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

31-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.14

1.00

8.89

109.71

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

27.25

30-Sep-18

1.73

1.00

8.42

108.65

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

4.91

04-Oct-18

1.74

1.00

8.44

108.69

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

1.72

2.21

9.62

107.35

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

1.72

4.78

12.19

102.62

A-/Agusto *NIGER NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 201514.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

Business | Financial Market News

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

24.44

14-Feb-19

1.91

1.00

8.62

111.58

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

13.87 80.00 23.75

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.34 4.03 2.30

2.02 1.00 1.00

10.14 11.25 9.08

110.60 110.31 111.34

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.12

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI Equities show 31-Dec-13 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 06-Jan-14 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 A-/GCR *NASARAWA signs of recovery on on undervalued stocks. as against 28,981.12 re09-Dec-14 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 A-/Agusto *BAUCHI 17-Feb-15 16.50 OYOindica16-FEB-2022 A-/Agusto *OYO Key market corded the previous day shares of blue chip 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 Bbb-/Agusto *BENUE tors, the NSE ASI and while the market 27-Feb-15 capi30-Mar-15 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 Bbb+/Agusto *PLATEAU companies market capitalisation, talisation of equities ap-

15.00

5.00

14.50

4.30

15.00

4.31

POSITIVE

Stock market gains N12bn 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

31-Dec-13

A-/Agusto A-/GCR

01-Apr-15

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.12

1.88

7.06

112.29

09-Apr-11

16.00

4.50

09-Apr-18

1.41

3.15

9.85

107.78

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.18

09-Sep-18

1.58

1.00

8.25

113.89

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.60

09-Sep-18

1.58

1.00

8.25

111.04

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

2.89

1.00

9.78

110.35

18-Oct-13

15.75

1.80

18-Oct-18

1.69

5.27

12.64

104.43

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

CIS, Anambra mull partnership on project development A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

AB InBev to acquire SABMiller for $107bn

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 he Chartered Insti- of many projects. nheuser-Busch InBev18.00 NV 16.00 II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 16.00 Nil tute of Stockbrokers *DANA According toDANA him, the made a formal $107 billion 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO (CIS) has commenced projects include sponoffer 14-Nov-13 for SABMiller15.25 Plc, 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 BBB/GCR 20-Nov-14 14.25 FCMB sealing a long-anticipated deal talks with the Anambra sorship of customised 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR 30-Dec-14 16.45 UBA 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 BBB/GCR 13-May-15 16.48 State Government on a training programme that combines the world’s biggest FIDELITY T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR of development 16.29 STANBIC for the staff182Dof Anamrange is- IBTC brewers into30-Sep-14 a company control13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 13.25 STANBIC IBTC sues that may bring about bra state government ling about half the industry’s 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030 AAA/GCR 29-Jul-15 14.90 *NMRC agencies, sponsorship strategic partnership. profit. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE According to a state- of 20,000 indigenes of To gain regulatory approval, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION ment from CIS, details Anambra State for the Molson Coors Brewing Co. will Bond are still institute’s diploma proofSupranational the discussion acquire SABMiller’s 58 per cent IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 stake in MillerCoors for $12 bilhazy , but when concluded, gramme in10.20 Securities 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 11.25 Anambra State Govern- and Investment, sponlion, giving it full control over TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ment may emerge one of sorship of mega televibrands like Coors Light and Blue TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the institute’s strategic sion documentary that Moon. The Budweiser maker plans to slash annual costs by partners for project execu- highlights the substanceDescription Rating/Agency Issuer Issue Date Coupon (%) tion next year. and essence of invest$1.4 billion, one third of which FGN Eurobonds As a prelude to the ment through the capiwill come from overlapping final decision, the insti- tal market, sponsorship head-office 07-Oct-11 roles. The compa6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 6.75 tute’s principal officers of the annual national nies didn’t say what the new BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 5.13 BB-/S&P Governor Willie visited conference, workshop entity will be12-Jul-13 called, or whether BB-/Fitch; recently to canObiano and allied major events. SABMiller’s senior management 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 BB-/S&P “In view of the above vass the state governteam will remain. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ment’s support for the and the strategic posiDubbed “Megabrew” by anaTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION institute’s projects. tioning of the CIS in the lysts, the new company will be the Addressing Governor area of capacity building world’s largest consumer-staples Corporate Eurobonds Obiano and his team, maker by earnings, and certification of pro7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 according 7.50 to 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 7.25 fessionals, we would like the acting President and Exane BNP Paribas, generating 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 to among others collaboChairman of Council, profits of about $25 billion. 6.88 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 CIS, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe, rate with the Anambra The enlarged brewer will 6.00 have 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 6.25 explained that in line with State Government in the the number one or two positions 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 8.75 the institute’s strategic areas of capacity buildin 24 of the07-Aug-13 world’s 30 biggest 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 8.25 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 markets, B-/Fitch;strategic B/S&P ACCESS BANK II 24-Jun-14 plan, partners beer and provide9.25AB ingPLC and employment cre2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 23-Jul-14 8.00 ation,” he said. 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23InBev are required for execution its first toehold in Africa, BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

#{r}

B-/S&P

1.03

17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022

T Nil

recorded in the 14.37 day’s 15.50 16.50 7.68 trading. 16.50 4.75 Banking services 17.50 27.10 sub-sector of the finan17.00 3.00 cial services sector8.00was 17.00 the most active during 481.74 518.80by the day (measured turnover volume); with 121.0612.00million shares 9.38 0.22 worth14.00N633.6 million 13.00 15.00 exchanged by investors 14.25 5.53 in 962 deals. 0.00/16.00 112.22 0.00/16.50 in the sub-sec116.70 Volume 0.00/16.50 66.49 tor was largely driven by 13.00 20.00

per share while Dangote 12.09 106.06 Flour Plc followed106.73 with a 11.69 2.39gain of 4.76 13.06 per cent 107.04 each 1.00 9.90 111.20 to close at N2.42 per share. 1.00 9.93 112.43 1.52Flour Mills 11.61 Plc added 101.604.55 3.67per cent13.64 to close at107.85 N21.85 1.00 11.00 116.14 per share. 2.52 12.69 104.30 On the hand, 1.79 12.55 other119.12 Oando Plc led the price 3.04 13.18 110.86 losers’ table, dropping 9.67 per cent to close at N7.66 per share. Transcorp Plc with 8.87 per 1.00followed1.76 100.78cent 2.63each to close 3.84 101.47 per at N1.85 1.00 5.41 106.43 share while CCNN Plc 1.34 5.85 107.67 trailed with a loss of 8.25 1.00 5.96 110.28 6.31per cent13.15 104.23 to close at N8.01 1.08 8.41 112.20 per share. 2.38 9.98 105.05 3.37

KOGI *CROSS RIVER

rose by 0.12 per RIVER cent27-MAY-2022 preciated by N12 billion 27-May-15 17.00 CROSS partly on the shares of or 0.12 per cent to close TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Stories by Chris Ugwu TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Access Bank and Nigeat N9.974 trillion from N9.962 trillion as marrian Breweries, which Corporate Bonds he equities marjointly accounted for 62 ket sentiment returned 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS 14.00 CHELLARAMS BB/GCR ket closed *CHELLARAMS posiper cent (or N1.5 billion).06-JAN-2016 to the green zone. 06-Jan-11 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO tive yesterday Consequently, the AllMeanwhile, a 29-Sep-11 turn14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH despite losers Share Index gained 33.66 over of 217.3 million 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Nil 09-Dec-11 ***LCRM LCRMper II 19-APR-2017 Nil shares worth N1.420-Apr-12 biloutnumbering gainers as basis points0.00/16.50 or 0.12 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Nil 06-Jul-12 bargain hunters leverage cent to close at 29.014.78 lion in 3,067 deals was 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA BBB-/GCR

activities in the shares 10-Oct-20 2.84 of 27-Nov-20 Access Bank5.04 Plc and 31-Dec-20 5.14 UBA Plc. 31-Dec-20 2.98 Insurance subsector 06-Jan-21 3.01 boosted by activities in 09-Dec-21 3.97 3.81 the16-Feb-22 shares of AXA-Man27-Feb-22 3.84 sard Plc followed with a 30-Mar-22 4.03 turnover of 25.4 million 31-Mar-22 6.46 shares at N59.6 27-May-22valued 3.94 million in 76 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 12 while 09-Dec-15 0.08decliners06-Jan-16 closed at 25. 0.15 29-Sep-16 0.88 AXA-Mansard Insur25-Oct-16 0.95 ance Plc led the gainers’ 08-Dec-16 1.08 19-Apr-17 1.44of 4.96 table with a gain 06-Jul-17 per30-Sep-17 cent to close1.65 at N2.75 1.89

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.32about 65 17-Feb-19 1.77 13.58 106.46 where million people raise6.11 $75 billion in financing, a 4.50 to reach the 01-Apr-19 2.14 3.28commercial 11.17 loan,” 108.78 are due legal drinkrecord Allen 2.05 5.01 1.00 11.66 113.34 ing age by 2023. 14-Nov-20 & Overy Plc said. 26.00 20-Nov-21 6.03 1.64 12.41 107.67 “The deal promises to transThe law firm advised lenders 30.50 30-Dec-21 6.13 1.93 12.70 115.61 6.50 3.90 14.65 107.49SA, including Banco Santander form30.00 the global 13-May-22 brewing land0.10 said Jon30-Sep-24 8.89 11.61Corp., Bank 125.50 of scape,” Copestake, an Bank1.00 of America 15.44 30-Sep-24 8.89 1.00 11.61 108.93 analyst at the Economist IntelTokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., Bar7.98 29-Jul-30 9.92 1.00 11.87 116.60 ligence Unit, “the divestment of clays Plc, BNP Paribas SA and 507.06 SABMiller’s North American Deutsche Bank AG. 551.02 The planned sale of the stake business will placate American regulators to some degree, but in MillerCoors is designed to 2.25 1.00 7.51 105.45 “promptly and proactively there12.00 will remain11-Feb-18 regulatory ob12.95 01-Feb-21 3.47 1.00 10.51 102.02 stacles to a merger of this size.” address regulatory consider24.95 Bloomberg reports that the ations,” the companies said. 25.87 Belgian and Brazilian families The divestment should be Outstanding Value AB InBev will see that control completed in the secondOffer half of Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Price their($mm) ownership diluted from 2016. MillerCoors represented Prices & antitrust Yields hurdle to more than 50 per cent to 34.5 per the biggest cent,500.00 and will hold nine of 15 the merger, analysts have said, 28-Jan-21 7.23 6.97 97.94 99.03 board seats. though SABMiller’s stake in 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.87 5.43 98.18 99.25 SABMiller’s two biggest China’s CR Snow may also need to be sold. shareholders, Altria Group Inc. 500.00 12-Jul-23 7.56 7.37 93.19 94.24 and1,500.00 Colombia’s Santo Domingo The $1.4 billion of projected family, will own 16.5 per cent, ac- annual savings equals about nine 1,446.53 cording to the statement. Altria per cent of SABMiller’s sales, exwill have two board seats, the cluding joint ventures and associates, to RBC Europe tobacco in a state500.00 maker said 19-May-16 5.48 5.48according 101.00 101.00 350.00 25-Jul-17 8.20 8.20 James Edwardes 98.50 98.50 analyst Jones. ment. The merged company will 300.00 in Brussels, 02-May-18 15.89 14.72InBev achieved 82.09 84.17savAB cost be listed Mexico and 400.00 08-Nov-18 7.81 95.25 Johannesburg. ings 7.81 representing about 95.25 18 per 500.00 22-Apr-19 8.73 8.73 92.75 92.75 “AB InBev will finance the cent of sales when it bought An200.00 21-May-19 11.52 10.83 92.15 94.03 cash 300.00 part of the transaction from heuser-Busch Cos. and 21 07-Aug-20 13.60 13.60 81.25 in 200881.25 400.00 resources 24-Jun-21 12.44 11.90 for Mexico’s 87.50 89.49 in existing and thirdper cent Modelo 23-Jul-21 82.00 he said. 82.00 party450.00 debt. It lined up banks 12.34 to 2013,12.34

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

11-Nov-15

3,300.01

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ FIXINGS Money Market Exchange (Spot & Forwards) 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 accurateForeign or up to date. We do not guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 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. NIBOR 15 26-Nov-15 22 3-Dec-15 29 10-Dec-15 FGN Bonds 36 17-Dec-15 43 24-Dec-15 57 7-Jan-16 Rating/Agency Issuer 64 14-Jan-16 71 21-Jan-16 78 28-Jan-16 85 4-Feb-16 92 11-Feb-16 99 18-Feb-16 106 25-Feb-16 113 3-Mar-16 127 17-Mar-16 NA NA 134 24-Mar-16 141 31-Mar-16 148 7-Apr-16 155 14-Apr-16 162 21-Apr-16 169 28-Apr-16 176 5-May-16 197 26-May-16 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 204 2-Jun-16 232 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 30-Jun-16 246 14-Jul-16 267 4-Aug-16 295 1-Sep-16 Rating/Agency Issuer 330 6-Oct-16 344

20-Oct-16

Agency Bonds Nil

1.43 1.18 0.79 1.22 1.12 1.80 Description 1.62 2.54 13.05 16-AUG-2016 2.06 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 2.20 9.85 27-JUL-2017 1.75 9.35 31-AUG-2017 2.05 10.70 30-MAY-2018 3.40 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 2.93 7.00 23-OCT-2019 2.80 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 2.99 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 3.16 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 3.68 15.00 28-NOV-2028 3.77 12.49 22-MAY-2029 3.17 8.50 20-NOV-2029 3.70 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 3.80 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 3.51 3.21 3.05 3.90 3.55 3.94 Description 3.99 4.14

1.18 0.93 0.54 0.97 0.87 1.55Date Issue 1.37 2.29 16-Aug-13 1.81 27-Apr-12 1.95 27-Jul-07 1.50 31-Aug-07 1.80 30-May-08 3.15 29-Jun-12 2.68 23-Oct-09 2.55 13-Feb-15 2.74 27-Jan-12 2.91 14-Mar-14 3.43 28-Nov-08 3.52 22-May-09 2.92 20-Nov-09 3.45 23-Jul-10 3.55 18-Jul-14 3.26 2.96 2.80 3.65 3.30 3.69 3.74 3.89

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding Value 6M

Rate (%) 0.9517 12.7190 14.4483 16.2312Date Maturity

581.39 480.13 20.00 Tenor 100.00 1M 300.00 2M 351.30 3M 233.90 6M 371.93 9M 605.31 12M 679.99

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 Rate (%) 31-Aug-17 1.8911 30-May-18 2.0835 29-Jun-19 2.6481 23-Oct-19 4.1306 13-Feb-20 4.7160 27-Jan-22 5.2160 14-Mar-24

(N'bn)

NITTY

75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 NIFEX 591.57 23-Jul-30 Current Price ($/N) 1075.92 18-Jul-34 BID($/N) 198.9800 5,816.44 OFFER ($/N) 199.0800

6,293.48 Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.63

O/N

1.00

REPO

Tenor TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 0.76 3M 1.46 6M 1.71

Rate (%) (%) Bid Yield 2.93

8.20 4.25 10.42 7.02 12.42 7.40

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1MYield (%) 2M 3M 4.06 6M 6.91 1Y 7.31

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

198.34 198.44 Price 199.61 199.30 200.34 200.66 201.15 201.54 Bid Price Offer Price 202.34 202.85 207.82 208.50 106.53 106.68 215.68 216.86 111.02 111.17 226.27 228.57 103.85 104.00

1.80 7.51 7.42 103.03 103.18 2.55 8.38 8.32 105.22 105.37 3.63 9.42 9.33 119.80 120.10 :Benchmarks NA :Not89.94 Applicable 3.95 10.15 10.05 90.24 ^ : Market Prices * :Amortising 4.26 Bond 10.16 10.08 118.19 118.49 µ :Convertible Bond # : Floating Rate Bond 6.21 10.42 10.36 126.76 127.06 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria ***: Deferred 8.34 Management Corporation 10.26 10.21 121.69coupon bonds 121.99 FGN: Federal 13.05Government of Nigeria 11.84 11.80 120.75 121.05 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria ‡ : Bond rating under review 13.53 Mortgage Bank 12.01 11.97 103.15 103.45 †: Bond75.42 rating expired 75.72 IFC: International 14.03 Finance Corporation 12.20 12.15 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management N/A :Not90.62 Available 14.70 11.32 11.27 90.92 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling {r} :Issuer in receivership101.48 18.68 11.98 Company 11.94 101.18 O/N: Overnight 5771.438936 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company UBA: United Bank for Africa

NOTE:

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.80

03-Apr-17

0.77

2.94

7.20

107.37

1.80

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration #

OBB

4.30

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

1.43 1.18 0.79 1.22 1.12 1.81 (%) Coupon 1.62 2.55 13.05 2.07 15.10 2.21 9.85 1.76 9.35 2.06 10.70 3.43 16.00 2.95 7.00 2.82 15.54 3.02 16.39 3.19 14.20 3.74 15.00 3.83 12.49 3.21 8.50 3.76 10.00 3.87 12.1493 3.58 3.27 3.11 4.01 3.64 4.06 Issue Date 4.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.93

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading Sub-National Bonds t.bills BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.39

4.46

7.37

102.44

A/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.40

3.48

6.47

103.43

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-17

1.44

1.00

7.84

102.87

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

1.00

5.47

A-/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*DELTA Modified Duration Buckets NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

‡ /Agusto

*EKITI

A-/GCR

*NASARAWA

A-/Agusto

*BAUCHI

A-/Agusto

*OYO

Bbb-/Agusto

*BENUE

Bbb+/Agusto

*PLATEAU

107.30 109.71 YTD Return 108.65 (%) 108.69 107.35 21.2299 102.62 31.4687 111.58 50.5786 110.60 23.3462 110.31 111.34 106.06 106.73 107.04 111.20 112.43 101.60 107.85 116.14 104.30

<3 3<5 >5 Market

19-Apr-10 FMDQ

30-Jun-10

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 953.90 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 1,206.84 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 2,452.21 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 4,612.95 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 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

831.43 977.24 2,347.48 4,156.16

31-Dec-10 Weighting by 30-Sep-11 Outstanding Vol 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 20.00 12-Dec-13 23.51 14-Feb-12 56.48 02-Oct-12 100.00 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15

10.00 FGN BOND INDEX57.00 13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

0.93

14.00 Weighting by Mkt 14.00 Value 14.00 14.50 20.68 14.00 26.16 15.50 15.50 53.16 14.50100.00 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50

25.00

31-Dec-17 % Exposure_ 30-Sep-18 Mod_Duration 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 7.91 12-Dec-18 17.73 14-Feb-19 74.36 02-Oct-19 100.00 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22

2.14

Bucket 27.25 Weighting 4.91 12.40 0.20 9.21 0.24 24.44 13.87 0.56 80.00 1.00 23.75 10.12 87.50 5.00 4.30 4.31 14.37 7.68 4.75 27.10

1.73 Implied Yield 1.74 1.72 8.50 1.72 10.34 1.91 11.36 2.34 10.96 4.03 2.30 2.84 5.04 5.14 2.98 3.01 3.97 3.81 3.84 4.03

1.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 2.21 147.6249 4.78 153.5533 1.00 125.7753 2.02 136.6778 1.00 1.00 3.37 1.03 2.39 1.00 1.00 1.52 3.67 1.00 2.52

8.89 8.42 INDEX 8.44 9.62 1,343.04 12.19 1,331.21 8.62 1,516.35 10.14 1,301.53 11.25 9.08 12.09 11.69 13.06 9.90 9.93 11.61 13.64 11.00 12.69

40 News

THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH WEST

Alake: Nigerians will beg Buhari to seek second term lDemands teaching hospital status for Abeokuta FMC

Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

he Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday declared that Nigerians would beg President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election for a second term of office in 2019. Oba Gbadebo, who was Principal Staff Officer to late Major-General Tunde

Idiagbon, the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters during Buhari’s stint as military head of state, urged critics of the president to exercise patience. He spoke during a press conference heralding his 10th coronation anniversary held at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The traditional ruler appealed to Nigerians, who are impatient about the cur-

rent pace of the Buhari’s administration, to give the president more time to deliver dividends of democracy and fulfill his electoral promises. According to him, Buhari is a deep person who is not given to frivolities but always meticulous about his activities. He said, “General Buhari is a deep person. When a person is deep, it means he’s not given to frivolities.

You can talk from morning till night, he would not smile, he would not say one word but he’s listening to everything you are saying. “When a person is deep, he does not quickly make mistakes and run back again because that would mean he didn’t think well about that thing before he stepped out. You must think before you leap, not leap first and start thinking. “So, I would plead with

those who are impatient to please exercise patience. When they exercise patience with the new president, they would beg him to stay another four years. I can assure you of that because he would have turned this place into a Nigeria of your dream.” Oba Gbadebo, who observed that resources available to the nation’s government have drastically gone down, expressed optimism that the Buhari administration would fix

socio-economic challenges in the country. He called on the Federal Government to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, into a teaching hospital, stressing that “similar thing has happened in Benue State”. While recounting his experience in the last 10 years, the monarch said his greatest test was his encounter with the former administration of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel.

Ajimobi: We’ll conduct local govt elections soon of the councils and create Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

L-R: Pro-chancellor/Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan, Dr. Umaru Mustapha; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), University of Ibadan, Prof. Gbemisola Oke, shortly after delivering the institution’s 2015 convocation lecture in Ibadan …yesterday.

1,200 Lagos pilgrims for Jerusalem, Oyinlola vs Soyinka: Court adjourns hearing until Dec 14 Rome, says Commissioner lDirects defence counsel to pay penalty for late filing Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

earing of the case between the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the noble laurel, Professor Wole Soyinka over headship of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) was yesterday adjourned to December 14th, 2015, by a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state capital. The centre and its registered Trustees had in 2013 dragged the Osun state government to court for setting up a parallel board headed by Professor Wole Soyinka for the centre, but at the resumed hearing, the case was adjourned due to the prayer of the first defendant counsel, Mr Yomi Adeniran, for extension of time. Adeniran prayed the court to grant his application for extension of time to allow his client to file his application, while counsel to

the plaintiff, Mr Adetunji Muraina did not oppose the application of his colleague but noted that, the receipt of payment of penalty for late filing was not attached. Mr Adeniran however said, “there is exemption for the Attorney General not to pay penalty for late filing” but the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, held that “whoever is seeking an extension must pay penalty as nobody is exempted”. The judge thereby denied the defendant’s counsel from moving any motion, saying “the penalty must be paid before any motion can be moved.”

Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

sun State government yesterday shut down five Federal establishments in the state for defaulting in the payment of their taxes put at N219,895,711.84 to the coffer of the government. Also efforts are now being made by the state’s Internal Revenue Service

Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affair, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef yesterday said that no fewer than 1,200 Christian pilgrims in Lagos would be embarking on the Holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome this year. The Commissioner, who assured the intending pilgrims of safety during the exercise, said arrangements had been concluded to ensure the pilgrims are protected. Speaking at a one-day seminar for the state pilgrims held at the Christ the Light Chapel, Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner said that the government

is mindful of the current happenings in the Middle East, adding that adequate arrangement would be made to ensure safety of the pilgrims. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef who also explained the involvement of government in pilgrimages, said any government that neglects pilgrimage activities abdicates its responsibilities, adding that it behoves any government to ensure protection of its citizens in foreign country. He said: “It is crucial for government to be involved in the pilgrimage. One, for the security of lives of the citizens who are going on the pilgrimage; and the health risk of such citizens.”

n response to the agitation from many residents of Oyo state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday promised that some caretaker chairmen would be appointed in December to oversee the local government councils in the state, while proper election would be conducted by early next year. The governor made the promise yesterday in Ibadan against the insinuation that he refused to conduct council election throughout his first term in office because he was afraid some opposition parties might win some

problem for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said this while answering questions after a lecture he delivered to kickstart the 67th convocation ceremony of the University of Ibadan. The lecture entitled: “Challenges of Good Governance in an Emerging Democratic Setting: The Nigerian Perspective”, was held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution. At the event witnessed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, among others, Ajimobi said he had earlier delayed the council election because he wanted to see the outcome of the general election.

Ambode to inaugurate Mile 12 to Ikorodu BRT Extension today Taiwo Hassan

he Lagos State Government will officially commission the World Bank assisted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Extension from Mile 12 to Ikorodu for operation today. The commission will see an increase in high capacity buses by 434 new buses which will also be flagged off for operation. In a statement from the promoters of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Extension project, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) yesterday, Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode would launch the BRT project at 10 am prompt. The transport project

implemented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) included widening of the road with two additional lanes and the placing of BRT lanes in the middle of the road. No fewer than 400,000 passengers would be carried daily by 434 high capacity air-conditioned buses that have been prepared to run the corridor from Ikorodu – CMS via Mile 12. According to LAMATA, the Mile 12 – Ikorodu project is a two-in-one project which includes the widening of the 13.5km road from 4 lanes to six lanes with the BRT lanes running in the middle and the provision of BRT infrastructure that would support the operation of the BRT system.

Osun shuts firms for non-remittance of taxes

(OSIRS) to go round the state and fish out other establishments which fall into the same category for the same punishment. It however warned other federal establishments that are yet to join Integrated Personnel Pay Roll System (IPPIS) to do so and pay up their PAYE debt to the state before

seeing its wrath. Names of those that are yet to join IPPIS pay roll system were given as FERMA, INEC, NSCDC, NECO, Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The Acting Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Osun State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Dayo

Oyebanji, made these known to newsmen in osogbo in a statement. He however listed the affected establishments that were shut down as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail Mega Station in Osogbo to the tune N27,948,355.30 covering 2008 and 2013; Bank

of Agriculture, Osogbo branch to the tune of N43,407,696.55 covering 2006 and 2013. Others according to him, were National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife with a liability of N36,578,427.35 covering 2006 and 2013.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 12, 2015

BVN: Bank customers face difficulties making transactions Pamela Eboh Awka

he banking industry directive to all bank account holders in the country to register for their Bank Verification Number exercise which deadline ended at the of October, is presently making preventing several bank customers from carrying out transactions on their accounts in Anambra State, following discrepancies discov-

ered in the information supplied by customers of banks during the BVN exercise. Discrepancies hindering customer smooth banking transactions in the state vary from date of birth, year, birth place, to the inability of some customers to provide accurate date they were issued their BVN the numbers, which carry number omissions. In a Diamond Bank branch located along the Enugu –Onitsha Expressway in Awka yesterday,

News 41

SOUTH-EAST

there was a near pandemonium as some of the customers accused the bank staff of deliberately looking for avenues to fault their BVNs, so as not to make it possible for them to withdraw money from their accounts. The scene was chaotic as there were over hundred customers with complaints, waiting to be attended to by officials of the bank over the issues of the BVN. One of the customers with difficulty of the

BVN, who craved anonymity said the BVN problem was delaying her transfer of funds to Lagos for the preparation of a waybill for the goods she was expecting. Another customer Mr. Oguejiofor Emmanuel, complained that his problem was his place of birth which he changed after his parents told him that he was born in Enugu and not Aba, the information he supplied earlier to another bank where he also opened an account.

Oil marketers demand EFCC clearance for member Victor Mba Aba

embers of the independent petroleum marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Aba Depot, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to make public the report of its investigation involving one of their members who had a case with the commission. The concerned marketers in a document signed by their chairman Levi Amadi, said the commission had written a letter to the association last year, demanding clarification on one of their members Bobby Investment, claimed by the commission to have a case with it. The concerned marketer also said the letter from the

agency signed by Mr. David Kolo, Acting Head Advance Free Fraud Unit of the commission invited members of the association to report for an interrogation in Abuja. They said that a whole year has passed bye without any knowledge of the outcome of the agency’s and nothing had been heard about the issue. The marketers said they feel concerned because IPMAN Aba Depot is made up of marketers of proven integrity and as such they demand to know the outcome of the case, stating that they were committed to ensuring that as major partners in the distribution of petroleum products in the zone they are interested in knowing the outcome of the investigation on their member.

Enugu Assembly declares state of emergency over S’East roads Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

L-R: President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos Chapter, Chief Fabian Onwughalu; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Guy Ikokwu; Eze Ndi Igbo Lagos, Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike and Chairman /CEO, Chardon Group, Mr. Charles Odunkwe, at the Igbo Unity celebration, entitled’ Ako Na Uche’ in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE.

Women protest Imo hospital concession Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ngered by the plans of the Imo State Government to concession the 560 health centres in the state to private entities, women from Ishi Ogwa Ummunneto Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli council area of the state yesterday embarked on a massive protest to press home their grievances against the concessioning. The women who

matched round the community chanting solidarity songs, maintained that the health centre in their community were built through self-help by illustrious sons and daughters of the community years ago and does not belong to government. Leader of the protesting women, Hon. Iheoma Njoku, called on the government to desist from the concession plan which she described as an ‘anti-people policy’. According to her, the public health sector is a non-profit making sector

saddled with maintaining a healthy citizenry and should be allowed to remain so, adding that rather than concession public health facilities, government should equip the health centre to better serve the health needs of the rural dwellers. She accused the Imo State Government of abandoning their community saying roads in their community are in a terrible state of disrepair, with neither electricity supply nor water supply to the community.

Njoku explained that the community, especially the women have resolved to resist any attempt by the government or its cronies to concession the health centre in their community which according to her, takes care of the health challenges of their people. Governor Rochas Okorocha had last October declared that management of health centres and General Hospitals in the State have been concessioned, an action that was greeted with criticisms and reactions.

Enugu governor’s wife flays high rate of child abuse

he wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi ,has lamented the high rate of child trafficking and abuse in the country . Mrs. Ugwuanyi expressed sadness that despite government efforts to forestall the ugly situation, Nigerian children were still trafficked across its boarders to be used as domestic servants and sex slaves.

In an address on the occasion of a workshop/retreat for members of the State Committee Against Child Abduction and Trafficking, she regretted that the current upsurge of baby factories in Nigeria has also introduced a new dimension to the numerous cases of child abuse. The governor’s wife called for a speedy passage of the child right law

in the state to enhance the fight against child abuse and other vices against children. In an address, the State Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji, noted that the event was a collaborative effort among the state government, UNICEF and other stakeholders. She also called for a speedy passage of the

child right law in the state to ameliorate the suffering of children. In a goodwill message, the Chief Field Officer of UNICEF in Enugu, Mr. Charles Nzuki represented by Mrs. Nkiru Maduemesi enjoined the Enugu state government to look at the child right act as passed by the Federal Government in 2003 and domestic same in the state without further delay.

embers of the Enugu State House of Assembly have declared a state of emergency over the state of all the Federal Government roads in the South-East zone. The declaration is sequel to a motion where the House condemned the deplorable state of all federal roads in the region. In the motion, which was sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East constituency, saw the lawmakers taking their turns to speak on the development, and called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards rehabilitating the roads. Nwamba had in the motion stated that “residents in Enugu State and its envi-

rons for over a decade now are faced with myriads of problems as a result of the deplorable condition of federal roads there. He added that “whereas, the Enugu to Onitsha road which usually takes about 40 minutes in a journey when the road was in good condition now takes three hours. The road is so bad that almost every vehicle that applies it usually breaks down before completing a full journey. On the Enugu-PortHarcourt Highway the story is the same as the journey which normally lasts for two hours is now five hours. “Whereas Mr. Speaker, the bad condition of those roads to the lives of Enugu inhabitants, is enormous, undoubtedly, Enugu State is one of the economic hubs of the South-Eastern States.”

Students urge FG to reopen Onitsha training institute Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

tudents of the Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha, have called on the Federal Government to reopen the institute which has been shut down since May this year. The Institute is established by the Federal Government to provide manpower training to the middle class in Mechanical and Electronics Engineering, Heavy mobile equipment’s Maintenance, Instrument and Control system, Steel fabrication among others. The collage was shut down after a protest by the students over what they called human right abuse and insensitivity of the authorities of the institution

and the Federal Government, to address the immediate and remote problems facing the school. Sequel to this protest in which the students alleged poor hostel accommodation, rejection of the school’s diploma certificate by other Federal Government institutions among other agitations the school was shut Telegraph gathered that trouble started when some graduates of the school who had gone to Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Warri, Delta State to further their studies were rejected by PTI and allegedly chased out by some security because it was alleged that MTI Diploma Certificate was not recognised by Petroleum Training Institute which is also a Federal Government owned institution.

42 News Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

pparently moved by solidarity rallies by various support groups to usher in the seventh year anniversary of his government, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday declared that the days of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders in Edo state were numbered ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state. Oshiomhole vowed to confiscate all government properties illegally acquired by the PDP chieftain and the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and his cronies while his son Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was governor

SOUTH-SOUTH

thursday, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhole to Igbinedion, PDP leaders: Be ready to face prosecution

of the state for eight years from 1999-2007. Addressing the mammoth crowd of party faithful, civil society groups, market women, students’ union bodies, traders and other support bodies who thronged Government House after hours of pro-government rallies at Kings square and major roads in the ancient capital town of Benin City, the governor Oshiomhole said those who enriched themselves at the expense of the state will face the wrath of law. The rally was a soli-

darity match to condemn a protest carried out on Monday in the state allegedly sponsored by the PDP. He stated that the government was on verge summiting all the files containing alleged fraudulent activities perpetrated during the Governor Lucky Igbinedion administration to Abuja, next week with a view to paving for anti-graft agencies to revisit them for necessary prosecution. Oshiomhole insisted that the embattled former governor and his father,

Chief Gabriel Igbinedion will be punished accordingly, if convicted. He alleged that both the former governor and his father, allegedly converted properties and funds meant for the people of Edo State to their private use. The governor recalled that his problem with the Igbiendions started when his government revoked the over two hundred thousand hectares of land the former governor gave to his father in Okada which according to him belongs to the state

government and the termination of the MoU the former governor signed with his father. According to him the agreement, “allows the medical students in Igbinedion university to use our state owned hospital at the expense of the Edo state government while Chief Igbinedion collects N1million from each medical student”. While expressing his readiness to also publish the sales of government properties during the administration of Chief Igbinedion, where he

fingered the former Secretary to the state Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as one of the beneficiaries of some of the properties, the governor disclosed that he would wish to be remembered for eliminating godfatherism in the politics of the state. Efforts to get the comment of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu on the said allegations as at the time of filing this report yesterday failed as he failed to answer calls to his GSM phones nor respond to a text message to him.

Delta communities, SEEPCO, bicker over oil spillage Dominic Adewole ASABA

risis is threatening to engulf the OkpaiOluchi communities in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta state over the spillage at the headquaters of the Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) in Kwale area of the state. The affected communities yesterday gave a seven-day ultimatum to the company to provide relief materials and compensate them before the spillage dovetailed into mayhem. The company’s export pipeline on Okpai-Oluchi land had on August 20, witnessed burst and dev-

astated economic activities s in the locality. The Community Head, Chief Emmanuel Enudeme, said the latest spill was worsened by the rapid flow of flood water which aided the widespread of the pollutant. He accused the company of maneuvering to evade the mandatory Joint Investigation (JIV) after the community alerted the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), which compelled the management to arrange for the exercise. According to him, the major occupation of the host communities, which is fishing has stopped, even as gaming activities was no longer possible.

Emmanuel urges new HOS to check fraud, redundancy in civil service Tony Anichebe Uyo

kwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has called on the newly sworn-in Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Ekerebong Akpan, to ensure a complete turnaround in the operations of the state civil service as this would checkmate falsification of records and redundancy in the service. Governor Emmanuel made the call while administering oath of office to the new HoS, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Uyo. He spoke of Mrs. Akpan’s appointment as an icing on the cake, stating that her appointment comes at a time when the State was being re-positioned for optimal performance in line with global

best practices. The governor stated that the new job was challenging, as she would be misquoted and misrepresented in the course of discharging her duties and advised her to inject new life and core values into the service stressing that much is expected of her. He congratulated the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs Cecilia Udoessien on her successful career and commended her dedication and commitment to the service of the State. Governor Emmanuel used the occasion to debunk the rumors making the rounds that some newly recruited staff in the state employ have been denied salaries, stating that the recruitment exercise was marred by irregularities as some fake letters of appointment were issued to unsuspecting applicants.

L-R: Head, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED); Mrs. Ify Ben-Ushie; Group Head, Port Harcourt North and Bayelsa, FirstBank, Mrs. Nkiruka Harris-Eze; first runner-up, Oparaeke Amarachi and State Coordinator, NYSC, Rivers State, Mrs. Ngozi Nwatalari, during the presentation of cheque to winners of the SAED Lions Den business plan competition for 2015 Batch B Corp members by FirstBank’s FirstCorper initiative and NYSC in Port Harcourt.

‘HIV/AIDS has dropped to 6% in Nigeria’ Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta state Gover nor Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday declared that the HIV/ AIDS scourge has drop to 6 per cent in Nigeria and less than one per cent in Delta State. The elated governor revealed this when the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Prof. John Idoko, paid a courtesy visit on him in Asaba.

He assured Deltans that his administration would support any effort that would ensure that the deadly disease and other contagious diseases become history in the state. Idoko who was accompanied by top officials of NACA informed the governor that the HIV/AIDS prevalence was less than 6 per cent in the country and less than 1 per cent in his state. He, however, lamented that the state failed to beat the deadline for accessing its counterpart

fund from donors But the governor, who noted that counterpart funds were beneficial to the state as they make drugs available for the people, seized the occasion to hint the team about the state’s Health Insurance Bill, stating that it was heart-warming to hear that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has declined in Nigeria. He said, “Delta State, it is very encouraging because, we want a healthy people and we will support any organization to ensure that our people

gets quality healthcare, we will support NACA; it is in our interest and the interest of every Nigerian to do so to get HIV/AIDS to zero point. “I promise to present a bill to the Delta State House of Assembly within the next two weeks to transform SACA (State Action Committee on Aids) to an agency and it is our hope and belief that the House will give it speedy passage before the end of the year," disclosing, "we have good relationship with the Delta State House of Assembly.

S’Court slams N1m fine on A'Ibom PDP gov aspirant

he Supreme Court has slammed a N1 million fine on the gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Frank Okon in favour of the former Governor Godswill Akpabio of the state. In a bench ruling, the court consisting of Justices John Fabiyi, Sulei-

man Galadima, Sylvester Nwuta, Kudirat KekereEkun and Inyang Okoro, observed that it was fruitless to have brought up the pre-election matter since Chief Akpabio had served out his tenure as Governor. The court also observed that it is not an venue for academic exercises and admonished the applicant’s counsel to be

careful in the nature of applications they bring before the court, as it would not tolerate being taken for granted. Okon had sought the review of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 27, 2015. His Counsel had sought the leave of the court to move the motion to reverse the earlier judgment. The court asked the

counsel to the applicant to explain the benefits of his application, in view of the fact that the tenure in question had expired on May 29, 2015. Counsel to the applicant had replied that the success of the application would bring justice to Okon, as he would be seen to have participated in the re-run primary election of the PDP in 2011.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Row at Niger over fuel hike price Dan Atori

Tinubu urges Kaduna people to be patient with El Rufai

MINNA

Ibraheem Musa

arely one week after the Department of Petroleum of Resources (DPR) sealed up no fewer than eight filling stations in Minna for selling petroleum products above pump price, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatening to go on strike if its members are fined. The Chairman of Minna Unit of IPMAN, Alhaji Adamu Erena, who spoke yesterday with Journalists in Minna, capital of Niger State, noted that the marketers were being owed over N1trillion and that they should be paid their money as soon as possible. However, the Niger State Controller, Mr. Abdullahi Isah Jankara, while responding to the marketers' threat, warned that any marketer who embarks on any form of strike stands to have his licence revoked. Though, he told journalists that that the DPR had not received any letter or directive from the headquarters to that effect.

Customs to generate N200bn by December Muhammad Kabir KANO

he Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd) has pledged the readiness of the service to generate N900 billion target set for it by the government, saying he will ensure the N200 billion is generated before December. The is even as he read a riot act to Customs officers that anyone of them found collecting bribes at border posts or allowed loaded trailers into the country illegally will be charged for treason. Ali, who warned that the era of allowing one person to enter the Nigerian borders with hundreds of trailers, was over, insisted that and any customs officer involved in such sharp practices is culpable of treasonable offence. According to him, it will amount to shame and disgrace if the Customs failed to generate N200 billion in the next two months.

Kaduna

he national leader of All P ro g re s s ive s Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has called on the people of Kaduna State to be patient with Governor Nasir El Rufai in the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the citizens. This is as he said that change usually comes with pains and sacrifice. Tinubu, who gave the advice yesterday, while

News 43

north

launching the Kaduna Cab Scheme, noted that if there is no pain, there will be no gain, saying that El Rufai’s administration “is your government and which you must support in order for it to succeed.” The former governor further counseled that the journey needs team work and patience, even as he pointed out that “Kaduna State and its people are blessed with a performer, a trailblazer and a committed governor.” The APC leader described El Rufai as a committed governor,

whose experience and knowledge of good governance will be brought to bear in the governance of state. While noting that there are evidences that the state is in line with APC’s change agenda, Tinubu said: “I am sure the last five to six months have convinced many Kaduna residents that they are indeed in capable hands.” The APC leader insisted that the governor is the new sheriff is in town, who will stop at nothing, but to make Kaduna State to its loftier heights and next level.

Kwara varsity recalls suspended lecturers Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he management of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete yesterday rescinded its decision to lift the suspension earlier slammed on six members of academic staff of the institution. This is as the authorities gave tacit approval for the formation of industrial unions by workers in the institution. The development, according to a statement by Dr. Isiaka Aliagan of the Public Relations Office of the university, followed an amicable resolution of the issues that led to the suspension of the

lecturers. It was gathered that Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed had directed parties in the conflict to sheath their sword and allow for peace on the campus of the state university. The crisis was said to have erupted because of attempts by some academic staff members to inaugurate the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the institution. The statement by Aliagan read: “Following a meeting today, at which the matters relating to the suspension were discussed in a convivial atmosphere."

Army liberate more communities, clears IEDs in Borno Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello (left), presenting the letter of appointment to the new Emir of Borgu, Mr Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro (Kitoro The IV) in Minna.

FG to start health insurance in primary schools Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Federal Government has selected Kwara State for the flag-off of its health insurance programme in public primary schools in the country. The Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the state, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Onimajise, who disclosed this yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, said the new scheme

would take off by the end of this month. The scheme, according to Onimajise, is aimed at taking care of pupils in public schools as part of a Federal Government plans to capture the entire citizens in the insurance policies, most especially pregnant women and children less than five years old. Besides, he added that the ultimate aim is to cover all Kwarans in every nook and cranny of the state, explaining that a board would soon

be constituted with all stakeholders being represented to monitor the transparency level of the programme. He said:“Kwara will be the first state to flag-off the public primary school insurance programme in the country and being a nationwide exercise, all necessary arrangements had been finalised to commence the scheme before November ending this year." Oonimajise said the educational insurance scheme, which had al-

ready taken off with tertiary institutions, is now targeted at pupils in the primary schools, even as he lamented the ineffectiveness of the programme at the state level. While pledging that efforts were being put in place to ensure better coordination, he said: "The management of NHIS has discovered that the rate in penetrating into the state has not been substantial and has decided that states should be involved in the implementation of health insurance.

Benue CNPP backs Ortom's sack of 11 permanent secretaries Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, (CNPP) in Benue State, yesterday threw its weight behind the decision of Governor Samuel Ortom to retire 11 Permanent Secretaries from the state civil service.

The governor had on Tuesday, gave a nod to the compulsory retirement of 11 permanent secretaries from the state civil service According to the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Ode Ageh, who briefed journalists shortly after an emergency Executive Council meeting at the Benue

People's House, the decision to sack the affected permanent Secretaries was as a result of health conditions, age and performance. The commissioner gave the list of the affected permanent secretaries to include Steve Ato, Terna Iorkyaan, Joseph Okor, Akperan Anunne, Eugene Ivase, Godwin

Ejembi, Shabu B, Ade John, Asen Sambe, Tor Jun and Terlumun Tsegba. The Commissioner, who pointed out that the directive takes immediate effect, disclosed that seven vehicles had been recovered from some officials in the Gabriel Suswam's administration.

ollowing the destruction of Boko Haram terrorists camps in Kerenowa area in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, the Nigerian Army has embarked on clearing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried along New MarteDogongida-Kerenowa Roads. The Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Tukur Gusau, in a statement made available to our correspondent stated that the troops had been working relentlessly to destroy all IED making facilities found in the area.

Chinese firm pledges employment opportunities in Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman DUTSE

o fewer than 1,500 youths of Jigawa State origin will soon secure gainful employment through the Chinese Granite Processing Company to be floated at Kachi along Dutse-Kano Road, the MD/Chief Executive of the Jigawa State Investment and Property Company, Alhaji Halliru Said, has disclosed. This is coming on the heels of the Jigawa government officials, led by the Governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar trip to China on Economic Summit, aimed at wooing foreign investors to invest in Argo-Mining Corporation of the state, as part of efforts to move the state forward.

44 World | News

thursday, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Protesters in Kabul march with coffins

housands of protesters marched coffins containing the decapitated bodies of seven Shiite Hazaras through the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday to demand justice for the gruesome beheadings, which the United Nations says may be considered a war crime .Demonstrators gathered in west Kabul and walked through the rain bearing the coffins draped in green to the gates of the presidential palace, where organisers said they were planning to stage a sit in until their demands were met by the government. The number of protesters outside the palace dwindled to dozens after warning shots were fired in the air yesterday afternoon, though

many people remained in the streets, according to an AFP photographer. "Warning shots have been fired in the air, the demonstrators are dispersing," Kabul's deputy police chief Sayed Gul Agha Rohani told AFP. He did not confirm who had fired the shots or why. The defence ministry said the armed forces had not opened fire. The protest, unusual for Afghanistan in its scale and organisation, had been mostly peaceful yesterday. A health ministry spokesman said seven people were injured during the demonstration, adding that "some" of them had received bullet wounds. He gave no further details on the injuries. Rohani had earlier said no one had been injured

as a result of the warning shots. Demonstrators also carried pictures of the victims, including two women and one child a girl, whose coffin was carried by grieving women. "This is a protest to demand justice for the victims who were so mercilessly murdered, we demand justice for people who are being brutally killed by terrorists every day," protester Mohammad Hadi told AFP. "We want revenge, today they kill us, tomorrow they kill you," the protesters chanted. The circumstances surrounding the beheadings remain unclear. The bodies of the seven victims, who are believed to have been held hostage by unknown gunmen for months, were

found on Saturday in Zabul province, where fighting between rival Taliban groups has escalated over recent days. "The people are asking why the government has been indifferent towards these crimes, people are demanding the resignation of the heads of the government because they have been inefficient and corrupt and never address the demands of the people," Jawad Sultani, a university lecturer at the protests said. "Ashraf Ghani, we want answers," a woman protestor shouted through a loudspeaker. The protest came as the United Nations followed the Afghan government and the US in condemning the killings, suggesting they may have been a war crime.

Iran says diplomat missing in Hajj stampede still alive ran said yesterday a media have speculated Imissing top diplomat who went that Roknabadi may have in the deadly been taken hostage. Until stampede at this year's hajj pilgrimage is still alive and has asked Saudi Arabia to return him. Ghazanfar Roknabadi was attending the annual Muslim gathering in September when pilgrims stampeded, killing at least 2,236 people in the hajj's worst ever tragedy. Roknabadi, a 49 year old former ambassador to Lebanon, was feared to be among the 464 Iranians killed. But Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian was quoted by state news agency IRNA as telling Al-Mayadeen television: "Our intelligence indicates that he is still alive, and we ask Saudi Arabia to return him alive." In recent weeks, some Iranian

last year, Roknabadi was Tehran's envoy to Beirut, a highly sensitive post. Lebanon is home to the Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is allied with President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war and is also a bitter enemy of Israel Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region's powerhouses, have long had an uneasy relationship and are backing opposing sides in Syria, as well as in the conflict in Yemen. At the time of his disappearance, foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham denied reports by some Arab media that he had travelled to Saudi Arabia under a false name.

EU, Africa seek migration crisis plan as Slovenia barricades border

Protesters carrying a coffin containing a decapitated body

Angola marks 40 years of independence

arking Angola's 40 years of independence, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos reminded citizens of the country's violent history. In a speech printed in local media and broadcast on radio and television yesterday, dos Santos said after a 27 year civil war that ended in 2002, it was up to Angola's youth to rebuild the country. But critics say Angola has little to celebrate as dos Santos, who has been in power for 36 years, cracks down on basic human rights. Independent Angolan news site, Rede Angola, questioned dos Santos' optimism for the youth in the wake of the arrest of 16 young political activists. Rights group Amnesty International has accused the Angolan government of extrajudicial killings and the arbitrary arrest of critics. Marking Angola's 40 years of independence, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos reminded citizens of the country's violent history.

Israel furious over EU settlement product labels

elations between the European Union and Israel took a dive yesterday after Israel derided a decision by the 28 nation bloc to specially label products made in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the EU has taken an "exceptional and discriminatory step" for "political reasons," while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the EU should be "ashamed," and accused the bloc of punishing "the side that is being attacked by terrorism." The EU move, which came after months of procrastinating, underscores the bloc's unhappiness over Israel's continued expansion of settlements on territory that Palestinians seek for their future state. The 28 member union is now seeking to differentiate between its relations with Israel and with the settlements, fearing that a continued

status quo would never push the Israeli government into changing its settlement policies. Once the labelling is implemented, European consumers will be able to read on the label of most products if a piece of merchandize or goods mostly fruit and vegetables was produced in the Jewish settlements. Israel fears the labels will be a political stigma. EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis insisted the measure was "a technical issue, not a political stance." He said the guidelines had to be taken after three member states Britain, Belgium and Denmark already had imposed special labeling on their own, forcing the EU to streamline measures throughout the 28 nations. "The EU does not support in any form a boycott or sanctions against Israel," he said, insisting that Israeli products from within the internationally recog-

nized borders still benefit from EU preferential tariff treatment. However, Israel insists the step was inspired by an international boycott movement against Israel and noted that it comes at a time when the country is confronting a "wave of terrorism" amid stepped up Palestinian attacks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised EU's decision. "I highly appreciate what the EU countries did on the products of the Israeli colonial settlements," he said, speaking in Saudi Arabia yesterday where he was attending a summit of Arab and South American countries. He urged other participants to also welcome the EU move. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it's "puzzling and even irritating that the EU chooses to apply a double standard concerning Israel" while other territorial disputes around the world are treated differently.

uropean and African leaders gathered yesterday for talks on joint action on the migration crisis, as Slovenia became the latest EU member to act on its own by barricading its border. EU chiefs plan to offer their African counterparts funds at a summit in Malta in exchange for help stemming a migrant influx generating political and economic headaches for governments across Europe. Germany was warned yesterday that processing and absorbing unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers could cost its taxpayers 14 billion euros next year. The Malta summit, a rare gathering of around 50 leaders from the two continents, is the newest prong in the European Union's quest for a joint

strategy to deal with the biggest flow of refugees and migrants since World War II. But Slovenia's move underlined again the divisions within the 28-nation bloc over how to respond to the crisis. The Balkan state's army began yesterday erecting a five foot (1.5m) high razor wire fence along stretches of its border with Croatia. After Hungary sealed its borders last month, Slovenia found itself on the main Balkans route for the thousands of migrants who are landing in Greece every day after braving the short but dangerous sea crossing from Turkey. Bureaucrats in Brussels, who pushed for the summit in Malta, oppose fences because they argue they simply redirect the flow of migrants and undermine efforts for a joint solution.

Spain goes to court to block Catalonia's secession bid

pain's government filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court yesterday, aimed at blocking an independence drive by the Catalan regional assembly and preserving Spanish national unity. Catalonia's regional parliament passed a resolution this week which calls for secession from Spain and sets out a plan to form a Catalan republic within 18 months by starting to set up state institutions such as a tax office. The declaration specifically vowed to ignore the rulings of the Constitutional Court. "It's not just a reaction to a mo-

tion passed in parliament, this is about defending a whole country," Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. He said the northeastern region would not be allowed to split from Spain. The row over Catalonia has escalated dramatically with weeks to go to a national election in December, dominating political campaigns as parties such as Rajoy's centerright People's Party (PP) call for Spanish unity and relegating discussion of the economy with one in five unemployment to a secondary role.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015

International

No regrets over Enyeama incident – Oliseh

Sport News

Swaziland will be tough, Oliseh warns Eagles

U-23 Eagles

Siasia considers Osimhen, Nwakali

Sport

Did you know? That Henry “Bunny” Austin was the first player to wear shorts at Wimbledon in 1932.

Eaglets arrive Abuja amidst fanfare

Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

he victorious Nigeria Under-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday (Wednesday) amidst fanfare as Nigerians stormed the airport to celebrate the team’s success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The Golden Eaglets touched down at the airport at 3:30pm and were received by the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Al-Hassan Yakmut, and board members of the Nigeria Football Federation led by its 1st Vice President, Shehu Dikko, amongst others. “The entire nation is proud of you. You have done a great thing to bring honour to this country, and Mr. President is very delighted. I also wish to convey to you the joy of the new Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports,” said Mallam Yakmut. A cultural troupe entertained the Golden Eaglets just outside the arrival hall and made it possible for several airport officials, travellers and fans to take photographs with the players and officials, as the team’s captain, Kelechi Nwakali, held aloft the glittering trophy. CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Victorious Golden Eaglets after arrival in Abuja on Wednesday

Eagles deserve respect – Swaziland coach Ifeanyi Ibeh

ead coach of the Swazi national team, Harries Bulunga, on Wednesday said that players of the Sihlangu Semnikati, would take a cautious approach when they square off against the Super Eagles on Friday in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Bulunga, who said this in a radio programme monitored in Lagos, said: “We are facing one of the superpowers of African football so we cannot get carried away, go out and attack even though we are playing at home. “We need to respect the Nigerian team because they are made up of mostly professional players who we watch on television. “We know what they are all about and how dangerous they can be, so we need to be careful. But we promise a good game; a fair and clean game, and may the best team win on Friday.” Friday’s game will be played under floodlights at the Somhlolo Stadium, in Lobamba, and Bulunga said his players would be banking on their col-

lective ability when they take on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions. He said: “We don’t have a lot of stars but for us it is all about teamwork. We have got a very united team that has been together for a long time. They fight for each other, so it is the unity in us that has helped us achieve what we have achieved recently. “We are not relying on individuals; we will be looking at working collectively and fighting for each other and the rest will take care of itself.” Sihlangu Semnikati, which literally translates to King’s Shield, are currently ranked 71 places beneath the Super Eagles in the FIFA world rankings, but they virtually tore the form books to shreds in September when they defeated Guinea’s Syli Nationale 2-1 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. They also eliminated Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate in the previous round of qualifiers for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. But irrespective of his side’s recent displays, Bulunga suggested he would be count-

ing on divine intervention on Friday in Lobamba. “God is my strength,” he continued. “We always pray. We are a Christian country; we pray a lot. Even myself as an individual, I gather my strength with prayer. We always call on divine intervention. “This is the first time Nigeria will be in our country and everyone is excited about the match; the general public, the government, politicians, even the players themselves. They are motivated and looking forward to testing themselves against these well-known players they use to watch on television. “So the nation is in prayer mood so that at least in the two legs we will manage to win one of the matches. It is going to be a tough match but we believe that we can give a good showing.” The return leg of the qualifier comes up next Tuesday in Port Harcourt with the winner at the end of the two-legged fixture joining 19 other teams to be grouped by the Confederations of African Football into five groups of four with the group winners going on to represent the continent at the 2018 World Cup.

Eagles return thrills Martins Ifeanyi Ibeh

eattle Sounders forward, Obafemi Martins, on Wednesday said he was happy to be back in the Super Eagles after a two-year absence. The former Inter Milan and Newcastle United star last featured for the Super Eagles on March 23, 2013 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, in Calabar, which ended in a 1-1 draw. It was also the venue of the 31-year-old’s last Super Eagles goal – his 18th – which came in a 2-0 win over Madagascar on September 5, 2010. “I have always stayed true to my country and happiness is an understatement of my feelings right now,” Martins was quoted as saying in a report on News24.com. “The National team means a lot to me.” With all due respect, I don’t expect them to pose so much of a threat but we still have to approach the game with all the seriousness it deserves,” he added. “As underdogs they have nothing to lose hence they will play with freedom. We are an experienced side and that gives us an edge but we have to be ready to fight till the end; we can’t afford to start badly.”

Sport

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Danbatta commends NNPC Junior Tennis Circuit

he Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Daniel Danbatta, has commended the NNPC for bringing the Junior Tennis Circuit to Kaduna State. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the weeklong championship, the commissioner said: “Kaduna has always been the centre

of tennis development in the North with such international tournaments like the Kaduna Clay Court Championship.” He added that, “We had also produced great players like Sadiq Abdullahi and Yakubu Suleiman as national champions. Now we have a new set of juniors from Kaduna like

Chris Itodo and Gabriel Friday winning in their age groups. We shall always give maximum support to the organisers, our doors are always open.” In his remarks, president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Sanni Ndanusa, said he was very happy with the rising standard of the junior players and

attributed the development to the impact of the junior tennis circuit tournaments. According to NNPC Deputy Manager Community Relations, Adnan Maje, “I am surprised at the level of play of these young boys and girls. I have no doubt that the NNPC will continue to support this project.”

No regrets over Enyeama incident – Oliseh Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

uper Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh yesterday (Wednesday) stated that he had no regrets over the altercation between him and erstwhile Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, saying he has the right to choose his captain. Enyeama was in a heated argument with Oliseh prior to the national team’s international friendly against Congo DR in Belgium which led to the Lille of France goalkeeper calling it quits with the national team. Oliseh, who stated this at a media conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, said: “I have no regret on the Enyeama incident and I think the issue is now in the past. “We have turned the page and moved forward because as a coach I have the right to choose whoever is going to be

my captain.” The former Ajax, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder also stated that a ticket to next FIFA World Cup, coming up in three years in Russia, was not negotiable as the Super Eagles get set to kick start their campaign for a ticket to Russia 2018 with the fixture against Swaziland on Friday. “I am very optimistic that Nigeria will be in Russia when the 2018 World Cup kicks off,” Enyeama he said. “The players are hungry and I see a united bunch. Although I was not 100 percent fit when I was watching them, I was impressed. “So, if they can translate all that on the field of play it will be a good result for Nigeria.” Musa Pam Oliseh equally called on Nigerians to exercise patience with JOS the national team, insisting that he Plateau State chapter Sport the team’s best is yet to come. Writers Association of Nigeria “Coaching Nigeria is diffihas congratulated Barrister Solocult, not because of the sport- mon Dalong on his appointment as Mining aspect, but because of the ister of Youth and Sport Development. fact that we are a very impaIn a statement signed by the state tient people,” he added. chairman, Mr. Thaddeus Yilmen, and its Secretary, Agabus Pwanagba, the body expressed confidence in the ability of Dalong to reposition youth and sports in Nigeria. Government College, Keffi, for The statement read in part, “Given his secondary school education. his penchant for grass roots developDalong joined the Nigerian ment as exemplified in his enduring Prisons Service as a Prison As- legacies as a one-time local governsistant in 1982 and rose to the rank ment chairman in Plateau State and, of Assistant Inspector of Prisons. particularly his belief in youth develHe was once a personal as- opment, it is our conviction that he sistant to Solomon Lar when will bring his wealth of experience to the latter was appointed as bear in his new assignment.” Adviser Emeritus to President “As you settle down to serve NigeOlusegun Obasanjo and in 2007, ria in this capacity, we join many Nihe was appointed the chairman gerians to wish you a fruitful tenure of Langtang South Local Gov- even as you bring the desired change ernment Area the same year. in the sport sector in Nigeria, the Dalong is a Christian and statement added. is married to Naomi, whom The sport writers in Plateau State he fondly refers to as ‘First however said that the fraternity as emLady’. Their marriage has bodied in SWAN in Plateau is willing been blessed with six chil- and ready to partner with the minister dren – Changfa, Nalfa, Selbol, u in the area of sports development for Malmicit, Manmak and Nanya. the common good of the country.

Plateau SWAN congratulates Dalung

Buhari names Dalong Sports Minister

Dalong

olomon Dalong was on Wednesday named the minister of sports by President Muhammadu Buhari who assigned potfolios to the ministers that were recently screened by the national assembly. Dalong has no background in sports administration and he is expected to work with the Director General in the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut Barrister Solomon Dalong was born on September 26, 1964 in the town of Sabon Gida within the then Resettlement Area currently known as Langtang South Local Government Area. Dalong had his primary school education at LEA Primary School, Sabon Gida from 1971 to 1977. He then attended

NNPC Junior Tennis Circuit champion, Gabriel Friday

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

Stand up for Wellington Jighere!

’m sure a lot of our country’s growing youth will be disappointed reading this “Pale” with the headline they cannot identify with except they hit the social media-especially Facebook, Twitter or Google. Why? The expectation is that I should join the bandwagon in putting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to “order” the Central Bank of Nigeria to fling open the vault and spill whatever is left in the dollar section on the Golden Eaglets who won for the country the U-17 World Cup in Chile as defending champions on the back of the victory two years ago in the UAE. In tow and like being trumped up by the Nigeria Football Federation and driven by its Secretary-general-Mohammed Sanusi-a Presidential Jet be dispatched to fly the “boys” home in glory and red carpet lined from Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to the Aso Rock Villa where the players and their coaching staff especiallyEmmanuel Amuneke will be decked with the now uninspiring national honours. Sanusi-my colleague at the 2003 All-Africa games Organising Committee-COJA-as he was in charge of accommodation-is surely living in the past. Switch back to 1985 and the success run began by the squad led by Nduka Ugbade and also recall those goals in the final by Victor Igbinoba and Jonathan Akpoborie. We could swear by that team PMB-then as Military Headof-State received the team and the national awards had been bestowed on “Sabara” Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen, Fanny Amun, Tunde Disu and Manu Garba in that order. I reported the 1987 U-17 team in Canada with the Sun Newspaper’s Kunle Solaja and some other colleagues from Saint John’s Newfoundland all through Quebec, Montreal and finally Toronto. One bizarre incident happened as the team played the group stages. Sabara had “directed” striker Phillip Osondu and defender plus tournament’s “youngest player”-Peter Ogaba- to lift a bag of garri into the camp’s kitchen. I cannot forget the anger in Osondu as he chided the coach. “Coachito, no be so.. oh! because ‘we dey’ play U-17 no be say we no know am. I get two shops for Aba and one for Alaba and I dey ride Volvo. No be like your Volkswagen wey we dey push for Lagos.” Game over. After that episode, I lost it

all for our under-aged teams and competitions. On arrival from Saudi Arabia in 1989, I had vowed to monitor the progress of Flying Eagles players and their colleagues from other countries. Players of Disu’s squad had three years later retired or forced out by injuries and five years after “headmaster” Mutiu Adepoju had played for Spannish side-Real Betis-his opposite numberLouis Figo- of Portugal- was still notching goals for top clubs in Europe. The list is growing as one continues to wonder what has happened to Chrisantus Macaulay or those Manu Garba “boys” of two years ago. In this tournament, records have revealed that the Belgian boys belong to Academies linked to top clubs especially-Club Brugge-that are well established and not strange to former Eagles coach-Stephen Keshi-and his successor-Sunday Oliseh. I want to believe that FIFA’s standing Executive Committee and officials are busy thinking of how to clean the Augean stable with Issa Hayatou being the “one-man standing” and his health issues have hit the front burner just like former Senegalese-International Athletics Federation(IAAF)President-Lamine Diack and his son-Papa- are under the corruption radar of athletics over drugs matter. I’m sure the country will celebrate Amuneke, new kidon-the-block Victor Osimhen-tournament’s “history making “highest goalscorer”, Funso Bamgboye, skipper Kelechi Nwakali and the others just like the Falconets clinched another ticket for Africa while Enyimba FC succeed Kano Pillars on the domestic League while TP Mazembe remain the Continent’s best club to the chagrin of the well-organised North African teams. But take a bow, Wellington Jighere-the wonder kid of scrabble who took the World by storm in Perth, Australia, claiming the top crown edging British player Louis Mckay 448-426 points. I have passion for scrabble and chess while I still marvel at the deft skills of colleague-Simon Ekpeon the draughts board. How I would have loved the klieg lights to be on Wellington and that rare photo-shoot with PMB and Prof Yemi Osinbajo. It is well deserved. Certainly, a national award will NOT be out-of-place!

Sport News 47

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015

U-23 Eagles: Siasia considers Osimhen, Nwakali

igeria U-23 Eagles coach Samson Siasia is considering drafting U-17 World Cup hotshot Victor Osimhen and skipper Kelechi Nwakali for the African U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal. Osimhen set a new goals record at the U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he scored 10 goals, netting in all seven games as Nigeria won a fifth global crown.

A top official revealed that: “Siasia is considering calling up Osimhen and two other players from the World Cupwinning Golden Eaglets. The players are expected to join the U-23 Eagles in Morocco, where they will train before the U23 championship in Senegal.” It was further learnt that the two other players may be Nwakali, who was named the MVP of the U-17 World Cup,

and one of the team’s fullbacks. Siasia has complained about his team’s poor goal scoring record, and only a handful of noted strikers will be part of the 26 players who will fly out for a training stint in Morocco. It is believed Siasia is counting on overseas-based strikers like Taiwo Awoniyi, Umar Aminu and Junior Ajayi to join up with the final squad to Senegal.

MFM FC salutes Enaholo, George, Enyimba

Enaholo

ountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football club

of Lagos has congratulated former players, Joshua Enaholo and Ifeanyi George for winning the Nigeria Professional Football League with Enyimba Football Club of Aba on Sunday. While George joined the Aba Millionaires at the start of the season, Enaholo who was the Nigeria U-20 first choice goalkeeper at the U-20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand left for Enyimba in July. “It was difficult watching Ena-

holo leave for Enyimba but he had to move up in his career. I am happy today that he is a champion. I am also happy for Ifeanyi George. But for injury, he would’ve been playing regularly for his new club,” MFM FC captain, Nelson Kenedinum said. “Everyone is happy for Enaholo and George. How I wish they can come back and help us take the premier league by storm next season”, he said.

Swaziland will be tough – Oliseh

Deaf football team seeks funds

Ifeanyi Ibeh

ith less than two weeks to the commencement of the 5th edition of the West African Deaf Football Championship, President of the West African Deaf Sports Union, Amuda Yusuf Ibrahim, has called on the government and corporate bodies to give financial backing to the National Deaf Football Team to enable it to win the trophy for a fourth time. Eight countries – Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin Re-

public – would be in attendance at the championship which runs from November 22 to 30 in the Togolese capital, Lome. According to Ibrahim, of the 18 players expected to represent Nigeria at the championship, the National Sports Commission has accepted to sponsor 14 while the Nigeria Deaf Federation is expected to source for funds for the remaining four players. “I am appealing to corporate Nigeria to come to our aid and help the team not only participate in the championship but be in a good frame of mind to win the tournament,” said Ibrahim.

Brazil’s Evander challeging Nigeria’s Kelechi Nwakali during the quarter final match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile

Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has warned his players to expect a tough challenge against Swaziland when both teams battle in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at

the Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba. The Eagles will confront Swaziland in the first leg in Lobamba on Friday, and the return leg will take place at Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, November 17.

“They are a difficult team. They are the team that shocked Guinea,” Oliseh said. “It is not going to be easy playing against them especially playing against them (at their stadium). “We know what is waiting for us. We’ve had

GOtv to broadcast 2018 World Cup qualifiers

TREM holds free soccer clinic Kayode Olanrewaju

he Redeemed Evangelical Mission Football Academy one-day free football clinic for secondary school students between 11 and 15 years old will take place in Lagos State. The soccer clinic is billed slated for the National Institute for Sports, National Stadium, Lagos, and will feature over 500 participating students drawn from 20 secondary schools across the state. According to the Coordinator of TFA, Reverend Denis Kenkwo, 20 seasoned

football coaches are expected as trainers and facilitators at the one-day football clinic instituted by Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Dr. Mike Okonkwo The clinic, which is open to both male and female students, the coordinator explained, would feature 25 students from each of the participating 20 schools. “During the clinic, the participating students will be exposed to basic techniques and skills in football profession by seasoned coaches and ex-internationals,” Kenkwo said.

Super Eagles in trainning session

FirstBank Golf Championship tees off Friday

Eaglets arrive Abuja

he 54th edition of the FirstBank Lagos Open Golf Championship will take place between November 13 and 15. According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the championship will be staged at the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf section. The first day of the champi-

Thereafter, the Golden Eaglets were driven round some areas of the Federal Capital Territory in a motorcade before the convoy arrived at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel where they later had dinner with the new Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong. The team will be decamped on Thursday to reconvene for a presidential reception at a later date.

onship, Friday, will begin with practice round and end with an interactive session on golf simulation game. The championship will continue on Saturday with first round of competition and professional coaching clinic/beat the pro challenge. The day’s event also includes the interactive session on golf simulation game

our wake-up call with Tanzania (where the Super Eagles drew 0-0 after they were largely dominated by the Taifa Stars). “The boys are in good spirits so I am optimistic,” he told reporters in Abuja after the team’s last training session on Wednesday.

which is available all day. On that final day, Sunday, the guest players will first take the centre stage to be followed by the final rounds of competition among title contenders. The 54th edition of the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Golf Championships will end with a banquet dinner and award ceremony at the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section Upper Terrace.

Otv has promised its subscribers exciting football action with the broadcasting of the African series of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers from Wednesday November 11 to Sunday November 15. GOtv subscribers will be able to watch the action live as Sudan tackle Zambia on November 11. On Friday, GOtv subscribers will be able to catch the action live as Swaziland battle Nigeria. GOtv will also air live, Zambia vs Sudan and Uganda vs Togo on SuperSport Select, and SuperSport 9 respectively on November 15. “We know how important the qualifying matches are, as they are a build up to the most important tournament in football, and so, we do not want our subscribers to miss out on the action. GOtv remains committed to bringing its subscribers the best variety of sports’, says Efe Obiomah, public relations manager, GOtv. ‘For N1,800 monthly, GOtv subscribers have been given the pleasure of experiencing exciting sporting action in a way no other low-cost payTV has given its subscribers, and it can only get better’, she added.

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

The escalating violence in Burundi has reached a worrying stage, may be a tipping point – Alexis Lamek

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Micheal Okpala (Power Mike) retired undefeated as World Harvyweight Wresting Champion in 1975

Biafra: Yar Adua’s Wisdom for Buhari

here may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. — Elie Wiesel.    The extract above from American novelist, Elie Wiesel resonates like proffering a defence for protests. Most of the youths filing out in their numbers in the streets of South East and South South cities in the last one month may not have ever heard of this man or his statement although their motive and objective jell with it. Operating under the name, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), these youths have been agitating for an independent autonomy for the region known as Biafra. Similar to what obtained during the thick days of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), while the people never took them serious, nobody has been anxious to write them off as just rabble-rousers. A Radio station called Radio Biafra that was ostensibly set up to provide cover and disseminate the actions of the group has been in operation for some period now. The Federal Government tried killing the station using force and technology but could not, hence their decision to clamp down on its founder and promoter one Nnamdi Kanu. In this column your sincerely had in a discourse on Radio Biafra warned that the development should worry Nigerian authorities. It is the arrest and detention of this Kanu that has exasperated the agitation for Biafra as they continue to call for his unconditional release. The Nigerian Police has also kindled the matter by trying to use force to chase the agitators off the road, a task they have ended up worsening.  Today, the buildup has reached a crescendo to the extent that political watchers are wondering if something ulterior is not in the offing. But more disturbing in all these is the apparent inability of the Nigeria government to pick one or two lessons from events of the past. For instance one Alhaji Mohammad Yusuf, the founder of the dreaded terrorist sect called Boko Haram was carrying out his crusade targeting only the Police and security forces until he was arrested by the army and handed over to the Police for prosecution, but instead he was extra judicially killed by them; an action that ignited the militancy to such frightening dimension as Yusuf's successor Abubakar Shekau embarked on a bloody crusade that has taken the lives of over 20,000 innocent citizens.  Similarly, also after the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential election which, was won by late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, it opened up an agitation which was heightened by the eventual death of Abiola and one of the wives Kudirat. The rest about June 12 is now history, suffice it to say that it could have been better managed.  In the Niger Delta region also, the situation was never to be militarized not until the wicked killing of the foremost environmentalist, resource control agitator and Niger Delta crusader, Ken Saro Wiwa.  Now, the Biafra struggle, which has

Agitators: Biafra or nothing

been relatively peaceful continues to get provocations from security agencies. The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu without charging him to court for the law to determine his fate and the brutal killing of some of the agitators are not only unnecessary but portends danger for the polity.   President Muhammadu Buhari, the current sheriff on the throne does not seem disposed, going by his posturing to have peaceful end to the Bifran struggle. This is notwithstanding that his actions and inactions, through appointments and utterances tilt against the region, a development that has helped to inflame the situation.  The President, although priding himself as a converted democrat has continued through his actions and body languages to portray an image of the tough guy, who care less about what the people are saying or how they are feeling.  He has continued to behave, in the words of Frederick Douglas, ‘like men who want crops without plowing up the ground’. Profess favouring freedom and democracy and yet deprecating agitation. This macho character is certainly not a solution to this type of political challenge and the earlier the President and his team realize this reality the better for him and the country.  Maybe what the country needs now is a leader that exudes father figure not a bluff, whose heart for the future is weighed heavily by the events of the past. Perhaps it might be nice at this juncture to recommend to President Buhari and his lieutenants, the style and method of his kinsman late Alhaji Umaru YarAdua, when he ascended the throne on May 29, 2007 and was confronted by the Niger Delta militancy as the biggest challenge before his admin-

of Ndigbo, as the upcoming generations born after the war would not take war which they did not witness as justification for their marginalization and would not be suffering any war phobia like their fathers.  Ojukwu's predictions seem to be coming into fruition already because the ages that flood the streets of Port Harcourt, Owerri, Uyo, Calabar, Umuahia, istration. Aba, Onitsha, Awka, Enugu, Asaba and He did not go ordering the Inspec- Abakaliki are post war children. This tor General of Police or the Director a government should be careful in hanGeneral of the State Security Service dling Nnamdi Kanu so as not to make (SSS) or even the army to crush them.  him a hero and he begin repeating NelAs Commander in Chief, the President son Mandela’s popular quotes "I do not had the power to do just that but instead, deny that I planned sabotage. I did not he chose the option of listening to the plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor aggrieved. He was anxious as an intellec- because I have any love of violence. tual in government, to dig into the cause I planned it as a result of a calm and of the struggle so as to be able to nip it sober assessment of the political situain the bud.  tion that had arisen after many years of When he listened to the people he tyranny, exploitation and oppression of agreed that there had been injustice but my people by the whites”. Let's approach persuaded the m to seek other options, as Biafra issues with human face. God bless violence solves no problem. He pleaded Nigeria. with the militants to give him time to address the situation and he did just that, introducing the now famous amnesty programme, with the aim of giving deep sense of belonging to the people.  ibb shuns invitation to It was this humane approach that pdp rebranding disarmed the Niger Delta youths as - News they found themselves in the same page with the President and the rest of the country. Until death took him away, Yar Adua, the Katsina born Fulani man was the hero of the Niger Delta struggle, as he brought human face into the struggle and won the heart of the people.  Undoubtedly, President Buhari, sure should have something to pick from the Yar Adua School of Conflict Resolution, as the Biafra issue confronts him squarely. The arrogant approach of trying to use security agencies would only aggravate rather than ameliorate the crisis.  It is possible that the President having fought the Nigeria/Biafra war might be underrating the situation but that would be naivety because before his death Biafran, leader Eze-Igbo Gburubguru, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - If na you nko? had warned current Nigerian leaders to make haste and end the marginalization

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